Though Marona was safe at the moment, deep down, Emil had the unshakable feeling that he was marching her to her death. So far, they had yet to stumble upon any resistance, but Emil knew that everything could change in an instant.
His guard remained ever vigilant, as did hers. Whether it was guilt, love, hate, or revenge that kept them going, it didn’t matter. As long as it kept them alive.
He had his reasons to return, and so did she.
Suddenly, his footsteps stopped.
Emil paused as he mapped out his surroundings, carefully analyzing the forest terrain.
“We’re close.”
The words were sharp and concise. In the past few hours that Marona had been around him conscious, she had grown used to his dialogue.
“Yeah...how did you know?”
“I know this place. It took me a while to get my bearings, but I know the way from here. Before I lived in Nerai, I used to live out in the woods. I was constantly on the move.”
He studied the area as he spoke, wary of any nearby guards.
“Because of the vanguard, and those other guys, too, right?”
“Yeah...follow me.” His words drifted behind him as he continued to lead her through the forest.
“Where to?”
Emil turned back to her and pointed ahead towards a waterfall that wasn’t too far from where they stood.
“Back when I was on the run, I had a series of camps I made up around the outskirts of the forest. Every couple of days, I would change locations just to be safe. Behind the waterfall, there’s a cave. There’s food nearby, as well as a water source. You can rest if you’re tired or eat if you’re hungry.”
“I told you already, I’m going with you. I can tell you’re not at your full strength yet. You need me.”
“You didn’t let me finish. There’s also some weapons stashed there. I need to get some things if we plan on doing this.”
“Right.” Her cheeks flushed red at the thought of her sudden outburst. “I’m sorry. I jumped to a conclusion an—”
“It’s ok. We’re both on edge. We’ve been walking for a while now. Come on. We don’t have much further to go.”
The two of them journeyed deeper into the forest until they reached the base of the waterfall. The rushing water provided a soothing ambience, uncommon to those accustomed to life away from nature. The water flowed freely, descending down several feet and branching out at the bottom. At the base, there was a particular stream that flowed further inland away from the others, presumably where wildlife would drink and bathe.
“So your home is somewhere up there?” Marona pointed towards the top of the waterfall, meticulously searching for an entrance among the scattered rocks.
“More towards the middle. It’s perfect, really. If you were to go behind the water from the base, you wouldn’t see it. You weren’t too far off, though. It’s actually right there.” Emil pointed his finger out to a location not too far from where Marona’s was.
“Hm. I still don’t see it.”
“It’s just a little ways up. Come on.”
Following his lead, Marona and Emil climbed up the rocky terrain until Emil suddenly stopped.
“Here.”
From where he stood, it was still not evident that behind the veil of water, an opening existed. Emil was the first to enter. He came from the side and slid beneath the rushing water before he disappeared. Marona shimmied behind the water as well, until she found the hollow opening that Emil had gone through.
The inside of the cave was hollow, more so than what she expected. It was simplistic in nature. A blanket or two in the corner, a lantern, and a wooden box was all there was to his place of refuge, aside from the cold, stone walls. He was outfitting himself when she saw him, tucking away shuriken to a belt he had put on moments before.
He spoke with his back to her. “There are some weapons over here if you’d like to take a look. I don’t know what you can use, but you never know.”
“I’m good with my crossbow. I’ll stay at a distance, remember?” she said as she approached Emil’s side.
“Yeah, but you need something in case someone gets past me. Can you wield a sword or anything like that?” He curiously turned to Marona who was now examining the contents of his armory. In her hand she held one of his shuriken, studying its design.
“Not particularly well, but a dagger, that I could work with,” she said, still transfixed by the throwing star she held in her hand. “Why these?”
