A Dark Frontier{Perspective of Taski}I suddenly awoke from a sleep that felt like a long and relaxing rest that went on for what was supposed to be a 10-year nap, and I felt tremendous pressure on my back. I soon realized I had been crushed under a large bolder; I heated my back and slowly melted the concrete bolder. Furthermore, I stood on both feet, stared at the skies, and was stoned with what the entire city was filled with. (What the..., is this Hell?)" I asked myself, with much fear and anxiety overflowing out of my heart. From what I had seen far out in the distance of the city, massive red fog, unknown large flying creatures, massive demon-like creatures roamed the streets of Treesape, and up in the high altitude of the skies was a large beam that had a large white light glowing. My mind was filled with confusion and chaos; I felt like I was genuinely experiencing Hell; however, my memory slowly became visible to me again. I then remembered what had happened before and what that insane madman Chris had done to us all. I felt horrible hatred for him after what he had unleashed upon the world; all I could think about was taking him head-on in a brutal fight. Although I was aware of my weak power, even against these creatures that roam the streets, I searched for any answers. When I turned behind me and heard a strange sound of rubble falling and crackling, a female appeared nearby, so I approached her cautiously. I then saw what seemed to be the one with horrible tuna breath in her mouth; that repulsive scent made my eyes cry.{End of Taski's Perspective}
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{Narrative Perspective}Then, coming from the pile of rubble, next to him was a survivor; he looked over and saw it as Mandy Oliver. "He did it. He got what he wanted, for sure." She said to him in complete disappointment. Taski then looked at her with a disappointing but confusing look. He drew his sword out, "Tell me now, What's Going On!? I know you knew he was going to do this all along." Taski argued with her, enraged to fury. Mandy backed up but laid at his feet a disagreeing statement of her association with Chris and his plan. "You've got the wrong idea, cutie. I didn't want this either, and I only wanted to return to my old ways and go back with Yegor. You've got to understand me, Taski." Taski refused and backed her against a pile of rubble, ready to strike her down at any moment. She then summoned her kunai knives and charged straight into battle. Taski clashed his blade against her knives effortlessly; Mandy remained too frustrated and failed to find her concentration. He noticed her effort was slipping away from her and took advantage of his win; he swiped her blade, knocked her unbalanced, and kicked her down without hesitation. He pinned her to the ground and trapped her."Listen to me; either help me win this fight with Chris, or you can die with the rest of the Solar Pyramids. Deal?!" Taski and Mandy remained the only known survivors in Treesape City. The path seemed uncertain to our hero. However, a new challenge awaits him, as well as Mandy. Thus, the two agreed to help each other in their latest crisis. As the two moved through the streets of Treesape, the red fog became thicker, blocking their vision heavily. Mandy held on to Taski's arm as she became concerned with the vision of their situation; he swatted her hand away out of disgust and anger at her past crimes against Asalikith and the people. Mandy ignored his frustration and continued, "Well, Mr. Prince, do you know where you're going? We're going downtown; you don't mind being spotted by all these weird and creepy creatures around?" She arrogantly asked him. Taski responded calmly, reminding her of his intentions in the streets, "If you're wondering where I'm going, well, I don't know exactly. However, I am looking for any survivors around. If you want to help, feel free to help in an unprecedented time. I hope to find my friends and Ariah, too." Mandy became irritated by his love for Ariah and felt a great urge to convince him of her falsely; however, she remained focused on her survival and stayed quiet.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{Perspective of Mandy}I can't stand that woman, not one bit. He is so madly in love with her, and I can't see it in her; I can't argue with it now. I just wish there could be a way to somehow kill off that woman without really doing it, just to get her off his case. I could morph my body appearance into hers since I have a visual of her, and I'm sure he'll figure it out instantly. Nonetheless, I never thought that Chris wanted a world like this: darkness, hellish, and destroyed. All I wanted was to take the head of Taski Mandelen and then kill Chris. I had never liked that kid from the start of his work in the business. The boss should've let me or Yegor kill and vaporize his annoying mouth; all he ever knows how to do is be