Broken Haven

Chapter 16

I could start this chapter with a description of the morning sun, and how the blades of grass danced in the breeze... The birds chirping away to create an ambient soundtrack. On the other hand, I could tell you that the sun kept hidden behind the clouds, veering its gaze from the un-heavenly site that was to unfold. The ground squelching from a night of rain as heavy feat pounded on top of it. Storm clouds growing closer up above, darkening the already grey clouds that coated every inch of blue.

I get to choose. This is the choice that I come across as the story teller. If the events in this book really took place, would it be considered alright to lie to the reader, to change such things as the weather in order to set the scene in my preferred tone? Should I be allowed to do that?

What might catch your interest is that unlike other stories that truly happened, I was writing the script as it happened. A script for real life. This is a true story, after all.

I am the architect. I am the initiator. I am the God. Where someone may change a detail in the story later on, I can alter what really happened at the time, and the subsequent results of that change. That's what makes me... Brilliant.

It was a... Bland day. You'll understand the type. Grey. Cold, but not too cold. Windy, but not too windy. No rain. No sunshine.

Hans ran through the fields, and past the odd tree every now and then. He headed straight away from where he knew the Madnight lay in waiting, figuring that it'd only make sense that this would be the way that everyone else had left for.

With his boots activated, Hans leapt from clump to clump of grass. They couldn't have set off that early so catching up wouldn't be a problem if they were walking; and sure enough, Hans spotted them eventually. The mass of people had seemed to have found the bottom of the cliff. They were entirely circled by the cliff, and it would take hours for everyone to scale it, if they even felt up for the task. Hans approached from a hundred metres away after half an hour of jogging, leaving the current forest that he was inside and opening himself up to the plains on the edge.

He panted as he felt a cold rush flow underneath his skin like ice cold water, partially from the running, but also the dread of facing that mass of people again. A few faces began to turn around as they noticed the approaching madman, the one that they'd set off purposely to avoid.

"NO." A bellowing voice let out. It was Jose's. Hans froze in his tracks. "YOU DON'T BELONG WITH US."

"JOSE." Hans let out, to the surprise of everyone around him. The man in question began to pound his heavy feet across the ground, making his way up to Hans.

Jose brought his body right up, looking down only inches away from Hans. "Go."

"I'm not leaving this time... I've made that mistake once before. We're trapped in this giant place anyway, where the hell do you even think you're going?"

"I'm actually savin' them Hans. I'm protectin' them rather than throwin' them to the wolves."

"By running away... Again? I already led us into doing that once. Look where it got us."

"Those Madnight had been stalkin' us since we'd left Thoramore. They'd have attacked us back then if we hadn't left. I'm sorry Hans. It's time you left... For good. I have to protect them, and you're getting in the way of that." As the two paused, Hans noticed Jose's fingers creeping up to the gun in his holster. Jose's eyes followed Hans, leading to his spiderlike posed hand. His eyes made the long trip back to meet with Hans's again.