…..
Drip, Drip, Drip,
Small droplets of red liquid could be heard echoing out through the quiet burning kingdom. Lay about for all to see, rows upon rows of corpses were scattered, some mangled upon sharp objects such as spears, swords, and javelins.
While others lay crushed, bruised, and burned under the debris of fallen buildings. Not a corner untouched by destruction and blood.
Step, Step, Step,
The sounds of rapid footsteps echoed through the wide expanse of the burning kingdom.
"Huff…hufff…huff…"
Heavy breathing could be heard as the steps grew more and more frequent, as if in a rush of uncertainty and fear.
The one causing so much noise was a young five-year-old Evan Cromswell.
'..Where…where are you?'
Evan's thoughts frantically raced, his expression full of fear and worry. His breathing became more ragged and heavy, all the while his legs began to strain from exhaustion after running for so long.
'..Where?'
Even looked to his right, seeing the broken bits and pieces of debris covering the dead bodies of the townsfolk.
'..Where?'
Looking to his left, he saw the burning corpses of children. The air permeated by the stench of rotting burning flesh burned his nose.
'..WHERE?!'
Evan thought aloud, his fear becoming more and more evident and apparent across his contorted, worried-stricken face.
'…!'
Slowly Evan began to slow down his pace, his chest heaving from the amount of running he had done.
Slowly, though, as his steps came to a halt. He stood before a large broken-down tavern, its sign burned beyond recognition, its wooden pillars chipped and cracked. Barely able to hold up the withering tavern.
Evan began to slowly walk inside the tavern that was barely holding up. As he entered through the broken doors, he was met with a gruesome sight.
To his right, lay the broken, twisted, mangled body of a low-ranked huntsman. Their once silver-plated armor chest plate, now stained with blood as it caved into the open chest wound of the man.
To his bottom right, there lay an elf woman, a mage to be precise. Her once vibrant magic staff that portrayed an elegant charm now lay broken into pieces. There, next to the broken magic staff, lay the mage in question, her once long, beautiful pointed elf ears cut from her head. Her once vibrant clear green eyes liquefied into hot dark blood dripping from her sockets.
And her once beautiful face, caved in from something heavy and blunt. Almost unrecognizable.
" Rudolph….Celia…"
Evan spoke, his voice shrill and low. Slowly as his gaze swept across the tavern, his gaze inevitably fell onto the bar table.
"..?!"
Evan's eyes widened, his mouth slowly hanging low, his mind a frantic mess of words.
There, behind the now broken and destroyed bar table, lay a man. His hair a dark brown, mixed with the red liquid seeping from his split-opened forehead.
His black shirt, now in tatters. His brown blazer shredded and torn. His lower torso severed, allowing more red liquid to seep out along with his now hanging entrails.
His once joyful and cunning face, now bruised and covered in deep gashes, making him unrecognizable.
"..Da…"
Evan's words came out in a small shrill whisper, slowly approaching the man laying dead and lifeless.
"..D..a.."
Once more Evan's words a mere whisper, carrying a tone of meekness and disbelief.
Slowly Evan's eyes began to feel hot, his vision blurring. But still, he approached, his steps slow and measured.
Finally though, as he made one last step closer to the man. His legs shook and buckled, causing him to fall to his knees.
Tears began to fall from Evan's face, dripping from his cheeks, and trickling down to the burnt, broken floor beneath him.
Evan slowly began to shake his head in denial, his breathing becoming more and more heavy and erratic. His teeth gritting tightly, slowly inching towards the man that laid dead and bare.
Stretching out his shaking small hand, he began to choke on the air that was trying to escape his now shaking throat.
Slowly though, he'd lower his head, resting it on the bleeding chest of the man. Tears falling even faster from his face, his breathing slowly coming out more shrill.
"…Dad.."
Evan spoke, his voice a low desperate shudder. His hands would cling to the torn cloth of his father's black tattered blood-stained shirt.
.
.
.
.
"Son?"
A voice called out, bringing Evan out of his stupor. He'd slowly look up at the figure that called out to him.
The visage of his father's dead lifeless face slowly being replaced by the now vibrant joyful smiling face of his living father.
"..Dad"
Evan spoke, his voice a whisper of disbelief. William looked at Evan, his head tilting in curiosity and confusion.
"Is something wrong son?"
Williams words would be abruptly cut short, after a running Evan would come and hug him tightly.
William's eyes widened in surprise, even though this wasn't anything out of the usual, he was still caught off guard by the sudden action of Evan.
Evan would then tighten his grip around his father's neck with his small arms. William's face lowered, hugging Evan back.
"Evan?", William asked, his voice a mix of worry and curiosity.
Evan only continued to hug his father tightly, his thoughts a frantic mess. His eyes ready to shed happy tears. His bottom lip slightly quivering.
'I missed you dad..'
Evan thought inwardly, his mind filled with old memories of his time spent in his father's tavern.
Splash!
"..!"
The moment only lasted a few moments, after Evan was brought back out of his emotional thoughts. Due to the sudden splash of running water from the river behind them.
Slowly letting go of his father, Evan rubbed the salty wet tears from his eyes, turning away from his dad.
"Evan, what's the matter?" William asked, his tone measured and worried.
Evan would look up to his dad, a smile evident on his face.
"Nothing's wrong, nothing at all."