Chapter 1: Running Away
Huff - huff-
I ran and ran all the while crushing Erika's hand. I meant to lightly squeeze it but could only latch on in terror. I looked behind us to see if Zeke and Alice were still there but all I could make out was the blur caused by my burning tears.
We ran and ran.
There were blood-curdling screams and the sound of metal hissing but all I could hear was the sign of my heart bashing against my rib cage in a cacophony of rhythm. I can see it coming into the distance now. An unnatural protrusion from the ground forms an overly ornate door with eerie symbols and designs carved around the edges that seemed to ebb and flow in an aloof glow.
It was the dungeon.
"We're almost there Erika!", I shouted behind myself. I didn't even hear her respond before I found us barreling down the long shaft of a tunnel. As I came to an abrupt stop I finally got the chance to take a gander at my disheveled companion. She was a short girl with scarlet gingery hair that came down in long waves to her shoulder. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue sage with golden hues and she had freckles that seemed to dance beneath the eyes. Although none of this was discernible through her deep sobs and wet tears.
I looked behind us to see if Zeke and Alice were anywhere in sight as I was tackled by a wet mass...
It was them! Zeke collided with us at full speed followed in tow by Alice. For some reason, my abrupt stop had been right before a set of stairs and before I knew it I was rolling while being completely covered in tears, and snot. After what felt like ages I pulled myself from underneath this human tangle to look at my friends. Zeke was a complete mess with his bushy silver hair and deep blue eyes. Long cracks ran through his glasses that would never have a spec of dust on them.
Alice was sobbing.
You couldn't tell, with her long silky black hair covering her face, but her back heaved hap hazardously.
Erika sobbed just as dejectedly but tried to comfort her. After a few minutes of silent sobbing, Alice looked up at us to reveal grey eyes with splashes of purple that seemed like paint drops on a gleaming silvery canvas.
"We left everyone behind!" Alice shouted between sobs. I grit my teeth and shut my eyes as tears stream down my face.
"They told us to run Alice!" Zeke shouted at her. They're siblings but I've never seen Zeke yell at her this way... or anyone to be honest.
I banged my head against the bioluminescent wall and let the smooth vibrations that seemed to pulse rhythmically like a heartbeat ripple through my bones. I let it flash through my eyes once again. The horrid sight of my father being impaled by mercenaries carrying long blades playing over in slow motion as my mother bellowed for me to run before meeting the same fate.
It had been a day like any other.
I was helping my mother around the house while my father tended to the fields.
Until loud shouting could be heard from outside.
Mercenaries kicked open our door and brandished their weapons. My father tackled the closest one but there were too many for him to hold up against! My mother with hands shaking gripped the hoe we used in the fields as she pushed me with her left hand and told me to run out the back. I gripped her sleeve with tears running down my face but she only smiled at me the same way she always did. With her beautiful pink lips and caramel-kissed skin.
I ran out of the back gasping for air. All around me there were flames and flashes of light rushing through the air. The entire east side of the village was engulfed in flame.
I felt nauseous.
I clenched my stomach and started hobbling west toward the center of the village. The flames were spreading from the east and running along the northern edge so my only options were going south or to the west.
When I got to the center of the village what I saw made me drop to my knees and wretch.
All the makeshift homes in the village were ablaze in a manner that seemed to make the setting sun seem like a dim flame. In front of me lay the bodies of countless villagers mangled and covered in blood.
Men...women...elderly...children...
There was no discrimination in the carnage as different limbs were strewn about like a morbid puzzle.
As I looked around I could see men adorned in dark rustic leather and silver plate armor.
They laughed with crazed stares as they chased down anyone that was left.
The remaining bile was about to leave my stomach again when I heard running coming from behind. In a panic, I stumbled as I tried to get up. Before I could hit the ground I felt someone grab my right arm and shout "We have to run keep running !"
....
Niko!
I was brought back to reality by Erika screaming my name. The stairs we fell led to a wide passage that seemed to lead to another eerie and otherworldly-looking door. This must be the entrance to the first real level of the dungeon. It was forbidden to even approach the dungeon, let alone open the door to the first level. Before I could open my mouth to speak, loud deep voices came up from above the staircase.
"I think I saw the last of them head down to the first level."
"A group of us could barely survive the second level and you think a group of shitty kids could dent the first?"
I looked back at my friends noticing the panic in their eyes.
We have to go down.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone