We were crunching down at the edge of the rooftop. Looking down on the Mainstreet's plaza below.
Corpses were strewn everywhere. The portal flickered every now and then, and another Goblin emerged to join the hunt.
I had suggested to call them that, and Rolf strongly agreed with it. According to his vast knowledge of fantasy games, that's exactly how they would look like.
So, after hearing me out, and watching the Goblins himself, he had agreed to my plan. Chioma didn't object, as she had no other suggestions as to what we should do.
"If we can get Magnus to that portal, and make him touch it. It might make him stronger as well. Who knows, with everything that's happening, it might heal him completely."
I spoke with a low voice, the Goblins had made a camp near the portal, where the most part of their numbers were concentrated. A few had started to spread out into the smaller streets.
"But how will we get there. I can't carry Magnus! He must weigh more than a hundred kilos!"
That made Rolf laugh and Chioma had to quickly cover his mouth.
"Well that's not wrong, I think he weight about 160 kilos." Rolf had stopped laughing, and talked with a soft tune, though he kept smiling.
"That just makes my point!" Chioma gave him an angry look.
"How do you suggest we go about this? Your arm is broken, you can't carry him either."
Rolf instead backed away from the edge and gestured for us to follow. We stood up and faced each other at the stairway.
"So, you made us believe something weird happened to you. Now, do you have any idea of how we should execute your plan?"
I had been thinking about it for a while.
"I think the best way would be for you two to touch it first. If it works as I think, then you'll be stronger too. And the experience will remove any lingering doubt you may have."
I took a few breaths. "Also if it doesn't work, we will all be killed by the Goblins while carrying Magnus."
Noone spoke for a moment as Rolf walked to Magnus.
"Start by proving it then. You carry Magnus. We find a spot to hide him in the grocery storeroom below. Then we can investigate the shopping area of the grocery store. I need a sling for my arm as well. I wont be much help without arms."
I walked to Magnus and got a hold under his neck, and below his knees. God he was big. My arms could barely reach.
"Be careful, he is loosing blood."
Chioma looked baffled, as I stood up with Magnus in my arms.
Rolf had a big smile, "well that settles it! You would never have been able to do that, just yesterday!"
Rolf lead the way down the stairs. Chioma walked backwards in front of me, trying to support Magnus head and stop his wound from bleeding too much.
"I might have gotten stronger, but he's still heavy!" My arms was already starting to ache.
"Just keep going, I'll go ahead and figure out where to put him." Rolf hurried down the last steps.
We reached the storeroom. It was dark. Only a little light reached so far from the outside.
I was beginning to sweat, Magnus was difficult to carry. "I have to put him down soon, I'm loosing my grip."
"Come over here by the doorway!" It was Rolf, I could see his silhouette in the opening.
"Chioma, try and drag that door free from the rubble. I think it's a perfect spot to hide him."
She pulled the door free, and behind it was a small area with boxes and goods. She quickly removed them so I could put him down. After that we stabled the boxes to block him from view.
I looked inside the grocery store.
"It looks empty. I think word of the gang have spread, discouraging people from looting here."
Chioma had found a piece of cloth. She was creating an arm strap and fixed it on Rolf.
"Then let us get going. I hope you are ready. Once we've left the grocery, there is only a small stretch of road before it connects to the main plaza."
They adjusted Rolf's arm a bit before letting me know they where ready.
We walked slowly trough the store, looking around and listening for anything dangerous.
"Stop!" Rolf pointed towards the main entrance.
A small figure had appeared. Standing directly in front of us, 5 meters ahead, in the middle of the exit.
It was sniffing the air, a club swung over its shoulder. The red eyes and grotesque body like a deformed child, made it unmistakable.
The Goblin looked directly at us and gave a battlecry before it charged us.
"It's a fucking goblin! Be careful!" Rolf yelled as he leapt to the side.
"We need to kill it! Find a weapon!" Chioma said while jumping to the other side.
The goblin looked confused and slowed down for a second, only to notice that I didn't move away, so it charged at me.
It didn't scare me anymore, not as much as I thought it should have. I could see it move, but it somehow seemed like it was slower than the one before.
So I postured myself, ready to take the incoming slam of its charge.
The goblin swung its club, aiming for my head. But I was faster, ducking just in time. The goblin crashed into me and we fell backwards.
It started to scratch at me, but I got a hold on its arms. God it smelled awfully!
It started to trash, trying to get free from my grip. But I didn't let go. I just tightened my grip.
"Auch! It's biting me! Could you fucking help me already!"
The goblin screamed, the red eyes rolling in pain as it realized it was trapped.
"DIE mother fucker!!"
Chioma was standing over us, with a wooden pole stuck in the goblins back, as she kept adding pressure, trying to run it trough.
The goblin gave a loud hissing sound and focused on my neck. I reacted fast, pushing and twisting my hands around the goblins arms.
I rolled away from it. The goblin only had time to look at its broken arms, before its head was removed. Rolf had picked up a butcher knife from the meat area, and swung it as soon as I was clear.
"Damn that's so nasty!" Chioma removed her wooden spear from it's back. Green blood dripping everywhere.
"If they all are as vicious as this one, I don't think we will be able to reach the portal." Rolf wiped his butcher knife on the nearby shelf. It was short, but broad and heavy.
"I agree. Even if I'm able to break the tiny arms with my bare hands, it wont help us. There are simply too many."
"Then what should we do? Your theory is our only chance to survive this hell."
"I don't know Chioma. Maybe if I can lure them away, you two will be able to sprint there."
I stood up and grabbed a metal cover from the largest pot I could find. It wasn't much, but I could use it as a small shield to protect myself from the goblins clubs.
We went to the street. It was empty. But we could hear noises from the goblins, as we reached the corner to the plaza.
"There must be fifteen or twenty of them!" Chioma gasped. "It's too many. We wont make it."
Rolf suddenly laughed, "Haha! I don't think we have a choice now!"
Behind us 3 goblins had appeared.
"Gnag Ganak!" They started to charge us.
"Run directly for the portal! Whatever you do, don't stop! I'll try to protect you, just touch the portal!!" I screamed while moving in front of them, taking the lead towards the portal.
As we came sprinting around the corner towards the goblins, they just looked at us. So far they had killed with ease, no one had opposed them. Yet here came three humans charging, with weapons in hand.
But it didn't last long. The goblins chasing us turned the corner, making their pinching howls.
We had closed the gab between us and the portal by half, when all the goblins charged us from all side.
One leapt at me, but I pushed it aside with my pot lid. Another attacked from the right, I smacked it with the lid and it stumbled back, creating an opening.
I stopped up, letting Rolf and Chioma run past me, "Don't stop! There are too many, just run directly into the portal!"
They were over me in a flash. One grabbing my leg, another on my back. Two with clubs where aiming a blow at my head.
But I didn't intend to fight and die here. Dropping the lid I reached back and got a hold of the goblin on my back.
I didn't hold back when I pulled and threw it ahead. It crashed into the goblins about to club me. I flailed hard with my leg, making that one loose its grip.
More were descending on me fast. I turned around and sprinted at the portal.
Did I get faster too?
I quickly reached the others and we all stumbled directly into the whirlpool of the portal.