Writers platform building campaign Challenge one

This work is as the title proclaims Third Writers Platform Building Campaign now while I didn't specifically sign up for this (as I missed the dead line) I'm doing the challenges anyway. I hope you enjoy.



Thief

The door swung open, creaking with the rest of the ship. Salty sweat ran into her mouth, as her padded feet sunk into the luscious red carpet. The young woman took a cautious step forward leaving the door open behind her in case of need for a quick get away. A small gas lamp sat at the end by the captain’s bed, the flame dancing and letting off a small incense to help the captain with his sleeping troubles. She smiled inwardly; her plan was going well the captain never suspected her, a mere slave girl, to steal his most prized possession.  She shook herself realising how strong the incense was, already she was drifting she had to move fast. As lithe as a cat and just as quiet she padded across the floor making her was to the bed. Blankets covered the mans face as he slumbered. The prize was right beside the lamp, she couldn’t believe her luck, or his stupidity. Eagerly her hand reached out to grab it to hold it. Pain exploded in her chest, she looked down at the point of the sword,

“Bugger.” She managed to whisper, as the door swung shut.

By Josh Rawlinson(Bolshack133)

07-Unanswered Questions

Who were they?

The thought reverberated around my head like an angry squirrel that had lost its nuts. The bed I lay on was hard and uncomfortable the room it was in was dark and smelt like mould, but anything was better than sleeping on the ground. I got in last night after being bombarded by Accalia, after she told me about everyone except Aldis being afraid of me she asked me what I’d done before we got to the building we were on,

“I don’t remember much of what happened, I was just really angry one second and then the next…I just wanted to go to sleep,” I’d told her She looked like she wanted to know more but before she could ask I said goodnight to her and left to the room I was in. I’d walked up the stairs to the room taken one sniff and collapsed on the bed not even bothering to get undressed. I couldn’t sleep. The question kept repeating and I couldn’t answer it at all so I lay awake and barely got any sleep.

I sat up slowly and it finally hit me that Hammond was my brother, I slammed back down on the bed with a quiet laugh, it was the only thing that seemed right. I thought about everything I could remember him telling me picking up second meanings in everything. Slowly my mind drifted towards magic, the old woman who said she was my grandmother had been able to control fire, or something along those lines. An image of the blue flames flickered inside my head warming me,  

“If I can figure out how to do that I can stop what’s happening at the camps!” I thought amazed the flames brightened in my mind, dancing almost as if they were alive, I focused on them thinking of how the fire warmed me in the house, the flames grew taller and I imagined the wooden floor of the room, and then drew the two together. A blue flickering light appeared on the ceiling, and I head a slight crackle my heart started to race the image of the flames burned brighter in my mind and the light grew stronger, I slowly sat up. Blue flames were crackling on the wooden floor, I gasped and shot out of the bed and grabbed the blankets in one smooth motion, a thought ran through my head,

“Put the fire out,” and just as quick as the fire appeared it disappeared. Suddenly I was really tired my knees sagged and I drew in ragged breaths like I’d just gone for a long run. I fell backwards onto the bed unable to keep standing; the blanket lay on top of me, and I drifted off to sleep.

***

When I woke a pink glow came in through the window, I felt tired but I could stand,

“I’m not going to do that again,” I promised myself silently then got out of the bed, I tried to look for burn marks in the wood where the fire was and couldn’t find any. Shaking my head I quietly went down the hall to the stairway. I padded down the stairs quietly, a small flickering light came from one room lighting up the wall gently, I went into the room, a lone candle lit up a dusty breakfast bar and a shadowed figure sat on a stool by it, ignoring them I took in the rest of the room lit by the light, a small stove stood in one corner next to a tall white plastic cupboard, the breakfast bar carried on into the darkness,

“Morning,” I said quietly,

“Morning,” came the reply, the speaker was proud and female.

“We need to the get the trucks,” I chuckled,

“Always down to business right Ally?” it took her a moment to reply,

“You know me,” I smiled,

“I think I know how to get them,” the smile faded off my face just as fast as it appeared, we were down to business, Aldis motioned with her hand for me to carry on,

“I’ll need Guido, Akantha, and preferably one other. Guido to guide us, Akantha so I can keep an eye on her and one other so the other truck can be taken.”

