Rain hammered down in heavy sheets, the sky a slate gray that swallowed every trace of light. The world drowned in the roar of the storm, but in my ears, all I could hear was the drumbeat of my heart as I ran.
Sabrina and I had been running for days, sleeping in crevices, and eating the last of the provisions given to us by our parents. My heart still aches as I remember that day, my mind trying to find answers as to why life came crashing down like this.
We were just your typical hunter-gatherer family. Me and my father were tasked with providing food, while Sabrina and mother sewed clothes and tended the house. It was a peaceful life, one that did not involve adventuring or making money in the city. Yet, it changed when they came.
We had just gotten back from our usual hunt. The sun was starting to set, and rays of sunlight filtered through the tall trees surrounding our village. It was then that a group of armed people visited our settlement.
“We, the Silver Swords, have come to this village to rid yourself of a monster! I call upon your aid to rid us of this beast lest we rid them ourselves!” Says a scarred man.
He wore a cloak made of black feathers, his hands covered by silver gauntlets with intricate designs. His hip carried a holster and a sheathed sword, the head of a wolf lying motionless on his left shoulder.
As me and my father watched the scene unfold, our village chief walked forward. His steps were slow, his old body too weak to muster any strength on his thin legs. Yet, he was undeterred by the newcomers, his eyes holding warmth and caution as he neared what looked like the group’s leader.
“I’m sorry, travelers, but we haven’t seen any new visitors in our humble village. However, you are welcome to stay and rest your tired bodies in my home.” said the village chief.
His voice was steady and calm, showing his dignity as our chief and leader even with his old age.
However, the man in front of him only grew more weary.
“You must be the village chief.” The man said, nodding to the old man in front of him.
“Yes, I am indeed.” replied our chief.
“Then, you must have heard of us then.”
The chief nodded.
The air was thick with tension, and everyone could feel it. My father’s hand gripped my shoulder, moving me behind him as we slowly inched away from the scene. Any sudden movements could spark a battle, our breaths held in our lungs lest we break the taut string hanging in the air.
“Our sole purpose is to hunt down the monsters that threaten humanity, and our reports said that there is a vampire in your midst.” The man said slowly.
My heart dropped at the mention of the monster. The hand holding my shoulder tightened, pulling me further back behind.
“We need to get home, now.” my father commanded in a whisper.
I nodded, following him while my eyes watched the scene playing out before me.
A cloaked figure walked next to the scarred man and whispered something to him. His scarred face grew more serious as he listened to his cloaked companion. Then, he looked in our direction.
“I see.” said the man.
“It seems that this village has been contaminated after all.”
A chill went down my spine as I watched the man pull out his sword from its sheath, the group behind him following his example.
“RUN!” The village chief yelled.
The other villagers who had been watching the event unfold bolted. Some of the men stayed behind, brandishing their bows and knives to defend their families. My father pulled me away, his hand gripped tightly on my wrist as we ran back to our home.
The sound of metal clashing could be heard behind me. Shouts and grunts filled the air like an orchestra as chaos ensued. Our home wasn’t that far from the village entrance, yet it felt like we’d been running for hours.
I pumped as much strength in my legs as I could, following after my father. The mention of a vampire in our midst was ridiculous, what with the Hero of Man having cured the disease long ago. Even if there were vampires here, they wouldn’t be the same ruthless monsters of old. They’d be akin to another race like the dwarves or elves. So, why are we being hunted by some ruffians we haven’t met before?
As anger simmered within me, my father and I finally approached our house. My mother was already outside, her face creased with worry as she watched us draw near.
“Arnold, what’s happening?” my mother said
“The Silver Swords.” My father replied.
It was only a few words, but Mother seemed to recognize the danger we were in. She quickly went back inside, my father pushing me along with him and closing the door.
“Dad, what’s outside?” Sabrina asked with fear.
The sound of battle could still be heard, our walls too thin to dampen the sounds of metal hitting metal. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, and looking at the scared face of my sister only made my head boil hotter.
