Original - With Wrath, the Fall

Lane - Chapter 16: The First Trumpet

I saw where I was but I didn't know where exactly I was. Trees stood as tall as they could, their gnarled branches reaching out scratching at the heavens. The air was an alluring mixture of water, earth, and plant, like a freshly tended garden. Crickets, owls, and wolves aroused the air with their melodic sharp cries.

Where am I?

My mind seemed fragmented, it was both mine and someone else's. I looked to the moon. It shone brightly but gave me a sensation that I didn't quite understand. It was almost as if it reminded me of something, something painful yet pleasant.

What am I supposed to do? What am I? Who am I? I don't understand... Why do I think I should feel something? What does that mean?

My mind ached. Something seemed drawn out of me, something important. Something that made me... human... I tried thinking back. I couldn't. It was all a fog. All I could remember was waking up here and the words that echoed in my mind as a crude melody, "The village Moore, slaughter them all."

Crack. I felt a change in the air as I shot a hand out toward the direction of the sound. There was gurgling then silence. Curiosity drove me to see what had made the sound. I went to where it seemed sourced from, a bush. Behind was the body of a young boy, motionless.

Did I do that? Why?

I knew I should have been sad or afraid but I wasn't. I felt nothing.

What am I?

My attention was piqued by footsteps followed by a blur in my peripheral vision. This time I didn't react as before.

I bolted after the blur. It was short, young but slow. Its smell was intoxicating.

What is that smell? Fear? What is it?

I didn't know how much time passed until the blur finally stopped moving. All I knew was we were on the edge of a small grouping of buildings. Something that ticked in my mind as a village.

Is this Moore?

A man held a pitchfork to my throat, its point piercing my skin, "You stay right there, stranger."

I touched the man's chest. Instantly a hole blew right through his chest. He fell forward. I stared in his eyes. Something bright seemed to leave them.

What was that? A soul?

I tried to peer closer but there was nothing to be seen. I felt better though, as if I had took something from the man.

I looked around.

This is Moore? I know it.

I moved forward. Several men lined themselves in my path. Some had pitchforks, others had long sticks with strings on them.

A man with black short hair spoke, "Don't move. You've killed a man. What have you to say?"

His words confused me, "Say? Killed? What are they? Tell me. I don't understand."

"Don't play dumb kid. You know what you did."

"I don't." I stepped forward, "Help me," the men tensed up.

"Stand still kid. I mean it. We aren't afraid to hurt you."

I could taste them. I could taste their fear. I could smell their auras, "You are though. I don't know what it is but you all taste of it. It permeates off you like thick smoke."

I licked my lips, "I want it... All of it..."

I heard fine wire snap. Arrows spliced the air with ease.