The Whispers of the Fallen

by J. D. Netto

  As I looked at the snake, it was transforming itself, slowly taking shape. As I blinked, I saw Demetre standing before me, his eyes dark, his skin pale, his clothes looking completely disheveled. His body slowly deteriorated and flames surrounded him.

  I woke up gasping for air. I was sweating profusely; it seemed as though I had gone swimming in the river. I surveyed my surroundings only to find Devin and Adawnas sound asleep and the forest in complete silence. The sound of the murmuring river brought me some peace. I reclined my head and closed my eyes, wondering if I would be able to fall asleep again.

  VIII

  I was awoken from a deep sleep by a violent shaking from Devin.

  “Let us be on our way, Isaac. It is already late,” he admonished.

  Slowly, I opened my eyes. I still expected to see sunlight when I woke up, but that hadn’t happened for some time. Adawnas appeared like a breath of sunshine with three apples in hand.

  “Here is breakfast!” she said as she tossed the apples to Devin and me. As we continued with our walk, I saw a remote village surrounded by an old rugged wall in the valley of the forest from atop one of the hills. Smoke swirled in circles from the chimneys of the housetops and I could hear the faint chatter of the residents.

  “What is this place?” I asked Devin.

  “The Valley Hills—a small village near Mag Mell. Many small villages surround the kingdom. Kings use them to signal an oncoming battle. If these regions endure the preliminary attack, the kingdom is alerted beforehand of the enemy’s approach. It is said that Mag Mell is the kingdom with the strongest army amongst humans. If there are any in the human world that can call all other human kingdoms to battle, it is Mag Mell.”

  I looked at the small village again.

  “And how are mere humans supposed to defeat these…things…that are coming after the Diary?” I asked curiously.

  “If the human kingdoms unite, they may have a chance to win this war.” Devin placed his hand on my shoulder. “Humanity can still be redeemed. All that is needed is the will to fight. We must warn all of the kingdoms before the Shadows have the chance to spread,” Devin said hastily.

  “Remember, they seek to kill as many humans as possible so that their souls are unable to cross over, thus adding numbers to their army,” Adawnas added. “The Shadows will not cease to attack Elysium until all humans are killed. Inside the Abyss, the enemy is planning another attack. We must all be ready.”

  Flashes and images appeared in my mind. Sorrow grew in my heart as I looked at every single one of the faces that emerged.

  “I can see—feel what they are feeling,” I mumbled. “They have doubt, pain and loss. Some have recently lost loved ones,” I said in a hushed voice.

  The moment I finished speaking, we started to make our way down the hill, toward the village.

  “The weather is growing colder. Do you feel it, Adawnas?” Devin asked.

  “Yes. There hasn’t been any sunlight. This sudden change in weather will surely bring surprises,” she said, shaking her head in a sign of disapproval.

  We found ourselves at the wooden wall that guarded the village. Two watchtowers stood next to the hoary old gate, both guarded by two guards holding spears.

  “Who might you all be?” one of them asked.

  “We are travelers looking for a decent place to rest our heads,” Devin promptly replied. I knew that even though we had gotten some sleep in the forest, we still showed signs of weariness.

  “And the young traveler…who might he be?” the other one contested.

  “We found him in the forest. He claimed he was lost and his mother would be waiting for him here. Now please, may we enter?” Adawnas answered in an assertive tone.

  “Hey! There is no need to get feisty, young lady. We are on high alert. There is talk of strange happenings and creatures, and we have not seen sunlight for many days. It seems as if this storm will never pass,” the guard on the right quipped sarcastically, as he gestured to the other to let us in.

  The wooden gate was opened. Upon entering, we found ourselves in a courtyard with a beautiful statue located in the middle. Its form was in the likeness of a king riding a horse with a sword in one hand and a spear in the other. Trees enveloped the statue within a picturesque garden filled with a floral bouquet. The small homes and quaint little stores made the town feel warm and welcoming. After witnessing so much violence, I was surprised to capture the beauty on some of the windowpanes that were dressed with flowers and plants, which reminded me of happier times. Judging by what I had encountered, all seemed placid in this paradise.

