The Whisper in the Woods
Edwin was battered. His body ached, his breath ragged. Ice, on the other hand, stood untouched, calm, composed, and merciless.
Damn, Edwin thought. Even in sparring, Ice doesn't let up.
He lunged with a desperate strike, sword aimed for Ice's chest. Metal clashed Ice blocked with ease, countering with a shoulder to Edwin's sternum.
Then whip-fast Ice spun and struck. Edwin dove, barely dodging. As he looked up, Ice cracked him across the face with the butt of his sword, sending him sprawling.
Ice stood over him, blade raised.
"Ice!" Snake's voice rang out.
Ice froze, then lowered his weapon.
Blaze approached, grinning. "Good training, brother. Glad you're on our side."
He looked down at Edwin. "How's training treating you?"
Edwin groaned, brushing dirt off his uniform. "Not very well right now."
Blaze and Ice chuckled.
"Well, I hope you're not too exhausted," Blaze said. "You're on duty tonight."
Edwin blinked. "Duty?"
"Rumors of a demon legion attacking a city. No confirmation, no news. Just whispers. You and Ace will scout the woods tonight."
"Ace?" Edwin asked.
A voice answered from the shadows. A tall, dark-skinned man with gold-tinted glasses stepped forward.
"Name's Ace. Nice to meet you."
Edwin nodded. "Likewise."
Blaze addressed the room. "Training's done. Everyone prepares. Stay alert. Stay sharp."
The militia responded in unison.
Into the Woods
As Edwin and Ace slipped out of the building, Ace whispered:
"We'll take the rooftops. If the cops see us armed, we're on a one-way train to the Gauntlet."
"You're too slow on your feet," Ice said, stepping forward. "You must glide, not stomp."
Then whip-fast Ice spun and struck. Edwin dove, barely dodging. As he looked up, Ice cracked him across the face with the butt of his sword, sending him sprawling.
Ice stood over him, blade raised.
"Ice!" Blaze voice rang out.
Ice froze, then lowered his weapon.
Blaze approached, grinning. "Good training, brother. Glad you're on our side."
He looked down at Edwin. "How's training treating you?"
Edwin groaned, brushing dirt off his uniform. "Not very well right now."
Blaze and Ice chuckled.
"Well, I hope you're not too exhausted," Snake said. "You're on duty tonight."
Edwin blinked. "Duty?"
"Rumors of a demon legion attacking a city. No confirmation, no news. Just whispers. You and Ace will scout the woods tonight."
"Ace?" Edwin asked.
A voice answered from the shadows. A tall, dark-skinned man with gold-tinted glasses stepped forward.
"Name's Ace. Nice to meet you."
Edwin nodded. "Likewise."
Blaze addressed the room. "Training's done. Everyone prepares. Stay alert. Stay sharp."
The militia responded in unison.
Into the Woods
As Edwin and Ace slipped out of the building, Ace whispered:
"We'll take the rooftops. If the cops see us armed, we're on a one-way train to the Gauntlet."
Ace's katana gleamed black and gold, elegant and deadly.
As they moved, Ace noticed Edwin's mark.
He has the mark, Ace thought. Does he have control?
They reached the woods, silent as shadows. At the checkpoint, Ace turned to Edwin.
"From here on, stay alert. One wrong move could be the end."
Edwin nodded.
They moved deeper into the forest. Then a bonfire. Still fresh. Ash is warm.
Ace motioned Edwin to halt. He crept forward, inspecting the site's food scraps, scattered gear.
"Why would there be a fire out here?" Edwin whispered.
Ace sniffed the air. "Smell that?"
Edwin inhaled. "Copper."
Ace's voice dropped. "Demons."
Edwin's heart raced. "Are they close?"
"Don't know. Let's keep moving."
Then snap. Edwin's leg was yanked upward by a trap.
"Edwin!" Ace shouted, slicing the rope.
Edwin crashed to the ground.
"You alright?"
"Yeah. thanks."
They pressed on. Edwin spotted a flicker of light in the distance.
"Ace… what's that?"
Ace unsheathed his sword. "Let's find out."
As they approached, the light faded. Then rustling. A bush shook violently.
Edwin's nerves spiked. He raised his sword, ready to strike.
A wild rabbit burst out.
Edwin exhaled. Ace chuckled. "Don't worry. They won't hurt us."
They continued.
Then voices. Muffled chatter. Eating sounds.
Ace motioned Edwin to crawl. They slithered to the edge of a hill.
And froze.
Below them, nestled in the earth's shadow, was a camp.
Thousands of demons.
No words. Just horror.
Edwin whispered:
"It's an army."