The Shadow of Death

by Timothy Smith

  Being in no particular hurry, she then started climbing the tree before comfortably being settled on one of the lower branches beneath the others.

  Cherise: "Made it!" She proudly proclaimed, with an unearned triumphant vigor.

  Looking down at the siblings, Ira couldn't restrain himself from gloating.

  Ira: "Looks like I win again." He said smugly, with an even smugger expression on his face, as he looked at Theo in particular, trying to get a rise.

  Not this again…

  Theo: "Like this proves anything. Climbing a tree is never going to be important when we get older."

  Ira: "You never know." He unconvincingly stated.

  Theo squinted his eyes, giving Ira an exaggerated unconvinced look in return. His stare down made Ira feel uneasy enough to say something in his defense.

  Ira: "Look. For second place you get…" And drawing out what he was saying to give himself time, Ira then started looking around for some type of reward before finally making due with something nearby.

  Plucking something from the tree, Ira grabbed ahold of a modest but decent looking acorn. He then dropped it down to Theo, who caught it. And seeing that Theo now had the acorn firmly in hand, Ira finished where he left off.

  Ira: "You get this acorn!" He actually said with complete sincerity.

  Having a hard time making sense of it all, with complete bewilderment at the whole situation, Theo looked down at the acorn, and back at Ira several times. He had no idea whether Ira was joking or not. Curious about the whole matter herself, Cherise leaned over to Theo to see his prize for herself. She looked on with wonder in her eyes at his prize.

  Cherise: "What a pretty acorn!" She happily stated.

  Still a little confused at the whole situation, Theo conceded with a shrug not to pursue the matter. He certainly didn’t understand it, but with Cherise's praises, he was now convinced it was a genuine reward after all.

  Ira then took in the whole view of the village from his high perch.

  Ira: "We should play over here more often." He said before looking down at the two siblings to gauge their opinions.

  After Ira’s remark, it appeared that a sudden irritating thought came into Theo’s mind as his demeanor suddenly changed.

  Theo: “Hey... I just noticed something. We always end up doing whatever you suggest. Who made you the leader?!" Theo said while with genuine shock, after this sudden realization.

  This is our daily routine… He’s just now noticing?

  Ira: "What do you mean? I'm the oldest, so of course I'm the leader. I've always been the leader." He said without any condescension in his voice, but rather, he was just simply reiterating an already established fact.

  This was the first time Theo had heard or realized anything about their group’s supposed hierarchy, and he made it abundantly clear by literally dropping his jaw.

  Theo: “What?!... Just because you're one year older than me? That makes you the leader?!" And Ira obnoxiously smirked back.

  Ira: "Sounds about right." He stated without any hesitation.

  Theo: "Hey, wait a minute! That all sounds like a load of-” But before Theo could finish his thought, Ira interrupted him with a loud shushing noise, with an outstretched palm.

  When Ira shushed Theo, he was looking outward into the distance, distracted by something else entirely.

  Being even more irritated than before by Ira’s nerve of trying to silence him, Theo continued complaining as he said further.

  Theo: "What do you mean, shush?!"

  His words were ignored, as Ira’s full attention was dead-set on something only he could see from his higher position atop the tree. The anxious expression on Ira's face began to be overcome with worry, as he looked on.

  The several seconds of unsettling silence from him was unnerving to both Cherise and Theo, until it had become too much for them to bare. The two siblings decided to start climbing higher up the tree to have a better look for themselves. While climbing, Cherise asked.

  Cherise: "What is it, Ira? What do you see?"

  Finally having his attention pulled away only for a moment, Ira pointed out towards the East, where an armed force was slowly encroaching towards their village. Cherise who could see the terror in Ira’s eyes, as he looked back down to her before uttering in dismay.

  Ira: “It’s them!”