My mother kneeled before Sabrina, looking at her face with hurt eyes.
“Sabrina, follow your big brother and run to town.” My mother said in a soft tone.
‘Wait, they’re not going to follow us?’ I thought, my head swiveling to my father who’s been preparing a single travel bag.
“You don’t mean…” I muttered.
My eyes were wide as the implication set in, my father’s silence enough for confirmation to support my fears.
“You’re not going with us?” Sabrina replied, her eyes starting to flow with tears.
“We will. We’ll come after you two once we help the others, okay?” My mother answered, hugging a crying Sabrina in a tight embrace for a few seconds, then she stood up and looked back at my father.
“Elise, you should go with them.” My father said as he handed the bag to her.
“I’m not going without you, Arnold,” Mother replied curtly.
My father stared at my mother for a few seconds, then sighed as he handed the bag to me.
“Are you serious?” I asked, anger sipping in my tone as I looked at my father dead in the eyes.
“Yes, we are, now go with your—”
But before he could finish his sentence, the door of our house flew open.
Splinters soared through the air, hitting our walls and falling with a clatter. Sabrina screamed from the sudden noise, hugging me tightly as a man walked inside our home. The same scarred man who announced our village’s destruction.
“So the pests hide while the dogs seek. Typical.” The man said.
‘Who does he think he is?’
My head burned as I watched the man casually walk forward. It’s like he owned the place, showing no regard to whose house he’d just intruded into. The disrespect being shown was deliberate, it was calculated to get us riled. My fist tightly closed at my side, itching to put it deep in the man’s face.
It was only when my mother pulled me back that I came to, my foot hovering mid-step towards the bastard who waltzed into our house.
My father pushed the bag onto me, crouched with his arms to his side, and readied himself to pounce at the man before him. His nails turned to claws, canines elongating until it protruded out of his mouth. His presence was that of a predator defending its territory from another beast. A beast that held a bloodied sword in his right hand.
“Nick, take your sister and run!” my father yelled.
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“No! I’ll fight with you!” I said while brandishing two daggers of my own.
“This isn’t for debate!”
“And I’m not leaving you to die!”
“Prey isn't supposed to argue. They’re supposed to be hunted” said the scarred man in a malicious tone.
Then, he blurred forward, sword falling towards my father’s skull.
My father intercepted the attack with his claw, his speed too fast to keep track of by any other human, but not for me. I could see him block the man’s strike, then swipe his other claw at the man’s side. The man dodged back, avoiding the claw and retaliating with a swipe of his own. They moved in tandem, attacking and counter-attacking with such inhuman speeds and power.
Claws clashed with the intruder’s blade, a brutal symphony of metal and flesh that echoed through the room. The air stank of fear and sweat, mingling with the smell of smoke outside the door.
Seeing that the fight had started, my mother pulled me and Sabrina back further through the house. I tried to resist, telling my mother I could help fight too. However, I was silenced with one stern look.
We moved through the house in quick steps, our footfalls quiet so as not to be heard by any other potential attacker. Yet, it was futile, since as we rounded the corner to get to the back door, a cloaked woman stood at its door frame.
She held two daggers at her side, her head in full display after pulling down her hood. Disgust was shown on her face as her eyes looked at me and Sabrina.
“Truly, like rats hiding behind walls, you people are—”
A blue force of magic slammed into her, sending her flying out of the house and onto the dirt.
My mother held an outstretched arm, the buzz of mana still lingering on her palms. Seeing the threat was temporarily subdued, she held our hands and walked outside the house. She kept her gaze firmly locked on the woman, yet my eyes weren't on the cloaked figure lying on the ground.
The sky was ablaze, the air filled with smoke rising from burning houses and farmland. The village I grew up in, that I’ve spent my whole life in, was lit aflame.
I held Sabrina tightly, my form blocking her view of the hell surrounding us. It was the only thing I could do. I could only shield her innocence from the monsters that have come to destroy our home.