“Sounds good to me, we’ll set up here, grab firewood and such.  Take Accalia I know you two loath to part and I won’t need her here. Wake everyone you need then leave.” I nodded and stared at the candle flame, thinking about the blue ones that were in my room the night before, the candle slowly started to change colour to blue and grew brighter, I gasped and turned away from the flame,

“You okay Desmond?” Aldis asked me, concern radiating from her tone,

“Yeah,” I said and retreated up the stairs to wake everyone we needed up.

***

I opened the door quietly. In the middle of the room sat a four poster bed, I closed the door, a body lay under the covers,

“Accalia” I breathed softly, her body usually strong and athletic looked small and venerable under the many covers bundled over the top of her, and her soft breathing only helped the theory. I smiled as I studied her tanned face, her long black hair splayed out on her pillow behind her head. I slowly went up to the bed and lay down beside her, shaking her gently I whispered her name trying to wake her slowly so I didn’t cause her too much alarm when she woke, she rolled over mumbling something about vegetables trying to eat her; I tried to stifle a laugh. I shook her again with a little more force; she woke with a start and started yelling. Quick as a flash I stuck my hand over her mouth and whispered softly,

“It’s me, Desmond,” she relaxed, looking at me, wide awake yet still tired. I took my hand away from her mouth and smiled apologetically. She patted the covers beside her,

“Join me?” she whispered, I got off the bed as Accalia lifted up the covers, I slid under them. She cuddled into my shoulder and I put my arm around her noticing that she was naked. I took a breath to steady myself,

“Accalia, we have to leave and get the trucks,” I said trying to sound firm and commanding, instead it just came out as a sigh,

“Just stay a little while,” She murmured and draped one of her legs over mine.

“We need to leave now before the others wake,” I argued wishing that we didn’t.

“Five minutes,” Accalia pleaded,

“No,” I said firmly “Get dressed and I’ll wake the others. Meet me outside,”

“Aw come on Des,” she complained, I wanted to just stay there with her, and she knew it,

“I’ll stay with you tonight then if it will make you happy, but now we have to go.” I pulled out of the embrace and got out of the bed,

“See you soon.” She didn’t reply as I left the room. Aldis was leaning against the wall next to the door with a smile on her face in the brightening light.

“You’re stronger than most men I know,” she paused “knew.” I gave her a questioning look which she ignored,

“I’ve woken Akantha and Guido. They’re in the kitchen,” I nodded,

“Send them outside,” I told her, “And Aldis,”

“Yes?”

“Keep them quiet.”

06-Family Reunion

The flame’s warmth spread up my body and renovated my strength. I gasped again I’d never felt this good in my life, everything was wonderful, I felt happy all my worries had been taken away, and a huge grin broke out on my face. I walked up the steps with my new found vigour and when I got to the top almost opened the door but then I stopped some kind of feeling over came me, I guessed I had to do something or the door wouldn’t open….either that or something would blast me into a million pieces I was feeling good but I don’t think that it would have helped me in the slightest. I racked my brains trying to figure out what to do. The warmth started to fade away and the fire started to dim, tiredness set back in again. I sensed my time was running out. Frantically I searched again, there was nothing on the door that told me what to do, the doormat said “open” I saw that and something took hold of me. As if I wasn’t controlling my own mouth I spoke,

“Anoiktí̱,” which I somehow understood to mean “Open” but I couldn’t place the language. The fire grew to an inferno and my strength returned; I felt well rested again. The door opened silently of its own accord surprising me; the blue flames were inside too lending the place more warmth. In front of me a hallway stretched out to a door where I could see a lounge on one side there was a wooden table a few bits of paper were spread across it. I didn’t stop to take any notice of anything that was on the paper if there was. I walked slowly into the lounge it was a large square shape with a couch on one wall facing the big glass sliding door. I walked over to the glass curious to see the view. On the other side of the door was a balcony that looked over a whole mess of plants, bits of an old wooden fence showed through some of the foliage,

 “Why do you come here boy!?” a gruff woman’s voice made me jump I reached for my sword and drew it half out of the sheath with a hiss.

“There is no need to draw any weapon in my house!” The woman spoke again sounding angry. The fire below me started to get hot for the first time and a small inkling of fear started to nibble at me. I looked around for the speaker but I couldn’t see anyone.

“Well put it away!” I spun towards the sound, on the couch was an old wrinkled woman, she was a little chubby around the gut and seemed so old that if it did end up being a fight I could take her on, the heat from the fire reminded me otherwise. I slid my sword back into its sheath,

“Wise move,” she commented and the fire went back to its original warmth,

“What’s your name?” she asked again,

“Desmond ma’am,” I said standing straight, she laughed,

“No need to be so formal Desmond, relax,” her tone lost some of its gruffness, I stayed how I was and didn’t say anything,

“Okay then don’t. How did you know the word to open the door?”

