The Choosing

by Jeremy Laszlo

  Garret lay awake for a long time finding it hard to get comfortable on the stone floor. He had heard whispers from somewhere within their nature made shelter, and knew that it was Seth and Sara. He envied Seth a bit for his finding of such a beautiful woman. They seemed to fit well together. She was always looking at his brother with love in her eyes, and for this Garret was happy. He too knew his brother cared for Sara. He could see it in the way his brother walked with her and talked to her. Seth adored the girl, and who could blame him. She was gorgeous. The fact that the two of them seemed so happy with each other was the reason Garret was happy for them, and at the same time extremely worried about them. He had been trying his best to conceal his concern when they spoke. Thus far he had been able to leave his brother and Sara in the dark about it. Now he wondered if he should mention it to them. Garret knew that a small part of him was jealous of Sara, it was only natural. Seth was his twin, and they had always been the ones to look out for one another, always been as close as two people could be. Sara had changed that to a degree, and Garret had noticed. He was not angry though, he knew that one day it would happen, he just didn’t expect it so soon. But all that was of little importance, what really mattered now is Seth and Sara. He assumed that they had not yet really thought about where they were going. In just over a week, they would be attending The Choosing ceremony, where more than likely they would be chosen to play two different roles, in two different places. It was possible that they would be picked for the same thing but unlikely. Garret was torn about what he should do. He could warn them, remind them really, of the impending possibility. This he feared might end their romance bringing them both to resent him. At the same time however it could make them that much more passionate about each other, allowing their bond to strengthen to the point that it might last even if they were separated. Garret still had the option though of simply keeping his mouth shut, delaying the realization that was sure to hit them in the very near days to come. This option, he did not think, would destroy Seth and Sara’s relationship, but it might lead them to do something foolish without enough time to prepare themselves for a possible separation. Then again Garret thought, maybe they have already discussed it and decided it wasn’t important enough to dwell upon just yet. Garret hated being unsure, he could usually make difficult decisions quickly. Usually though, those decisions did not affect his brother’s happiness and so effect his relationship with his twin. Garret pondered the impossible dilemma until his brain could literally take no more. One minute he was conscious, the next he was out like a snuffed candle.

  Ashton laid awake mere moments after he got himself comfortable. His conscious so clear it would make an angel feel guilty. He closed his eyes, not a worry in the world, and fell fast asleep snoring lightly.

  Seth awoke abruptly, feeling something was wrong he scanned the small stone room around him in the dim light from the sun still beyond the horizon. He sought out his brother in the darkness and was surprised to see his brother too looked in his direction. They both remained still, unwilling to move, listening into the darkness. A small thud sounded from the back of the small cavern, where the ceiling was lowest and shadows the deepest. Seth slowly turned his head towards the noise not wanting to bring attention to himself with sudden movements. Garret had heard the sound too, but from his position on the floor had no way to look behind him towards the noise, and so remained intent upon his twin awaiting a response or command.

  Seth peered into the darkness unable to see anything, yet knowing just beyond his vision, something lurked in the shadows. Something moved then, appearing as just another shadow in the darkness, Seth had not noticed it until it moved. Now that he could see the difference between the object and the shadows he was able to make out more details about it. Whatever it was, it was crouching in the darkness standing on two legs. That ruled out most animals. It was doing something as well but Seth could not tell what. The creature too had its back against the same stone Seth rested against, and so its gaze was not on him. Seth slowly freed his hands from around Sara, careful not to disturb her, praying she would not wake. He still wore his belt, but from this position, with Sara in his lap, he was unable to draw his sword, and unable to reach his dagger. He looked to Garret to see if his brother was still armed and noted at once that he was not. Remembering the previous night, Seth recalled both Ashton and his brother placing their items in the back of the cave where the creature now lurked. Seth peeled his eyes from his brother and again looked into the darkness until he could distinguish the creatures form once again. He located it, right where it had been, and now realized their predicament. The creature was rummaging through their packs, standing between them and his brother’s weapons. Seth looked around for something, anything he might use to distract the creature, long enough for his brother to regain his sword. Garret had suddenly realized what was going on. Garret Watched helplessly as his brother’s eyes darted around the cavern, first to him, then back to their gear, back to Garret, then everywhere. Realization came to Garret just as Seth found his solution. He hadn’t found anything to distract the creature in fact, he found something better. Propped beside him was Sara’s pack, leaning against it her small crossbow. This was perfect. The crossbow sat on the opposite side of him as the creature, so whatever it was it would not see him reach for the weapon so long as he moved slowly.

