Apocalypse

Chapter 4 - A Turned Kijo

"Didn't you ever wonder why the zherti hadn't reached the cave?"

I groaned and opened my eyes, then looked over at the sword I had placed beside me before my sleep. The butterfly was hovering above it.

"The sword protected this place," it said in my sister's voice.

I got up and grabbed the sword, brushing away the dirt that had gotten on me.

"The Flame will not hurt you," the butterfly told me, "Stuff it in your belt."

"Who are you?" I stuttered.

"I told you, no questions," it snapped. But then it sighed, "My name is Origami. I am kijo. I will tell you no more. Now, we must be going."

It flew outside the cave into the daylight.

Daylight.

I realized I hadn't seen it in so long.
I stuffed the sword in my belt. "Where are we going?!" I called, "And why?"

There came no reply.

I ran after it. The daylight touched me for the first time in days. It warmed my pale skin. It made my green eyes squint. I blinked, letting my eyes focus,and saw what had become of my world after I had found my cave.

It was even worse.

All the trees that had previously been there were dead. One of them shriveled away in a cloud of dust. The grass was yellow and a putrid smell hung in the air.

"Oh no!" I exclaimed. It was far worse than I had left it.

"Come" beckoned the butterfly.
I followed it to a clearing on the mountain. The view of what used to be civilization was even more awful.

The sidewalk was cracked and had a weird color about it. Windows were broken, paint was faded and there was no humanity.

There were only the zherti.

"My town," I whispered.

"Yes," acknowledged Origami, "Come."
She lead me down the mountain's path. I stumbled continuously.

"Wait!" I yelled halfway there, "I have just one more question!"

"I will tell you eventually, I promise! Just please, be patient!" she responded.

I sighed and continued my clumsy climb down. Once we reached the foot of the mountain, Origami stopped to explain.

"Alright. The zherti are simply clones."

"Clones?"

"Shh! Let me speak!" She fluttered angrily, "Yes, poorly done clones of Zhormii. He has been an enemy for years."

"Of the kijo?" I looked down at my sword.

"Yes," she replied, "The sword will protect you from the zherti so that you can get to him and defeat him. It will satisfy your hunger and thirst. It will heal you. But you must have pure intent. Defeat Zhormii."

"Why couldn't the kijo?"

She sighed, "Defeating him only banishes him from the planet. We have many times."
I could not see it, but I heard sorrow in her voice.

"What makes him so powerful?" I asked.

Origami exhaled sadly.
"He is a turned kijo."