Flashf0rward

Chapter 34: The Other Side

Matthias

My horse cantered slowly across the hill as I headed back towards camp, leaving the sinners behind me. I knew that this was going to happen sooner or later, it was all just a matter of time. He worked in mysterious ways, but it always eventually came together one way or another. I was thankful that I was a part of it.

Returning to the camp, I saw my men standing guard, nodding at me as they let me in, my horse walking into our large, and now slightly burnt, base of operations. The fire last night had raged for almost an hour before we could fully put it out. It had taken several of our tents and rendered them useless, but thankfully hadn't destroyed too many of our supplies.

Hitching my horse back with the others, I decided to pay a visit to the person who had gotten hurt first in this tragedy. Heading across the camp, I passed by several of the men, who either avoided my gaze or quickly nodded at me and then got out of my way. I knew the effect I had on them, and I didn't quite care. It was better to be feared than respected.

When I arrived at the medical tent, the two guards outside stood at attention as I walked inside. I passed by several of my troops who had sustained burns from the fire, since there was only one that I wanted to see. Looking at the end, I saw him lying on a stretcher, his leg wrapped in bandages. "Giles, my son."

Giles turned to look up at me, and he winced as he did. "Sir..." I kneeled down next to his cot. "Shh. Don't move. You'll make it worse." Giles nodded, his normally stoic face now screwed up in pain. "Yes, sir." I looked down at the wound, examining it. "She hurt you badly. One inch lower and she would have severed your artery."

Nodding, Giles laid back. "I suppose I should consider myself lucky, sir." I shook my head. "No. You should consider yourself blessed. He knew that your work was not done yet. He saved you as He saved me all those years ago." Giles turned his head to look at me. "Why me, sir? Why do you always come to me?"

I thought back to when Giles and I first met. He was younger than, more wild and angry. He had become separated from his family, and had fought several of those demons first-hand. It was then I learned how to use my gifts to heal him, and from that point on, he swore allegiance to me, and would follow me wherever I went. Knowing this must have been part of His plan, I took him under my wing.

Looking at Giles, I simply smiled and stroked his hair. "Because it is what I must do, child. It is my purpose. My destiny. Now hold still. I have need of you." I said, then laid my hand on his injured leg. Closing my eyes, I felt my stomach drop as I began to use my gifts to heal him once more.

His head fell backwards, and his back arched as he let out a shaky groan, feeling the energy within him shift and move as his muscles and blood cells reformed and rebuilt themselves. I focused as hard as I could, and then once I was done, I took my hands off, then began to remove his bandages. "Breathe, child. You are gifted with a healthy body once again."

Removing his bandages, I watched as Giles slowly stood up from his cot, and I saw that the small place on his leg where there had once been a bloody puncture wound had nothing left in it but a small scar that was slowly beginning to fade. Looking down at me, Giles lowered his head. "Thank you, sir."

Standing up, I looked down at Giles with a small smile. "Come, my child. We have work to do. The sinners have brought war upon themselves, and in 24 hours, we shall take it to them." Giles looked up into my eyes. "How many do we need?" I thought to myself for a moment. "Everyone. The sinners, although they have many faults, are tenacious and powerful. We cannot afford to spare anyone."

Giles nodded. "I shall assemble the troops and prepare them for the assault tonight." I nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are a good man, Giles. What you do, you do for the sake of these people, and you do His work." Giles grabbed my hand. "I will follow you until the ends of the Earth, sir." With that, he turned and ran, heading towards the main armoury.

Walking to my personal quarters, I knew much had to be done in terms of preparing our weapons and troops, but I wasn't worried. The men were organized, and had done this many times before. They knew what they were doing. Our weapons, our strategies, everything we knew would go into this attack. And I would make sure personally that it would not fail.

But, before I could fully begin any preparations, I needed time to prepare myself. Walking into the small tent that was mine, I zipped the flap closed and then sat down on the grass that was inside the tent, my legs crossed. Closing my eyes, I began to focus on nothing more than my breathing. Soon after, I felt all of reality slip away.

The world around me was gone, and I was somewhere else. I saw nothing around me but darkness, but I was not frightened. I knew that this was His domain, and when I was in His presence, I should not be afraid, but grateful. Soon, the darkness shifted, and I felt a form much larger than mine pass over me. He was here.

He spoke to me in a voice only I could understand. I answered. "No, they did not surrender, just as you predicted. War has been declared." He was pleased, and spoke another command. At this, I was confused, but did not show doubt. "You wish for me to capture one of them?" He confirmed this, knowing that I was unaware of his true intentions.

I shook my head. "I will do as you say. No matter what." He knew this, and that was good. With that, He needed me no longer. Releasing me, I felt a sensation of falling as I returned to my body with a gasp. Opening my eyes, I saw the tent around me, and returned to the physical plane. The flap unzipped behind me as one of the men stepped in. "Sir, I-" His eyes widened as he saw what I was doing.

"Sorry sir, I-I didn't know you were-" I raised a hand and stood up. "It is alright, my son. What is it you require?" The man motioned to the field. "The men are waiting for you to discuss our strategy, sir." I nodded. "Of course." Time moved differently when I was in his domain. I must have stayed there for a few hours. I motioned to the man. "Lead the way."