I love you, so-
Shut up. Shut up. Shut up
“Of course.” Tyler moved his hand over his sword. Blood splattered from where it had cut his hand, flowing into the river.
With this, I exorcise my demons.
“Tyler,” Julian again, “You back with us now?”
“I think so.”
“Don’t think,” Julian patted him on the head. “That’s my role. Just be sure.”
The 9th year was easier. Tyler had buried all his reservations over his past year. Julian had helped. His guilt. His repentance. He had fought his demons, and he had won. Or were they really his angels? At this point, he had lost sight of everything.
He had given everything over to the cause, and nothing of his former self remained.
Chapter 23 - Taking Everything Back
Karn County
Present Day.
A hand reached out of the water. Douglas gasped as he scrambled for air again. He had been slammed into the water a few hours ago and was coughing blood and gasping for air. He scrambled, swimming upwards reaching for air. This was how he had survived for the past few hours, regaining consciousness just enough to get a precious few gulps of air, and then passing out again.
He had been beaten badly and placed at a disadvantage by that man, Richard.
The frustration at being unable to protect Max’s family had gotten to him, and he was unable to focus and had lost his fight appropriately.
He felt himself being buoyed by the waves as he crash-landed on one of the shores.
Muffled voices and footfalls echoed around him.
“Mum. Come see, someone washed up.” The first voice came.
“Oh dear, it’s a man.” The second voice.
“Let’s get him inside, I’ll check up on him.” A third voice this time. It was then he passed out again.
When he woke up next, he was on a bed. There was some food and a jug of water on a nearby table.
“Who are you? ”
“You’re awake. Finally. I’m Cynthia, Cynthia Nirthi.” A young woman was sitting in the chair next to his bed. Her curls threatened to cover her eyes, but he could see the compassion in them. He relaxed. “We were worried when we saw you come floating down the river.”
“Where am I?” Douglas sat up. “How long have I been out?”
“You’re in Karn County Western District.” She replied, “Surprisingly, you recovered pretty fast. We found you just over 3 hours ago.”
“Western District? But…I was headed to the east last night.” A confused Douglas said, then the events of the previous night came back to him. He cradled his face in his hand momentarily.
“Well, I’m assuming you didn’t intend on taking a dip in the river and being washed all the way to the opposite end of the town?” Cynthia replied, “If that was how you wanted to spend your night, I’m happy to tell you it was successful.”
“I was practicing nature swimming. My team can be very competitive,” Douglas shot back.
“It’s a good thing Dad used to be a doctor, otherwise who knows what would have happened to you.”
He noticed the bandages around his torso for the first time.
“Ah, thank you.”
“What’s up with your wounds?” She looked him over. “From what we could tell, they were mostly internal, but the damage you had received had to have come from something that should have by all rights reduced your bones to powder. Somehow, you’re still alive.”
“Well, I have a Godspark,” He explained, “My bones cannot be broken. They are too dense and too thick to be. The rest of my body does its best to keep up.”
“Ah, that explains the abs.” She smiled. “I’m guessing the thickness and denseness isn’t limited to your bones.”
Douglas visibly blushed at that.
“I was talking about your thick skull.”
“I knew that.”
After another awkward moment, Cynthia turned away from him and gestured towards the food. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“Later, do you have my things? Do I have my radio intact? I really need to speak with my friends.”
“Do you now?” She cocked her head.
Mr Nirthi entered the room. “I see you’re awake now, young man. That was quite a fall you took.”
The older man was quite jovial-looking, he was rotund, and had a mischievous glint in his eyes. Douglas decided he looked a little like a fox, before remembering his manners.
“Thanks, sir,” He smiled, “I must have slipped or something.”
“Is that so?” Mr Nirthi noted, “Could you give us a minute Cynthia?”
“Sure dad.” Cynthia left the room, leaving them alone.
Mr Nirthi looked after her, the smile of a proud father.
“She’s my youngest daughter,” He said, “She’s been there for the past few years, and we were afraid to let her move out of town.”
Douglas nodded, not knowing where this was going, or what the man’s point was.
“This town is a safe place.” He continued, “If you do what you’re told, and slot into your spot, you won’t have trouble.”
“Look at us,” He continued, “We don’t have to participate in the Festival of Life most of the time. We get enough money to pay our taxes and support ourselves and still go out for a meal,” He nodded to himself. “But still, I know something’s very wrong with this place.”
“So, are you one of the Rune Knights?” He asked.
“Huh?” Douglas didn’t expect that. “Why would you ask that question?”
“Your wounds, they are very distinctive. I’ve only seen them on the dead victims of Richard, the head of security. Our very own Implacable Man. You must have fought him earlier, yet you’re still alive. You’re someone who must be hard to kill, but you went up against him. I don’t see a tourist card, so you must have snuck in here. I would say stolen, but you have some of your other possessions and ID on you. Mr West.”
