Clockwork Shadows

Fall

Clutching Cassy's hand, we continued to race through the broken city. People were either hiding in their homes or their bodies were lying around from the explosion. After those grotesque black creatures had just climbed out from innocent people I could understand why the survivors were hiding. Their friends and families voices just suddenly ticking harshly and their skin cracking like dried paper, it would definitely leave an imprint on a person. But I couldn't help them, I had to look after my own party, even if I didn't necessarily trust half of those guys. But Annaliese was a different story.

We are both entirely different sides of a coin, and that's why I love her so much. She always had the kind personality and the quiet stubborn attitude, meanwhile I had the distrusting and cold-blooded killer attitude. I always found it amazing that she was just so open about her emotions and that she was always reaching out to people. I got the shorter end of the bargain as my father's empty weapon, ready to attack anyone and, in this case, anything. But in situations like this, acts of kindness were dangerous.

As we ran through Main Street to the old Iron shop, people, half enveloped in shadows, called for help. My main focus was moving out of the open as quickly as possible, but Annaliese, she was surrounded by the victim's' suffering. They kept whispering for help, calling out to us but in my opinion they almost sounded sinister. As these half shadow citizens scurried and begged for attention Annaliese kept growing more and more anxious. "Please," a half formed child pleaded, "help me. You can help me, you're the only one that can! Please Ms, my body hurts everywhere.

I can't," he began, but I was already dragging Annaliese away before she did something stupid.

That's when I heard her sniffle, it was very quiet but I knew Annaliese well enough to know when she was about to cry. It's not like she cried all the time, in fact she almost never cried, but every time she did she always had the best intentions. However, seeing our current near-death situation, crying wasn't in any way helpful. "Annaliese," I asserted, "we can't help them. We already have the twins and the clueless trio to look after, and we need to keep our heads if we want them to survive. I'm sorry we can't do anything, but we need to focus on getting through this alive."

I didn't mention however, that all of those people felt, I don't know how to put this, wrong in a way. They felt wrong, like a random chill up your spine on a warm day. I had a feeling that, whatever they were now, it wasn't completely human. Especially the way they whispered. Despite being out of earshot from the little boy, I could still hear his cries for help.

When we finally reached the old Iron work place I let out the shivers that had been built up from our interactions with the creatures. I checked on the others, Nalren looked paler than usual and Fabron wore a complacent expression. Lyon, being the protective little brother he is, rushed over to Cassy and I. While he was making sure that we were going okay and weren't hurt made I realised how similar he was to our mother. After constantly reassuring him that we were still sane, I sent them to go and scout the area. Then I glanced at Raiden who seemed as unamused as ever, but when I looked down I saw that his hands were curled into white fists. "You okay there Princess?" He joked when he caught my gaze.

I didn't bother responding, he honestly wasn't my biggest concern and I wasn't going to waste energy on unnecessary things. Standing back up, I brushed some of the gathered dirt off of my ruined dress. It was in shreds due to being attacked by the monsters and it really needed to be replaced by some comfortable clothes. "Myrina," a small voice said, tugging my arm, "Why couldn't I have been useful and just tried to have helped them? I'm a terrible person, and now they won't leave me alone about it."

I took a closer look at my best friend, her eyes were darker than usual and her dark hair was a mess. When I grabbed her hand I was shocked to find it so cold, and she wouldn't stop talking about the people in the Main Street. Acting upon instinct, I grabbed Annaliese's shoulders and shook her. Then when she stopped muttering she gave me an annoyed glare, which was a sign that she was doing better. But her eyes, they still looked so hollow.