'The group froze with fear as they stared at the beast holding its new trophy. A strong grip wrapped around my wrist breaking me of the paralysis that held me hostage. "Sophie, Callum. We need to go now!" My body jerked forward with a hard pull as my father leaned to the side, putting my sister in his free arm. He took off in a full sprint as chaos broke out within the group of survivors.
Despite the protection provided by Forest and Corrin the group had lost over half of what it started with. Two weeks into the journey, the group had little to no food and were forced to drink from puddles. Leaving the group malnourished and inflicted with disease. Much of the older populace within the group had grown too weak to continue the laborious journey. Miniscule rations and dysentery inducing waters meant the 12 hour daily hikes were a death sentence for many. Now the group was splitting, chaos causing the uniform blob of people to break apart like bugs scurrying away as the rock that kept them safe is lifted into the air. "I will kill you!" The scream of passion and ferocious hatred came from Corrins lips as she blindly rushed the abomination. All focus on the group had gone blind to her as flames of hatred boiled, burning in the direction of the beast holding her partners head.
Corrin and Forest had been the guards of the southern gate for over a year together and had grown close. That bond created a synchronic teamwork which made laying waste to the horrors they had crossed so far, that much easier. However now it was to be their undoing. Blinded by rage Corrin rushed straight towards the beast, her brilliant flames burning hotter than ever before. Turning the blade of the scimitar to a malleable red liquid as she blaze a path forward. The beast threw the head in Corrins direction, freezing her path for an ever fleeting moment. That moment was all it took. In the instant the girl hesitated at the sight of her companions severed head flying her way. A hand pierced straight through her chest. The beast pulled it's arm back out of her frozen body holding her beating heart in it's blood soaked palm. The fingers clenched like a vice crushing the heart as her lifeless body fell flat at its feet.
Few bared witness to that moment as they scurried away. However Callum couldn't break his eyes off the demon. His head still locked behind him at the monstrosity as his father pulled him along with the adrenaline fueled strength of an ox. Certain that with no defenses left death would pursue them in the form of a faceless devil. But the monstrosity seemed to pay no mind. It stood solemnly as the group of people ran in all directions. Turning to return to its perch a top the outlook of the wasted city. Adrenaline slowly dissipated in his father's weary body after the ten minutes of panicked evacuation.
"Dad what will we do now?" I knew the answer but had to ask the question anyways. The trek had already been an impossible up taking but now the perilous journey had became completely impossible. "We have no choice but to move forward son." I looked at my father and was left shaken. Behind the heavy panting of an exhausted man burned fiery eyes of indomitable will. Even without the powers of a gate keeper, the intensity his will to protect his family burned with. Left a feeling of comfort even in this impossibly grim situation.
We continued the journey, sticking to trees and brush as much as possible. Knowing that being caught in a empty field was a sure fire way for an unsightly horror to spot us, signing our long over due death warrants. We continued this way for a week. Foraging berries and whatever mushrooms we could find. Back when the group was whole Corrin would use her ability to heat a sheet of metal for cooking. With the fear of that the bellows of smoke and smell of cooking meat would act as a beckoning call. We didn't dare to hunt any of the small critters that had successfully eluded the hunt of the prowling monstrosities. As each day passed we covered more ground towards our new home.
"Here dad take these, you need to eat more." He shook his head. "No, keep them for you and Sophie. You'll need to keep your energy up as we walk." Despite being the one to guide and protect my father was the one who ate the least during our trip. I knew he must be starved but he refused to eat until he knew me and Sophie had gotten enough to maintain. The forest had a plentiful bounty of berries and mushrooms. Flora growing more dominant as the nightmare creatures cleared the land of most living beings. But it was still hard to eat your fill of just berries and mushrooms. Especially without stopping to forage, just picking what you can from any outcrop you see along the way.
My father was a shell of his former self from when we first departed. The proud muscled figure he earned as a steel worker for the citadel had all but deflated. Leaving him looking frail and pale. Dark, heavy circles under his eyes nothing the many sleepless nights he spent keeping an eye out. Ready to take flight at a moment's notice if danger arose. I was 14 when the trip took place and Sophie a tender age of 8. So my father noted to me on several occasions that should the need arise. I was to take Sophie and run as he played the role of bait.
Despite the hardships of the trip and the apparent exhaustion plaguing him. My father never stopped his parental duties. Sometimes carrying Sophie when her legs were to weak to continue and taking every moment he could to teach me survival tricks. However the world remains cruel, even to the most pure and kind of people.
It was the last leg of our trip to our new home when everything changed. "Hey look I see it!" Sophie bolted to the edge of the brush. A smile lighting across her face, a sight that had been missing for far to long. As she looked out from the brush the scene shining in the line of her sight seemed to be bleak and depressing compared to her reaction. A cliff face looked out to the pale broken slums. In the center of it stood a large metal jail like dome. A truly depressing sight in a lot of regards but after everything we've been through. The colorless canvas seemed as bright and brilliant as an awe inspiring castle. The mood lifted at the sight, after a month of fear riddled sleep and malnourished hikes. We were just a days trip out from the citadel which would mark our new home. "We actually made it." It was the first time I had ever seen my father cry. Tears falling down his face as hope had finally shown its glorious face in our direction.
About a mile to the east of the cliff face we stood at was a very steep but manageable descent leading to the final straight. Sophie ran back to us a gleeful smile pasted to her dirt covered face. My father grabbed my shoulder and pulled me in tight as Sophie ran to his other side. Knealing, he held us all together in an early celebration marking the end of our month long journey through the wasteland. The many close calls we had to the cold embrace of death as creatures lurked nearby while we hid in bushes. The journey finally had a visible finish. He stood and said let's finish this long trek. We made way east to find the descent with a new found energy, fueled by hope. A feeling which had long but diminished within us all.
It was around noon when we reached the path down the mountain. The trees and foliage became more scarce as a road paved in dirt cleared the only way down. Unable to contain her excitement, Sophie burst through the brush and onto the dirt path before turning and jumping with her arms out stretched. Landing gracefully as if she had just completed an acrobatic manoeuver. "Be careful Soph, don't stray to..." Before the warning could leave his lips the trees on the other side of the road we forced aside. Two massive muscular arms forced even the massive trunks of the trees aside. The harsh face of reality making it's appearance in the form of a mountain of grey skin covered muscles. It's eyes piercing a gaze directly at the small innocent figure that was Sophie. Fear cast it's spell on me, freezing my body in place as seconds felt like hours. My father bursting into a full sprint but even then it was like he moved in slow motion.