Chapter 2

Lost & Alone

‘What!? Three hundred years ago? But PHOENIX is just a new substance!’ said Varin

Yal begins to laugh uncontrollably, quickly turning into tears of laughter which crawl down his face.

‘New! Ha ha ha, it’s been three hundred and forty years since it was first used.’

Talon raises her left hand towards her chin trying to hide her whisper to Yal.

‘Perhaps he had a PHOENIX DREAM?’

Yal notices Varin’s look of confusion shown on his face.

‘Nothing to worry about, for now, you should get some rest, ya? Maybe? You don’t look so good.’ said Yal

He was right, Varin felt dizzy.

‘Perhaps it’s the physical strain on your body, you have been laid up for the past few days’ said Talon

‘You might be right, I do feel quite light head…’

He stumbles slightly, head now pounding, the surroundings spinning. Yal and Talon help him back into the tent, placing his arms over their shoulders. Placing him atop of the hay of the bed, pulling the covers over him. The room finally stops spinning after some time. Varin thinks to himself that the twins must be only joking about the year.

‘They got to be… Right?’

Still feeling too ill to get back up, he simply closes his eyes allowing himself to finally fade off into sleep.

He feels a cold breeze creep into the tent and surround him, it begins to get worse and worse, almost feeling his own breath turn to ice. The cold finally stops as he realises he’s on an oddly familiar rooftop, deep within the heart of Shenma City along with a man, a man he recognises but has never seen before, yet he knows his name; Commander Hobson or Co Hobson as he’s known in his group.

In the distance, there is nothing but a gentle glow, as though something is on fire lighting up the sky. Beyond that, darkness. The only thing visible is everything on the rooftop, the door down the emergency stairs, the vents and other electrical equipment but oddly it all looks like it was made of ice but Varin could feel no coldness from it although a strong sense of guilt washes over him as Co Hobson’s voice echoed of what he had said on that rooftop in Shenma, over 300 years ago.

‘2259, the great town of Karves City was totally destroyed, only one hundred people survived out of a population of three thousand and the same thing will now happen to Shenma City! The deaths of all these people will be on your shoulders!’

Varin’s thoughts begin to echo as if he had screamed them ‘I was seven at the time that happened... How can I remember that?’

‘I, Co. Hobson, the leader of The Militia. Will lead the world into a new order, the onus is mine, mine alone and I will not allow some trainee cop, wannabe hero, stop me! ’

Suddenly a loud yell and the sound of flames echoed in this empty abyss.

‘BROTHER? FATHER? WHERE ARE YOU?’ said a young seven-year-old Varin

‘It was The Militia, they’re to blame. YOU DESTROYED KARVES CITY!’ yelled the adult Varin

Another voice echoed around the area but the voice did not belong to Varin.

‘Quiet brother. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other - ‘

Varin turned around to see a staff room, he entered the room, no one else was in the room.

It was dark, a few old bashed lockers just to the left of the door, left slightly ajar as they always were.

‘How do I know this place?’

The two windows, providing little light through the shut blinds.

‘Why is this so familiar?’

Three old wooden chairs and two brown leather couches were the only objects in the room for sitting.

Varin sat on the leather couch furthest to the right of the room.

He looked away and then back at the couch opposite him, there sat his brother as he remembered him at the station.

Drogun smiled at him, ‘Varin, WAKE UP!’

‘BROTHER!’ yelled Varin as he woke, sitting up in bed, a cold sweat covering his body.

Night has now consumed the day, the twins are outside of the tent sitting near where they were sparring earlier around a small campfire. Varin could hear them speaking but he couldn’t make out their words. He ever so slowly and quietly moved towards the fabric wall attempting to listen to what Yal and Talon were speaking about.

‘Yal, you know how PHOENIX DREAMs are right?’

‘Ya’ replied Yal as he put some of the fish soup into his mouth.

‘I think our friend is indeed suffering from them, I think he might have just had a second’ said Talon

Her brother suddenly stopped mid spoonful ‘Another PHOENIX DREAM? ...But that means if he has another two he could…’

‘Quiet! He might hear you... - ’ Talon tried to see around the tent wondering if Varin is watching them. She then continued ‘ - Tomorrow, at the crack of dawn. We’ll go to the village and well introduce him to the others and we’ll see if he remembers someone or if anyone recognises him, if not then we’ll leave him there. We don’t need anyone slowing us down - ’

She stops as Yal nods in agreement. ‘ - Good, we should get some rest as well, it’s getting late. I hope he doesn’t suffer through the night’

‘But what… what if they continue through the night?’ asked Yal

‘I guess… we’ll have to end his suffering and kill him’

Yal didn’t reply, instead, he finished his soup looking sad. They begin to lay down, curling up next to the fire, looking up towards the sky, staring at what stars they could find.

‘Did I just hear that right, they’ll kill me? - ’ Varin thought to himself ‘ - I need to get out of here.’

Varin bolted for the tent flap, forcing it out of the way, and ran off into the forest, rushing through bushes and tall grass.

‘What was that? - ’ asked Yal, sitting bolt upright ‘ - a Fiend?’

