The Fourth Man

Death And Destruction

Death And Destruction

The closer they pulled to the shore the worse the situation on the island seemed. It soon became apparent that the island was Farland, the largest of the three, as the harbour - with all of it's vessels set ablaze - became clear, as well as the large factories behind that.

At first they couldn't see the source of the flames, or anyone running around wildly, but as they pulled closer men were running along the harbour with rifles, sailors perched on the harbour front buildings with guns strung across their necks.

Finally they landed on the island, and sprinted immediately to harbour.

"What the hell is happening?" Jellah demanded of a man stationed at the harbour.

"They attacked the other night, and last night too," he wheezed

"Who did?"

"The Dark Things," was all he could say.

"Where's the mayor?" Jonathan asked

"In his office, readying to go to the bunker."

"He's running off?" Jonathan said to himself, and started off through the ablaze buildings to reach the Mayor's office. The others followed behind, just as quickly.

As they ran they noted the dead bodies, left haphazardly on the side of the road, hundreds of people fleeing around aimlessly, most with guns hung limply around their necks. Jonathan seemed to be the only one who knew where he was going, and led them to the front of the Mayor's office.

The brickwork was blown open at several places, and the heavy front door was burnt to a crisp, slumped on it's hinges. The windows were all shattered, and a fire still smouldered on the tile-smashed roof.

"What are we going to do here exactly?" Siggy asked, confused.

"We're going to get some answers," Jonathan answered determinedly.

Inside of the Mayor's office it was chaos; official looking people dashed around the scarlet red carpets, bringing things to the Mayor. The Mayor himself was in his office, gathering together papers that were spread carelessly across his desk.

No-one noticed as they walked straight through the hallway, most too busy to care, and they stopped in the Mayor's office. It looked even worse than the rundown look of the building. The window was smashed, and fragments of glass were scattered across the deep pile carpet, the paintings which had once adorned the walls were now lying, dejectedly, on the floor, their frames broken beyond repair. Only the desk seemed to be unharmed, but it was cluttered with paper that the Mayor was scrambling after wildly.

"What's going on?" Jonathan demanded, thrusting his hand onto the desk, disturbing some of the papers, causing them to float harmlessly to the floor.

"Master Cinks?" The Mayor asked, a little taken aback "I'm sorry, but I'm busy, haven't you noticed?" He regained his composure, his face still bright red from hurrying around his office.

"I don't care, you're going to tell me what happened."

"Tell you what happened? Are you serious boy? Have you even been here the last two nights?"

"Funnily enough no, I was on another island looking for The Fourth Man."

"Oh, and how did that go?" He asked sarcastically "I've sent hundreds of men after him, if he even is real, apparently he's the only one who can stop this."

"He was," said Jonathan "yesterday he died."

"Oh dear," the Mayor chuckled "and why should I believe you?"

"Because we have the Fifth man instead."

"Oh do you? Well why should I dream of believing you?"

"Do you want me to make you to?" Jellah asked, producing the machine gun. The Mayor shook his head. Jellah closed the heavy oak door.

"Sit down," Jonathan pointed to his desk chair "and tell me everything that's happened in the last two days."

Obligingly the Mayor stumbled back into his chair, beads of sweat showing on his brow. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, and addressed the five people in his company.

"Well I can tell you the facts, it might do me good to run through them again, as I'm not so sure about what's going on myself. When I am finished you can make your own mind up." He settled back in the chair, and stared out the window into the distance.

"Two nights ago," he began "we were caught unawares by an excruciating attack on all of Farland. At first we thought it was bombs - then everyone questioned who by - then the reports came in from the south. It was The Dark Things, they're massive apparently, and use their destructive physical power, or intense magical abilities to wreck havoc on us all. They must have somehow escaped from whatever imprisonment they were forced into after Code Eighty-Six."

"Up here in the north," he continued his devastating tale "we didn't see them, but felt the full power of their attack. They killed countless numbers, and have destroyed the factories and the harbour. We knew they would attack again the next night, so we readied ourselves by arming the men, setting them up on posts. When the attack came we were hopelessly overpowered. There can't have been more than ten Dark Things, but they're strong, and they are very tough to kill. We've wounded a few, and down south they killed one, but that's all. Right now we're bracing for another attack, they have us on our knees, now they are going to deliver the knockout blow."

"Then it sounds like we're in a tough situation," Thomas acknowledged in the aftermath of the Mayor's narrative "but there is hope yet."

"Yes," said the Mayor "so you say, but who is the Fifth Man?"

"Me," said Thomas proudly "and I think we should rally all the men together we have left, and deliver a strong plan of action, together we can still defeat the Dark Things."

"You're the Fifth Man? Fifth boy more like. But if it's true, then yes it's a good idea, I'll go now, we won't go down without a fight. Meet me in an hour at the harbour." With that he left, sweeping out the room to gather all the men capable of fighting.

"Good," said Thomas "we can all help, you heard what he said; the harbour in an hour." The others left, leaving Thomas alone in the study. Thomas was worried. Lots of pressure was on him; he was the sole saviour of all of Farland, and he didn't even know how defeat The Dark Things. Surely it must speak in the legends of how The Dark Things were defeated, there must be someone who knew?

Then suddenly Thomas remembered, he would go to the place he always went with a query or problem. He had to find his factory, he had to find wise, old Bill.