“I…I’m not sure,” I answered truthfully, if she was part of the Regiments I figured she would have killed me by now so what was the point in lying,

“So boy, can you see the flames?” she asked gruff once more

“You mean the blue ones?” I asked,

“A simpleton too, do you see any other flames here?” she sighed gesturing around with wrinkled hands,

“Yes I see them,” she started muttering to herself and I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying, I just caught snippets and they confused me even more,

“…has the necklace…can see the flames…doesn’t speak…no training…” I fingered Hammond’s necklace wondering what she was talking about,

“You’ll have to do I guess,” she sighed, “What happened to Hammond?” the question caught me off guard,

“Hammond?” I asked getting suspicious of the old woman, “What do you know of Hammond?”

“I know he is my grandson,” she said simply,

“How?” I asked in disbelief,

“I’m not going to go into his mother’s conception boy!” she growled, I blushed and tried again,

“What happened to his mother?” I asked, knowing after I said it that I didn’t want to know,

“She died, not long after Hammonds brother was born,” I looked down,

“I’m sorry,” then her words totally sunk in,

“Hammond had a brother?” I blurted, she laughed, and started coughing, I watched with concern,

“Yes Hammond does indeed have a brother,”

“Where?” I demanded she laughed again although this time with less enthusiasm,

“He’s in this room with me,” I looked around shocked and confused,

“I can’t see anyone…” She stayed silent and it started to dawn on me that she’d meant me,

“If you’re telling the truth…Did he know I was his brother?” I asked not believing her,

“Of coarse foolish child,” She laughed,

“Then why didn’t he tell me?” I asked bluntly, not believing a word she said anymore,

“I don’t know, maybe because he wanted to protect you,”

“From what?”

“The guards,” that stopped me, I looked out the window thinking about the siblings that had been found out to be related in our dorms, both were taken away and never seen again,

“Do you want to know who you are?” I looked at her and nodded slowly,

“I assume you don’t know much about the ancient Greek Gods?” she asked, I thought back to the camp, Hammond had told me about reading a book once that said the ancient Greeks one of the first human civilizations in the old world and the Gods they worshipped,

“The twelve Olympians; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes,” I said, the woman nodded,

“You know the basic story though right?” I nodded

“There were the original Titans who ruled and the Gods overthrew them right?”

“Yes you have the basic theory, but there were in reality thirteen Olympians, the last was Hades, oh and they weren’t Gods, they were human rulers who used sorcery, and the titans where the same,” I looked at her and started to ask a question but before I could she butted in,

“No questions we don’t have time, you are a descendant of the thirteen, well all of their blood runs in your veins,”

“What!?” I exclaimed,

“Just listen, you have some of their powers, or at least I’m guessing you do because you can see the fire and you’re wearing Hammond’s necklace,” I think then it finally dawned on her that Hammond had died,

“He lived a good life,” I whispered, as she wiped away tears,

“Never mind that, it’s bloody horrible he died but I must tell you something, I don’t have long left,” I nodded.

“If you make anything strange happen, stop doing it immediately. You could die if you misuse magic,”

“How do I stop?”

“Just cut the flow,”

“How?” I asked confused,

“You’ll know when it happens,” her voice grew quiet,

“Now you know Desmond, and now I shall be at peace,” She sighed,

“Desmond you are powerful and you will choose the fate of the world and everyone on it,”

“How can I be that powerful? I don’t want to be able to do that,”

“And that is why you will make the good decision, just make sure good is also right, and remember there are more like you,” I nodded having no idea what she was talking about,

“It is done,” she sighed and the flames suddenly went out, instantly everything cooled down, I stood there for a while taking in the still form of my grandmother. My mind still reeling from the revelations of what I had just been told I turned around slowly and walked back through the kitchen and into the hallway moving slowly towards the front door. I left closing the door behind me, before I had even taken it in I was at the house that we were staying in, I turned back to look at the silhouetted house I just left,

“Thank you,” I whispered the door of the house we were all staying in opened behind me and out ran Accalia with her accompanying squeal that made me wince,

“Desmond!” she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a tight hug,

“I was so worried about you!” she exclaimed pulling out of the hug so she could punch me in the arm as hard as she could, which was really hard, I shot her a questioning look,

“That’s for leaving,” she then wrapped her arms around me again, standing on her tip toes she kissed me,

“And that’s for coming back,” I laughed,

“How are all the others?”