‘Maybe, but it’s moving away from us, it sounds light…’ Talon stands up and approaches the tent. Moves the flap aside and peers in.

‘Varin, are you okay? - ’ she askes calmly, but he wasn’t there ‘ - Yal, grab the weapons, he ran into the forest, the fool, doesn’t he know what’s out there?’

Varin ran, he ran the hardest he ever had. He wasn’t sure how far he got away from the campsite, but he hoped it was far enough for them not to follow him but it was hard to see and already he was feeling tired. All he knew was just get away from the river.

His legs and chest were burning, he felt like he ran a marathon. He concentrated on his breathing, hoping to get it under controller and calm it quickly.

‘That… should be... far… enough’ he hoped.

But that’s when he noticed something odd, the forest around him was quiet, no birds, no animals what so ever, not even the wind.

‘Don’t move’ said Talon

‘Wha...’

‘She said don’t move’ replied Yal placing a hand on his head to keep him from turning around.

‘Where did you come from? ’ asked Varin, but neither replied

‘They’re not panting - ’ thought Varin ‘ - I didn’t even hear them, what are they ninjas?’

‘There’s a Fiend up ahead, it’s watching us… studying us… we need to back up now, we’re close to its nest’

‘Fiend? What is…’

‘Now is not the time for questions, ya. Get behind us slowly and back away’

Varin does what he’s told, backing away slowly, moving behind Yal and Talon, still facing forward.

‘Yal, weapons ready... Slowly… Back to the camp’

Both reached for their weapons, slowly removing them from the holders on their backs. Something grunted up ahead.

‘Sra’

They began to back up, somehow not making noise with each step.

Something moved, rustling bushes and even trees ahead. Its fists pounded the ground, the grunt of ‘Sra’ seemed louder

‘It’s protecting its territory, it wants us to move away.’ said Yal

‘Move slowly’ said Talon

Varin could barely breathe, a cold fear crept over him, he hadn’t felt since he was a child but his feet, as if by their own, kept on moving slowly backwards. Another Sra but this time it sounded more distant.

‘We should be fine now… but Yal, keep a lookout’ said Talon as she turned, placing her double-bladed staff away.

Yal nodded but kept facing towards the noise, weapons still clenched tight in hand. Varin finally took a deep breathe and opened his mouth.

‘Not now Varin, you have no idea you were close to death’ said Talon scoldingly

‘Or what, you going to kill me?’

Talon then struck Varin, rendering him unconscious.

‘Was that necessary?’

‘He was going to ask too many questions, he seems to have lost his memories’

‘It is common with PHOENIX poisoning, still could have been gentler with him’

Talon picked him up, throwing him over her shoulder.

‘I’m tired Yal, and he could do with the sleep as well. Come on, let’s get back to camp’

Yal nodded and jumped into the trees with Talon, and began running along the branches back to their camp.

*

‘Wake up sleepy head - ‘ said Yal but to no avail, he shook Varin as he yelled ‘ - WAKE UP!’

Varin awoke in a panic ‘What? What? Morning?’

‘Indeed, get ready we’re going to the village today’ replied Talon, standing by the entrance.

Five minutes later Varin stumbled from the tent tying his belt around his waist keeping Yal’s baggy trousers from falling. He walked other towards the twins who were waiting for Varin.

‘Sorry...’

‘Forget about it - ’ said Talon ‘ - sorry about your head’

‘Hit me a little more gently next time, but I guess I should thank you guys for the cool clothing’

Since most of the clothing once belonged to Yal, he was the first to reply with a smile, ‘No problemo.’

‘We’re going to Karves, to meet with others’ said Talon, she began to walk off with Yal.

They managed to get a foot away before Varin said ‘Wait… Karves, that was destroyed... ten years ago… wasn’t it?’

Once again laughing at Varin’s comment Yal replied, ‘Ten years ago, haha it was destroyed well over three hundred years ago’

Varin begins to shake his head and says in disbelieve, ‘Wha...? No, it can’t be... how... IT’S NOT POSSIBLE!’

‘Yo chill man, ya’

‘What’s today’s date?’

‘April 2nd, 2609’ replied Yal

“If it was a joke, it must have gone too far now... but maybe they’re telling the truth. Why would they need to lie to him? He didn’t know why he couldn’t even think why would they lie. Up until now, they have been looking out for him, so why keep repeating this lie?”

Varin then whispered to himself ‘2609... What the’

‘Effects of a PHOENIX DREAM?’ asked Yal, leaning towards Talon and whispering.

‘Anyway, as I was saying. I and my brother are both apart of a resistance group known as The Militia ...’

Upon hearing this Varin, stumbles backing away from them shocked by the revelation of them both being The Militia members.

‘You’re with The Militia!? They’re the reason Karves was destroyed in the first place’

As a reaction, Varin reaches his left hand towards his thigh, where his weapon would have been, remembering something from the past.

Yal gives a smirk and raises his left hand holding something that Varin had never seen before but recognised a Volgin Mark III Pistol.

‘Looking for this?’

Varin’s fist began to clench in anger preparing to attack his former saviours, as Yal then passed Varin’s gun to Talon.

