I could remember it all so clearly. This life, my life. Every last memory flashed through my mind. I have regrets, everyone does when they die. 'At least I managed to warn people about the attack and send help, Mom and Dad will need it.'
'I hoped to enjoy a longer life this time, but fate had other plans.'
...
...
...
...
...
...
'No, I won't let go now. I may be dying but that doesn't mean I can't be saved. I will fight to my last breath and even then I will not let go so easily.'
I was determined not to die here and held onto the remaining strands of my life.
'I may have given up last time because nothing could be done but this time I am stronger. I know what death is like and what didn't work when I was fighting to live. It is scary moving to the unknown but I had seen a glimpse of it before Brakos saved me and I don't want to go there yet.'
'If holding onto the strands didn't work last time I should climb them and never give up.'
I wouldn't let myself die again without a fight. Brakos found me before I passed out. If anyone can help me he can.
~~~~~
I have been in the dark for so long. floating in limbo, not knowing what would happen. It was scary but I persevered.
Eventually, I could feel a burning in my eyes. I reflexively moved my hand in front of them to protect them from the light.
Realizing what I just did and felt, I opened my eyes. I was lying down in a fancy-looking bedroom, I was on a soft bed staring up at the ceiling.
I sat up and looked around the room. The walls were nice looking, they looked fancy yet simple at the same time. I could see a dresser in the corner opposite the bed, 2 large windows in the room from where the light came in, shelves with books and plants and a desk with stuffed animals on it.
In a chair next to the bed I saw a young girl around 10 years old sitting in it. She has blond hair and wearing a green dress and is slumped onto the bed asleep.
I realized I was in my cousin, Terra's room.
I tried to remember the last thing that happened and figure out how I got here but all I could remember was passing out after seeing Brakos.
'I sleep in a guest room when I visit but tend to spend more of my time in Terra's room. They must have wanted me to wake up in a familiar place.' I thought
I checked my chest and noticed clean bandages tied around my chest and my arms. I did feel sore but it wasn't bad.
Without getting up I tried to wake up Terra. Nudged her and said her name. Soon she stared and opened her blue eyes and I could see signs of crying.
When she looked at me and said that I was awake she jumped and tightly hugged me with tears in her eyes "Jack, you're awake!"
"Not if you squeeze me to death," I said hugging her back.
"oh sorry," she said as she let go. I smiled seeing her act like that.
Terra has always been a caring person. When we would play together she would always make sure I was safe and if I fell she would always check to see if I was hurt.
She looked at me happily seeing I was awake and said. "I need to go get my parents. I will be back, ok?"
"Ok," I said and watched her go.
I sat there and tried to think about everything that happened and wondered how I got here, how long I had been out, and what happened to me and the village.
After a few minutes, Terra came back with her parents and a lady who was dressed like a doctor. My aunt and uncle were relieved that I was awake but stood by waiting for the doctor.
When I looked at the doctor she had long black hair, hazel eyes and dark skin. She carried a large black leather bag and placed it on the bedside table next to me.
When she put the bag down she turned to me "Hello my name is Matilda, I'm a doctor. I am going to ask you a few questions that I need you to answer to make sure you ok. Then your aunt and uncle will answer your questions. Is that alright?"
"Yes, that's fine," I responded. I knew they needed to see if I had any brain damage or other problems. Mental trauma is another matter though.
She nodded, pulled out a clipboard and asked her first question. "What is your name?"
"Jackson Dravos," I answered
"Do you know what day it is?" she asked
"I'm not sure what day it is right now but the last day I remember was the 15th day of the 8th month in the Year 562 of the 3rd era, My 8th birthday," I said with a pang of sadness remembering how the day ended.
She nodded and continued to ask a few questions about me and I answered.
After a few minutes, we finished the questions and she turned to the others. "He has suffered no brain damage or memory loss thankfully, he is also surprisingly mature for his age but..." she looked back to me and said, "When it comes to the other matters I can't say."
They nodded and the doctor left the room. My aunt, Alex came over and started talking to me. "Jack, what is the last thing you remember?"
"I remember passing out in the forest." I didn't say anything about brakos as I don't know what they do.
She looked at my uncle and asked me "How did you get there? Was it from the orc attack?"
Ever since I woke up I have felt like I was in a haze but after they asked that my mind cleared up and I started to feel emotions.
I looked surprised "How did you know about the attack!? Did other people make it here? Did Mom and Dad make it here!?"
She looked at me with both confusion and sadness and shook her head. "Jack, no one else has been found yet. We knew because you told us after we found you. We only just got word from the soldiers sent to the village. Sadly we didn't reach thornbranch in time and the orcs had moved on."
I felt sad after hearing that. "How long was I out for and how did you find me ?"
"It's the 19th, you have been out for 4 days, a spirit led us to you, and when we got there a lot of spirits surrounded you. You were lucky to make it here. Walking 3 days in the forest couldn't have been easy."
"What do you mean 3 days I passed out on the 16th, the morning after the attack."
Erik looked confused. "Wait the attack happened on your birthday? But we only followed the spirit for like 20 minutes."
We all looked at each other confused. Then I remembered "Some spirits have teleportation powers maybe the spirit brought you to me." is said. Thankfully they knew about my interest in spirits. "What spirit was it?"
Erik looked at me and thought for a second. "That would make sense. It might be how they can trap people in spirit forests. Although I would not expect a Lightning Tiger to have that power, maybe it was the other one..."
I knew who the Tiger was but... "What other one" I asked
Terra looked over and said, "It looked like a human but was dressed in a weird red robe and had glasses on."
'Brakos! He must have brought them.' I thought to myself self while nodding
Hearing that spirits came to help me was reassuring but I did have to ask "What happened to Thornbranch?"
Alex and Erik looked at each other and Alex said. "Terra can you please get Jack some food and water, Jack must be hungry."
Terra looked at her mother, then me with concern but nodded and left. She didn't need to hear what was about to be discussed.
Both Alex and Erik then sat down on some chairs in the room, not wasting any time and risking Terra hearing what we were talking about. Then Erik asked. "Jack before we answer that can you please tell us what happened?"
I nodded and started to explain what happened. From the distant screams to the 2 Orcs Dad was fighting to help me get away. Everything I could remember I told them. Tears ran down my face and my hands shook at times but they comforted me and reassured me that I was safe.
When I finished I could see them with sad faces and tears in Alex's eyes.
Erik seeing his wife was in distress started to talk. "Jack what I am about to tell you is going to be hard to hear. I know you have probably already guessed part of this but... Thornbranch village was destroyed... and aside from you we have found no other survivors."
I sat there shocked hearing this. Over 2000 people lived in Thornbranch and everyone was either dead or missing... "Wait Mom and Dad got out, right?" I said in a panic and tears ran down my face.
Alex was crying at this point and Erik just looked down and shook his head. "Miranda was found surrounded by Orc bodies in the village square and a burnt body holding your father's sword was found on the outskirts. Jack, I am sorry but... they are dead."