“They can hold a charge and I can throw them...saves energy and has range.” Emil extended his open palm to Marona, asking for the throwing star she had taken a liking to. Curious to know what he had in mind, she willingly handed it over to him. Emil gripped the star firmly between his thumb and pointer finger and raised it to eye level. A crackling stream of blue energy encompassed the throwing star as he held it. “And imagine having a couple of these lodged in your chest.”
“I’d rather not, but I get the idea. I’m not as gifted as you, so I’ll stick to what I have and this dagger over here. It should be enough.”
“Take two in case you get in a pinch. Hide one somewhere on you that wouldn’t be too obvious but easy to reach.”
“Right,” she said as she browsed through Emil’s assortment of daggers and knives.
Emil watched her as she looked over his collection before finally tossing the shuriken back with the rest. Rather than going to the makeshift bed he had arranged, he propped himself against the cold stone wall of the cave. He repositioned his sword and rested it against his shoulder. The rushing waves that echoed from the opening of the cave provided an ambience that put his mind at ease. Before long, his eyes were closed. The break was welcomed. Even though he put up a strong front, Emil knew he hadn’t fully recovered–physically or mentally.
In his passive moments, memories of the village that he fought for plagued his mind. The fate of Grace, Taeo, and Serenity being left up to speculation gnawed at his psyche as well.
“You okay?” Marona asked as she folded her dress underneath her and sat directly in front of him. His eyes hung low but slowly widened at the sight of her in front of him.
“Yeah, just thinking. Got everything you need?”
“Yeah, I think so. Two daggers. One at the hip and another one hidden in my boot. It should be enough.”
“Good. We leave tomorrow,” Emil responded before closing his eyes once again.
“I have a question. Earlier, you said that the king was doing something and you were shocked that I didn’t catch what was going on. You said that you would tell me, but it wasn’t safe where we were. So what’s going on?”
Emil pressed his head against the stone wall before looking up at the ceiling overhead, bracing himself for a truth he, himself, had barely come to terms with.
“They’re hunting us. You haven’t noticed the witch-hunt going on?”
“Hunting...Abnormals?” Marona asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“More or less, yes. It’s been like this for a while now. The king has been hunting us down like wild animals, picking us off one by one. That’s why you see the vanguard everywhere. That’s why the taxes have been through the roof. That’s why it’s been harder to find food. It’s the reason behind everything. He’s trying to flush us out.”
“Why?” Marona asked faintly, still somewhat in disbelief.
“I’m sure he has his reasons...the most obvious one is that he is afraid of a rebellion. He’d rather have us on his side than trying to tear him down. We’re supposed to be rare but I don’t think we’re as uncommon as you’re led to believe. If you saw me or another Abnormal in a city, chances are you probably wouldn’t even know it. Legion is tasked with processing other Abnormals that have been discovered. Once found, they’ll propose an offer for you to join. If you refuse, they’ll kill you. It’s the surefire way to ensure information doesn’t get out about what they’re doing and who’s involved.”
“Is that wh
y you’ve been on the run? They wanted to kill you when you declined, right?”
“My reason is a bit different than that, Marona,” Emil responded, his voice mirroring his outward sorrow. “But yes, I’ve been running for as long as I can remember. I thought I did well, though. I settled down in a small village and made peace, but they found me. I was living with a family in Nerai. Good people. But then they took everything away from me. I was careless...selfish. And now they’re all dead. Every last one of them. They’re dead because of me.” His eyes drifted downward at his feet as Marona sat speechless in front of him. “How stupid was I to think that I could actually live a normal life? I killed all of those people. Their blood is on my hands.”
“Emil...”
“They want me, so that’s what they’ll get. I can’t run anymore. They won’t stop until they have me. I know that now.”
“What if they think you’re already dead? What then?”
“They don’t. They wouldn’t even consider it unless they found a body, and even then, they have their ways. Before you found me, I took out one of their esteemed members and a small fleet along with him. That’s not something you can just forget. It’s been three days now. They’re out there and they want revenge. I understand if you’re afraid. Just know that tomorrow I plan on killing them before they kill me.”