“I can’t see,” said Sabrina, muffled by my shirt.
“Just close your eyes and follow me, okay?” I said slowly, struggling to keep my voice steady as I swallowed back the tears in my throat.
Mother blasted the woman on the ground with another concussive blast of force, examined her to see if she was unconscious, and then quickly walked back to us.
“Are you okay?” she asked with worry.
I could only nod my head as I swept my eyes around the destruction around me.
Seeing me so frazzled and shocked, my mother gave me a comforting hug. Her breath was slow, yet I could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She hugged us for a few more seconds, then reluctantly pulled away.
She put a hand on my cheek, looking at me with proud yet hurt eyes, and then said her final wish.
“Take care of your sister for us, okay?” She said in a warm tone.
I could see tears forming in her eyes, her lips quivering from keeping the dam breaking. I mirrored her emotion, my eyes hot from keeping the tears flowing out of them.
The sound of battle still clung in the air, distant from my ears as I looked at my mother one last time before lifting Sabrina and running away.
As I ran, I could hear her shouts as she fought the now-conscious woman, explosions setting off behind me as the fighting began. My legs burned with every step, yet I pushed forward. I can’t have Sabrina dying, I need to keep her alive. That was their last wish, and I must uphold that wish.
The smell of smoke diminished as I kept running, Sabrina’s tears soaked my shoulder as I carried her through the woods.
“They’re running!” shouted a man, accompanied by heavy steps chasing after us.
I tried to lose them, weaving through trees and foliage to hide our tracks. Yet, they kept finding us whenever I let my guard down.
It was only a few hours later that I managed to evade them. However, I found myself lost. We had been running without any sense of direction, my mind too focused on escaping our pursuers to keep track of where we were going. Yet, I knew that this was a small respite.
We found a small gap in the trees that could fit both of us. With one final check of our surroundings, I lowered Sabrina and took out the provisions given to us by our parents. It was silent, the only sound remaining was my chewing as I tried to keep my mind straight. Yet, when I looked at Sabrina staring at her food with sad eyes, my heart began to ache.
‘I should have stayed! Those fuckers should have been easy to beat! So why? Why didn’t I?’
Thoughts of regret and inner turmoil warred within me. I berated myself, preventing the tears from flowing in my eyes. I needed to keep a strong front for my sister, or else, we would have lost.
“Brother?” said Sabrina in a whisper, still holding and staring at the dried jerky in her palms.
“Yes?”
“Will Mom and Dad be okay?” she asked, her voice cracking as she held back her tears.
The question took the wind out of my sails, my eyes burning and my chest heavy. The same question had been asked in the back of my mind several times, praying for the Gods to protect them from those beasts in human skin. A few seconds later, I managed to answer with a smile.
“Of course, they’ll be okay! You know how strong Father is, right? And Mother is a great mage! There’s no way they’d lose!” I answered in a loud whisper.
I don’t know if I’m trying to convince my sister or myself, maybe even both, but it looks like it calmed her nerves.
‘They’ll be okay’
However, our short respite was interrupted by loud shouts in the distance. Without even checking who it was, I put the bag over Sabrina, turned my back, and beckoned her to get on. Once she was secure, I stood up and began running once more.
Days went by as we kept running through the woods, our supplies quickly dwindling. Sabrina held my hand tightly as I did hers, afraid I might lose her once another chase occurred. It’s like they’re toying with us, mocking us for our futile attempt to escape their grasp. Even if we lost them and bought ourselves time to rest, they would come back shouting through the woods and running after us.
With each chase, my mind grew tired. The same could be said for Sabrina. Her hair was frazzled, her face still showing fear from the men trailing after us.
One small silver lining in this situation though was that with each passing day, the number of our pursuers dwindled. Their shouts grew smaller until I could only hear one man hunting our hides.
We were on another chase, my legs screaming in protest as I pushed my strength through them. Sabrina held me tightly from my back, her arms wrapped around my neck as I ran through the woods.
