THE LAST GATEKEEPER

Out of the Den and into the Desert

Crow sprinted through the wind like nothing Jack had ever seen before. He was probably the fastest he’d ever seen. He shoved one of the guards down as he went and he was right there next to them in seconds. He had long breathes and a grin across his face.

            “You were gonna leave me huh?” Crow asked.

            “Crow-“ Jack began. Crow put a hand on his shoulder.

            “Don’t worry, it was the right choice.” Crow said and then gestured for them to move. “We should get going.” Crow said and Jack was about to debate the topic before he saw the hundreds of Legion roaring towards them from the city. “That’s not real but rest assured there’s something coming for us, maybe something worse than an army.” Crow began his swift jog and Jack watched after him with amazed eyes.

            “Damn. Let’s go guys.” And he went.

            The night veiled plains made Arkon look like an angel in the emptiness but if it was an angel, then it’d be the angel of death.

They ran for hours, rarely breaking for longer than a few minutes because their chasing omens didn’t rest.

            “What is it that’s chasing us?” Maverick asked and Crow just shook his sweat layered face.

            “Couldn’t tell you but it’s something bad.” Crow yelled popping up and down while running on hell bent legs. “We take our stand in the mountains.” Crow added. “By that time it’ll be morning and morning light will remove the illusion.”

            “I can’t go any farther!” Andrea called.

“Then you’ll die!” Crow smirked and Andrea felt disgust flow out of her like the sweat bleeding down her forehead.

Azlyn was closer to the front and felt the burn in her entire body. Sizzling nerves that felt like they could give at any moment and sweat that had begun at her forehead and had fell to her fingers. Jimmy had stayed by her side the entire time, careful not to exceed her speed, maybe he couldn’t exceed her speed but she doubted it.

The pain had grown to all of their bones and even thicker than that. To the point where Azlyn collapsed and before anyone could stop Jimmy had picked her into his arms.

“Can you carry her?” Crow barked from behind.

“I’m fine!” Jimmy shouted fiercely and Crow laughed. The heat of tired flesh had gone to nearly all of their heads at this point but it hurt to talk, it hurt to do anything but what they needed to do.

Crow felt the memories begin to come on but these were good. Good memories in a pool of bad.

Crow was nine at the time and hadn’t been the biggest of kids in his group nor the strongest. Their teacher had been holding a race that day in the woods, it was mid-summer and Crow had felt the heat that bled through tree shade. When it came time to racing he had been so tired and so thirsty throughout the entire thing, he’d wanted to quit but being a victor had been important to him. Impressing his teacher who’d been more of a father was important, more important than physical things.

Crow had come in fifth place to more matured boys and one girl that had the legs of a dog but Perqui had respected him for trying. Perqui had seen his effort.

“CROW!” Andrea’s voice barked and he snapped out of it. Crow whipped his head around, suddenly furious that someone had fallen behind but then he saw Jack sprawled down on the ground.

            “For god’s sake.” Crow murmured but didn’t feel his words, didn’t mean them. He darted backwards and saw the drawing army clearer than before, Legion soldiers wielding full metal and wearing weapon baring armor. Crow slapped Jack’s limp body and Jack came to before a second one could be dealt. “Get up.”