selfish, hateful, and disrespectful to his crew members. I can't stand self-centered people like Chris; anyone who thinks they own everything is already on my kill list, and all I want is for him to suffer for the horrible things he's done to the business. In a way, all I want to do is move on with my life and live it with Yegor, maybe have our own business away from the Solar Pyramids, and start over with something else. Although it's difficult to change myself when I've been raised all my life to kill and kill more, Taski is a different kind of person. For once, he's someone who actually spares his enemies and does not cold-heartily take their lives after a war. I can't understand him sometimes; he'll one day get himself killed for that, but I can say that he is different from what I know his dad was like. "(Taski, who are you? What in the world is wrong with you? You're so weird, but unlike the previous kings of this barren wasteland, you have sparred me and Yegor in our battles and let us live.)" I thought to myself as I admired Taski's back and his hand of guidance in this valley of death. I felt like he cared for me as a human being, and it drew me closer to him as possibly a friend I could call my own. {End of Mandy's Perspective}------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{Narrative Perspective}The two continue down the streets searching for hope, a group of lost survivors, King David, or any human survivor; unfortunately, the two continue without finding refuge. The demon-like soldiers scouted the city for humans; their grunts were that of a demonic creature; their build was of a massive fantasy-like beast, and they intended to wipe away any life off the earth. Taski and Mandy remained hidden away from the wide open. They hid in any gas station that was well camouflaged or safe buildings. However, finding one was challenging for them due to the number of flying creatures in the air. The two stealthy proceed throughout the streets while patiently waiting for a clear path. They both then stumbled upon a large group of Dark Eibax soldiers patrolling the area; he then shoved her near a dark alley filled with many dumpsters and broken furniture that remained on the ground. Mandy questions his quick movement, confused about his actions committed towards her, "What are you doing? Are you trying to give me more back pain?" She whispered to him aggravatedly. He quickly covered her mouth and silenced her, commanding her, "Keep it down; they'll hear you. Don't breathe heavily." He whispered back to her as she held herself down in the trash bags of the dumpster. As the two remained hidden from the visible site of the Eibax soldiers, surrounding the dumpster were three large tank soldiers with massive bodies. Mandy felt the fear begin to consume her heart as the soldiers surrounded the dumpster crate closer with every passing second. Loudly, the Tank commander shouted, "SEARCH EVERYWHERE! Don't stop until every sensing human is slaughtered. I can smell the humans nearby, find them." Mandy's heart began to burst with anxiety as the soldiers banged against the crate holding her and Taski; Taski then grabbed Mandy and held her close to his chest in hopes that his warmth could calm her fear and settle her anxious heart. Shortly after the banging ended, the tank soldiers left the area, and the two continued their walk toward a gasoline station they spotted nearby.The two climbed through a shattered window. They avoided breaking the glass to prevent sound traversal out into the city. Taski then commanded Mandy to remain hidden inside the station as he checked outside for any soldiers; he circled the station quietly and quickly. He then returned inside the station, "We seemed to have lost those soldiers out there, and it looks like we are in the clear for now." Taski alerted Mandy. Mandy then expressed her feelings about working alongside him, "You know, I didn't imagine ever working with the likes of you, Taski. You make a good leader with me; maybe switching sides with you wouldn't be such a bad idea." Taski replied with crudeness, "You think you're going to get out of the shackles so easily and then have the audacity to tell me that you'd consider changing? Funny you think you can flip a switch in your life so quickly; you're not going to fool me again, not that easily." He walked into a small office near the front checkout counter and ignored Mandy.