“They're scared of you after what happened with Akantha,” she said serious all of a sudden, it took me a moment to remember what she meant; I pulled Accalia in closer to me.

“They’ll have to get used to what happened to Akantha,” I said simply remembering what my grandmother had said,

“…and remember there are more like you,”

Who were they?

05-Sorcery

It started to rain heavily although we didn’t get the full force of it because of all the branches that were in the way. The walk was still hard and the ground got muddy as the leaves weren’t able to bear the water’s weight. To top it off Akantha was complaining loudly about everything she could, the weight of her pack was too heavy, she was cold, mainly it was everything everybody else was feeling but she made it sound like she wanted to be treated like a princess. My pack started to dig into my shoulders, we kept getting stuck in sink holes, and Akantha kept moaning it took all of my self control not to hit her. Fortunately before I snapped Aldis did it for me. I heard a snap of something connecting. I spun around quickly fearing attack my hand went to my sword and I gripped the hilt, cursing I realised that I couldn’t see anything further than two tree’s away. I peered into the gloom until I spotted something, Akantha was lying on the muddy ground and Aldis standing above her with her fists clenched and every muscle tensed for fight. I knew that once she entered a rage nobody could calm her down apart from me. So I carefully walked up to her and put my hand reassuringly on her shoulder,
“It’s okay,” I whispered, then turned to Akantha who was just starting to get up,
“You’re coming up front with me,” I told her gruffly, “And I don’t want another word out of you unless you see a regiment or you get shot but if I do hear one little peep you’re on clean up for the entire camp….including toilets now go stand there with Guido,” She glared at me and I met it with a gaze of steel. Aldis smiled gratefully but she still looked angry,

“You going to be okay?” I asked and she nodded.
“Alright, let’s move out!” I called and we all carried on our way.

“We’re here Des!” Guido called out to me. I looked around I couldn’t see anything apart from forest, I stared at him questioningly then I realised I could see him, it must have stopped raining which meant that the stars would be out if there wasn’t any clouds. Behind me I heard the relieved murmurs of every one and the annoying voice of one,
“I better get canned food” I spun round with a look the shot daggers at Akantha, who had spoken to Nemesio,
“You had your warning Akantha,” I told her,
“For what?” she asked, “Because she punched me in the face?” she jabbed her index finger in the general direction of Aldis who tried her best to look innocent but was given away by the big grin on her face,
“I don’t care that she punched you in the face Akantha just that you spoke when I clearly told you not to,” Akantha balled her fists at me and glared,
“That’s unfair and I refuse to take an unjust punishment!” everyone seemed to get smaller at that instant and I said in a voice that I hardly knew I had, calm deep and commanding,

“Akantha, you are punished no matter how you feel about it and you broke your warning of not speaking so you are on camp clean up,” she opened her mouth to argue,

“You have no say in this matter unless you want to leave and go off on your own. Take the punishment or leave.” I pointed to the direction we were all heading knowing somehow that she would go a different way if she did leave.

“What say you?” I said in the same tone, Akantha just pouted and didn’t look like she would answer I repeated myself only louder,

“I’ll take the punishment,” she said like she was agreeing to her death. Everybody returned to normal size and I suddenly felt tired like I had just run 800 metres without stopping. 

“Good, Guido show them the way in take the second house it’s the biggest and least damaged looking,” Guido nodded and complied, everyone that walked past looked shocked and scared of me, and as they were walking away I heard some comments they made between each other I could hear the words but I was to tired to know who said them,

“Did you see him get taller? It must have been some kind of sorcery, but why is he starting now?”

“I think it could be his…” I couldn’t hear anymore as they walked out of earshot. I lent against a tree and looked at my muddy shoes,

“Des?” someone asked cautiously, my head snapped up and I saw Accalia standing there with a worried look on her face. I smiled at her weakly then looked back down at my shoes. The once white ‘all stars’ as Aldis had called them whatever, that meant were plastered with mud,

“Des?” Accalia asked again, “You okay?” I nodded avoiding her eyes ashamed for some reason.

