A Key To Another World

Chapter thirteen

Total madness reigned in the village. The buildings that had been set on fire by the redclaws spread the flames and collapsed. The once fresh air was replaced by thick black smoke and the ground was littered with corpses. The redclaws stormed the buildings, stealing everything their sharp eyes could see, and fighting the villagers in the process. The poor villagers, mostly mothers with their young children, ran for their lives. The men, determined as best their strength would allow, fought the red-scaled beasts. The burning village glowed in the darkness of the night.

My fucking god!

Michael sat on a branch of the tallest tree he could find, watching the scene with his binoculars from a distance.

Zoe: "Can you see anything from up here!?"

Zoe stood down there next to the tree, waiting for Michael. Ever since she heard the redclaws roaring from a distance, she was getting quite anxious and worried about her home and family.

Michael: "Yes, I think I've seen enough...."

He packed his binoculars back into his backpack and stared at the view below. Zoe was down there looking at him.

Wait a minute, how did I get up there so easily!?

Michael just realized that he was actually afraid of heights. Besides, it was still dark outside.

Bummer.

Zoe: "Stop looking at me so stupidly and come down right now!"

Michael: "Uh... Zoe!?"

Zoe: "What!?"

Michael took a deep breath and swallowed.

Michael: "I'm kind of stuck up there!"

Zoe: "Ah yes, climbing a tall tree without thinking about how to get back down safely, you genius!"

Michael: "Shut it, hairball! It was your idea after all!"

Zoe: "Wait, I have an even greater idea! How about you jump down, barely survive the fall, and I'll heal your crushed knees afterwards!"

Michael: "What!? Oh hell no!!!"

At least the moon showed itself in its full glory, shining down on him and dimly illuminating the branches below. However, the moonlight did not manage to reach the ground. When Michael looked down, he saw only a void of darkness and Zoe's green glowing eyes staring at him back. He would have used the built-in flashlight on his smartphone, but its battery was dead.

Michael: "Alright, I'm coming!"

Step by step, Michael carefully climbed from branch to branch. The further down he got, the harder it became for him to see. On the last branch he could make out, he stopped, seeing no other way to get further down.

Uhh...

Zoe: "What are you waiting for Michael!? You're really close now!"

Michael: "I-I... uh..."

Zoe: "Now jump already!"

Michael crouched down, shaking with fear. Never in his life had he felt so cold. He was scared out of his wits.

Michael: "Whaa!!!"

Zoe grabbed him by the ankle and dragged him down to her.

Zoe: "Come on Michael! We don't have much time!"

She grabbed his hand and ran as fast as she could towards her village. Michael struggled behind her, since he couldn't see anything.

Michael: "Slow down, will ya-"