The sun beat down on the cracked street, heat shimmering off the ruins. The heroes walked in silence, sweat rolling down their backs. Even Pooch panted.Thomas wiped his forehead and muttered, "It's too hot for even demons to come out." Pooch laughed. Sophie didn't. She stopped walking. Head tilted.
Listening.Thomas frowned. "What is it?" Sophie didn't answer. She just whispered, "This way." She slipped into a narrow alley swallowed by shadows and broken walls. The others followed. Thomas glanced to his right and froze.In a pile of trash and debris… A small body lay still. The body was not older than 2 years old Thomas knew that much.
Its small arm outstretched, clutching a picture. Thomas's chest tightened. Tears begin to slid down his cheek. Thomas thought "War doesn't help anyone". He forced himself to turn away and followed the others, but in his mind he whispered "I won't forget you, little one".
Sophie suddenly raised a hand. "Quiet."Everyone stopped.Then she sprinted forward into an opening between two collapsed buildings."Thomas… look."Thomas stepped beside her and his breath caught. Down the hill, tucked between the ruins, was a village. Lights. Smoke from cooking fires. People moving.
Life.Thomas with dry tears said.Sophie sees Thomas had fresh tears on his face but dosen't say anything. "Let's go." Thomas said Pooch hesitated. "Master… I'll stay here." Thomas scoffed. "You're coming with us." "They'll try to kill me," Pooch said. "Not under me." Thomas said. Pooch stared at him, eyes softening.
This man… he does things not for reward, but because it's righ"t. Pooch thought "Okay, master I will follow you." Pooch said They descended the hill. When they reached the edge of the village, an older woman hanging clothes froze at the sight of them then bolted into her house.Sophie frowned. "That's weird." Thomas shrugged, confused, and stepped into the yard.That's when the villagers attacked.Thirty of them burst from behind houses, circling the heroes with:guns, axes, pitchfork, sknives, rusted bladesThomas raised his hands. "We come as friends!" No one heard him.
The shouting drowned everything out."Demons!" someone screamed. "Kill them!" A pitchfork lunged toward Pooch Sophie blocked it with her blade, sparks flying. Then rocks flew from the back of the crowd. Thomas's voice boomed: "ENOUGH!" A shotgun blast cracked the sky. Silence. A black jeep rolled in, dust swirling. A massive bald man stood in the back, shotgun smoking.
Beside him a woman with short hair and dark shades another bald man wearing shades, puffing a cigar The cigar man yelled, "Who are you people? What's your purpose here?" Thomas shouted back, "We come as allies, not foes! We're uniting villages across the land!" The man puffed his cigar, studying them."You? Unite the villages?" Thomas nodded. "Not alone. There are warriors like us fighting recruiting everywhere we can find surviors." A long pause.Then the man pointed with his cigar. "Bring the strangers to my hall."The jeep sped off.
The villagers slowly dispersed, leaving the heroes standing in the dust. An older man approached, gentle and calm."Hello, strangers. I'm Robert I'll guide you."They introduced themselves. Thomas asked, "Where are we heading?" Robert smiled sadly. "The hall." Sophie raised a brow. "The hall?" Robert nodded."Yes… the place where people don't come out from."