“Des, we have to go into this new camp okay.” She told me softly as she walked over to me. She gently lifted my arm and put it around her shoulders, so I was leaning against her instead of the tree,

“Stop, Accalia. I can do it myself,” I murmured to her, she looked at me then let me go but held her arms out as if to catch me just in case I fell. Which I did, she caught me luckily. I put my arm around her shoulder again and left it there,

“What did you do to yourself back there Desmond?” She asked almost to herself for all the response she got from me.

***

As soon as we left the trees protection I realised something wasn’t right there was something that wasn’t unnerving about the place. In the distance there were six or seven houses shimmering in the moonlight. The houses themselves all looked almost identical in colour a creamy white for the walls and what used to be a light green but had faded over time, in size and shape though all of them differed. I thought they all looked peaceful but then I spotted the last house. It was a two story with a metal roller door sitting at the bottom of it and wooden steps going to the side where the front door was that was normal, the weird part was the blue flames that were flickering all over it the wood wasn’t burning either they were just sitting next to each other.

“Whoa…” I breathed softly,

“What?” Accalia asked me trying to see what I was staring at,

“Look,” I said raising my arm to point at the blue flames that sent a flickering light stronger than the moon everywhere and creating creepy moving shadows.

“I don’t see anything Des,” She said concern in her tone, I looked at her shocked and wondered if she was lying then dismissed the notion, Accalia never lied to me.

“I see flames on the house,” I told her “I want to go and check it out,”

“No!” she exclaimed in alarm, “You don’t know what it is,”

“That’s why I want to have a look at it Accalia,”

“I don’t want you to,” I looked at her with a stubborn look in my eyes and a small scowl on my face, I knew I looked like a toddler who had just been told ‘no’ but I didn’t care, because something told me that I had to see that house,

“Desmond,” She said in a warning tone, I ignored her and took my arm from around her shoulders. To my surprise and most likely hers too I stood without swaying and walked slowly towards the house,

“Desmond, please don’t,” Accalia said chasing after me and grabbing my arm. I spun around at the touch and a strange feeling rose inside me almost like pity for the poor defenceless thing trying to stop me. Accalia must have seen a wild look in my eyes or something, because a flash a fear shot across her features and in that instant of her fear my feeling of pity washed away.

“I’m sorry Accalia but I need see this,” I almost pleaded she gave me that worried look again I thought she was going to say no and try to drag me back to the house but instead she surprised me by wrapping her arms around my waist and drawing me into an embrace, we stood for a while her head resting on me and my chin resting on to top of her head. I pulled away from the hug after a short time and walked across the ground my feet making no noise as I walked, I didn’t look back but I called out a promise to her that I would be back. I’ve never broken a promise. I walked to the house and strangely felt no heat from the flames. I arrived at the staircase and took a few breaths’ to fight the instinct to turn and run from the unnatural flames that weren’t emitting any heat. I took a tentative step onto the first stair and gasped as my foot connected with the flames.

