Chapter 2
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 4, '16 4:21pm
Thread Topic: Chapter 2
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The town was gone. Burned to the foundation. Only smoldering beams and piles of rubble remained. The glow of the fire had left a red haze all around, and thick black clouds muffled the senses. Ana and Alice stood in the middle of it all. Ash coming down like a snow. The scent of charred wood violated their eyes and noses. They both wanted to cry. But the heat in the air robbed them of even that. They stood there; silent and shaken. Ana was the first to come to.
She cupped her hands to her mouth and yelled as loud as she could, "Is anybody out there?" Alice quickly followed suit.
The two young girls wandered through what was once their home. Crumbling memories and unrecognizable memories withered away around them. Slowly collapsing as the strength they once held was lost. And yet, through all the rubble and timbers; through all the ash and smoke, they couldnt find a single body. It was as if they all had vanished. Ana looked up at what was once a familiar hill. Standing on top was a the remains of a house. A single wall left standing. Charred black and with the empty space where a window once was. Behind it was nothing but ash and stone. Burned down out of recognition. Ana quickly scrambled through the remains, trying as hard as she could to find anything. But nothing was there to be found. No trinkets. No pictures. And the part that worried her the most no bodies.
"Get off the ground you worms." Hissed a voice from behind Alice and Ana as they both felt the cold hard sting of the tip of a sword pressed against their necks. Raising their hands and rising, the voice was met with another.
"Sir, weve already done our Job. The commander doesn't have to know that there were more. We could have just missed them. Come on, theyre just kids."
"The orders were clear. No survivors. No witnesses."
"Let them go, sir."
"Is that a threat, soldier?"
With those words, Alice and Ana heard the sound of a sword unsheathe. The pressure on the back of their necks releasing as the swords wielder turned to face his new opposition.
"Is this a mutiny? I will end you, Boy!"
The officer charged. Alice and Ana turned around to face the action. The battle was short lived though. They saw the backside of a broad shouldered man raise his sword ready to attack, only to have the tip of a silvery blade glide through his armor and out his back. The officer was clumsy. He raised his sword and before he could swing, the younger soldier had advanced; stabbing his superior through the stomach.
The two men stood there for the longest time. Their bodies were pressed almost together. They looked into each others eyes as one watched the other slowly die.
The officers body finally collapsed to the ground. The young soldier stood breathing with a shudder as he stared at the limp body of the man he called "sir". -
The soldier stood over the body for the longest time. A slow smile crept across his face. He then whispered, "free..."
Ana and Alice watched him stand there saying the word over and over again. Laughing slightly as he said them.
"Um, sir?" Alice interjected.
Immediately the mans face shot up to meet their gaze. He looked surprised, as if he had forgotten they were there.
Alice continued, "Thank you for saving us."
"Welcome." He said, sounding nervous.
"May we have your name?" Ana chimed in.
The mans tension seemed to ease off a bit. "My name is Benjamin. Sir Benjamin. But you may call me Ben if youd like."
"Alice." "Ana." The two girls said together.
Benjamin helped the two girls to their feet and made sure they werent hurt. He then turned around and started stripping the body of armor and weapons; piling them all up as he did so. He then handed both of the girls a sword.
"What are you doing?" Asked Ana in confusion.
"We weren't the only clean up party out there. More will come. You know how to fight, right?"
"Ive never touched a sword before in my life!" Ana seemed to almost be disgusted at the thought of wielding a weapon.
"Then we run." Said Ben as he picked up the armor and walked away towards the woods. The two girls stood there in the middle of a burnt down village, carrying enemy swords. With no better alternative, they decided to follow Ben.
"Ben, why didnt we find any bodies?" Asked Ana.
"There werent any. This town wasnt picked for execution."
"Then why were we picked?" Broke in Alice.
"Recruitment. Conscription. Whatever you want to call it."
"Recruitment? For what?"
"The army. What else?"
"The army? But why would anyone join?" -
As they reached the tree line, Ben dropped the armor and rounded on the two girls.
"Are you just going to follow me around and ask me questions all day? The Black Legion isnt your average military force, kids. They take prisoners, and then they get inside their heads. I dont know, some kind of dark magic or something. They consume you until all thats left in your head is the desire to serve."
"But how did "
"GO HOME." Shouted Ben; pointing his sword in the direction of the city. "Youre better off there anyways."
Ben turned back around, picked up his armor, and stormed off into the woods.
The girls followed in silence. They walked further and further into the woods, keeping enough distance that they felt he couldnt hear them. Finally Ben arrived on an old clearing and stopped.
"Thisll do." He whispered to himself.
Ben then turned his sword and pointed it at the girls sneaking behind him. They both stopped dead in their tracks as they realized theyd been caught. Ben charged them.
The two girls were still holding the swords and without even realizing it, Ana put hers up to block Bens first swing.
He hit harder than she expected though, and the blade spun lazily to the ground. Ben didnt hesitate; he swung again. Ana barely had time to pull the blade back up and deflect the second swing. Alice charged in from the rear and without even turning towards her, Ben swung his sword behind himself and knocked hers out of her hands and sent it sailing through the air. He placed his free hand on Alices face and shoved her to the ground; never looking away from Ana. Ana made a wide swing and Ben deflected it effortlessly.
"Short movements." He barked as he swung again. This time Ana pulled the sword in front of her in a quick tug and it didnt give as badly when his blade made contact.
"Good." He said; reversing the swing to come in from another angle.
Ana did the same, and blocked as well. In her shock, she looked over towards Alice who was getting back up. Ben put a foot in her stomach and sent Ana sprawling backwards.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent." He ordered as he made another swing. Ana stood and deflected it as well. Her stomach felt knotted and on fire. He hadnt held back when he kicked her. And Ana believed he wouldnt hold back if she let down her guard either. Another swing, and another deflect.
Ana lunged with a clumsy sideways swing. Ben grabbed her wrists and moved in face to face with her, whispering. "Keep your blade close to your body. One soul has already died today for that mistake." -
Ana jerked away and did a light stab. This time it was Bens turn to block. He turned around to deflect another swing from Alice, and Ana took the opportunity. She planted her foot on the small of his back and sent Ben sprawling forward.
With a smirk she added, "Never take your eyes off your opponent."
Ben stood up, turned towards Ana, and with a smile dropped his sword.
"You learn fast for a girl." He remarked. Smiling jokingly.
"You train well for a soldier." She replied. Returning the gesture.
"Wasnt always a soldier you know."
"And what were you before that?"
"I read books."
"Hes a librarian!" Laughed Alice.
"No, I was a scholar." He replied. Hooking the flat edge of his sword under her knee and flipping her on her back.
"Why did you leave?" Asked Ana.
"I didnt have a choice, remember?" The smile faded from Bens face as his thoughts went back in time.
"Im so sorry." Ana said.
"Dont worry about it." Offered Ben with a shrug. He smiled again and sheathed his sword. "This was long before your time kid." With that, Ben turned away and walked off to set up camp.
Alice got up again with a groan. "I really hate that guy." She said to Ana; rubbing her back.
"Ditto, but he is the only one offering to help us."
Ben sat hunched over the pile of sticks he was trying to turn into a fire. "Hey! You two! Are you gonna make yourselves useful or just stand there acting as dumb as you look?"
As the night set in, Ana and Alice helped their new friend build a fire. -
Ahh. So much action. 8D
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Very good james
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Alice, you got your butt kicked. xP I'm sorry. But that's just how it happened.
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I don't care bro, too much action for me to care. xD
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Fantastic!! :) Great job!
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Epic...
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Cool.
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