Chapter 8: A Fate Worse Than Death
That night, Emil stood guard outside the cave, watching for nearby threats. From where he stood, he could see where his village once resided. The moon above dimly lit the forest grounds. Nothing was visible of what used to be the village. There was just a patch of darkness, devoid of any life.
In a flash of rage, Emil swung his fist into the side of the cave’s wall.
Come on. Show me something. Anything.
He intently scanned the forest for any sign of life. He had been doing this for the past couple of hours, determined to find a pulse somewhere down below.
Nothing.
When morning came, he found himself leaning against a stray stone in the cave.
He stood immediately, shaking off any sense of sluggishness he had before. The sun stung his eyes as he focused on the horizon of the brightly shining star. The light that it bore was skewed, misrepresented by a thick ominous fog that hovered only slightly above the tree tops.
The hell?
Immediately, Emil doubled back to the cave and peered over to Marona, who was still sleeping. Without thinking twice, he left her and pursued the fog that hung over the remnants of his former village. Emil raced down the waterfall and deep into the forest, paying no heed to the repercussions of his actions.
If it was a trap, they’d get what they wanted, but not without a fight.
Emil gracefully dodged the low hanging vines and branches as he ran through the forest, determined to find his answer. As he drew closer to his village, the fog became thicker, prompting him to slow to a crawl.
His feet skidded across the terrain as he came to a sudden stop. His breaths came slow, but not forced. The air was denser inside the fog than anywhere else in the forest.
Slowly, Emil walked in the direction of his hometown; fully aware that what he was witnessing wasn’t nature’s doing.
Emil traveled through the forest, unnerved, sword in hand, and mentally prepared for the ambush that was sure to come. As he ventured deeper into the forest, the king’s men never came. Instead, on the outskirts of his home, a charred body hung loosely by the neck from a withered rope.
“Beth?”
There was no mistaking it. Her limp body was clothed the same as when he last saw her. Her frayed maroon dress eerily complemented the reddened flesh hanging from the exposed parts of her corpse. She damned the whole town, her people, and ultimately herself, all for a few coins. The assorted pieces of gold were scattered beneath the leaves directly under the tree where her body silently swayed.
Damn...
Emil tried his best to leave her body where it hung, but it didn’t sit right with him. He drew his sword and cut through the rope that suspended her, allowing him to gently lay her against the base of the tree. His fingers ran lightly over her eyelids, finally putting her soul to rest. Not too far from his position, the sound of a cracked branch echoed behind him.
Immediately, Emil turned his head over his shoulder and saw a familiar silhouette running deep into the woods. A numbing chill gripped his body as he felt the blood in his body ice over.
“R...Ren?” he said softly to himself as he gazed deeper into the disorienting fog. “Ren!” Emil sprang to his feet and called once more before rushing in after her. “Ren! Ren! It’s me!” he yelled as he desperately tried to track her trail. “It’s not safe here! Where are you?! Ren!”
He stopped and searched the surrounding area for a sign, waiting for her response. “Taeo! Grace! We have to get out of here!”
“Emil, I’m scared!” He heard her voice faintly in the distance.
“Serenity! I’m coming. I-I can’t see you. Stay put! I’ll find you!” Emil paced himself in the direction of her voice until he found her waiting for him on a patch of charred earth. She stood alone, surrounded by burnt remains of the ruined forest.
“Ren...are you ok? Where are the others?” he said as he slowly approached her. Before he could touch her, her body faded into a silver stream of dust that dissipated into the fog.
Legion.
Emil quickly twisted his body and grimaced at the sight of a figure solidifying behind him.
Without hesitation, Emil lunged towards the silver specter, piercing through its heart with his crackling hand, fully ignited with his energy.
Ren?
The head of the being bore a spitting resemblance to Ren as it morphed into a more solid form.
