The Elisha Amulet: Enigmas & Empires: Book One

by Brad Carr

  “Watch this,” Angus bragged, which was uncommon for him. “Let me use your gun.”

  “You have one.”

  “I’m using both hands.”

  “Fine, but I’m putting six enemies in front of you, gunslinger.”

  Adjusting a dial on the partition, six projections began sprinting at Angus. He shot down all six holograms in under two seconds. Angus gunned them down with four head shots, and blasting two others in the chest.

  “Wow! I am thoroughly impressed. Wish I could shoot with two hands.”

  “I’m sure you can.”

  “No I can’t,” Rebecca confirmed holding up her first two fingers on her right hand. “These two fingers are useless. They are just prosthetics, and the non functional kind.”

  “I can’t even tell! They look so, real. No difference in your skin color either. Why are they non-functional?”

  “I lost my fingers when I was a child. A wolf bit them off. I didn’t get prosthetics until I was an adult. The tendons were too damaged to be functional. If I had surgery as a child, they could have saved them. But, doctors are scarce on Phantom Island.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Oh, it’s no big deal. Where did you learn to shoot like that?”

  “Gun ranges are all over Satellite Island. I went there every week to blow off steam.”

  A voice from a small radio on Rebecca’s collar, interrupted her conversation with Angus. “Private Yu, we need you at the front gate.”

  “On my way,” she responded, touching a button on her ear piece.”I have to go Angus. Please follow me out the back entrance. I will show you to the barracks and be on my way.”

  “Wait, will I be seeing my uncle today?”

  “I’m afraid not today. He will contact you when he isn’t busy.”

  Angus followed her out to a back tunnel which led to another elevator. Walking out onto the surface, she directed him to the recruit barracks door. Angus and Rebecca said their goodbyes. She ran off in a hurry towards the front gate of the city wall.

  Angus opened the entrance door to the barracks. Bunk beds made of bamboo were lined up against the walls on all four sides. Wooden footlockers were placed at the bottom of every bed. Angus could hear some of the new recruits footsteps stomping above on the second floor.

  “Angus!” exclaimed Reeves. “I see you found your way to our new hell hole.”

  Angus smiled for the first time in days. Reeves seemed very excited about his new surroundings. His enthusiasm seemed to create a positive tone. Friendship was something that Angus needed to feel more comfortable.

  Chapter 7

  An alarm screeched. Recruits leapt quickly from their beds in a panic. “Are we being attacked?” someone asked. Without fully dressing in their uniforms, they ran out the door in their undergarments.

  Upon their hasty exit, a man saddled on a gigantic war pig stared them down. The pig had grey hair with black patches, and copious amounts of scars. On four legs, its height stood around three meters. The rider gazed at their hysteria with amusement. Seeing his long white hair and a beard, the recruits instantly recognized their former king, Brakion Vol.

  Most bowed in obedience. Others stood transfixed by the legend they heard so much about. While a few others gaped at the sight of the battle scarred war pig. Angus saw his Uncle for the first time that he could recall. General Loft stood a few meters away from Brakion.

  Loft began to speak in his usually high, but commanding voice, “Alpha General Vol wishes to address his cadets! Stand in attention!”

  Remaining on his saddle, Brakion addressed the newcomers,“Welcome to Outpost Seven. I am your Alpha General, Brakion Vol. This soldier,” he pointed to the war pig he was riding, “is Bantam. I wouldn’t recommend getting too close to him. He is quite temperamental. Bantam has seen more bloodshed than you ever have in your entire life.”

  Bantam grunted in agreement. It was as if this massive creature understood every word Brakion spoke. Bantam seemed to exude an heir of intelligence that could be likened to a human.

  “You will receive rigorous training. It will be difficult, but it is worth the benefits. This is a gift that has been bestowed upon you. Destiny awaits you. We are on the cusp of seeing our nation become great and mighty. The land you live in is dangerous, that much is true. But we cannot become powerful without sacrifice. Future descendants will tell tales of your bravery. It is my great honor to be your Alpha General. Listen as General Loft explains the training program.”

