The Overlord Trilogy: The Light

28 • The Final Stage

Jacob

"Keep moving forward, you're almost to the bridge!" The people around me cheer, tears falling down their face. I look around, holding onto Alyssa's hand tightly. The afternoon sun stretches the multitude of shadows onto the small amount of the ground I can see. We are almost out sis, just hang in there. I want to say these things but no I cannot, my condition won't allow me to. The doctors said it was because of what I saw that night, it might have been but I still wish it never happened. I want to speak, I hate only being able to hear. I hate sign language and I hate how Alyssa looks at me with wide eyes whenever I try to calm her down. Luckily the doctors said I could get my speech back any day now, I just need that day to come faster so I can speak again.

"Are we almost there Jacob?" She looks up at me, moving closer to me so there is no space between us. I smile down at her and rub her back, nodding to her so she knows everything is okay. Alyssa smiles back at me before looking back at the people ahead of us. An idea pops into my head and I spring to action, kneeling down and stopping Alyssa. "What?"

Want to climb on my shoulders? Alyssa hardens her gaze, trying to read my sign language. Want. To. Climb. On. My. Shoulders? Alyssa's eyes bright up and she nods her head. I smile and take off my backpack, Alyssa climbing onto my back before putting her legs on my shoulder. I carefully sling the backpack onto my back and hold onto both of her legs before continuing to walk.

An explosion comes from somewhere deeper in the city, screams spreading through the crowd. I turn my head, smoke rising from the new bomb. What is going on in there? Why is everything going what? What did we do? Alyssa forces me to turn the other way, pushing my head to the right. I nod and continue to walk, the people around us getting more and more nervous as time goes on.

"Stay calm! Please stay calm all of you! You will be out shortly!" The soldier stands on the side of the bridge, speaking into his megaphone as we walk through the newly erected fences. Soldiers line the metal, looking around nervously as we pass. If anyone makes one false move those soldiers will open fire. The thought comes to me and I know it's true without a second thought. The look in their eyes only further proves my point, they look like wild animals waiting to get attacked. They want to shoot.

We continue pass the fences, the soldier on the megaphone continuing to shout things at the people passing by. My heart begins to race faster as we get father and farther from where the bridge connects to the city. Stay calm, don't have one of your episodes now. Stay strong for Alyssa. I take a deep breath and shut my eyes, following what the counselors said to do. I open my eyes slowly and release a shaky breath before focusing on the neck of the person in front of me. We continue down the bridge in silence, something I have come all to accustom to.

"You are halfway off the bridge! Stay calm and thank you for your cooperation!" The soldiers line the sides, another set of fences and another set of terrified recruits. "Once you get off the bridge you will be sent through another checkpoint where they will search you and your belongings, please try to stay c-" He is cut off as a deafening sound fills the air around us. Screams come from all around us as everyone looks towards the sky, the source of the trumpet-like noise.

"Jonas w-what is that?" I look up towards the sky, the sound getting louder. Where is that coming from? The soldiers lift up their guns, shouting frantically into the moving crowd. I can barely hear Alyssa's screams for reassurance over the noise of hundreds of scared people.

"Calm down now!" The soldier on the megaphone shouts, his voice barely able to be heard over the crowd. Another trumpet blast shakes the bridge, more panic spreading. I quickly kneel down and help Alyssa off of my shoulders.