Another Lost Soul

Chapter 6

There's an empty space in my head as my back leans against the kitchen counter. I can feel my brain pounding like a drum, images I can't recognize blurring across my pupils. They open up to the smeared photos, dilating as if I'm on ecstasy. I can't feel my heartbeat due to how fast it's slamming against my chest, numbing my rib cage and deepening my breath. I feel nothing and everything all at once.

"Amir. Look at me, Kid."

My eyes wander the room even though I can't see it, filled with memories and faces of people I couldn't name if I tried. In the midst of those flashing images and voices, I see Alenor. He's standing above four bleeding bodies of young teenagers. They're bruised, bones broken as their breath slows. He's crying, screaming his lungs out with chains at his neck and an axe clutched tightly at his chest.

"Amir!"

These images are too strong to ignore. They're filling my senses, swallowing me whole.

His scream echoed in my ears, my stomach churning at the sound. As guards run to his body and force him to stand and slam the axe into the last breathing body. I can see his heart shatter on impact, eyes widening as his scream only grows louder.

He fought back. He finally began to fight back, the chains around his body cracking beneath a violet hue around his skin.

The guards let him go and began to run, but the purple flames forming around his body shoot out and light the area up as if it's coated in gunpowder.

"Kid, come on. Eyes." Jalaiah snapped his fingers in front of me, forcing my eyes to dart to him and the images to fade.

"He obliterated an entire arena." I panted softly. "They forced him to kill kids."

"They we're thieves."

"That doesn't make it right!"

"I'm the one who helped Alenor escape that place. That very day, he killed all five thousand people in that arena."

"Then why can I remember it?"

He frowned. "That's for you to remember on your own."

"Am I really a foreigner?"

"Amir-"

"I want to see him. Where is he?"

"Breathe for a moment." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Memories come back heavily and it can take a toll on your energy. Relax."

"Relax?! He was tortured!"

"He's safe now."

A roar loud enough to knock a glass off of the counter echoed outside, making me glare at him. "The hell was that?"

"Nothing good." He headed outside. I followed with quick feet, hearing it again from near the castle structure at the end of the city. "It's sure drawing attention." He watched as people headed toward the noise in curiosity and excitement.

"What is it?"

He stayed silent until the noise was heard again, so loud that it stung my ears. "It must be the arena. We use an animal to fight now that Alenor's gone."

"What the hell is wrong with you people?!"

"They aren't allowed to execute anyone without my say." His eyebrows lowered in anger. "It must be important. Due to your connection with Alenor, I'm a little worried. The timing is too perfect."

"My connection with him?"

"He told me he used his magic on you."

"What does that have to do with it?" I chased after him as he headed the same direction as everyone else, drawing his sword.

"It means he might be there. If he really wasted his magic on someone like you, he's an idiot!"

"Hey!"

My chest began to pound again but as soon as I slowed down, Jalaiah grabbed my wrist and forced me to keep pace with him. "Bear with it, just keep going. Your legs will burn, just don't stop."

"Why would he be there?"

"This is just a guess, but...he must feel for the manticore."

"The what now?"

We reached the crowded entrance within a good ten minutes, panting and out of breath. My lungs burned but we pushed past others to get to the railing.

Sure enough, Alenor stood across from a large creature with clipped wings. He was shirtless, hair covering most of his face without a single weapon in his hand. He's covered in deep claw marks and bruises, trying to speak to the animal over an angry crowd egging on their fight.

The creature looks defensive, baring it's teeth and circling around him. Alenor's trying to grab the chains at it's ankle but failing miserably. "That fucking idiot. It'll kill him before he can do any good."

"Is that the executioner?" A woman nudged me Jalaiah, who glared at her and shoved his sword against her throat before responding. "Tell my guards to get this place cleared out or I'll be searching for new recruits and you won't be home to feed your family."

"General." She flinched and bowed down as he removed his sword. "I'll go now!"

The animal swung at Alenor again, leaving him to hit the ground, blood pouring from his stomach.

I snatched the sword from Jalaih's hand and jumped over the railing, my ankle snapping upon contact with the ground. I'm sure General Jalaiah yelled at me, but I couldn't hear him over the crowd.

I jumped between the creature and Alenor, arms shaking. Every hair on its body stood on end, shoulders bearing as the animal and I locked eyes. "Alenor, get up!"

He wobbled to his feet and grabbed the sword in my hands, throwing it onto the ground and grabbing me by the collar. "I know what to do, I just can't get close enough. Don't hurt him."

"But-"

"Just do what I say!"