Nifflheim

The End is the Beginning Pt. 2

The snowfall worsens. Large, delicate snowflakes fall and collect underneath our feet. Their crunch is the only sound from our party for miles. The silence is almost worse than the lifeless eyes that stare at us with deep, dark abysses. A shiver crawls down my spine and my muscles tighten. I break my gaze for fear of getting lost in them.

The wind howls angrily. The snow the wind carries scrapes against my face like thin blades. I tilt my head down to shield myself from the never ending siege. My boots deface the perfect white blanket beneath me with footprints. The destruction, however, is hastily repaired. Our footsteps completely vanish in a matter of seconds and leaves no clear path back to the shore. I hope this woman can lead the boy and me through this labyrinth of horrors.

A faint thud sounds behind me where the boy now lays face first in the snow. I laugh to myself and walk over to help him to his feet. I holler back to the woman to halt her advance but I am interrupted by shouting to my left.

"Where have you taken me?!" An angry voice bellows.

I turn to see a massive man steamrolling towards me. His face twisted in rage.

Move. I need to move!

His unrelenting speed catches me off guard. He reaches me in seconds and slams his foot down in front of me to stop himself. My body vibrates from the force. The man clenches his hand into a fist and winds his arm back. I step back but can't escape the over six-foot behemoth before me. His gigantic fist collides against my ribs and sends me spiraling into the air. I slam into the ground several meters away.

I cough, struggling to put air into my lungs. Blood drips from my mouth and stains the snow below me. I push myself onto all fours and crawl towards the sound of clashing metal and screaming. Ahead of me, my companions struggle to overpower the man. The woman may have been able to over power the man if she was by herself, but she had the kid to think about.

Each of them desperately swings their weapons against the large hammer clenched in the mans fists. He blocks each strike effortlessly and quickly swings the hammer around him, knocking the boy and woman off their feet. Their bodies now quivering in pain. He stands over them with his hammer raised above his head, poised to land the finishing blow.

I yell. I muster all the air my lungs can hold and shout loud enough to tear my throat. I scream to tell my body to move, to fight, not wanting to watch my companions die before me. It's true that it is foolish to believe that after such a short time and only silent remarks between us, I feel as if we are friends, but being alone in this place terrifies me. If by some chance we can find answers and escape this place, I know I will not be able to do it alone.

Adrenaline takes over my body and clogs my thoughts. Snow whirls around as I run towards the man with both axes in my hands. I don't know if I can beat him but the rage swirling inside of me wasn't going to let me stop. The man turns to meet me, our weapons colliding with a crash. My axes reverberate in my hands from the massive swing of his hammer. I quickly duck, dodging the next stroke of his hammer. I strengthen my grip on the axes and thrust them upwards, gashing his forearm and a part of his shoulder. The man laughs, unfazed as he lifts his leg and kicks me straight in the chest. I tumble backwards until I slam against a pile of corpses. Bodies fall from the top of the pile and pin me to the ground.

The man slowly steps forward. He continues to laugh to himself as he drags his hammer lazily behind him. Is he enjoying this? His free hand wipes the steadily flowing blood from his arm. I struggle against the bodies that gently shift with each nudge of my arms but they do not yield their captive. I battle against their weight until his large hand grapples around my neck.