‘This weapon was made in a PHOENIX factory and in the casing of each bullet contains PHOENIX as it’s a catalyst to launch a piece of metal at its target. We can’t let you have it for our personal safety… as well as yours’

Talon then took it apart, first emptying the clip, then removing the Barrel, finally she threw the pieces in different directions as far as she could.

Now left unarmed Varin asked them with anger growing even more in his body

‘What do you want from me!’

“Memories quickly came back to him, an explosion did occur in his home city of Karves when he was a young seven-year-old boy, The group known as The Militia were blamed for it, which killed his family and a thousand more families. As far as he was aware he was among the only survivors. Was this their plan all along, to lie, drive him crazy and then kill him? Why not finish him off now?”

Talon took a couple of steps forward, towards Varin, and spoke in a calm voice, ‘We want nothing... we wish to help you’

Varin took a couple more steps back away from the slowly approaching twin. ‘I don’t believe you’

“Were they playing mind games with him? Was this all really a joke? Or a ploy by The Militia to get him to tell them vital information? Information he no longer knew… Or were they really just trying to calm him down?”

Yal walked beside his sister and took a couple more steps forward, also speaking in a calm voice trying to make Varin feel better.

‘Trust us we are here to help change what happened in the past, that is and always been The Militia’s mission, from day one and if you don’t trust us... here take this.’

Yal slowly took a couple more steps to Varin but he dared not to take another. He gently threw Varin an old Frontier Nickel 9mm Revolver.

As soon as Varin court the Revolver in his hand he began to study the chamber, the sight piece and the hand grip. Upon finishing his quick study Yal also handed him a small sized box of ammunition for the Revolver containing twenty bullets.

Varin took out six bullets from this and placed the rest in his pockets. He loaded the six chambers and gave it a quick spin, not sure to trust them or not he suddenly raised the gun to Yal.

An expression of shock suddenly came onto Yal’s face as he said

‘Whoa man, calm down ya?’

‘Just leave me alone, I didn’t ask for your help’

‘Varin! - ’ yelled Talon, ‘ - We are not your enemy’

The trees alongside them began to rustle. Red eyes moved in the forest.

‘Varin put the weapon down’ commanded Talon

‘What is the year?!’ asked Varin cocking the hammer

‘We told you.’ Yal replied

‘What year is it?!’ demanded Varin one more.

‘2609!’ yelled the twins

The forest rustled once more and something ten foot away from behind Varin, a creature with red eyes, jumped out from the forest.

‘Varin... watch out!’

Varin turned to look over his shoulder first before twisting the rest of his body, Yal and Talon pulled out their weapons as a sudden feeling of fear washed over Varin once more. Everything seemed to go into slow motion.

At the sight of this creature Varin himself reacted, a nervous reaction, he moved the gun away from Yal and pointed it towards the creature, prayed that this old Revolver would work and pulled the trigger as the creature leapt towards him with it four claw-like fingers ready to cut and tear him to pieces. Now only five feet away. It was big and fast.

The bullet hit the creature between the eyes. It made a loud thud as it hit the ground inches away from Varin’s feet.

“They trusted him enough to give him a working gun with live ammo. And what did he do to repay them? He spat in their face... such a fool.”

He began gasping for air as if the fear was strangling him. Varin asked as he slowly lowered his arm.

‘W-what is that thing?’

Talon then said putting her weapon back in its case, approaching slowly to stand by Varin’s side.

‘It’s known as a “Fiend” it and many others like it began to appear hundreds of years ago. No one knows the exact date but we do know it is a result of PHOENIX.’

‘I think it was what we ran into last night, it must have followed us. Its known as a Sra. This forest is full of Fiends and most are much stronger than that creature.’ said Yal.

‘The Sra are vicious tribal like beasts, when fully grown they’re larger than a average man. - ’

It lay dead, oozing purple blood over its green skin. It’s appearance reminded Varin of a frog, just enlarged to be about six foot with huge red eyes.

Talon continued ‘ - Consider yourself lucky. The males are the worst, the stench alone is enough to knock you off your feet if that doesn’t, their sharp claws will.’

‘These creatures are named Sra because they chant this word constantly when amongst themselves.’ added Yal.

‘I... I’m sorry, for not trusting you. It’s just that none of this makes sense to me. One minute I’m in 2259 at the age of 7 and then I’m suddenly in 2609 and I look like I’m twenty, it just doesn’t make sense - ’ said Varin collapsing to the floor, ‘ - Where the hell am I? What happened?’

‘No need for apologies and I’m sorry Varin. I don’t have your answers - ’ Talon offers a hand to Varin to help him up, ‘ - Come, we’ll take you to Karves, perhaps a friend or someone you know will be looking for you there.’

They quickly packed up the camp, leaving the skins, wood and hide in bushes to hide that they’ve even been there. The three of them begin to make their way to the nearby village, a four-hour journey at best. Yal led Varin, with Talon covering the rear, along with a narrow almost secret path through the forest. The path, it seemed, was only known by the twins.

Talon was looking cautiously around with her left hand near the weapon in case another type of Fiend was to attack them for entering its territory.

“Although begging for answers now, little did he know of the role that he would play, what destiny had set in motion for him.”