04-Pack up

“We’re here” Guido called as we walked into the campsite. It had it been about 30 minutes since the raid and I guessed that every regiment within a 10 km radius would have got wind of the attack from communications. So I reasoned to myself they would have blocked all the roads, damn no trucks,
“Alright everyone pack up camp, we leave in 20 minutes.” I called out to others commandingly as I walked over to Guido,
“You know that old town about 2 km down the road?” I whispered to him,
“Yeah, why?” He asked,
“Can you get us there?” I said ignoring his question,
“Sure I can find it. It’s nor-nor west of our position right?”
“Yeah, we need to be there by 4am can you do that?”
“It’s oh-200 now,” he muttered to himself,
“That gives us….Yeah I can do it. Get everyone packed up by oh-230 hours,” I nodded knowing he wasn’t used to 24 hour times because of being in the Regiments. I walked over to Aldis who had started putting all her belongings from her tent into her bag mainly two pairs of clothes one consisting of a pair of scuffed up navy ‘jeans’ as she called them with rips in the knees, a long sleeved grey t-shirt, and a black leather jacket with a water resistant coating, the other being a pair of dark green camo ¾’s, and a brown cotton t-shirt. She packed two other items too; one was a tatty leather pocket type thing with a picture of her family from the ‘old world’ and a brilliant white sword that had been passed down her family for generations up until her. She put the blade into a sheath and hooked into her heavy duty belt. I walked over to her as she looked at her family picture with sadness; Aldis was next to a young man with messy dark hair and deep blue eyes that looked like a stormy sea. He stood just a litter shorter than Aldis but he was definitely younger, in-between her and the man was a young girl who looked almost looked exactly like Aldis, except her eyes were brown and she only reached Aldis’ knee. All of them were smiling and the man had his tongue out, a tear dropped onto the picture and Aldis hurriedly put it back into the pocket.
“You going to be okay?” I asked softly a touch of concern in my voice; she looked up at me with a smile, and wiped a tear from her eye,
“Yes I’ll be fine Desmond don’t worry,” I nodded at her my face saying that I didn’t believe her one bit, but before I could say anymore to her bickering started on the other side of the camp. I looked towards at the commotion and saw Akantha arguing with Nemesio, Nemesio was the youngest member of our little group and the most vengeful you wouldn’t want to pick a fight with him on a good day and most of the group tried to not annoy him, with the only exception of Akantha, but she annoyed everyone.
“I better go deal with that,” I muttered to Aldis, “Unless you want to deal with it?”
“Yeah I’ll do it you need to go get packed,” I nodded.
“Okay but don’t strain yourself,” I headed towards my tent as Aldis interrupted the bickering saying in a clear voice,
“And what is the problem here,” I chuckled quietly to myself knowing that Aldis hated Akantha so she always tried to make her life a misery. I reached my tent a humble 3 man grey triangular shaped one with three metal poles keeping it upright. I lifted the flap and stepped inside into the gloom. On the left of the middle pole my small single layer roll up mattress lay on the ground my sleeping bag stretched over its length like a rug. To the right of the pole on the other side sat a small fold up camping table complete with drawers which were filled with personal possessions like the necklace that I took from Hammond’s corpse before I left the crash site the last night I saw my friend, tears flooded into my eyes threatening to roll down my cheeks. I blinked them back and walked over to the table, opening one of the drawers in it was a whole lot of underwear but that wasn’t what I wanted. I pushed them all aside and felt along the bottom of the drawer, running my fingers over the rough surface of the wood. Finally I found what I was searching for, a small notch in one corner of the bottom I lifted it to reveal a hidden part in it was a painting Aldis had done for Accalia and I one night. We were both smiling and staring into each others eyes, looking away from the picture there was Hammond’s old necklace the sapphire and silver chain gleaming. Gently I picked up the chain and brought it up to my eyes. I started to lose track of my surroundings the drawers in front of me turned into a fuzzy image the bed disappeared from my vision entirely. Someone yelled outside and I jumped, my mind flashing back to the present I undid the latch on the chain and put it around my neck.
“I know I always ask you this Des But where did you get that necklace from?” a voice asked in the darkness, I pulled out a hunting knife from my belt and whipped around to the sound in the bed there was a figure which I recognised as Accalia. I must have not noticed her before because she was under the cover and not much more than a bundle of sheets,
“You shouldn’t do that to me Accalia.” I told her,

“So where did you get it?” she giggled ignoring the fact that I’d almost stabbed her, I sighed and put the knife back in its sheath,

“I got this off a very close friend of mine that needed remembering,” I said,
“Always mysterious you are Des,” She smirked and patted the mattress beside her,

“Always so lovely you are Accalia,” I laughed and lay down,
“I thought you weren’t going to make it,” she whispered to me softly, I pulled her into a tight hug and said just as softly as she did,
“But I did make it, just like I said I would,” she nodded and snuggled into my chest, we lay there for a few seconds before I unhappy informed her that we needed to pack and leave.
“Okay.” She said and pulled away from the hug, stood, and walked over to the door, before she left the door she turned and asked,
“Where are we going Des?” I tapped the side of my nose with my finger and smiled cheekily,
“You’ll find out.”  


About 15 minutes later than I’d originally planned everybody was assembled in a semi circle around Aldis and I, waiting to hear where we were going I gestured for Aldis to start.
“Unfortunately we cannot take the trucks so we will have to walk to our destination, Desmond and I have decided that we will not tell you where we are going until we get there, but just know it is a long walk and we will need to lay false trails like always just in case the Regi’s find the camp.” There was a groan from Akantha, Aldis and I both shot her a piercing glare.
“Alright lets go, anything from you first though Des?”
“I think that’s it,” I said and walked over to Guido,
“Lead the way mate,” I told him and we all started off to our new camp.