  “It does not look so bad,” I said in a cheerful tone.

  “Well, this is one of the most peaceful places we have come across lately. Let us hope it stays that way,” Adawnas said as she studied all the people around her.

  Many children were playing on the streets. All of them were laughing and running without a care. Their mothers watched them, but their faces did not express the same carefree joy. I noticed there were no men around. Could it be their husbands had left? Was this why I felt the loss in their hearts?

  “No men are present here, Devin. Don’t you find this peculiar?” Adawnas asked.

  “We must talk to the overseer of this town. Maybe he will be able to give us some answers,” he replied.

  We hurriedly made our way through the crowded narrow street.

  “We have no royal status—we have no right to ask for a meeting with their overseer. How are we ever going to get a chance to talk to him? Who will we say we are?” I asked.

  “The overseer will be able to tell us why the men are missing. No order is passed on to citizens without being approved by the overseer first. We must assess the possibilities of what can be accomplished here before we head to Mag Mell,” Adawnas said with an edge to her voice.

  As we walked, I experimented with my newly acquired gift and focused my mental powers on the women’s souls to see if I could discover anything that might help us. The mixed emotions and thoughts I could read did not reveal any important information.

  Like a fine-tuned instrument I discerned that their hearts were apprehensive, worried about what could have happened to their men. Some were pensive with thoughts of deserting the village and heading to Mag Mell. After wandering through the village, I was no longer able to restrain myself from asking someone about the latest happenings.

  I approached a woman sweeping her front porch. She looked quite plain, wearing an old dress, her hair pinned at the nape of her neck in a tight bun. The wear and tear of the old dress indicated she was a hard worker. I came to a sudden stop.

  “Excuse me, ma’am,” I said in a soft voice as I took a few paces toward her. “We are distant travelers and we would like to ask you a few questions if you wouldn’t mind?” Devin and Adawnas stood by my side, unresponsive to my recent action.

  “I am sorry, young ones; I don’t do business with outsiders. Now please, if you would kindly leave…”

  “Please, ma’am. It is only one question, one simple question and we will be on our way,” I tried again, hopeful.

  “Find another to answer to your blabber. My time now is very limited, can you not see that?” she responded as she continued sweeping the floor; her eyes never gazing in our direction. I sighed.

  “But no one is willing. Please, ma’am, it is just one question,” I persisted.

  She stopped her sweeping, laid her broom against a wall and commenced to walk in our direction.

  “One question and then you must be off—otherwise I will call the guards on you three,” she replied bitterly. I looked around cautiously for anyone that might be suspicious. I did not want to let my guard down here, not even for a moment. Now that my gifts were maturing, I could easily view my surroundings.

  “Where are your men? Your husbands, your fathers, where are they?” I asked reluctantly.

  Immediately, her gestures changed from defensive to those of a weak and insecure woman.

  “I
…I don’t know. The king requested the men go to Mag Mell. The reason is unknown to all of us.” Her eyes swam in tears; her voice was quivering softly. “Now please, take your leave. If you want to know more, head over to Mag Mell. I strongly advise you against going. There have been rumors of a shadow growing there.”

  “When did this take place?” Devin asked.

  The lady scoffed.

  “They were all called to leave last week, a little before the sun was hidden by the clouds,” she responded in anguish.

  “Do you know where we can find the overseer of this town?” Adawnas questioned her. I could sense she was afraid of the Nephilins. It was obvious, if one took a good look, that Devin and Adawnas had noticeable differences, but they were still able to pass as mere humans.

  “The overseer is located in the Over Hall, just a couple of streets ahead. It is the white building with six columns. I highly doubt he will be available to speak to anyone, especially outsiders,” she said as she grabbed ahold of her broom.

  “What is his name?” Devin asked her.

