The Overlord Trilogy: The Light

14 • Hell Takes Many Forms

Attention! Attention! This is an emergency broadcast from the Nightlock Empire! We are sorry for the interruption but the usage of the ALNR line is needed. As of yesterday, April 2nd 5061, our allies in the city of Lucia have been slaughtered. The Alliance of Overgaard has slaughtered everyone within the once great city. The AOO has openly declared war on the NE and our allies, stating the following:

"Hello. This is the leader of the AOO or the Alliance of Overgaard. Word may have spread already about our attack on the Lucian government. We were forced to attack them due to the safe harboring of the Nightlock Empire leader, James Nightlock. As a result of this, the population had to be taken into custody and the city be destroyed. Make no mistake, this is a declaration of war on the NE and all of her allies. Anyone who flies under the NE banner is following a corrupt and evil order that must be stopped! This is not just a war between two groups, it is a war between the galaxy."

The NE calls upon all of you to cry in one voice, united, against the deceiving and manipulative AOO. They will take your children and your families away from you, killing us all. They have declared war on us and must pay the ultimate price for slaughtering thousands of innocents!

We will now return to your normally scheduled broadcast.

~~~

AOO Soldier: "Can you tell me why we're searching through the rubble of this dumb hospital?" My friend, Aden, turns to face me.

"We're searching it because the lights were on and that means the Nightlock Empire's leader could be in here."

"Dude the place is blown up. No one is surviving that." Aden rolls his eyes and continues to walk through the rubble. I sigh and lean against one of the remaining walls, refusing to search for a guy that is already dead. I laugh as Aden falls behind a pile of rubble, letting out a short cry before stopping. "What's the matter Aden? Did the rubble jump out at you?" I continue to laugh to myself, waiting for Aden to get back up from behind the rubble. "Aden?" Nervousness fills me as I begin to make my way over to where he fell, my Oblivion gun raised. The hairs on the back of my neck go up when I hear rubble shift behind me. Turning around I barely have time to move my hands before red clouds my vision, a piece of rubble slamming into my face. I fall backwards, blood running down my face as I fall.

"Sorry." I wipe the blood from my eyes in time to see a girl, her red hair brown in some places from dust, aiming my Oblivion gun at my head. "This is life." The world goes dark as she pulls the trigger.

~~~

Three Days Remaining

Kali

I move through the destroyed streets, nothing left standing. The Oblivion gun bangs against my leg as I make a sharp turn down an alleyway, running towards a manhole. I quickly look around before pulling up the manhole, dropping my gun down into the sewer before climbing down myself. I stand by the ladder, picking up the Oblivion, and hit it against the wall three times. I wait a minute before hitting three times again, keeping my eyes on the closed manhole above me.

"Kali?" I turn and wave to Amber, the sewer lighting up shortly after. "Anything exciting happening?" I shake my head as I walk over, sitting down next to her.

"No, two AOO soldiers were at the rubble but I took care of them."

"Kali?" I smile and stand up, Logan hugging me tightly. "Don't do that again, got it?" I roll my eyes and step back, crossing my arms.

"And why shouldn't I?" Logan smiles at me and steps closer.

"You can if you're with me okay? I don't want to lose you." I nod and can't help but smile at him.