03-escape (part three)

I jumped as I recognised the voice; he had been on guard duty for me once when I was on punishment and had been quite friendly towards me. He had one of the common old English names that didn’t really mean anything….Jimmy, John, I couldn’t remember exactly but I knew it started with a ‘J’. We stood up slowly facing away from him.
“Put ‘em up,” he commanded with a drawl, “But do it slowly now, no su-“ before I had even taken in what I was about to do I pivoted on the spot, adrenaline rushing through my veins at 200 kmph and fired. A twang came from the crossbow as a metal bolt flung out and into the man’s chest. He looked down stunned as a slow bloom of blood rippled through his shirt away from the bolt sticking out of his shirt. All it was to me trough my goggles was a darker green but my brain supplied the images of the crimson red colour that it would be. I heard Hammond gasp beside me as I let go of the trigger realising I needed to reload. The man was holding a musket rifle of some kind. I stood there in shock as the man drew in a shaky breath and raised his rifle. With scary clarity I watched the moonlight bounce off the barrel of death as he aimed, I stood there stupidly watching him, Hammond cursed and there was a twang from beside me as he fired his own crossbow, the bolt flashed into the mans head passing through his brain and out the other side where it shuddered in the wood,
the man  fell twisting sideways and I saw his face a big hole was in his forehead a dark pool of liquid poured out onto the grass below his corpse for that was all he was now, I’d made him into one. I fell down at that point and everything passed by in a blur my only thought was, he’s dead, and I killed him. I couldn’t even remember his name. We came to a car and Hammond opened a door for me letting me in, the man’s name came to me in a flash,
“Jonathan…” I said softly, “That was his name.” Hammond got into the car but I was ignoring him concentrating on the facts flowing into my head about him, I could remember everything. He was born in the camp only ever going out once to get supplies from a small place next to a forest, he never knew his mother or father but he was raised to be a regiment. Everything else I learnt about him came rushing in and I realised that he would never again be able to see or talk to anyone again. Tears started to well up in my eyes for the life I took, for the man whose world I ended. Beside me Hammond was trying to start the car, I scalded myself now is not the time for crying.
“Do you have the keys in the ignition?” I asked,
“Ohh…that could help.”
“Move over, I’m driving.”
“Good to see your back with us Desmond, ‘cause I can’t remember which ones the brake,” Hammond laughed,
“The middle one, now hop out I’m getting in the drivers seat.” Hammond did as he was told and I moved across the car. Hammond got in the other side, I moved the seat forward so I could reach the pedals and started the car with a quick double jab on the accelerator, the engine rumbled to life nicely.
“Buckle up,” I told Hammond,
“Huh?”
“Put on your seat belt,” I sighed remembering he had never been taught to drive the plow truck we sometimes used in the winter. He did as I asked and I copied. I took my foot off the brake and let it roll down the small driveway it was on,
“Do you trust me?” I asked Hammond,
“What do you mean?”
“Just answer the question. Do you?”
“Not really Des, but I’m gunna have to ain’t I?” I laughed and slammed on the accelerator. The car had a bit of a wheel spin and then we were off. Finally something that was natural to me I flowed through it, revving the car to high before changing gear. I turned the steering wheel and pulled us out onto the small road leading towards the regiments sleeping quarters and the gate. We had to build up a lot of speed to go through the gates because they weren’t going to open them for us. The road was just a straight line full of cameras and lights. The alarm sounded just as we hit 80 km/h and were about 50 meters away from the regiments’ barracks. We roared through them now at 100 km/h that was when a warning shot was fired, just a few seconds later there was a second. We were approaching the gate really fast now doing 130 km/h, this car was quick I marveled for a second but I didn’t have anymore time for thinking I had to be fast because we were just about on the gate. All the regiments started fire their muskets at us, with a bang of sparks and barbed wire coming down over the top of the car we were through. I could hear the screams of falling men and I felt a little guilty but then we were out and still getting shot at four cracks appeared in the windscreen and I swallowed. We drove for a while and I was looking in the rear view mirror the whole time trying to find signs of pursuit. I finally stopped looking when we were travelling along a road in the middle of a logged forest with all the tree’s cut down. I turned to Hammond,
“I think we-“ I started to say but I was cut off by a super massive