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{Perspective of Mandy}I knew Taski wasn't pleased with me and my words; I didn't think he'd have a side like this. "(It makes me have a sweet sensational feeling inside like I'm attracted to his anger)." I thought to myself as my mouth remained open at his response. It was scorching inside the gas station and made my skin sweat like a wet rag; I needed some fresh air to relieve my torment in this extreme heat. I also felt a great sense of guilt, but it couldn't compare to what I had to say to him about his sins and his family's sins. I walked into the office he sat in and confronted him about his people and their crimes. "Well, you're too blinded by your pride and royalty to see that you and your people are no different from what I and my people have done. Do you seriously think you can talk down on me like that? I honestly feel a change in my heart towards you, Taski. Then, you come at me like that? You call yourself a mighty prince and the future king over this land, huh? You certainly do seem like a reasonable person to understand." I argued with him. He then stood up and fought back as I stepped back from him. {End of Mandy's Perspective}------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{Narrative Perspective}"Just try to justify your crimes in my face. Have you forgotten all the innocent lives you've taken and taken them for a form of income? To spill the blood of men and women, along with many children, and you think your actions can just be forgotten?" Taski argued out of frustration; his eyes began sparking with a tiny spark of flames. She felt anger swelling within her as she stepped backward from him; the two argued silently in the dark office and ignored their possible chances of being noticed by the soldiers. Mandy then ended her argument with the prince and walked off near a small aisle of drinks and edibles; there, she sat down, crossed her arms, and kept her face downward. Taski resumed his time in the small office and eased down from his frustration; he banged his fist against a concrete wall out of anger, grunting loudly and trapped in his mind as he continued letting his anger spill, a memory of his father and him having a conversation about forgiveness returned to him.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{Taski's Memory Perspective/ Taski's Perspective}I remember that time, yes, that's the one. I was throwing a baseball back and forth with Dad at that moment; I also remember that day I told myself I'd never forgive Dakaski for ruining my moment at school with some friends I wanted to impress. How immature I was back then, how obnoxious I was around everyone, to think that the world only revolved around me. I wish I weren't so stupid and ignorant around everyone. If only I could rewrite those wrongs and make things right with them. I remember my dad telling me about forgiving even my enemies, regardless of what they've done to my life. "Son, never forget that when you forgive someone, even if they're your enemy, you'll feel much better within and help them up. Forgive one another, love your enemies, and forgive them of their wrongs." My dad said to my 9-year-old self with compassion. Those words just had to come at me currently, a moment in which I wanted to make her suffer for all the wrongs she brought upon this world, working with Chris. I felt this was God trying to send a message to me. "(I see now, that's what you want me to do, huh?)" I said to God within my head as confirmation of forgiving her for her actions. I then got up from the office chair and returned to Mandy to offer her forgiveness; I felt nervous about approaching her as I found no explicit statement to speak of to her. {End of Taski's Perspective/ Taski's Memory}------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{Narrative Perspective}Taski spoke to her shortly after the two finished their argument, "Hey, Mandy. I wanted to tell you that I know I was harsh with you on the matter. I apologize for lashing out at you for all of this mess we're both in, and I was an idiot for thinking this was your fault. I'd say that, really and truly, this is my fault." Taski apologized kindly to her with compassion. After apologizing, Mandy slapped him in the face, "Oh, Shut Up! Are you seriously going to play that stupid card with me? Blaming yourself for this mess, do you even hear yourself right now, Taski?!" Mandy responded with force. He then rubbed his cheek from the impact of her hand and replied to her, reasoning with her; he said, "No, you don't understand where I'm coming from, Mandy, you don't. When Chris and I were teens, we didn't have the most stable, friendly relationship. When Chris was found guilty of causing harm, he was placed before the judge and was exiled from the land at a young age. The laws were much different than they are now, and my dad was much different than he is now. I was also one to decide to exile him out of the land, and I was stupid and stuck up." Taski replied calmly to her. Mandy then allowed his words to settle within her, and she felt much different and curious about him. She reassured Taski and suggested he forget the thought, as she felt it wasn't his doing. The two spent the night in the abandoned gas station to avoid further contact with the Dark Eibax soldiers. The next day had come, and the two packed any edibles they could take and set out to continue their search for hope.