The Demon Sword: Sorataki

Chapter 2: Van of Bain

Andrew

Having travelled over a number of slopes he and Natalie were now not so far from where the village was said to be. A trail of black smoke that rises over and beyond the horizon were certain signs that they were just a light climb away from reaching Lucas. Pacing himself up the hill he watched Natalie's sudden halt as her eyes likely met with their destination.

Being just five paces behind her and seeing the gobsmacked reaction to what lied ahead however, his chest tightened.

"What is it?" he asked in a breath of suspicion, his pace picked up to cover the last distance.

Summoning her dark wings a sudden gust forced him to shield his face from the burst of feathers dancing on the winds around him. Kicking off the ground she launched herself off into flight. Blinking the black petals away from his face he begins to pick up the pace soon after, a foreboding dread growing in his gut.

"Wait!!" he called out before cursing under his breath soon after.

Reaching the top of the slope himself he bears witness to the sight that had set Natalie off. The village was ravaged.

Huts burnt and broken. Dirt roads ripped to shreds as if a giant blade had cleaved through them. Some houses still glowed with dread, there silent burning made for the trail of smoke they had been following since this morning.

They were too late.     

Still taking it all he in just stood there at the top of the slope. He knew that these people were monsters going from how Natalie spoke of them. They had been chasing them down for years, witnessing horrid things in the process.

He knew things were bad, but this?

They're getting bolder...

Regaining his bearings he runs down the hill towards the village to meet back up with Natalie. Smell of burning straw, wood and rock filled his lungs as he got closer forcing him to shield his nose with his arm, not that it helped any. The smell of flesh was also present among the cents he was picking up. Steeling himself for what he might witness he drops his useless nose shield bearing the pungent scent of burnt flesh as he bursts on through the forsaken streets.

Quickly sweeping around gave him the sight of deceased bodies lying dormant on the shredded road their faces buried in the dirt giving him the hint that the scars on the road were the cause of their demise, and perhaps the thing that did this is still around. Walking deeper into the village he called out Natalie's name but to no avail.

~#~

Natalie

She lands deeper into the village center when the heat and smell where too much to bear rising directly towards her. With her dark wings fading away she walked on further into the village passing through a narrow path leading to a "T" junction. At the end of its head was a house that caught her attention. The door was broken a-jar by long claw marks that reached from it to the walls beyond, unmistakable signs that a demon attack had taken place.

Finding her legs pulled her towards the haunted house she walked in and took a look around the room. The insides were in no better shape, with holes plastered through the walls and a great gaping pit lay smack in the middle of the living room floor, an ominous updraft of wind steadily whistles its way from within it's ink black well which sent a slight chill down her spine.