INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

He found himself sprinting away as Storm instructed. Lack of oxygen and aching muscles didn’t bother him. He had always been a runner. The surrounding was a blur as he dodged the low branches and leaped over bulging roots. His leg muscles were screaming but he kept running. His senses were tingling. Shit. Left, then right, right, then left... He had no destination. He just had to distract their pursuer. Rough branches scrapped his arms as he was moving between bushes upon bushes. I can’t run forever. After this thought, he stopped and turned around. He took continued deep breaths. Cold sweat dribbled from his brow. His eyes stared at the path where he came from, waiting for the enemy. The wind was still and the silence in the forest was deafening. Shadows appeared on the ground so he looked up. Hundreds of birds covered the sky. Then an object came flying in a blink of an eye. He gripped his bow and stepped to his right, dodging the blow.

The weapon flew inches near his left eye and came crashing through a tree behind him. Even without looking at the result, Nate knew the intensity of the damage. Pieces of the tree flew everywhere. He flinched when some scrapped his arms and blood dripped on the ground. He grabbed a metal arrow in the quiver on his back then placed it in his bow. He raise the bow and pointed above.

“So you will act as the bait,” a voice echoed. Nate turned around, keeping his bow and arrow steady. Where is he? He could detect that person’s energy but he felt his presence everywhere.

“Show yourself!” Nate shouted, still breathing heavily.

“After running like that, you now realize that you have nowhere to go,” the voice mocking said. Before Nate could say anything, black smoke appeared in front of him and a person’s figure materialized. A large smirk appeared on the person’s face. His red hair stood everywhere. Nate viewed him as a regular delinquent in school, except for the flail he was spinning around. It was a weapon with a large, probably twice bigger than his head, striking metal head attached to a metal handle by a long chain.

“I don’t think an arrow can damage this,” the red-head said then laughed. Yes, definitely a high school delinquent.

But much much stronger.

Without much thought, Nate released the arrow. Wind materialized around it as it sped up. It only took a second for the red-head to react. He swung the flail and the arrow hit the striking head. Wind exploded after the collision. Nate blocked his face with his arm. The arrow really didn’t do any damage but at least his enemy moved steps back.

“So you want to end this quickly.” The red-hair scoffed then swung his flail around. Nate knew that they were bound to meet enemies along the way. Storm was right when he said that someone might be waiting near the border. The enemies knew of their plans. Even on the binge of battle, his thoughts were on Hanne.

“We have to separate and meet near the river,” Storm ordered while peeking outside the narrow cave where they hid for half an hour.

It was midnight when they started advancing towards the border. No one spoke, probably because of lack of enough sleep. Storm didn’t even sleep a wink. Unlike the past few days, Storm walked beside Hanne, who kept looking at him weirdly. Nate wondered what happened between them but he decided to let it slide until after they leave the border of the region.

“Do you trust the people we’ll meet in Westward?” Aria was the one who cut the silence. She was walking beside Nate, a few steps in front of Storm and Hanne. No, but...

“We trust the people who told us to go there,” Storm non-reluctantly replied. No one said anything after. Nate felt a bit anxious now that they are a few hours from the border. Whatever is waiting for them there was a mystery but they had to find out themselves. You have to help the Concordians... He remembered what their mom said. We will not go there to rest... Storm confirmed Nate’s guess. What if it’s too dangerous for us? But Hanne’s words echoed in his mind.

His thoughts drifted to what he thought he heard the night before.

“I’m sorry.” He was barely awake when he heard this. What if Hanne likes Storm? He scoffed. Impossible. Even if she does, Nate won’t have it. Storm might be a good and reliable person, but he’s still lost.

Not even an hour passed when everyone stopped and looked around the still forest. There was something different about the silence. Nate’s pulse quickened when he felt a strange but familiar energy near them. We’re bound to meet them. But he couldn’t find comfort in his thought.

“Behind this bush,” Nate instructed. Everyone scrambled behind the thick and enormous bush and sat down.

“Weapons up,” Storm ordered without looking at them. His attention was focused at the trees. Nate drew out his bow and arrows. Power surged inside of him and the weapon materialized. He felt the coldness of the metal and his senses sharpened. He found Hanne staring at his bow. His heart sunk realizing that she hadn’t try drawing her weapon yet. She always responded that she’s not strong enough to do it.

He quickly turned to Aria when he heard her hoarse breaths. She had clenched both her hands and was tight-lipped.

“What’s happening?” Nate asked her. She glanced at him but didn’t say anything. He gave her a quizzical look.

“What’s wrong?” Hanne asked again. Aria glanced at her longer and responded.

“Since I’m not trained, it’s harder for me to draw my weapon,” she responded flatly. It’s hard to approach her. But sometimes, she’s predictable. He didn’t mind because it seemed that Aria was comfortable with Hanne. He noticed that Aria was a girl version of Storm.

When Storm returned his attention to the group, they planned how to get away from their pursuers. The Mortemians were waiting for them near the border. Three different energies. Storm offered to be the bait so Nate, Hanne, and Aria can safely cross the river. Nate thought for a moment.

“I’ll be the bait. You are more capable to protect them if they catch up.”

“Nate! Don’t joke around.” Hanne glared at him but he won’t back out.

“Okay. We’ll meet you on the other side,” Storm affirmed. “Careful.” Nate grinned at him. Both boys stood up then looked around.

“But-”

“Go. We don’t have enough time,” Nate interrupted her. Her glossy eyes were still glaring but she stood up and Aria followed. His brows lifted when he saw what Aria was holding. A thin long sword with red handle.

“Katana,” she answered. Cool...

“Watch out!” Storm shouted. Everyone ducked as five burning blocks sped up towards them. They hit the trees, immediately catching fire. Nate quickly got up and readied an arrow. He aimed it at the shadows on a branch. He released the arrow and followed it with four more.

“Go,” he told the group without looking. “Be careful.” He heard Hanne calling his name but he couldn’t look back. She’ll be fine...

While the arrows were circling the shadows, Nate ran west. It’ll give the others enough time.

It did. But it wasn’t enough to spare him this battle. Coming face to face with another Mortemian, he wasn’t fazed because he seemed weaker than Rudy, the person who threatened their mom before. A few seconds after the red-haired destroyed the tree behind him, two underlings appeared.

“Alright, let’s finished this then catch the others,” red-haired instructed the two. The two men nodded then ran towards Nate.

Nate grab an arrow and aimed above. He released it. The arrow shot towards the sky and three seconds later, it came down. A tornado-like. When it hit the ground, the gush of wind exploded dirt everywhere. Nate squinted at the enemies’ direction. When it was clear, two bodies lay inside a 15 meter hole between Nate and red-haired, who now looked red because of anger.

“No more games,” he said then whispered, “Come.”

Then he found another energy around him. A really strong energy. They had backups... Without a sound, something hit his back. It stung so bad that he kneeled.

“What was that?” Nate touched his back but there’s no evidence of an attack. What the hell? But the pain spread from his back to the rest of his body. He gripped his bow then glared at his opponent, who was grinning darkly. The pain weakened his body so his head dropped low.

He frowned when he saw his jeans. It became black. And the rest of his clothes. What did they do to me?