  CHAPTER 4 – THE COMING NIGHT

  With the orange glow of the setting sun at their backs, soldiers clad in bronze armor walked in perfect formation toward Cherise’s small village. All of them, fully armored from the sole of their feet to tip of their heads, and each of them baring the symbol of the double crescent moons on their armor. There was no mistaking the signs of the two moon on their armor, and whose allegiance the army was bound to. It was none other than a regiment of the Aelaan Empire, which was marching straight towards Acorn village.

  Finally getting high enough on the tree to get a sight of the imposing force for herself, Cherise noticed something unusual among the soldiers ranks. Similar to the time she saw the tall man a year earlier, she could see that among the opposing army of encroaching soldiers were shadowy figures on their backs. And just like before, each dark figure was mirroring the appearance the soldier they clung to, as if they somehow belonged to them. But even then, one of the shadowed figures stood out from amongst the rest.

  The mysterious figure in question was at the forefront of the coming army, and like a parasite, it clung itself onto a man who was on horseback. By the gleaming reflections of light from of the man’s decorated armor alone, it was clear he was the army’s leader.

  The man not only distinguished himself among his soldiers by the air of superiority he carried himself with, but he was wearing lightly armored attire which was laden with gold around his intricately decorated robe of black and white underneath.

  Unable to make out the man's face from the distance, Cherise could still easily make out the living shadow that clung onto his back, as it was abnormally large. It also appeared to be of an entirely different from the others, more sinister, and fouler in its nature.

  The shadowy figure had a monstrous, terrifying form. Having barely similar features to that of a humans, the dark figure had elongated arms with pointed razor like fingers, and bristling large hairs that stuck out like blades across the body. Similar to the other shadowed fiends, this creature’s eyes, and mouth also glowed white, as it gleamed a wide monstrous, and malicious smile, which could put fear into the most steadfast of hearts.

  The hairs on Cherise’s body stood straight up, as her heart skipped a beat.

  Cherise: "Not again! There’s monsters... There's monsters everywhere!" She said barely managing to put the words together, with her eyes completely fixated towards the East.

  After hearing Cherise panic as she once did the time before, Theo reacted by looking at his little sister with a similarly puzzled expression as he did back then. And as before, Theo glanced towards where Cherise’s gaze had been fixed. Squinting his eyes, Theo peered out.

  Theo: "Cherise, I don’t know what you’re talking about. There's no monsters…" He said in similar confusion as to the time he did before.

  Ira however, didn't have any input on the matter, as he was far too engrossed with the approaching threat.

  Looking up at the two in astonishment, Cherise saw they had been looking in the same direction as she was. Though for her, it was plain to see, for some strange reason the others were unable to see the figures of living shadow. Frantically, Cherise thought on the situation.

  It's happening again! Why can no one else see the monsters?! And what are they?! I’ve never heard any stories about these kind of creatures before! What are they doing with the Aelaans?! What do they want?!

  As these thoughts were raddling around in the young girl’s mind with no clear answer to be found, Theo cried out to Ira. Hoping for guidance on the situation, he said.

  Theo: "Look, monsters or no monsters, it doesn't matter! The Empire is head
ing straight to our village with an army! We have to do something!"

  Theo’s loud request for his opinion helped snap Ira to out of his daze. And looking down towards the siblings, Ira spoke with determination.

  Ira: "We have to warn the village!" Once Ira said this, he suddenly came to a realization of something.

  Ira: "My home-" He paused as a look of dread overcame him, as he said further, "-It's on the other side of the village." It was then that he fully grasped the severity of situation.

  Ira: "Mom!!" He cried out in desperation.

  After Ira yelled this out, he abruptly leaped out of the tree undaunted by the height of the fall. Landing hard but as well as he could, Ira did his best to pay no mind to his pain before picking himself back up, and making a mad dash towards his home.

  As Ira was sprinting off, Theo continued yelling at him from an ever-widening distance. Possibly hoping for some further guidance from Ira, but ultimately before long, it was clear that he had no intention of turning back, as he left the siblings behind.

  Shaking off his nervousness, Theo looked to Cherise before repeating what Ira’s instructions.