“I’m not…” He sat up slowly, “I’m not a Rune Knight. I just came here to help a friend, he wanted to find himself.”
“And did he find himself?” Mr Nirthi asked, “This friend?”
“I don’t know.”
Douglas wasn’t sure who he was talking about at this point. Zeke wasn’t a friend yet, Derek had agreed for his own reasons. Rachel was an enigma. Simon was Zeke’s puppy.
“Must have been a hell of a trip for one to come back here.” He continued, “Karn is one of the most secure places on the continent. It’s hard to get in here without permission, and even harder to leave, unless…”
“Don’t worry,” Douglas had noticed his hesitation. “I know about the Purge. I know all about this town.”
Max flashed through his mind, and guilt bubbled up inside him. If he had let the child go, would just Max had been killed? Or perhaps, exposed him to a beating. The fact that he had interfered had cost Max and his family their lives, and he would feel forever sorry about that.
He gritted his teeth in frustration.
“I see.” Mr Nirthi, “So, are you planning on staying here overnight? Your lack of tourist card would get you found out and disappeared promptly.”
“I can take care of myself,” Douglas replied.
“Yes, I can certainly see that,” Mr Nirthi raised an eyebrow.
Douglas saw his point.
“I mend fast. My bones would have shielded my body from more damage than I would have received, so I’ll only need a few more hours.”
“And then?”
“And then I’ll be out of your hair. I promise.” Douglas gave him a thumbs up, “But right now, I desperately need my radio.”
* * *
Derek, Rachel, Simon and Zeke had finally managed to escape and return with the Thunderdome.
Douglas still wasn’t back, and they had gotten worried.
“What are we to do?” asked Rachel, “Going back in there isn’t the best of ideas, they’re probably looking for us?”
“Even so,” Rachel pointed out, “They know what you and Simon look like. Someone would recognise you, and it seems sneaking in like we did still left us needing these…tourist cards?”
“Yeah” Derek replied, “We’ll just have to trust that Douglas finds us.”
At that moment, the radio crackled to life
“Hey. Is anyone receiving this?”
Douglas’ voice came out, crisp and clear.
“Hey, Douglas” Zeke replied, “We’ve been looking for you”
“Everyone, I need you to listen to me,” his tone was serious. “I’ll tell you everything I learned about Karn County since we separated.”
* * *
“No way…” Zeke said in disbelief. “There’s no way they’d do something like that…”
“It’s true.” Douglas continued, “The ‘Wall’, Richard, killed old women and children before my very eyes just because I learned that. They are exactly as ruthless as we should have expected.”
Simon was distraught. They had been unaware of what had happened in Karn after they left and has assumed that it was business as usual, with more extortion and brutality from the Nephilim.
They had been naive.
Taking over from Douglas, Zeke told his own story, including Tyler’s own role in the events that took place.
“The Town Taker’s your brother?” Douglas asked incredulously.
“Simon’s my brother,” Zeke said. “But I guess I still need to settle things with the other one.”
“What do we do?” Simon asked, “I know we asked to come here for a day, but we can’t just leave them now that we know what’s going on.”
“Agreed!” Douglas’ voice came out again. “I’ve decided I’ll stay and help. I don’t care what the rest of you guys do if you choose to just ignore this.”
“Weren’t you ignoring this as a Marauder?” Rachel said. “What makes this different now?”
“Ignoring a reality you don’t know about is different from ignoring one you do know of. Besides, I created the Marauders so Pesque wouldn’t be controlled by a Nephilim.”
“Now don’t be rash, Douglas,” Derek spoke for the first time, weighing in. “I need you to help me find the Arche, remember?”
“So you’re saying that we should leave them to their fates? Is that what West would say?” Douglas replied. “If this is the kind of person you are, perhaps it’s best we part ways here?”
“You’ve got it wrong Douglas. I’m saying that it’d be foolish of me to let you go charging in—” He broke out into a grin, “—on your own.”
Zeke and Simon perked up at this. Rachel looked at him as she processed the words.
“No.”
“What?” Derek asked.
“We aren’t going in there again. We should pull Douglas out, by force if necessary, and leave. This guy is a Nephilim’s lieutenant, a Principality. If we get involved in their business, who knows what holy hell we’re going to unleash on the world? Douglas, you yourself pointed out the forces occupying Karn. The one who drowned you, The Zealot himself, these are impossible odds.” Rachel continued, “If we defeat them, it’s not like they’re going to give up. They’re either going to come after us, or they’ll come back here. We’ll need more time to come up with a plan, even if this was a wise course of action. We have less than 24 hours at this point.”
The others were stunned into silence at the vehemence of her objection. Zeke had to admit she had a point. They were also just five of them, they had no idea how many the enemy had in total beyond Douglas’ estimates. They had taken down one of them sure, but an ambush was different from a head on clash. It would be nigh impossible to jump on them and then beat them down.
