Drakan (The Chronicles of Eli) [#Wattys2015]

Terra - Chapter(1)

           “Kid! Hey kid?”

            “Hu…yeah?” Eli groggily said as he opened his left eye.

            “I told you, you can’t sleep here. I’m sorry but you’re going to have to find somewhere else to crash.”

The blurry vision of the stocky average height man quickly came into view. Eli rubbed his eyes and quickly alerted all his bodily functions after the blinding light flashed in his eyes, ricocheting off the poorly tainted badge. He rolled over on his side and instantly clutched his stomach. The rumbling pain shot through his body, removing all numbness and reminding him that his last days were soon coming.

Eli pushed through the agony and stood weakly in front of the officer. He looked around and saw pairs of pupils mirroring his image. Their expressions held heavy with concern and pity. Their mouths were struck with awe and their body language was as foreign to him as the air that suffocated his lungs. The bird sounds startled him and the nearby barks rattled his nerves.

            “You ok kid?”

            “Yeah, I’m ok. Sorry, this won’t happen again.” Eli said after silently nodding.

Eli bent down and began folding his blankets. He picked up his rusted titanium can and placed it in his backpack. He then looked over his shoulder and saw the officer with his hands out telling the people who decided to watch to leave the area. Taking the opportunity given, Eli reached under his last blanket and retrieved the concealed pocket knife. He quickly reached behind him and placed the tiny blade in his back pocket.

His eyes trailed from the healthy green grass to the clear blue sky. He sucked in the fresh air and held it in his lungs. Was it worth it? Leaving all that ever mattered to sleep outside and scavenge for food. The love that was shared there was all a lie anyways. Then what about Alex? The one you said you’d protect, was that a lie?

            “Do you need a ride somewhere kid? I’m not supposed to but you seem like a good enough guy. Just lost maybe?”

The officer’s kind tone brought color back into his vision. The sky had never looked so innocent. Not a cloud in sight.

            “Umm….no thank you.” Eli said as his eyes made their way back to center field. “I’ll just walk from here.” He finished with a forced smile.

Eli placed the remaining blanket inside his pack along with the leftover items he carried with him. He scanned the area one last time for anything he might’ve missed before nodding his head and standing to his feet. He threw the backpack over his shoulder while he used the opposite side to pick up his trusty maple Ridgefire bow. Once all his belongings were accounted for Eli turned to the officer and nodded. In return the officer tipped his hat and walked to his car. Eli waited until the officer left before trudging along the rugged sidewalk.

Evergreen trees carved over his path, shielding him from the sun’s rays. Machines with wheels zipped past colored lights while kids walked the sidewalks. Paneled houses clouded the neighborhood with an array of florescent colors. Their front yards were clean cut and suffocated by kids of all ages.

The small buildings that inhabited the sidewalks space were similar to the ones in Drakan. There was a blacksmith of some sort on Groove Street and a leather smith who weaved cloth together on River Boulevard. To Eli it was home in a different box but to the townspeople he was the intruder. The concept of the matter was incomprehensible to him. Everyone looked the same, even in Drakan, so how could there even possibly be a difference in people. Even so, Eli still smiled when looked at and was polite when frowned upon.