  “Anatolio, sir—that is his name. My husband is very close to him, and he did not even tell me the reason why all of the men were called to Mag Mell. He did say it was for a worthy cause.” Her hands tightened their grasp on the broom. A soft breeze whispered.

  “Thank you, ma’am. You have helped a great deal,” I said.

  She nodded and resumed her sweeping.

  “They are indeed clueless to what is happening,” Adawnas said. “How can the humans be so negligent, so disconnected?”

  “It was their choice,” Devin responded. “They chose to fall and now they live in ignorance of the truth. Still, we must warn Anatolio of what is happening. He needs to know about the spreading of the Darkness.”

  As we walked toward the Over Hall, screams echoed around us. A familiar feeling rose within me; an urge empowered me once again. Some of the women were running in the opposite direction from where we were headed. Some stood petrified, frightened at what lay ahead. Within me, I already knew what awaited us.

  “Shadows,” I said, making my way through the scampering crowd.

  “They have found this place,” Devin said. We quickened our pace. Every time the Shadows were near, it felt as though a stake was driven into my heart. I was greatly abhorred by their presence, but a part of me also wanted to keep watching them as they moved.

  We then came upon the scene that had frightened all of them. A Shadow stood on top of a man, his body desecrated, his innards scattered over the courtyard. This catastrophe occurred directly in front of the Over Hall. I was able to connect to his last image just prior to his death. I relived the images of the Shadow leaping on top of him, ripping open his stomach with its teeth, slashing his neck with its claws, and ripping him apart. Indeed, it was Anatolio’s body.

  “It’s him, Devin, it’s Anatolio,” I reported, approaching the mutilated body.

  “Someone wanted him dead,” Adawnas answered in a somber tone.

  The Shadow turned to face us, its face smothered with blood, its garments ragged and filthy. I could hear low grumbles emerging from the hollow being. At that very moment, Devin took up his sword and hastily pierced the Shadow through the chest. It growled as it faded into ash. The crowd stared at us and at their overseer, whose body lay torn apart on the ground. They all muttered amongst themselves, wondering who we were.

  The moment I turned around, I heard growls all around us. Instantly, my heart grew weary. It would not take a mastermind to determine the next plan of attack.

  “There are more approaching. They would not send only one of them,” I concluded.

  “You must all leave…now!” Devin shouted; the veins on his neck were now visible. “Head for the trees, the trees, now!”

  Commotion erupted. The screaming of children and women filled the village. Some attempted to head back to their homes to retrieve what they could from their belongings.

  “There is no time!” Adawnas shouted. “Please, you must all leave at once! Don’t wait.”

  Loud thunder rumbled through the sky. Rain immediately followed. The growls grew louder, closer. Clamorously, the people fled, heading in the direction of the wooden gate.

  “We cannot linger,” Devin said. “They are coming. We must leave also.”

  “And leave these people helpless?” I asked. “I thought our duty was to save people, not to allow them to be slaughtered.”

  “Isaac is right,” Adawnas agreed. “We must help them.”

  Devin placed both of his hands over his head, sighed and looked up at the rainy sky.

  “How many?” he asked.

  I closed my eyes to concentrate at a deeper level, to better feel the presence of the Shadows. After I was able to push beyond the impulse of tuning into their feelings and thoughts, I was able to see them.

  “I see many, Devin—hundreds of them coming our way,” I mumbled. I felt the cold sweat dripping from my hands.

  “We will not be able to defeat them all, Adawnas—you know it!” he yelled.

  The people fled in despair, the children cried hysterically, mayhem was on every side. Out of the commotion of the people, a man dressed in silver armor unexpectedly sprang from the shadows and walked in our direction. He held a sword decorated with silver jewels; its blade was long and its black cross-guard had a lion engraved. In his left hand he held a dark spear with a silver tip. The engravings of the lion were also etched on the spear’s handle.

  “Yes, we will.” The man exuded complete assurance. These three simple words seemed to carry the certainty of our victory. He looked back.

  “Underwarriors!” he yelled in a commanding voice. The ground trembled and from under the Over Hall, soldiers arose. They also sprang out from underground, from inside houses and from under the trees.

