New Life Online: The Red Shadow

Return to the Red Shadow

Alethra darted into the forest, heavy footsteps echoing behind her. Her feet quietly thumped on the ground as she tried her best to be silent. Her heart raced as she could feel the enemy closing in on her. Beads of sweat trickled down her dirt-covered face as her dark brown eyes scanned the forest for escape. But, there was no where that she could go. At least, no where on her level... she quickly glance up at the tree she was beginning to pass. It had a branch several feet above the ground. If she could just reach it... she could escape. Alethra quickly turned around and ran back towards the tree, the loud crunching sounds of footsteps sending shivers down her spine. Alethra licked her cracked lips, and jumped into the air, just when she was about to fall, she used her feet and kicked the tree's trunk, and catapulted to the tree a crossed from it. She kicked the tree like she did the other one, and she came hurtling onto the branch. It hit her hard in the gut, knocking the air out of her. She quickly stood up on the branch, and looked down at the ground.

They arrived. At least one hundred members of the order of the light's army were standing below her, where she was only moments earlier. Alethra bit her lip in fear as one man looked up at her with narrowed eyes full of hate. "You won't escape Alethra! We will find you, you murderer!" He yelled, full of rage.

Terror coursed through Alethra's blood, but she released her long-held breath, steadily. Alethra returned the man's cold hard gaze, and smiled. "You can try." She responded, slowly regaining her courage. She jumped upwards, grabbing another branch. She swung upwards, flipping herself into the air before gracefully landing on the branch.

"Curse you! Alethra!" The man yelled after her. Alethra smiled, and leaped from branch to branch, escaping the forest. She glanced back longingly at the city she had grown to love and admire. Any trace of that admiration was gone now. Alethra returned her gaze back to what lay in front of her. She sighed, and continued leaping from branch to branch. She would have never guessed that a game such as New Life Online would be capable of such sorrow.
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Alethra sat in her bedroom at the Inn she was staying at. She tapped herself on the head to open up the menu screen. She sighed. Her health was in the red zone, and her stamina was nearly gone. Alethra searched through her item list and grunted. She was out of healing potions. That meant all she could do now, was sleep to recover. She sighed, and suspiciously looked at the room door, and window. She didn't trust this place, or anyplace of that matter. She hated sleeping anywhere without knowing for certain that it was safe. She walked over to the window, and closed it, locking it afterward. She pulled the curtains together to cover it up before moving towards the door. She locked it up before collapsing onto the soft bed before her.

Alethra sighed once again as her vision began to turn black. "Why does everyone hate me?" She asked herself before being completely sucked into the darkness of sleep.
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Alethra's brown eyes slowly opened as she awoke from her rest. She looked at the clock to see that it was only six in the morning. Alethra yawned and got out of the comfortable bed. She stretched before becoming completely still. She could sense someone's presence. It was quickly coming closer, and closer, alarming Alethra. Panicked, Alethra gazed at the door. She could just make out the sound of someone picking the lock.

Alethra grabbed a small stool that was next to her, and cautiously sneaked over to the side of the door. Slowly, the door creaked open, and a small figure advanced into the room. Alethra quickly threw the stool at the person. "DIE!" She screamed, scared. The stool collided with the person's face, sending the boy sprawling to the floor. Alethra's eyes widened, and her cheeks reddened. She recognized the boy.

Alethra rushed to the boy's side, removing the stool from his face. "Erin! I am so sorry! I-I didn't know it was you!" She stuttered, embaressed.

Erin confusedly gazed at Alethra, dazed. "So this is how you treat the guy you've been best friends with for seven years." He groaned.

"I am so sorry Erin! I thought that you were an assassin from the order of light!" She blurted out.

Erin smiled, still sprawled out on the floor. "Yeah... I can see that. You know, next time I think I'll knock first." He laughed, rubbing his head.

Alethra smiled. "That's probably not a bad idea." She chuckled. She stood up, extending her hand out to her friend. Erin gladly took it, and Alethra pulled him back up on his feet.

"So, why are you here? It is too risky to be seen with me." She seriously asked him.

Erin nodded his head. "I know, I know, but it's important." He told Alethra, a serious look on his face.

Alethra raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Erin nervously looked around the room. "Someone... er... is, uh..." He nervously started.

"What? Someone is what?" She inquired, urgently.

Erin took a deep breath. "Someone is after you." He finished solidly.

Alethra sighed. "You and I already knew that. The light guild is hunting me down." She dully responded.

Erin shook his head several times. "Yes, yes. I know! But it isn't just them!" He blurted out, quickly slapping his hand over his mouth, hoping that no one else heard.

Alethra's eyes widened. "Who?" She stated, biting her lip, "Who is after me?"

Erin nervously avoided her gaze. "The one guild no one else knows about. The one guild no one wants to know about." He shakily told her.

Alethra's breathing quickened, and her hands trembled nervously. "Erin... who is after me?" She asked, terrified.

Erin breathed deeply before meeting her gaze once again. "The murderer's guild. The Red Shadow guild. Alethra... they want you back."

Alethra's vision turned blurry as tears rose to her eyes. "No... no!" She whispered, fear conquering her thoughts. "I... I can't... no... I won't! I'm not going back! Ever!" She shouted.

Erin's eyes widened. "Alethra, keep your voice down! Someone will hear you." He urgently whispered.

Alethra nervously shuffled backwards. "I don't care! Let them hear me... I won't go back!"

Erin softly held Alethra's hand in his. "You don't have to." He calmly assured her.

Knock knock knock

Someone knocked at the door. Erin looked over his shoulder at the door before walking cautiously towards it. He slowly opened it up to the Inn owner.

While they were talking, a small beeping sound notified Alethra that someone she knew had messaged her. She slowly looked at the message, her eyes widening once again.

Alethra. You will return to the Red Shadow at once. If you don't return to us in three days time, let's just say that you will never see your sister again.
---Zala

Tears escaped Alethra's eyes as she stared at the message. They meant it. If she doesn't do what they say in-game... they'll never return her sister to her outside of the game. Alethra took a deep breath, and wiped her tears. She stood up, and quietly walked out of the room, handing the Inn keeper money as she left.

"Alethra? Alethra where are you going?" Erin shouted after her.

"Don't follow me Erin. I am going alone. I'm sorry." She quietly told him, her voice slightly shaking.

"Alethra, are you insane?! You can't go back there! Alethra!" Erin shouted.

Alethra ignored him, and continued walking out of the inn. 'I'm sorry, Erin. I know I promised you, and myself that I'd never go back there... but, I have to do this... for Amy.' She thought to herself. Alethra walked outside, the sun shining down onto her. "I'll find you, Amy. I promise you." She whispered before running into the dark woods that lay in front of her.

Hey guys thank you for reading! And yes... I am entering in the #Wattys2016 contest, so wish me luck ;3 have a nice day! #Wattys2016 #Wattys2016 #Wattys2016

♡/ falling_daleks