Heroes and Monsters

Chapter 2

We fled down the crumbling tunnels, deeper into the earth alive with the thrum of artillery. All in a desperate attempt to escape the grey flames trailing behind us. Every few seconds a new scream echoed through the expanse and with every inhuman screech of pain our number diminished. The light of the exit taunted us, never seeming to be any closer no matter how long we ran.

"Don't look behind you, kid", said a husky, female voice from deep within my mind before the wailing started once again.

Another voice fought for my attention as well, one so familiar it brought tears to my eyes. "The future of the Red lives through you, my Queen. We will keep you safe", spoke my dear Captain Marcus before he too was swallowed up by the Keeper's judgment.

I looked around and found myself alone, my warriors left to burn behind me as I alone rushed through the cave opening and to freedom. Or so the nightmare would have me think. I no longer stood in the dark tunnel but instead found myself in the barren wasteland I called home. Sheilda's ivory towers touched the sky; ancient constructs of Terra capable of housing the millions of mortals that resided on our island. Those who trusted me to one day lead them as their Queen after Faith completed her century of service. Massive compounds stood out amidst the sands in the same sterile color and held the majority of our warriors on this plane, the original dimension. I allowed my heartbeat to slow though the incessant trembling of my body continued in its persistence. I slid open the cover of my vambrace's data tablet, a smaller model better suited to combat situations than Instructor Raziel's bulky one. My shaky finger pressed the panic button Alexander had installed for me after the disaster of the old fort to no effect. My panic and speed increased with each failure until I was smashing my lifeline with enough force to earn a groan of protest from its casing. The form of my loyal servant would at times appear and deliver me from this madness. Most of the time it was Alexander but other times it was Elora or Kenneth who rescued me. Filled with despair, I realized I would not be waking from tonight's terror.

"AHHH!" I screamed and punched the red square with all the preternatural force I could muster.

Tears of frustration and fear trailed down my face as I accepted what would come next. No, accepted isn't correct. I'd finally given up for the night. The tunnel always exhausted me.

Through blurry eyes I watched the darkened sand around me shift to uncover the piles of corpses now stacked in pyramids throughout my home. It was said that the loss of life was so great during the Blue's last siege that bodies and blood coated the landscape. I had heard whispers from a few older, long lived warriors during my time exploring the escape tunnels of my tower. They had recounted the way they were forced to step on the corpses of their slain comrades that coated the floor of the Guardians' tower. Some veterans outright refused to speak of it when asked about the dreadful conflict while others recounted their experience in gruesome detail to the younger members of my Royal Guard. To prepare them for the possibility they had said. Personally, I preferred to think the Blue was too scattered and weak to attempt such an assault in this age. It made life easier.

My eyes reopened and I caught sight of my hands, once covered in ivory. Now they were drenched in the same blood that had watered the land. That same bittersweet voice echoed through the lifeless expanse.

"They die in the hope of buying enough time for you to escape", whispered the Captain before his words faded back into the wind.

I threw off my blood soaked helm and screamed. "Alexander! Elora! Anybody!". My panic consumed me, my screams for help reaching their crescendo out of desperation as I hoped against hope for someone to wake me before the next part of the familiar nightmare took hold. My screams continued until my voice grew hoarse, vocal cords damaged by the strain put on them.