  Seth’s eyes on the creature, he reached out his left hand slowly. Finding the crossbow with his fingers he traced it top to bottom and frowned. It was not drawn, nor was it loaded. This altered his plan extensively. He might be able to draw the small crossbow with one hand, maybe even without making enough noise to gain the creatures attention. But the short arrows for the crossbow were in the quiver, belted to Sara’s waist. First he needed his ammunition. With his left hand, the one the creature wouldn’t see, Seth slowly traced Sara’s body, feeling a little guilty as he did so. Sliding his hand over and around her waist he located the quiver. Another setback. He could reach the quiver with his left hand, but the opening was facing off to his right, just out of reach. He would have to get an arrow with his right hand. He now knew where they were, and he was certain could get one loaded in a fraction of a second if he could get the bow drawn. Still watching the creature, which remained oblivious, Seth again searched for the crossbow with his fingertips. Finding it he slowly, carefully lifted it away from the pack and away from the wall. Feeling it was far enough from anything to make any noise he flipped it over in his hand, turning it bow side up. Again he moved, just as before, painstakingly slow bringing the crossbow to once again rest against the stone that made the wall behind him. He gingerly released his grip on the weapon assuring himself it wouldn’t fall in his hand’s absence. It remained, unmoving. Maneuvering his shoulder and arm he was able to reach above the bow to the handle that was used to draw the cord. He gripped and pushed both down and back, one direction to keep it securely against the stone, the other to draw the cord. The awkward position he was in made it more difficult to draw then it usually would be and he strained in the effort. Slowly, gradually the cord neared the catch, and Seth, unable to watch what he was doing, realized he almost had it when he felt the handle come to a stop. He had reached the catch, just one more tiny push and the crossbow would be drawn. He pushed, and the catch caught, with a click. Seth closed his eyes and froze. He heard the creature turn. He knew it was looking at him, he could feel its gaze upon him. Seth waited afraid even to breathe. He listened intently to hear if the creature moved towards him. Worse than that, he heard something more familiar. The sound of steel on leather. The creature, it seemed, was armed. Seth at this point was not. Sara stirred slightly in his lap, and Seth wished she would be still, not bring attention to herself. Seth listened, and just as he feared, he heard the creature take a step. The creature again paused as if watching and listening. Another step. Seth had to act. He knew if he waited until the creature got any closer, he wouldn’t have a chance.

  In one moment, in a flurry of movement
Seth opened his eyes, nodded to his twin, grabbed the crossbow pulling it before him with one hand, and pulled an arrow out from beneath his blanket with the other. Looking to his hands he brought the bolt to the crossbow and seated it in place. Turning his head to find his target, he found it. It was too late.

  The very second Seth began to move, the creature raced across the small cavern raising his thin wicked blade in front of him, turning the blade over in his hand. He Saw the man brandish a crossbow and lunged at the man with all his might. The creature knew it was a long shot. He would have to travel through the air an incredible distance to deal the man a death blow. Even so, he was already in the air, sailing forward, falling short. His attack would meet the man's leg or his lap if the creature was lucky. Maybe if he injured the man he would buy himself enough time to kill him then the other two men before they were aware of him. The creature thought all this while still in the air, in a fraction of a fraction of a second. He was falling now and thrust his blade out before him, blade down. He would not reach the man's head or chest, but he would be able to drive the blade into his gut.

  Seth reacted the only way he could. The creatures lunge had propelled him and his blade not to him, but to Sara. Seth did not think, he had no time for thought, instead he reacted. Rolling his body around, and turning his back to the creature, Seth shielded Sara from danger. At that moment the creature collided with Seth’s back. Seth felt the blade rip through his ribs, driven deep into his chest from behind. The wind was knocked from his lungs, and light exploded before his eyes. He was helpless. The creature had regained his feet, and drew the blade from Seth’s back. Seth screamed in pain. His scream was echoed in a roar from the back of the cave. Garret came racing, sword in hand, towards the creature. The creature spun and raised his blade to protect himself. Garret closed the distance quickly, and swung the huge blade at the creature. The creature deflected his blow easily, sending Garrets blade to smash heavily into the stone wall. Seth moaned in agony, rolling to his side. Garret regained control of his sword, just in time to see the creature lunge at him. Garret had no time to defend himself and so braced himself for the blow. Midway through the air the Creatures evil, tooth filled grimace was replaced with one of panic and its blow went wild missing Garret altogether. The creature hit the ground sprawling, the nub of a crossbow bolt sticking out between its ribs in its side. It tried to recover brandishing its wickedly curved blade preparing for another lunge but Garret had already moved in, his blade in motion. With every ounce of strength he could muster Garret brought his large blade to meet the creature in a sweeping motion. The beast managed to get its own blade in the path of the oncoming assault but such was the momentum behind the swing that Garrets blade simply clashed against the beasts own blade sending it flying and Garrets stroke made true to the beasts ribcage cutting clean trough the beasts side all the way to the spinal cord where it wedged between two vertebra. Its creature's eye’s rolled in their sockets, as it hit the ground nearly cleaved in two. Garret couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked up to see not Seth holding the crossbow, but Sara. She shook from head to toe, the weapon slipping from her fingers, and falling with a loud clang upon the hard ground. She dropped to her knees sobbing uncontrollably wrapping her arms around Seth, trying to push him onto his side, so that she could see his face. Ashton was there then, helping Sara roll Seth’s limp body. Garret stood frozen, not knowing what to do, what to feel. Ashton felt Seth’s neck first, and then placed his ear to Seth’s face, listening for his breathing. Assured of something he then climbed over Seth to assess his wound. Grimacing at the grievous wound upon his friend he dropped to his knees immediately as he had done before, and raising his face to the heavens he prayed. He prayed longer than usual and Garret found this annoying, how much time did he think he had? Ashton finished his prayers, and turned his gaze down to his fallen friend. He placed both hands over Seth’s wound and began chanting. Louder and louder, faster and faster the chant continued. First Ashton’s fingers exploded in light, then his hands, then his entire body. As Garret had seen him do before, Ashton began to tremble, this gradually worsened until he began to shake violently. Even through his violent spasms Ashton continued, controlling, bending, and twisting the god’s power to his will. Ashton continued long past when he knew he should stop, he continued wielding the power until it was all he could see, all he could feel. He continued even when he could no longer feel the power, he continued until he lost consciousness.