  Loft exclaimed, “For the first three months you will be studying every creature we have ever encountered in the land. You will be learning harsh survival tactics, and battle procedures. We will exhaust you mentally, and physically. For the next six months after that, you will be sent into the wild. The extreme physical training you endure will prepare you to survive and overcome. Nine months you were in a womb, you developed, and you were born. So too, will these nine months of training be your rebirth. If there are any questions, your instructor will answer them. In two hours, instructors will be calling out your names. You will be divided into teams of ten or more. For now, go back inside, get dressed, go to the kitchen house, and be back here in two hours sharp. Is that understood?”

  “Yes General!” they shouted in unison.

  Brakion briefly glanced at Angus. Brakion gave him a slightly visible nod, then galloped off without saying anything further.

  Heading back to the barracks to get prepared for the upcoming instructor visit, Angus pondered, “Why didn’t Uncle Brakion say anything to me? What can he tell me about my father? Is he really the hero of the Capital Kingdom? Or is he the monster whom the Scarlett Republic fears?” Brakion still remained a mystery to Angus.

  “Ready for some grub buddy?” asked Reeves with a cheery tone to his voice, interrupting Angus’ thoughts.

  “You’ve been awfully excited since we arrived here. What gives?”

  “We can discuss that while we are eating brother.”

  Angus finished putting on his uniform and responded with a simple, “Okay.”

  Walking towards the kitchen house, Reeves started the conversation. “So, you met your uncle finally. What did you think? You looked pissed off after he left. What’s the problem?”

  “Nothing important.”

  “Come on man. We just survived a shitty situation together and came out breathing. I think we can be friends by now don’t you? I got your back.”

  Angus reluctantly gave in to Reeves’ persistence. “It’s the first time I can remember meeting him. And I still don’t know anything about the man except for his supposedly legendary stories told by others. He’s the only family I have on this outpost, well, the entire territory of Mitton also. Why the cold reception?”

  “You know, I couldn’t tell you for sure. Good question though. But just imagine if he did speak to you in front of everyone before you even get training. Maybe it would be a bad idea. I mean, others might think you would be getting special treatment. Or maybe he’s got to look like a hard ass to everyone to keep up his status? Maybe he’s just that way? But I doubt that. You know, the stories of the Vol brothers are folklore for the Capital Kingdom.”

  “I guess that makes sense Reeves. But now I have a question for you. You’ve been very supportive of Brakion. You even defended him in front of that poor woman on the Milt Docks, Papier. Why is that?”

  “My first husband spoke highly of Brakion and Salem. He was even on their squad during the Island Wars.”

  “What happened to your first husband?”

  “He died from complications of a spinal cord affliction, called Transverse Myelitis.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be, he had a good and exciting life. Better than most people get.”

  Angus and Reeves entered the kitchen house. Inside was a cafeteria with long bamboo tables and chairs, a few lit chandeliers made from scrap metal, and a line of recruits waiting for breakfast. Grabbing a tray with a bowl and u
tensils inside, they slid the trays to the first cook behind the counter.

  “What do you got today?” asked Reeves.

  “We have feline stew, or mushroom bisque, with a side of bread and corn,” replied the cook.

  “Feline stew! Hot damn! I haven’t had good pussy in a long time. On a side note, I never have,” laughed Reeves.

  Angus chuckled at the joke, as did the cook. But the cook faded back to her serious expression after a few seconds. She just stared uncomfortably at Reeves.

  “So what’s it going to be?”

  “I’ll take the feline stew. Sounds gross though. Wish you had some deer or fish.”

  “Sorry, there’s an abundance of the cat population, they are our steady source of meat. Deer is typically saved for special occasions. Fish should be on the menu tomorrow.” Turning to Angus she asked, “And you?”

  “I’m going for the mushroom bisque. I’m vegetarian.”

  “That’ll change after a while,” she remarked as she plopped a ladle full of food in his bowl. “You won’t have that choice later on.”

