Chereads / Hundred Thousand Realms / Chapter 8 - KNEEL

Chapter 8 - KNEEL

As Rai and Ash continued to move quickly and quietly through the town, everyone around seemed to be on high alert. If it wasn't bad enough that thanks to the very bad drawings of them hanging around town everyone (kind of) knew what the boys looked like, they were also the only black people on the island. Getting through without being seen was like trying to pass a piece of steak through a bowl without the rice noticing.

Although it was a slight challenge, Rai's speed would normally make it easy to not be seen. However, because Ash was riding on his shoulder, he had no choice but to slow down so Ash didn't get flung off. As time went on and they continued to run, hide, and repeat, Ash was beginning to get anxious. The townspeople were starting to move in the direction that Deon had gone.

"Is Deon gonna be okay?"

"His big ass is fine. Can you just tell me where we goin?"

Rai had lost his patience. Although they had been running around for so long, it seemed like Ash had no sense of direction. He wondered how the hell she even managed to guide them into the town. They'd been down the same three alleys at least five times now.

"Don't catch no attitude with me… go straight"

Rai started running straight

"Oh wait actually-"

"BRO"

Rai stopped in the middle of the road and jumped to the top of a nearby building. Once at the top, he pulled Ash up by her collar and made her look around.

"Now, which way is dude's house?"

"Umm… it's over there!"

Ash was elated to find that he was standing outside when she looked. Rai put her back on his shoulder and jumped from roof to roof, making his way to the edge of the town. After a few minutes, they were finally there. The house itself seemed to be one knock away from falling apart, but the outside was decorated with tens of giant beautiful flowers. As they approached the door to knock, a voice called out from the flowers.

"Ash?"

A young man, only a shade lighter than Rai with jet black hair streaming freely down his back, stepped out from the overcrowded garden. He was skinny, and dirty, dressed in sandals and dingy old pants. As he slowly approached them, tears began to flow down his face. Ash slowly grew back to her original size.

"I'm here."

The young man suddenly broke into a full sprint, flying into Ash's arms, as he sobbed aloud.

"I was so scared. They said they were gonna take out all the Vampyres. After I heard they killed your dad, I feared the worst had come to you too."

"They betrayed us but… right now, the most important thing is that we protect the island. I think that guy that was brought here is planning something. We have to prove to the townspeople that we're fighting for them first and then find a way to repair the barrier. Do you still have your grandpa's journal?"

"Yeah, it's somewhere in the cellar where it's always been. Can you come help me look for it?"

Ash nodded. As the young man began leading the way, Rai grabbed Ash's arm.

"I don't trust him. Something doesn't feel right."

Ash shook Rai's hand off angrily.

"I've known him FAR longer than I've known you. He's my best friend so you don't have the right to be disrespectful."

"Whatever bruh. I'm not goin down there though."

Rai suddenly took off after expressing his concern. Paying no heed to Rai's warning, Ash proceeded into the cellar behind her friend.

At the same time, Deon was dealing with his own precarious situation. Deon stood completely still, listening to the wind, the trees, and the water. Suddenly a tomato covered in silver dust collided with his temple

"SATAN!"

Deon's patience with the villagers had begun to run thin. If he could just break one of their legs it would break the group's spirit. Unfortunately, although he had the power to beat the living daylights out of them all, he had after all made a promise.

SPLAT!

Another tomato with silver dust right across his cheek. At this point, Deon had begun to look like a bleeding glitter doll.

"SATA-"

"COULD YOU FREAKIN NOT?!"

Deon had no one to release his anger on except the villagers and enough was enough. Right before Deon took one of his swords and aimed for the first person's kneecaps, the sound of a ship's horn resounded across the island. Deon took off towards the beach at full speed. Finally, someone or even something he could hit.

As he reached the beach, Deon realized that it wasn't one ship that he had heard, but rather an entire fleet. Deon patiently waited for them to get close enough to jump on. Finally, it was time. Deon took a deep breath and in a loud voice shouted

"HALT!!!~"

His voice sent tremors through the waters and shook the nearby trees. Despite the boats still being too far away to see Deon, those onboard heard his bellows clearly. The captain of the ship in front came to the bow and pulled out his telescope. Right after he caught a glimpse of him, Deon suddenly disappeared into the air, leaving a crater in the sand.

As the captain started searching for him, Deon fell from the sky into the middle of the boat, crushing the wooden floor of the deck. While the ship's crew looked on in astonishment, Deon walked up to the captain and began his spiel.

"To all onboard; I suggest you turn around and go home. Should you come any closer, the consequence will be heavy."

The crew became somewhat wary. However, despite their apprehension, their mission was more important. The captain attempted to approach Deon and reason with him

"Look, you don't seem to be from around here. Can't you just look the other w-"

As if his whole personality had changed, Deon ignored his words and grabbed the captain by his throat, lifting him above the water.

"You don't seem to understand-"

Deon drew his sword and cut the man's arm off

"I've not come to bargain, nor beg, nor plead with you to leave."

Blood quickly ran out of the man's arm and trickled down into the sea.

"I'm here ONLY to show you who's feet you'll kneel to should you continue."

As sharks gathered in the waters below, Deon suddenly released the captain. At the last moment, he caught himself on the side of the ship with his remaining arm. He looked up only to see Deon's devilish grin as he pulled his sword from his back.

Before he cut the man down, a switch seemed to flip in his head. As Deon's grin faded, he slowly sheathed his sword and turned back towards the island. Looking at the island from here he could see the fog created by the barrier. Seeing this, he knew the barrier was still intact.

"You've been warned. Make your own decision."

After saying this, he jumped from the ship back to the island. After realizing that the barrier being up meant that he couldn't get back to the town, he plopped down on the beach and waited while staring at the boats.

Although he had only done this because there was nothing else he could do, the people aboard the ships saw it as a further threat. As their advance came to a halt, they began thinking about what to do. They had already come too far to go back.

As time went on, the captain suddenly had a brilliant idea. If they just went to a different side of the island, they'd be able to avoid that monster altogether. However, as soon as he voiced his idea to his crew, Deon stood up, stretched while still looking at the ships, and sat back down. Although Deon really was only stretching, once again, the people on the boat felt like he had heard their plan.

"Let's just wait to see what James does and go from there."

The captain said as he sat down. At that moment, a bolt of lightning pierced the barrier and shot into the sky. After seeing it, Deon jumped into a tall tree and looked towards the barrier. Suddenly, he jumped as hard as he could, pushing the tree he stood on straight into the ground. Something had gone wrong with Rai and he wasn't about to wait for a welcoming party to get into the village.