THE MONARCH

CHAPTER FIVE

The storm behind them did not waver. Though, still far off, the echo of its constant rumbling reminded them of its maleficent presence. Seeking, calling to the sands and all within and upon to adhere to its formidable existence.

The wind was harsh. Gone were its soft songs and gentle caress. It blew with a rage, thrusting sand in their faces and disturbing the dunes they were upon. It’s bellow screamed of a promised ruthlessness that echoed in her mind, mixing with the loud thumping of her heart. Yet, she pressed on. To stop, to slow was to die. And she had not come this far only to be taken by storm.

Makiya’s breaths came in short pants, the muscles in her legs burned with a fire she had never felt before, her body was slick with sweat, she could feel it trickling down her back and forehead into her eyes causing them to sting and water. She blinked hard trying to clear the blurriness in them. Her vision cleared and just as soon, she wished it hadn’t so she wouldn’t have had to see the man collapse in front of her. He did not rise.

They had lost two souls already. Their bodies had simply given up, pushed beyond limits it could not recover from. Now, another had joined them. They did not stop, they couldn’t. She hardened her heart as she ran past his corpse.

The guilt will come later, now is for survival, she thought.

She worked hard to control her racing heart, taking in breaths as slow as she could while running. After some minutes, she succeeded. Her breathing was still laboured but she no longer felt like she would collapse.

Up ahead, she could see Yuram, his hair flying behind him, ragged clothes flapping in the wind. The man had set an impossible pace yet he himself thundered on with long strides. The seasoned warrior had long since passed her, being the only one who knew the way, he led the group, eastbound to shelter in the caves. She hoped greatly that they would reach it before anyone else lost their lives. But she knew it was impossible.
                
                               *****

Dune after dune they ran, endlessly the sand extended, not a single thing in sight besides their ragged group. Deaf they were to all sounds except the rumbles of the beast behind them. And still they ran. Makiya had since lost track of how long it had been, she was weary and sore. Her eyes had begun closing of their own accord and it took great effort to force them back open. Her breathing which she had earlier tamed was now shallow. Only sheer will kept her in motion. Darkness began to cloud her vision and her consciousness started to slip. She could see no more, feel no more as it engulfed her and she felt herself drooping, slowly drowning in it as though she was falling through a dark bottomless pit.

Suddenly, shouts rang out around her, jerking her senses back to the present. She saw the few in front of her  pointing. With her heart beating faster than it had ever done, she forced her legs to move and soon she was at the front beside Yuram. In the distance she could see structures in the sand. She squinted her eyes to get a better view but there was no need to. Caves of sand, hardened over years of exposure to the elements, lay before her just over the horizon.

Tears filled her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and she almost collapsed with relief as she realised their shelter was now in sight. Only moments ago she was on the verge of giving up, falling to her death as the others had. Hope filled her bones with strength, the thought that perhaps she would not die in this storm caused her to move. She forced her legs into action and they obeyed. Muscles tightened painfully in her legs. She knew she would suffer pain caused by the overuse for days but she would be alive and that was all that mattered.

It was then a race against time. They were no longer crawling in the dark groping at walls in search of an exit. The door was in sight, they only need reach it.

The storm had gotten closer and with it came gusts of wind that sought to hinder their progress. Still, they pressed on moving closer and closer to shelter with each step. Grains of sand swirled in the air around them, dancing on the wind. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t seeking to bury them. Instead it was only a nuisance, getting in the way and hindering their vision.

Makiya kept her eyes on the caves. She feared if she took her eyes off them even for a second, they would disappear, gone to leave only an expanse of sand behind. She did not know how many were behind her or even ahead of her. She did not know if Yuram was near and she didn’t care. Her mind was hazy and her vision swam but the caves were there, still in her sight so, all was well.

Closer.

Faster.

Those two words danced around in Makiya’s head until it was all she could think, all she could hear. She was deaf to all else, numb to all feeling. Rest would not come until she was inside that cave. She would not stop, she would do nothing but run, not even when her chest began to burn excruciatingly nor when she felt her feet begin to bleed. She pushed her legs to move. 

Faster, she thought, closer.

She did not stop until the cave cast a shadow over her and as though a light was turned off in her head, she fell with a thud and allowed the blanket of darkness to shroud her. The last thing she was aware of was the passing of a tumultuous wave of sand that drowned out the voice of her guardian, Yuram as he called out her name.

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