  Ashton collapsed on top of Seth. Sara did not notice, she still cried uncontrolled, oblivious to what happened around her. Only Garret was there to bear witness, his entire body numb. He reached down, grabbing Ashton’s limp body by the shoulders, dragged him off of his brother, laying Ashton, on the ground a few feet away, on his back. Garret then knelt down beside his brother, looking at his blood drenched clothing. He reached down and peeled back his brother’s shirt. The wound remained, still bleeding. Ashton had failed. Knowing little about medicine, Garret removed his shirt and tied it around his brother’s torso tightly to stop the bleeding. Sara sat, Seth’s head in her lap, crying over his face. Tears rained on Garrets twin. Garret sat down on the floor between the unconscious form of his friend, and the dying form of his brother. He sat there, unmoving, showing no sign of emotion, no intention of ever regaining his feet. Garret was numb, lost in his subconscious.

  Garret was in fact dimly aware of his surroundings. From his peripheral vision he could see Ashton lying to his left and Seth to his right. He could hear the continued sobs of anguish from the small girl just out of his sight, and he tried to ignore them. Ashton was alive, this much he knew. The healer had overexerted himself somehow and passed out. Seth on the other hand, was probably still bleeding, bleeding slowly to his death. Garret was helpless. He sat, unblinking, unmoving, barely breathing himself. He did not know how long he sat there, it seemed to him it must have been an eternity, but then, as if from nowhere, Sara’s wailing was interrupted by a cough. Garret raised his head, this new sound confusing him, and realized the girls relentless sobs had come to an abrupt stop.

  Garret forced his mind to focus, and regaining control of his body turned to see if she too had passed out. Sara sat unmoving, turning blue, refusing to breathe. The cough came again and Garret seen Seth’s body jerk in unison with the sound. He stumbled to his feet, to better see his brother’s features, to be sure he hadn’t been mistaken. Sara still did not breathe. Garret looked to his brother’s face, cupped in the small hands of the girl. On Seth’s lips and on the girls hands lay small droplets of blood. Seth coughed again then, spraying more blood across Sara’s hands. She finally took a breath, but just one as she stared at the face in her hands. Again a cough, but this time Seth’s eyes moved beneath his eyelids. Garret and Sara now both watched him, un-breathing, waiting for another sign of life. It came suddenly, though it was not another cough as they had expected. Seth’s body jerked suddenly, violently. His appendages thrashed about for a moment, and then he was still again. Another cough followed this time spraying an entire mouth full of blood into the small woman’s hands. She sobbed again gasping for air, and then was silent once more. Seth moaned. It was an agonizing sound, a sound not of the living, and it sent shivers down Garret’s spine. The moan was followed swiftly by another round of coughs. This time, it was several in rapid succession. These coughs were more powerful, from somewhere deeper down.

  Seth opened his eyes then, a panicked look on his face. He looked towards Sara and then away, his eyes unable to see, unable to focus. He tried to move, and found he couldn’t make his body cooperate. He was having trouble breathing and tried to clear his throat. All that escaped his lips was a gurgle. His vision again started to go dark, and he found himself fighting for air, it dawned on him then, he was drowning.

  Garret heard the gurgle, and seeing the blue tint on his brother’s lips understood the situation. Dropping to his knees, Garret again pushed his brother onto his side, and careful to avoid his wound, he struck his bro
ther several times between the shoulder blades with the palm of his hand. The gurgle came again, followed by another fluid sound. Seth vomited blood, spewing it everywhere, but as he did he gulped air. He was wracked by coughs again and again, but he was breathing. His vision began to clear, and feeling returned to his extremities. He lay on his side in a pool of his own blood when his eyes finally were able to focus enough to make out Sara. She sat in front of him, holding his head. Tears streamed down her face, a face that was twisted in pain, a face that was one of an angel. Seth looked into her eyes, and willing his lips to move, was able to whisper brokenly.