Taking advantage of Emil’s shock, the specter retaliated, seemingly unfazed by the crumbling crystal-like material that fell from the hole in its shattered chest. From its mouth, a sickle emerged and fired at Emil from point-blank range, cutting him on the cheek.
“Gah!”
Emil winced in pain as the crystal spire drew blood as it traveled alongside his face. Using his free hand, Emil swiped clean through the neck of the crystallized figure, causing everything below the neck to crumble immediately. The head of the figure rolled beside him, its mouth still gaped open, bearing the face of the one he trusted most.
Illusions. Emil thought as he watched the head disintegrate into the ground.
His train of thought was halted by a swarm of footsteps encroaching on him from amidst the thickening fog. Emil readied himself, drawing his sword and sending a charge of energy throughout his blade. From all directions, he heard them. The constant pattering echoed in the void in which he stood. The grip on his blade loosened as he found himself leaning slightly to the side.
Wha—?
A sudden pulse ran through his body, momentarily immobilizing him.
From the shadows, a crystal specter dived at Emil from above, aiming to incapacitate him in his moment of weakness.
Come on, move!
Noticing the surprise attack, Emil twisted his body, narrowly dodging the set of silver tendrils that lunged toward him.
The creature shrieked angrily and transformed its tendrils into a set of blades before leaping back into the cover of the gray mist, denying Emil the chance to fight back.
A shape shifter? Emil thought as he shakily fell to one knee, planting his sword into the earth for balance. His gaze began to slowly be consumed by white, blurring his vision. My head...
The footsteps circled him again, this time, louder. Emil sluggishly stood, disoriented by both the blinding haze and his unknown symptoms. He gripped his blade tight and drew it closer to his body.
Two...three...four?
It was impossible to determine their numbers with the fog masking their movements. From the haze, two specters sprang from both sides. Emil parried both of their attacks but was unable to capitalize on his opponent’s mishap. Another one landed behind him
and swiped at his back.
“Ah!” Emil screamed as the blade tore through his flesh. The pain jerked him forward, but his tenacity willed him to stay on his feet. Unrelenting, Emil turned and cleaved through his assailant’s face. Its disembodied carcass shattered and melded with the still, cold air.
A searing pain registered across Emil’s wound, causing him to keel over, stunned.
Tired already? The fun has only just begun. An unfamiliar voice echoed in his head, momentarily blocking the pain of his injuries. Her tone, soft, deviant, akin to that of a seductive whisper. From above, the same two surviving specters dived in on Emil. He dodged, pushing off of the terrain, propelling himself backwards. Still suspended in mid-air from his jump, Emil chucked a pair of charged shuriken at his attackers, both missing considerably. Oh, I think you made them angry. Better run, the voice sang.
As Emil descended from his jump he watched the already grotesque beings shift once again.
Fragments of crystal broke off from their exoskeletons as they shrieked feverishly in ecstasy. Their bladed hands curved inward and downward, forming perfectly proportioned scythes. Their bodies dropped, altering their center of gravity and forcing them to hunch over. The excess crystal that had fallen off re-adhered itself to the base of their legs, fortifying their would-be calves.
Emil landed shakily, barely sticking his footing. Poison? His feet buckled as if the ground shook even though the earth remained still. His body drooped, unresponsive to his commands.
Something like that, the unfamiliar voice answered with a sultry laugh. Details are irrelevant at this point. All that matters is that you submit to me.
Chapter 9: Left Behind
Marona woke from the cave floor, alone. With Emil nowhere to be seen, the worst of her fears had come to fruition. There was no use calling for him—she already knew he was long gone. Hastily outfitting herself, she re-armed herself with her crossbow and assorted explosives. The two daggers that Emil had given her were already stowed away in their desired spots.
The Last Light Series Omnibus One: - The Dreamer and the Deceiver - All Things Eternal - Ode to the King: A Superhero Epic Fantasy Collection (The Last Light Collection Book 1) Page 5