  “What do you…”

  “Move along,” said the cook, interrupting Angus’ question.

  After finding a seat, Angus continued his conversation with Reeves. “So tell me Reeves, why aren’t you broken up about leaving your family behind?”

  “Well, I’m getting older. My kids are grown, and quite frankly, I want a new adventure. My husband, excuse me, ex-husband now; he understands how I am. Nothing lasts forever, so no need to be attached to anything. As far as I know, we only have one life. So fuck it. Let’s enjoy it. That is my new motto.”

  “I respect that. I wish I could feel the same.”

  “It will get easier. Just think of yourself as being reborn into a new land and a new life. The old life is gone. A fresh new start. Like a brand new shirt.”

  “Well, I’ll try that.”

  Reeves took a spoonful of the feline stew, stood on top of his bench and exclaimed, “Holy shit! That is damn good!”

  Silence filled the room. Everyone inside stared at Reeves. Some looked with disgust, while others looked on with confusion.

  “Props to the chef! Lady you cook a mean feline stew!” Reeves still drawing attention to himself, looked around the room. Angus snickered at his silly nature.

  “Sit down you old fuck!” a young recruit exclaimed.

  “Oh I will!” Reeves called out. “When you make me! Don’t be an uptight little shit!”

  The young recruit slid out his chair and stood up. He was a blonde haired man, in his mid twenties. Traveling over toward Reeves, his fists were bawled. Angus’ smile changed to a serious scowl. When Angus rose up, the young recruit changed direction and quietly returned to his table.

  ***

  The instructors promptly arrived. Reeves was placed in the same group as Angus. The instructor assigned to Angus’ group was an older woman with gray hair. Her skin was pale, wrinkled. She was a blind woman with eyes of snowy white. Yet she didn’t need any help getting around as she called out the names of her group. The memory of this woman must have been sharpened by her years of experience. No chart was in her hands, no assistant to help her, and yet she carried on as if she didn’t have a disability.

  The instructor’s name was Gabriella Bittersmith. Her voice sounded as if her vocal cords were in constant strain. But there was a gentle nature about her that was hard to pinpoint.

  Cadets lined up in front of her, she proceeded to call them individually to approach her. Bittersmith would converse with them privately, then take her hand to feel their facial features. She whispered to them, and instructed them not to repeat it. After the message given, recruits looked confused as they formed back in line.

  The last to be asked to approach her was Angus. Stepping up to her, he stretched over her with his immense size. Angus knelt down on one knee so she could touch his face.

  “Angus Vol, you have strong features. I see much physical strength in you. But your mind is not ready for the task at hand. Your heart still resides with your wife Rola. Think of her now.”

  ***

  Rola’s face beaded with sweat. Angus clasped onto her left hand. Flushed with a red hue, her body temperature heightened to dangerous levels.

  “Angus,” she said as her body quivered lightly. “I want you to move on without me.”

  “Nonsense, you aren’t going anywhere.”

  “Please Angus. Our boy needs you to be strong. You can do this,” a tear flowed down her left eye. “I want you to think of the good times we shared, not this memory. One day you’ll find someone else, and when you do, don’t push her away because of me.”

  “Enough of that,” he replied in a consoling voice. Kissing her lips he continued, “I will never replace you. You’re coming home. You’ll get better.”

  “No Angus, I won’t. You need to accept that.”

  Angus began to whimper, putting his forehead against her hand. “I won’t.”

  “If you won’t do it for me. Do it for Fraser.”

  She glared at the wall in front of her, “Who are you?”

  “Babe, it’s me. It’s Angus.”

  “Angus, who is that man? Do you see him?”

  Angus looked in the direction of her gaze. The wall was empty, the door was closed. “Babe, there’s no one here.”

  “He’s telling me to come with him Angus.”

  “No! No babe, it’s just in your head. You are ill,” he cried.

  Rola turned her head back to Angus’ face, “It’s okay babe. I’m ready.”

