Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

  *

  Eventually, after an undetermined length of time, the pounding of the rain began to lessen in intensity. Beams of dusk light had begun to break through the dissipating poisonous cloud by the time Alza dispelled the barrier. Carefully, they made their way out of the broken church, whilst avoiding some of the larger puddles of pollution. Once they neared the city centre, Maloch began to call out, “Barsch! Kingston!” to no avail. They began to search for the missing duo, but there was no sign. Eventually, they made it to the pile of rubble which the beast had called home. The great beast was nowhere to be seen, and was most likely long gone. After leaving the pile, they began searching in the direction Barsch had gone, all while Maloch repeated their names without pause.

  They were walking down a nondescript street when Maloch cried out, “There!”

  In the middle of the street, facing them, was Barsch. He was standing, but there was something about him that seemed… off. As Maloch and Alza approached, he opened his eyes and smiled. Behind him Kingston was lying on the ground, tears clearly flowing down his leathery face.

  “Master Barsch! Master Kingston! I am glad to see you unharmed!”

  Barsch took a single step forwards and, still smiling, said, “Hey, Maloch, how are you doing?”

  Turning his head he added, “Alza! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Barsch took another step forward, and Alza noticed the pool of blood around his feet. She took another look at his face, and noticed that what she had initially mistaken for a smile was actually a grimace.

  “I was so worried, but I guess everything turned out okay. I... I think dad would be proud of me. Please tell him… that I’ll be waiting with my mother…waiting for him…”

  On his third step, Barsch fell. It seemed to happen in slow-motion, as his body slowly drifted towards the broken street. There was no sound. There was no colour.

  Barsch lay before them, his burnt and bleeding body exposed to the world.