  Theo: "Ira’s right! Come on, we have to warn the village!" He said while climbing down in a rush, with Cherise shortly behind.

  Both then made their way in the direction towards the village’s center. As they were running from the village’s outskirts, Cherise stopped just at the ledge of the hill before a steep descent to the remainder of the village below. Before heading down and losing the vantage point of the hill, Cherise looked out once more towards the incoming army, before they’d be out of her sight.

  Too late for regrets, what Cherise saw only stoked more fear into her heart, stopping her dead in her tracks. The Aelaans had now hastened their pace with swords drawn, readying to charge the village at a moment’s notice. But even still, Cherise’s eyes were still only fixated in horror at the black shadowed fiend accompanying the army’s leader.

  After noticing Cherise was just standing there atop the hill, Theo looked back at her, and began pleading and desperately trying to get her attention by yelling out her name, continually getting louder. Frozen stiff in terror, it was becoming apparent to Theo that his words were not reaching her. Being unable to snap her out of her shock, Theo finally said in frustration.

  Theo: "Forget it! I'll do it myself!" He said while waving his arms in dismissal, and setting out towards the nearest house at the bottom of the hill.

  All the while, he continued yelling at the top of his lungs for anyone who would listen to his warnings of the impending danger.

  ────────

  As the orange light of the setting sun was slowly fading, the Aelaans lit their torches before continuing to pick up their pace even further. The soldiers were close enough distance to the village that many of them were trampling over the golden fields of wheat in their path forward.

  Among the ranks of the army was the Mikael. From her past experience with first seeing him and his shadowy fiend, when Mikael got within distance to be clearly seen, Cherise immediately knew who he was. She also saw that the tall man was walking alongside the Aelaans mounted leader. After recognizing Mikael from the army, Cherise remembered when she first ever saw the shadowed figures.

  It's that man. And he's helping the Empire?... Why?... Why would he willingly with them?

  The more she looked on, the more overcome with guilt she became.

  Is this my fault?... This is my fault, isn’t it? This is happening because I didn't try hard enough to tell the others about that monster I saw back then?! Would they even have believed me?! What's going to happen?

  With an impending sense of dread she looked on at the Aelaan army, certain their intentions were anything but pure. Overwhelmed with worry as the army approached ever nearer, Cherise was stuck in a trance as she gazed on.

  ────────

  Near the front of the Aelaan army, the tall man was timidly pleading to the army’s leader.

  Mikael: “Once I heard that the Aelaan Empire was on the move again, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you would have arrived at my village. That’s why I personally came to you. So I hope you’ll look kindly upon us for informing you about the two from the Toride Clan we’ve kept here for you. So I implore you to remember our deal. You said you'd spare the woman, and the children, if I showed you where those in the Toride clan were. Remember our deal!” He said almost demandingly of the Aelaan leader.

  The leader was a tanned skinned man in his mid-fifties, with thick black eyebrows, and a fully-grown mustache attached to his three pointed beard. Atop his horse, the army’s leader looked down in disgust at the tall man, appearing to be offended by his pitiful display.

  The Aelaan leader then said, “It's by my good graces alone that a vermin like you was not killed on the spot! Especially after you had informed me that your village was harboring the Toride clan scum! I know the deal we've made! Do not think to lecture me!!"

  After hearing the raised voice of their leader, a soldier stepped out of his ranks, and walked closer to his superior before saluting and asking, “Lord Razkaul, is this man bothering you? I can remove him, if you wish.”

  The soldiers comment immediately made Mikael even more nervous than before. Razkaul then looked down towards his subordinate briefly, before waving him, and his concern off dismissingly.

  The leader of the Aelaans then turned his head back towards the tall man with a menacing grin, taking pleasure at the thought of what he was about to say next.

  Razkaul: “You do realize what’ll happen to those in the village, don’t you?” Mikael glanced towards the village, and back up towards Razkaul before speaking with a dismayed voice under hushed breath.

