Chapter 3 Third

CHAPTER THREE

*All this is a memory.*

She wondered what happened. What was going on. She didn't know but she ran with them.

"What is going on?" She asked. Her question thrown to whoever would answer. Her legs pumping as she ran. Trying to figure out where they were all headed.

Seeing the destruction that was on display. Homes, businesses, streets, trees all destroyed. But by who? What?

She saw a group of guards up ahead, motioning for everyfae to get inside a tunnel quickly. Everyfae seemed to run faster at the sight of the tunnel. Safety already in sight.

They all ran in. The tunnel was large and long, large enough for flying and other fae that were equally just as large, lights guiding the way.

The guards spied outside for a bit more before going the in with the rest of us, sealing the way in before doing so.

The tunnel opened up into a giant dome shape. A giant crystal was fixed in the center of the ceiling serving as light a source.

There were so many fae inside already. Fae with very scared expressions on their faces, holding crying and startled children. Fae with injuries. Broken limbs, gashes in their flesh, broken and torn wings.

The guards that closed the doors rushed passed her. One of them was wearing with armour, armour with the same insignia as Reyim's squad. She rushed after him. Catching by his arm, he turned. He had blond hair and brown eyes. Stubble was evident on his chin.

"Where is Reyim?" She asked. Her mind still hectic. She had not seen her parents or anyone she recognized. Reyim was helping them both on a project that they refused to tell her anything about.

"He's not here." He answered. Her heart fell dramatically.

"He's probably in one of the other domes." He continued. "I have to go. Excuse me." He said before pulling his hand away. She let his hand go and he disappeared into crowd.

She was remembered she was running towards the Southside of the city so she would completely avoid everyfae including her parents. They were already sensing something was wrong.

She had not wanted to talk about anything and wanted to be completely tired when she got home so they would leave her be. She was in the city's south. Her home was in the north. All of them were still there. She just hoped they were ok.

Several hours passed. Everything in the dome was less frantic. The wounded were being taken care of and mended. The children had stopped crying. They had been given warm meals and most of them were asleep.

She was tired, her run during the festival and that of safety had taken a toll on her. She didn't have any energy left from her early emotions. The adrenaline rush was over. All she was left with was uncertainty, confusion and fear of the unknown.

All the beds and chairs were taken, almost everyone was sleeping, so she settled for the spot on floor closest to the wall. She made her way there, making sure not to step or knock into somefae sleeping.

She placed her back to the wall and slid down its smooth surface till her butt touched the floor. Bringing her legs to her, using them to rest her arms and her head. Her earlier questions rang through her head. What was happening? Was it the rebels? If so why now?

She heard hushed ramblings near her. She raised her head and turned it in the direction of the ramblings. The ramblings were coming from an old dwarf, a few other dwarves tried to calm him down as his hushed ramblings turned to screams. Waking some fae with a jolt.

"I told you he was coming! I told you! I told you!" He screamed.

"Popop, no one's coming. It's just some rebels." One of the male dwarves said. He had rich brown hair that flowed down his back. The only thing she could see from where she sat. Must be one his relatives. She thought.

By now her curiosity had peaked and she got up from her position and went over to where the dwarves were. Other fae joined her.

"What is the old dwarf talking about? A fairy asked. His crown was bandaged. An injury that would have to mend on its own. Both his wings were torn, mending ever so slowly.

"Nothing, he's believing one of his hallucinations again." The same dwarf replied. At this the old dwarf looked at him, anger evident in his face and his voice.

"You still do not believe me, Torak?! None of you still believe me!" He continued to scream, drawing more attention.

From where she stood, she could see the old dwarf clearly, he had completely white hair that was a result of age tied in and braided behind him, his skin was wrinkly, flabby against his bones, weathered by time. He could have been more of less a thousand years old. His auburn eyes showed wisdom and insanity. It would be hard to believe anything he said.

"We believe you Popop. We do." His relative said. The rest nodded in affirmative. A reply meant to make the person it was directly spoken to believe it. The speaker had no belief whatsoever.

On closer observation, the dwarf named Torak, not only rich brown hair but eyes too and a beard that nearly covered all of his lower jaw.

"Why aren't we leaving then? Why aren't we all leaving?! We all have to get out of here?!" The old dwarf screamed as he tried to stand. He fell back almost immediately.

"Where is my walking stick? We have to move! We must not doddle!"

He screamed before trying to stand again. Torak and his family kept him down.

"We will Popop but we have to wait awhile first, bombs are still flying outside. We will all leave when they stop. When it's safe." Torak said.

By then a crowd had formed behind the family, herself included.

"Somefae please shut him up!" A fae shouted as the cries of young children and babies grew more.

"Keep it down." Another shouted.

"What is going on?" Came another.

"What is he talking about?"

"What is he so afraid of?" Somefae asked.

At this the old dwarf turned his neck so fast any faster and it would have broken and fixed his eyes on the young goblin that had asked the question.

"You do not know what frightens me?" The old dwarf asked.

The young goblin seemed scared now. Anyone would be with the look the old dwarf threw. He was still a child. He stood rooted and shook his head. His black curls bouncing around his face.

The old dwarf kept his eyes on the boy. "What frightens me should frighten all of you here! All of you!" He continued to scream.

