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Judgment

Judgment

Modern World, 2099. A war has broken out among the folk of Modern World and of Old World. Beliefs and technologies have clashed for decades. Finally, in an attempt to bring peace or destroy Old World, a trio was formed and sent deep into the center.

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AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH winding outer and inner caves and tunnels, traversing steep inclines, scaling vertical walls, and swimming across dangerous underground lakes, the trio stood before the tall wood and metal door. The entrance to Old World.

“This is it,” Bruce said. He was the fighter. The modern-day warrior, equipped with both knowledge and strength. He had the cunning manipulation of the best salesman, the business savvy of a Wall Street trader, and the strength of ten men. He could take on the world, or a simple, financial negotiation.

“Yeah,” Tiera replied. She was the thief. Stealthy by day and by night. She had the double-edged personality of a pure Gemini, she could be sweet and innocent and pick your pocket at the same time. She was dangerously alert, artfully silent. She could step in and out, take your most precious belongings, without you knowing she even existed.

“Let’s go.” Coo gripped his staff. He was the healer. The doctor who cared for sick children, ailing seniors, and everyone in between. He could take a temperature, probe an abdomen, write a prescription and raise stamina all at the same time. A real magician of herbs and chemistry. He was equipped to handle a severed arm as well as a tummy ache.

Through the door was Ginocka, the largest of the four titans to rule over Old World. He sat in his throne, a mixture of sloppy mud and hard granite. He moved with the sound of grating stone and ordered his minions to do his bidding.

He was in the middle of sending out a scout when the trio came through the doors.

“Ginocka,” Bruce said, catching his attention. “Today you shall die.”

Ginocka laughed a deep, resonating laugh.

Bruce laughed back, a hearty chuckle. He stopped suddenly and unsheathed his sword. “No, I’m serious.”

“Let’s talk,” Ginocka said. “All this fighting and no one ever talks anymore. You’re skilled in verbal communication, let’s talk.”

“There will be time for talking later,” Tiera said. She loosed an arrow at a low-flying bat-bird. It hit its mark with clear accuracy and pinned the beast to the wall above Ginocka’s head.

“Now Tiera,” Bruce said, turning to her. “You’re supposed to wait for my mark,”

“There’s no time for waiting, Bruce,” she said through clenched teeth, her eyes unmoving from the face of Ginocka. “We must destroy him,”

“Listen to me,” Bruce said. He placed a hand on her arm, forcing her to lower her arrow.

Tiera turned to him, removing her eyes from their enemy. “What is it now?”

Bruce and Tiera argued.

Coo wondered why he ever joined a husband/wife team, then remembered he was assigned to them as well as this mission. He cleared his throat a couple of times, his eyes locked on Ginocka. Ginocka’s mud hand moved toward a lever. A small gate opened to his left.

“Guys,” Coo said. “Guys I think something’s happening,” he watched as a black form emerged slowly, like smoke seeping under a door during a house fire. “Bruce,” Coo said. “Tiera, something’s happening.”

Ginocka laughed again. “This is Judgment,” he said, gesturing to the form. “I’m sure you have all heard of him.”

Bruce and Tiera stopped arguing and looked to where Ginocka pointed. There sat the black mass. Oh, yes, they had heard of Judgment. Everyone had been exposed to some diluted form of him for centuries, millennia even.

Judgment was unforgiving and cruel. He was the best at the worst punishments and torture techniques. He was a backstabber and a friend all at one time. He hated everyone before he even met them. He turned friends on each other, ripped apart families, and destroyed everything in his path. He was the Old World’s oldest weapon and at that very moment, he oozed across the floor toward them.

Bruce looked from Tiera to Coo.

“Run,” he said in a harsh whisper.

They turned and fled through the massive front doors. They ran back through the caves, scaled the vertical wall, swam across the lake. When Bruce stopped, Tiera and Coo ran into him.

“What’s going on?” Tiera said, panicked. She looked over her shoulder. There was no sign of Judgment.

“I think we lost him,” Bruce said. He fumbled around in various pouches on his belt.

A scrape like a blade on a whetstone pulled Bruce from his search.

“Run,” he said again. They reached the outer caves and tore toward the opening.

“This way!” Tiera yelled, catching a glimpse of white light.

Bruce’s BMW was parked just outside in a clearing. Tiera stopped at the passenger door, Coo at a back door. Bruce ran around to the driver’s side, patting his vest, his pants. He scrambled to look through all his pouches again.

Finally, he looked across the car at Tiera, and then at Coo. He looked past them at the dark form emerging from the cave and seeping into the forest clearing.

He panted, breathless after their run.

“What are you waiting for?” Tiera yelled at him.

“Unlock the doors, Bruce!” Coo said, after a panicked look over his shoulder. He jerked on the door handle.

“I can’t,” Bruce said. He took a couple of breaths and swallowed hard. He looked at his friends for the last time. “I’ve lost my keys!”