  Mikael: “Yes… but what other options did I have?” As if hoping for a more satisfying answer, Razkaul scoffed.

  Raising his hand high to get the attention of his troops, the Aelaan leader then proclaimed aloud.

  Razkaul: “Soldiers!!-” He paused momentarily to ensure he had their full attention before saying, “-You already know why we’re here! There are still scum from the Toride clan we haven’t yet purged! Kill them where they stand! As for the rest of the village, make slaves of those who can't resist you!... Kill the rest!!!”

  He paused again only for a second to observe the tall man’s expression, before showing him a sinister grin of delight. And looking to his men once more, Razkaul continued his speech.

  Razkaul: “Any spoils you can find are yours! Burn all that remains! Burn it all to the ground!” Whipping up his horse along with frenzied cheers among his army, the Aelaan leader cried at the top of his lungs.

  Razkaul: “The prophet wills it!! Glory to the Aelaan Empire!! Attack!!!”

  Like releasing a pack of rabid dogs, the army was set loose on the unsuspecting village. The thunderous footsteps of the incoming force racing towards the village was accompanied with the sounds of their roaring war cries, and clanking of armor. By this point, whether they saw the army or not, the entire village now knew disaster was coming.

  CHAPTER 5 – A FAMILIAR PAIN

  During this same time while the army had started their charge on the village, it seemed that Ira’s mad dash had finally paid off. His mother, Haruna, was inside when he suddenly burst into their home, before frantically closing the door behind him. Immediately after closing the door, Ira grasped his knees while desperately trying to catch his breathe.

  The sound of the war cries and roaring footsteps outside was coming closer by the second.

  Haruna: “What has happened?!” She said desperately, looking anxiously her son.

  Sweat dripping down his face and short of breath, he barely answered his mother through an exasperated voice.

  Ira: “The Empire… They’re here! They’ve found us!” She knew instantly the seriousness of the situation.

  Haruna: “Hurry, Iranagi! We must leave now!” She said with a fevered determination, getting closer to him.r />
  Just outside their door, the two heard the familiar sounds of war, the clanking of metal, and hundreds of stomping footsteps. But this time was different. There were no soldiers to aid in their defense, only civilians that’d be like lambs to the slaughter if the Aelaan’s so chose it. The sounds continued to grow louder, and at this point it was already abundantly clear, it was now too late for them to make an escape.

  As soon as Haruna heard the sound of footsteps coming dangerously close to their home, she held onto her child, and brought him further away from their door. The sound of the steps outside continued to draw nearer, and nearer, until finally some of them came to a sudden, and abrupt stop just beyond their door.

  Only a moment later, the two heard the sounds of snickering outside. Right then, the home’s door was slammed opened by a forceful kick from an armored boot, breaking the shabby door from its very hinges.

  As the intruders started making their way inside, it seemed as if the small families worst fears were becoming realized, after having already escaped the horrors of the Empire once before. The intruders were slowly entering their home, revealing themselves to be three Aelaan soldiers. The men were chuckling amongst themselves with devious grins, after seeing what they found inside.

  ────────

  Not even ten minutes had passed from when the Aelaan forces were first spotted, and already all that remained of the setting suns orange light had nearly vanished. The fading light of the sun was not replaced by the dark of night, but by another new orange glow of an entirely different nature.

  As Cherise was looking down from her ledge, she continued standing nearly motionless like a statue in a combination of both fear and shock. She overlooked her once peaceful village, and fields that she had lived her entire life in, slowly starting to be set aflame by the marauding soldiers. As Cherise continued looking outward towards the village below her, she heard everything. From the constant sounds of the clattering of the Aelaans’ armor, to the crackling of ever consuming flames licking the sky in their gluttonous hunger, and lastly yet most significantly, all these noises were accompanied by the cries of familiar voices known to her being snuffed out. The gut-wrenching chorus continued edging closer until eventually the tall man, and Razkaul had finally reappeared in her sight.