Chapter 6: Flames of Wrath (Part 1)
1015 Words
'Too quiet.' I say. Hex walks cautiously next to me. Flexing our muscles, we are ready to jump into action if necessary. Soft and echoing sounds of water dripping fill the silence.
'Kreaaakk,' The wooden floor creaks when I step on it. The dusty brick walls flanking us are covered in cobwebs at most corners. Our only source of light being the torches on the walls, burning dimly.
'They might be hiding here somewhere.' Dane warns.
'I can't imagine them fitting inside the tiny gaps between the bricks,' I jokingly says. 'But be on guard just in case.'
Dane nods.
It has almost been an hour since we entered here. The sound of water dripping persists when suddenly, a ferocious roar turns our attention to it at our back. We are completely stunned at the sight before us. We scan our surrounding immediately but to no avail.
What is supposingly a part of the long, damp tunnel is replaced with a steppe.
'RUN! RUN! RUN!' Hundreds of people are scrambling across the plain, to the direction opposite to where we are facing. The men and women are carrying items wrapped in cloths on their shoulders while some hold their children's hands as they run past us. We walk hurriedly to the direction from where they come, pushing through the crowd. One of them notices us heading there and immediately, changes direction towards us.
A young lady with short, black hair covering her ears and almost touching her shoulders, she says, ' It's too dangerous to head back ther-' She paused for a second before resuming, 'You guys aren't from around here, right?'
'No.' I reply.
'No wonder you didn't know about it! The volcano near the village,' She points her finger to the distant land. 'Is ERUPTING!'
My eyes meet Dane's. 'That's bad.' Dane says.
'You guys gotta run.'
We follow the lady and join the rest. Just as I am about to go with them... 'Where's Anna?' A woman at the back asks her husband. Fear expresses itself on both faces. The woman bursts into tears. 'She is too young to die.'
'There's no going back, darling. Come on. Let's start going.' The man says, pulling her wife at her arm.
I gaze into the sky and think, ' What will you do if you were here?' My mind focuses on the thoughts of Alex, my best comrade during the times of war and also her, my only love. Alex saved me from the thrusting blade of the enemy and died in my stake. She died, trying to free me from Raijin which she at first thought was evil. Both died for me. But, will they die for the others too?
'Sorry. I gotta go back there.' I say to Dane and the lady. They want to protest but I have long gone before they begins. I run towards the village, charging my power along the way. The ground begins to tremble violently.
'It's gonna erupt!' One of them shouts.
'Run faster!' Another joins in.
The villagers are now about a kilometre behind me as the village gradually reveals itself before me. I halt at the centre of the large village. Further up the hill stands the volcanoes presumably, within walking distance from where I stand, considering that it looks massive despite me not being close to it. 'Anna! Anna! Come out!'
No response. Could it be that Anna is just an infant? This is definitely not the time to break into each of these lots of wooden houses! Even as I think, the time waits not for me. The trembling worsens by the second. 'Anna! Answer me!'
Still no response.
'It's getting hotter.' I say. And suddenly, the earthquake alike halts. I raise my chin and hurling at me, at a fast pace, is a rain of huge rocks engulfed in flames.
Those will indefinitely destroy this village.
'And not when I have decided to protect Anna.' I call forth the electric currents from within. The currents slither across my body like snakes wrapping themselves around their prey. They are quite abundant, considering the effort I took to charge them as I ran towards here. The rocks are getting closer, I flex my muscles and...
'Discharge!'
The currents amplify and disperse , casting a fiery net of white interconnected bolts outwards. Rocks cut into pieces and the wave of lava explodes midair. Red droplets fall to the ground and buildings, melting them at the hit spots. I am no exception.
Holes all over my cloak, the wounds beneath the bandages reappear and blood escapes them.
Dane and the lady run to my side. Their mouths widen at the sight of me.
Softly, I say, 'I can only minimise the damage to this village.'
'Just who are you?' The lady asks.
Dane and I smile at each other.
'I am an adventurer. Dane's the name.' Dane says.
And I follow, 'And I am a wanted man. You can call me Rex.'
She backs off a little. 'Rex-'
'Dane, it's time to leave.' I say. Dane nods, understanding that my position as a wanted man will not give me a pleasant time here. We are walking past her when she suddenly grabs my hand.
'Don't go.'
'I am but a wanted man. And I do not wish to be detained because of some misplaced trusts.' I reply sternly.
'No... Don't go.' She rubs her eyes before turning her head and looks me in the eyes. 'I shall conceal your identities.'
'L-Like I said...'
'Believe in me!' She insists. I have my doubts at first, but seeing the look in her eyes...
'Looks like you are not lying. Very well then.' I say then, put on a smile. Dane agrees, knowing that protesting against my decision won't do any difference. I reach out a hand.
'This is-'
'It's a deal. While I am here, I will help with whatever trouble you have in return for our safety here.' I explain. She puts out her hand and shakes mine.
As she says, 'A deal it is then.'
- Writer