“Yes, that’s my advice.” She replied, confident in her assessment.
“I see,” He nodded, “Do you mind coming with me for a second then?”
The others stood as well to follow, but Derek gestured for them to sit. It was just a trip for both of them. Simon and Zeke nodded, and went to wait for them.
“I’ll wait for your response,” Douglas said.
Once everyone was in agreement, Derek and Rachel left the camp silently, walking for a few minutes. The former, silent and contemplative. The latter, curious.
Now, they stood on one of the hills overlooking Karn County. They could see just about everything from here, and as the wind breezed through their hair, Derek asked his question.
“That house, over there.” He pointed at a smallish house. From above they could just about make out silhouettes of playing children, “Does everyone there deserve to die?”
Confused, she tilted her head. She looked at the house then back to Derek.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s a question. Answer it, yes or no?”
“Of course not,” Rachel replied.
“OK then,” he gestured again. “How about there? Does everyone in that area deserve to die?”
He was pointing at a different house. There was no one visible outside, but inside was lit up. People were inside it, perhaps eating, drinking and dreaming of tomorrow. And then it hit her.
“No, they don’t,” Rachel said. “I know what you’re trying to do.”
“If we leave this place as is, knowing what we know, we’re killing them.” He said, “If not now, then later. If there is a single child you could kill with your own hands, tell me. Convince me that you think this is the right thing to do, and we’ll leave. I’ll even convince Douglas to come as well. I just want to hear you say it.”
He looked at her, searching her eyes. She stared back. Then she stared at the ground. Then at him again, resolve showing in her eyes.
“Let’s help them.”
“Thank you.” Derek let out a sigh of relief.
“If I had said no, would you really have convinced Douglas to leave?” Rachel asked him.
“Even if you had said no,” He trailed off. “I didn’t think you would. I trust you.”
“You’re remarkably consistent.” Rachel laughed at that.“You can go back now. I’ll just look at the view a little more.”
As Derek walked away, Rachel clenched her fist. Her first instinct had been to save them as well, and she had given into that eventually, but there was something else that she didn’t want to jeopardize.
Karn County stood before them, an obstacle they would have to surmount.
“Just a little while longer, Emma.” She whispered to herself. “I promise.”
Red eyes hovered in her memory. An impossible task had been issued, but there was just that bit of hope that existed where there wouldn’t have been.
“Just a little longer. And I’ll have the Arche and free you.”
* * *
Overnight plans were made and formed, and Karn County spiralled into conflict. Those who wanted to protect and those who wanted to tear down everything were headed into an unavoidable clash.
Chapter 24 - The Day of the Festival
As the Festival of Life commenced, the town came to life. While there was tension in the air, there was also a palpable sense of excitement. Not everyone knew about the dark history of the town, so the foreigners were quite happy to walk around and gawk.
The parade was the main attraction, undoubtedly so, and marchers prepared their outrageously gaudy outfits. Each one representing some family business or perhaps some corporation, hoping to get just enough money to be ahead of their competitors.
For foreigners and tourists, this was a fun, entertaining show. For the citizens of Karn County, this was a life or death event that came once every year.
There were floats and parades, there were stalls set up in the centre streets, and members of the Order Squadron patrolled it all to keep people in line.
From their rooftop view, Tyler and Timothy oversaw it all, and the latter saw that i
t was good.
* * *
Katherine Steward was just one of the many citizens to feel apprehensive that day. She had spent months working on her outfit for the Festival of Life’s parade, yet, the soldiers denied her a permit to partake on the very day. You would think that everyone would be allowed to participate, yet the Order Squadron members who worked for Richard and oversaw the parade often enforced petty grudges and slights when it came to permit time. It was often just a way for them to remind the citizens that they were above them, and Katherine had apparently offended one or the other.
Whether she had turned him down for a date or didn’t serve his lunch as he had liked it at her family’s restaurant, she did not know. He would not be allowing her or anyone in her family to participate, and they were almost surely going to be taken away the next day. Their business wasn’t the strongest as other rival restaurants had sprung up, and their strong family driven ethos wasn’t going to help them much longer as more and more people who knew what they stood for were purged.
She remembered Old Jacob, Samuel from down the street and Esther – her best friend from 2 years ago. They had all been taken away. Victims of the Purge. Her shoulders sagging, she went to the restaurant to tell her parents the bad news.
Squadrons of soldiers patrolled the streets. Outsiders often couldn’t tell, because of their plainclothes uniforms, but a small tattoo on their wrist was often all the branding they needed. They would kidnap visitors as well. People who wandered off, and people who committed minor crimes. They would trump charges up and hold them. Some would participate in the Festival of Life for their freedom, others would be purged almost immediately. It made no difference to Timothy.
She cursed him under her breath.
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