"You do not know of who I speak of because he has been told as a scary to scare you young ones into behaving. The only ones with sense enough to believe. These fools that call themselves adults refuse the simplest thing that I'm trying to tell them!"

"That's enough Popop, you are scaring the young lad." One of the dwarves said.

A female this time with the same auburn in the old dwarf's eyes but on her head in a series of long braids tied behind her back and silver eyes. The old dwarf seemed to calm down.

Taking the opportunity, she turned to the young goblin. "Go on now, stay with your mother." She said in calm voice.

The goblin boy let out the breath he had not known he had been holding. His black eyes said a thank you as he turned and pushed into the crowd, leaving the old dwarf and his ramblings behind.

The old dwarf started laughing crazily, his aged yellow teeth gleaming in the crystal light. Spit flying. Many moved back. The dwarf was obviously insane.

"You want to know what I'm afraid of? Do you?!" He continued laughing hysterically.

At this point some had taken a couple steps back. Most of the dwarves were hiding their faces. Too embarrassed by what their Popop was doing.

"The only fae who fought and survived the battle of Geaten. The one who harbours the secrets of Deokyen. The fae whose mission is to seek vengeance for his fellow soldiers. To tear apart this kingdom from the roots and completely reconstruct it, destroying whatever is in his path. No matter what rank, age or gender. Whether good or evil!" His laughter had died down, his eyes full of madness now. Shining like little jewels in the light. His face twisted in a show of old and burning insanity as he spoke.

"They called him evil, ruthless, cruel, incapable of mercy! Now he is! Colder than anything in the realm of winter. Dark as the night sky in the realm of eternal darkness. Now he is! He is unforgiving, forsaken and long past the point of redemption. He is real and he is here! Maleric Asagaia! The last solider left standing in King Osidian's Flurrian army! Son to the Queen of night and darkness, Waleia! He is here and he will kill us all! We all have to leave! Leave now!" His screams reached their peak.

Guards appeared, with them were healers. One of the healers, took out a vial from her bag, going close to the dwarf as his family members tried to keep him down. His movements had suddenly become savage and powerful. This was the dwarf that couldn't stand a few moments ago.

"Keep that thing away from me! He screamed seeing the healer and the vial in her hand, moving more vigorously.

"Aren't you all listening to me?! We have to leave!"

"Stay away from me!" He shouted on seeing the healer.

"It will all be better Popop. Don't worry." The female dwarf who had the auburn hair said. "It will all be better when you wake up."

"Aureasol! I'm not going to sleep! Get her away from me! I won't have her knock me out! I have had enough of being thrown into oblivion when i am speaking! I. Will. Not. Have. It. Anymore!" He screamed. His voice carrying annoyance and power. Power they all felt.

He got up, pushing his relatives to the ground, getting ready to run. The guards grabbed him. Holding him down with all their strength and all their results of training. The healer rushed. Her hand going to the vial to take off the stopper.

"Don't you dare you bitch!" He screamed.

She dared. The healer took of the stopper just as he was about to swear at her again and waved the opened vial below his nostrils. The old dwarf instantly went off to sleep. Falling into an oblivion he hated.

The other healers approached the guards, levetating the dwarf into a position that faced his back to the ground and carried him off in the direction of the medic wing.

The guard waved his hand to the crowd.

"It's all over everyfae. Nothing to see here." He said and the crowd despersed.

"Mad old cout." A goblin said walking away.

Torak and Aureasol were already apologizing. "We are so sorry for what my Grand father just did." Aureasol apologized. "He has been like this for a long time. His condition is taking its toll on him." Torak added.

"It's alright. The healers will take care of him and hopefully keep him asleep till this all stops." One of the guards said.

"Thank you." Torak said. She couldn't hear the rest. She was already leaving when there was a loud howl.

A howl loud enough to penetrate several hundred meters below the surface. Everyfae stopped. Silent. The babies were still crying, parents trying to keep them quite. As soon as it began, the howl ended. Still everyfae continued to be silent. Nothing followed for several minutes.

Then, there was a banging at the tunnel entrance. Someone was trying to get in. One of the guards near the entrance tried to make a move, his comrade held him and shook his head. No one else made a move. The banging continued.

"Let me in!" The fae screamed. It was a male's voice. "Let me in! Let me in!" He continued to scream and no one made a move to help him.

"Let me in! Let me in you bastards! Let me in! Please. Let m-" His pleas were interrupted by a scream of terror. His scream of terror. One of agony followed and a terrible rending of flesh followed. No other sound followed. Just silence, for several more terror filled minutes.

Then, a more powerful banging started. Whatever got the fae outside was trying to resume his job. Getting inside.

The guards began to work. Leading everyone to another escape tunnel. The tunnel wasn't lit by any lights this time. Everyone just blindly followed in the dark except for those with night vision. The guards leading them probably did.

They reached a room with lights. At the far walls were portals.

"These all lead to a safe house in the Palace." One of the guards clerified. There were six guards and three portals in the room.

"One of us will lead each group into the portals and the others will come in after you. Got that." He said. Everyfae nodded. The banging becoming louder.

Looking at his fellow guards, he nodded and so did they.

"Let's go!" He said and went into the portal on the left. The other guards took the portals in the middle and on the right. Every other fae followed.

She was pushed to the portal on the right. The blond fae from Reyim's squad. He nodded at her before she was unceremoniously pushed in by the fae behind her and nearly trampled when she went through the portal.