  “Rola, listen to me. Stay with me.”

  “I love…”

  Rola’s body fell limp in the bed. Eyes void of life, her chest expelled the last breath. Angus sobbed. He tried desperately to wake her.

  “Pay close attention Angus,” Bittersmith’s voice permeated the scene.

  A young father held the hand of his partner. The woman was in labor, breathing deep and pushing outward. Nurses and a female doctor were present in the room.

  “I see the head. Keep pushing Carrie,” the masked female doctor suggested.

  With a final push, the baby was born. The doctor held the child, and snipped the umbilical cord off. The father and mother cried tears of joy.

  Putting the baby on the mother’s chest the doctor announced, “Congratulations. It’s a baby girl.”

  ***

  Angus snapped back into consciousness. Bittersmith looked into his eyes.

  “She told you to move on Angus. You haven’t. Your wife will not have any remembrance of you. But take comfort that when one soul departs, another is born. A clean slate, a new life, fresh choices. It is time you do the same.”

  Angus felt better than he had ever felt in a long time. Knowing that Rola was possibly reincarnated, it lessoned the sting of death. Although deep in his mind, he questioned whether or not Bittersmith implanted a fantasy in his head. But it didn’t matter now, because he couldn’t feel sadness at the moment.

  “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome Angus Vol. I took away your pain of her loss. Rola’s memory will be a happy one now. Be thankful of the time you shared together. These are more important than the somber ones. And do not worry about your son Fraser. He will find you again.”

  Angus felt another relief, “Thank you, again.”

  Tears filled Angus’ eyes at the thought of seeing Fraser again. He was speechless. But he had hope. Hope was the gift he needed.

  “Angus, here is your prophecy. You will be tested beyond what most men can endure. But hold faith. You have an important role in this world. Common men can do great things when destiny falls on their laps.”

  Bittersmith removed her hand from his cheek. Angus stood, and walked slowly back in the line. He was disordered, yet optimistic and driven. Looking at the other recruits, they too looked bewildered by what had just happened to them.

  “Recruits!” exclaimed Bittersmith walking away from the recruits.”Hold all questions
until the end of what I’m about to show you.”

  Bittersmith snapped her fingers. She disappeared from their sight. Their surroundings transformed into a bygone city. It was full of skyscrapers, flying vehicles, and pedestrians walking the sidewalks. It was a metropolis of people going about their daily business. The sand originally under their feet was now concrete and asphalt. The skies were darker than usual. Bittersmith's voice surrounded them.

  “How is this possible you may ask? What happened to the outpost? Where are the docks? Where am I?” she inquired for them.“A neural upload has been linked to your chips. My dear children, you are walking into the shadow of the past. This is a memory from what is now called Phantom Island, nearly seven hundred years ago. Observe the sky above you.”

  A saucer shaped vehicle hovered in the sky. People began to panic, scream, and run. A young woman with a child in her arms ran through a few of the recruits’ bodies.

  “Do not be alarmed. They cannot see you. Like I had already specified, it is just a glimpse of days gone by. They cannot touch you. This civilization is just a memory. Pause!”

  Vehicles stopped moving, the residents of the memory froze in place. Even the wind blowing through a flag on a pole had ceased movement.

  “The craft above you is the destruction of this ancient civilization. Before you witness the rest of this memory, I want to show you something. Please point your attention to your right.”

  In an alley way, a young woman stood with bright blue eyes and shoulder length silky blonde hair. She had smooth legs, toned and athletic. Her cherry red dress fell just above her knee, with a neckline near the top of her cleavage. High heel shoes matched her attire.

  “This is the image of a Messenger. Beings that have lived among mankind since they were single celled organisms. These are the moments before she witnessed the end of the world at that time. Resume!”

  Movement continued. The flying craft in the sky dropped cannonball sized steel orbs to the ground below. Opening from a small hatch, green smoke rapidly shot out a nozzle. Men, women, and children coughed for a few minutes, until collapsing on the street. Their lungs full of poison, they suffocated.