  “Who are you?” I asked. Devin and Adawnas seemed confused as well.

  “Would you rather converse right now, or do you want to fight these creatures and send them back to the Abyss?” he asked as he placed a sword in my hand.

  “Use it wisely,” he said, making his way toward the woods.

  His exquisite armor appeared to be created from an ethereal material fashioned in silver with golden stripes. It shimmered with a celestial brilliance, even without the presence of sunlight.

  At last the Shadows had reached us. They leaped onto the women, biting flesh anywhere they could. The moment the Shadows began to attack the people, the Underwarriors violently struck from the rear. They were not as fast as the Nephilins, but right away I noticed that they were highly skilled in combat.

  I wielded my sword with such agility, it appeared as though I had been fighting with one my whole life. I pierced as many Shadows as I could; some through the chest, others I struck in the head. Though our efforts proved triumphant versus the Shadows, many women and children were still devoured. I tried to keep as many alive as possible, convinced that their fate was doomed if I was unsuccessful.

  The Shadows continued scaling the walls, climbing down from the trees and appearing out of the houses. With all of the passion that ignited in me, I did not want to waste any time. I had to make certain that I would send as many of them to the Abyss as possible.

  I relentlessly pressed through the Shadows, slaying them mercilessly. My body felt invigorated, stronger in so many ways. As I attacked, I could see the Shadows clearly. My heart was still filled with fear for the women and children, who were feeling despair and defenseless from the attacks by these foul creatures, and the knowledge that they would never see their husbands or fathers again.

  One specific Shadow caught my eye. It held a torch and it was sniffing the ashes of other Shadows that had been defeated. Quickly, the Shadow cast the torch onto their remains and a fire began to spread throughout the town.

  “They are flammable!” I yelled in despair. “Their ashes are flammable!” I kept on shouting, hoping Devin or Adawnas would hear me. I tried to find something that would stop the fire, but there
was nothing. Some of the Shadows fled toward the inferno and cast themselves into the flames. Each time one walked into the fire, an explosion took place.

  I leaped from rooftop to rooftop, tree to tree, trying to find Devin and Adawnas. The Underwarriors were still battling; some lay dead on the ground. As I forged ahead, I finally caught a glimpse of Devin fighting. Hastily, I went to his aid. There were two Shadows mounted on top of him, one on his neck and the other on his leg. With their razor-sharp teeth, they bit him violently. Instantly, I pierced one right through its back. It hissed as soon as the blade touched it. Devin swung his sword and decapitated the other. He seemed weak; wounds were scattered along his arm and neck. I pulled him inside one of the houses.

  “Devin…the Shadows are setting the town on fire with their own bodies!” I declared. “The town is being destroyed.”

  His eyes widened, boring deep into mine. He looked outside to see the dark cloud of smoke rising.

  “Isaac, we must leave at once,” he affirmed in a strong voice.

  “Lea…leave?” I mumbled. “What about the people…the children that are still alive? We are just going to leave them here?” The thought of forsaking these people brought me despair.

  “There is no other way. If we stay, we die here, along with them.” The moment he was done speaking, he slowly rested his back against the dirty wall and sat on the floor, groaning in pain.

  “No!” I yelled as I grabbed his shoulder. “I thought our duty was to not only protect the Diary, but also the people of Elysium. They are unaware that many others will soon share their fate.” Desperation finally burst forth from me. My face reflected the gloom, which quickly spread throughout my entire body.

  “People will die in this war whether we like it nor not. Trust me, if we die, all will be disastrous.” His voice was cold. “We must look for Adawnas. We must leave this place at once,” Devin insisted with utmost urgency.

  “But if we can prevent their deaths—”

  “We will!” he snapped, shouting at the top of his lungs. “We are destined to prevent the deaths of many. If we stay, we die now and our journey ends. I am so sorry, but we have not gone through all of these perils to die here. It is a hard choice but on this journey, hard choices are fated.”