BOOM

I came to and felt groggy. I had a really sore head, and a high pitched whine blocking out all other sounds. I looked around confused; I was on the side of the road next to a tree stump. There was a flickering orange light coming from the road and I stood up looking over towards it. As I saw it everything that had happened before I blacked out came back to my mind, my hearing returned with my memories I noticed the sound of a crackling fire. A sickly smell wafted over to my nose with a light breeze and I recognised it as burnt flesh, Hammonds shocked face appeared in my mind and I gasped. In front of me there was a burning wreck of a car there wasn’t any part left that wasn’t blackened by the fire, all the windows had been blown out and all the tires were flat. The driver’s door was missing and I realised that I must have knocked it out myself when the car exploded.
 The smell assaulted my nose again and I saw all that was left of my friend.
“Hammond,” I breathed softly, and I started to feel tears well up as I saw the charred remains of my one and only friend in the camp now gone forever. The silver necklace and pendant still on his neck without anything wrong with it the metal gleaming in the moon and starlight. I looked away from Hammond’s body, for that’s all it was now just a body never to move again and I looked up at the stars. I stood there for a while but strangely the tears in my eyes didn’t fall. I realised that the regiments were going to arrive soon, if not now so I better get moving. I looked around for my night vision goggles and the weapons, the sword was still on my hip and every other weapon seemed to be in the same place as they should too, I couldn’t find any remains of my goggles though.
I took one last look at my friend and saw the pendant again ignoring it I turned to run but found I couldn't bring myself to do it, so instead I walked over to the car the smell of burnt flesh was assaulting my nose while I stared at the blue sapphire in the pendant getting lost in its depths, there was a light bang as something popped shaking me out of my trance I started to turn again then realised I would regret it if I left there without the pendant. I moved my hand towards the necklace and my dead friend cautious of what could happen and of the heat that was probably in the metal my hand got closer and closer but I didn't feel any heat which was strange but I didn't give it a second thought I grabbed the chain and undid the latch. The silver was cold to the touch I slowly put the chain around my neck and latched it. I knew that from that day on every time I saw the necklace I would remember Hammond and what he did. The pendant started to call to me so I lifted it up and looked at it then set it down under the remains of my sweatshirt. Immediately I felt calmer like I knew exactly what I was going to do and how I was going to do it. I took one last look at what was left of my friend and said,
"Good-bye Hammond, I'll miss you. Be at peace my friend,"
I turned away from Hammond towards the tree line in the distance and ran the chain and pendant bobbing on my neck.

03-escape(part two)

The pits were a place of punishment. If you got into a whole lot of trouble with the guards then you were sent here. The Pits were a whole lot of holes in the ground most were only wide enough for you to sit down in with a spider colony, they were about 5 meters deep and the walls were coated with stone so flat that you couldn’t climb. No guards were about so our window was about 10 minutes to get the weapons and go. Luckily Hammond had thought of everything and had brought a rope; which he tied to me and sent me down into the green darkness. I saw shapes of weapons at the bottom of the pit as I was slowly lowered down. My heart started pounding again I really hoped none of these went off. I recognised Some swords one was a black rapier thin and lightweight deadly fast but no good for blocking the other was a broadsword it was also black but big and heavy, I wrapped them both in cloths Hammond passed down to me, to stop them from rattling and put them into sheaths. There were four more weapons in the ground and two other shapes I couldn’t quite make out. I picked up one weapon and realised straightaway that it was a crossbow.

“Put the swords into a knot at the end of the rope and pass them to me.” Hammond whispered I did as he asked and called out softly to raise the rope.  The other four weapons were two crossbows and two other bows. The two bows weren’t stringed and I realised with a start that the other two shapes must be the quivers to hold the bolts for the crossbows and the arrows for the bows.

“Hurry,” Hammond whispered to me urgently. I picked up the crossbows and put them in the knot for the rope told Hammond to pull it up. We loaded the bows and quivers in the same way.   

 “Raise me up now ham,” I called softly up to him. We’d been there too long already.

“Let’s go,” Hammond untied the rope for me while I grabbed the weapons I put the sword on my belt and the crossbow quiver and bow on my back Hammond passed me a sack and told me to put it on, I took the crossbow off my back and did as he asked he then handed me another strap and showed me his crossbow gesturing to strap around it. I copied what he’d done. The strap went around my neck, once I had got it in position we each loaded a bolt into our crossbows and ran towards a small ditch that held storm water, nobody ever went near because it stunk. We were running through a small patch of trees when I saw a guard walking on patrol out in the open and I dropped down immediately Hammond who had done the same crawled up to me,

“Do you want me to get him?” he asked softly I shook my head,

“No need to kill when we don’t have to, plus I don’t know how good a shot you are.” Hammond chuckled quietly. We waited for him to pass, his torchlight disappeared around a corner, and that was when a gravely voice chuckled in the quiet,

“I got you now boys.”