Era of Ezri

The Plague?

The wooden doors stood only a few metres behind me and Moira and from what I'd learnt, this was the only exit for the 'common folk', who made up the majority of the people here.

The wave of men and women came at us like a tsunami and I quickly lost sight of Moira when I was forced to the ground by a chubby woman dragging a young boy behind her.

The pain that ensued was crippling as I was trampled and kicked by every foot, shoe and heel attempting to get through those two doors.

The only things I could make out were shades of black and grey and the sound of flesh connecting with wood as fists made contact with the locked door.

My consciousness was beginning to slip away when an explosion echoed from inside the halls of the Square, similar to the sound of a firework. I flinched as the ear-piercing sound was followed by a pained howl and a scream of agony.

The never-ending series of kicks came to a halt as I felt the gash on my forehead re-open and blood from my nose run into my mouth as I feebly attempted to lift my head.

Despite the strong metallic taste overwhelming my senses, it couldn't prevent the smell of burnt flesh from flooding my nostrils and tainting my taste buds. I wanted to gag but, there were only so many functions my body could carry out in this state and its sole priority was breathing.

Eventually, the screams came to an end and the Square was deathly silent until Blaze's rugged voice made its presence known.

"Look at you all whimpering like school girls, cowering like the cowards the other factions make us out to be. I've said this before and I'll say it again, you don't need to be worried, times have changed and Offrost won't be descending upon us any time soon." Blaze boomed in frustration.

"I, alongside our Hybrid brothers and sisters will protect you, all you must do is carry on as normal; go to work, build up our economy and I assure you everything else will be taken care of."

Somehow the feeling of angst that'd wormed its way into the minds of the Glorians slowly began to dissipate and a sense of tranquillity washed over the tense atmosphere following Blaze's reassuring words.

"The criminal before you was clearly no match for me nor will his army be..... I'm disappointed in all of you and hope the next time we speak, you'll have more faith in me as your leader." Blaze ends.

I noticed many people drop their heads in shame, including a middle-aged man standing above me. At first, he didn't notice my presence but just like when I'd met Moira, from nowhere a sudden realisation hits him like a tonne of bricks as he gasps audibly and his mouth hangs open like a jammed window as his eyes fall on me.

"C-Creator." He stutters, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he tries to breathe without choking.

The sound of his voice amongst the silence draws the attention of the people surrounding us who also pale at the sight of me on the floor.

"Good Gods."

"She must've been trampled."

"What was a Creator doing all the way back here?"

All eyes had fallen on me in horror and amongst all the commotion a pair of arms scooped my motionless form off the ground.

"We need to get her help, if she dies we'll also end up as ashes."

Out of nowhere, a loud thump sounded from outside the Grand Square, coming from the direction of the two oversized doors like someone was trying to force their way in, the doors shaking with each bang.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

The monotonous sound bellowed through the courtyard as I felt the atmosphere revert to what it'd been when Salvador put on his little show.

The man who held me in his arms froze, as everyone ran past us and away from the doors, he stood staring, his body stricken with profound fear.

I turned to look at Blaze whose attention was on me, concern heavy in his eyes as he stared, completely unfazed by the charred body sitting at his feet (or what was left of it).

All that remained of Salvador was burnt flesh clinging to darkened bones. My stomach curled in on itself in disgust but before my body could take the opportunity to heave, the large doors fell forwards.

The hinges cried in anguish and the ground shook on impact, causing everyone to flinch in unison as they prepared for whatever fate awaited them.

The monster that I'd been expecting to come through those doors was hardly what I'd anticipated, instead of some deformed creature with seven stretched legs and razors for teeth, there instead was a mist of dark blue smoke.

"It's The Plague!"

The Plague?

Widespread panic broke out again and strangely enough, I felt the temperature within the Grand Square begin to rise, I looked around in confusion and then the reason why Blaze was named 'Blaze' finally settled in.

Fury burned brightly in his eyes and visible heat waves rolled off him, even his hands were faintly glowing a deep red.

I guess I know what happened to Salvador.

Despite all of the action, my attempts to stay awake were futile as my eyelids slumped over the round of my eyeballs and I drifted into a deep slumber.

Author's note

Poor Ezri 😞. 

The real question is, did Moira manage to escape the stampede or did she also end up crushed?

-Y