As if the Gods had finally taken pity on us, droplets of rain poured down the earth. The sky darkened as thunder boomed above us.
The time for finding answers in my head was over, the only thing to do now was to run. There’s no use trying to rationalize the actions of monsters, not here, not now. I’ve got my sister to save, and once everything has died down, we’ll find mother and father. There’s no use for regrets, but I swear that I will take revenge on those who destroyed our village.
A shout could still be heard through the loud rainfall buffeting the forest. Their form is barely visible from the unrelenting rain pouring down from the heavens. My eyes kept their gaze on our backs, my attention to where my legs took me forgotten as I watched the man get closer and closer.
“Brother, stop!” Sabrina shouted in my ears.
My feet stumbled, almost tripping over as I managed to stop a few inches away from a cliff face.
‘We’ve been trapped’
Our pursuer hadn’t been following us in a mindless chase, he’d been slowly leading us here where escape wasn’t an option.
Gray rock surrounded us, the only way out blocked by the man trailing us for the past three days.
As he neared, I got to see him without the obstruction of rain. He looked young, younger than me. Although his head was covered in a hood, his form tells me he’s no more than 15 years old. He held a silver sword on his side, its blade dripping with water from the rain.
“You people really are pests. So easy to trap like mice caught within a cage.” said the young man.
He moved closer, his steps muffled by the mud under his feet.
While he walked towards us, I lowered Sabrina back to the ground, keeping my eyes locked with the bastard who had been toying with us for days on end. I kept her behind my back, my left arm shielding her from any potential projectile the kid might have with him while my other hand brandished a dagger.
Now that he was just a dozen or so feet ahead of me, I could see the sneer on his face. The same sneer that I saw on the scarred man’s face when he destroyed our home. The same sneer that almost sent me into a rage.
The dagger in my hand shook as I tightened my grip on it, its handle threatening to break from my anger-empowered strength. Fury welled up inside me as the man kept a casual pace towards us, his sword still dangling within his grasp.
‘The people that have taken everything away from me, from us, are going to feel my wrath. I’ll kill them all. I’ll hunt them down until none remains. I’ll take my revenge, and it’ll start with this pompous kid in front of me’
I lowered myself, ready to pounce into action. The kid did the same, lifting the sword he’d been dangling on his side in front of him, and holding it with two hands. My heart was like war drums banging in my ear, the sound of rain a forgotten memory as I locked eyes with my prey.
A hunter stalks, waiting for a perfect chance to strike. My legs were like springboards, ready to be released when the kid made any moves toward me, and with focused eyes, I watched as he took his first step onto the ground.
However, before a fight could ensue, a tremendous presence descended on our heads. The sense of rage and fury building up within me was smothered, replaced by something more primal—existential dread.
It’s like a king’s gaze was upon us, its eyes looking deep into our souls to judge us of our sins. The sky looked darker, the air heavy from its overwhelming existence. The chill of the rain felt colder, bordering on freezing. My breath came out in puffs of smoke, and visions of eternity flashed before my mortal mind.
The pressure was so powerful that it threatened to push me down on my knees. Sabrina didn’t do any better, she was already on the ground trying to push herself back up to no avail. The kid ahead of us dropped to his knees, struggling to stand up from the forest floor. His face showcased a mixture of shock and fear as if the arrival of this mysterious figure upturned his whole plan. Then, he came.
A black cloth obscures his entire face, concealing his features from anyone who encountered him. He wore a simple set of clothes, yet his presence commanded the attention of a ruler. His stature was enormous and imposing, black fire outlining his form. He continued to stride forward, his footsteps echoing through the muddy water of the clearing. As he approached, he positioned himself between me and our pursuer, turning to face the kid who had been chasing us for the past three days.
Everyone was stuck still, afraid that one small breath would mean the death of their existence. The sound of rain still poured heavily, yet his deep voice cut through it like an arrow piercing the wind.
“What do you think you’re doing?”