Chapter 14

Around the flame, the people of the village dance. Dressed head to toe in colorful clothing, dresses stained with the juices of fruits and berries. There costumes creating a wild work of art as they scatter with an uncontrollable energy around the fire. The fire that did not disappoint, the fire that god in heaven himself, was aware of. The people stuffed with joy and food, and drunk from wine sold themselves to the evening. The sold themselves to joy, they sold themselves to life. And Khan was unable to partake.

For the entire evening he was plagued with worry. Not so heavy a concern, but there was something in the air that when the night finally arrived, that prevented Khan from enjoying the fire. But aside from his suspicion, which he secretly believed was his normal paranoia, he had been searching for Julia, wanting to speak with her again, apologize again. But more importantly,he had just wanted to see her. Hear her voice. Indulge himself in her presence.




Finding her now he walks over to her. "Julia."

"No Khan. Please." Immediately easing her voice, "I think we need not delve into this discussion any longer. I...I am sorry for everything you have been through. I truly am, i was not right, not right at all to judge you in such a way. You and I just have, large disagreements on these things, and it;s fine if we cannot agree."

The joy Khan feels as he hears the words Julia say to him, becomes overshadowed and overwhelmed by his relentless sense of paranoia. Only this time this real concern is now a striking sense of danger. And Khan knows when not to ignore this instinct. "Julia i must speak with Obrean."

"Oh heavens why."

"Are there guards? Are they reporting to him."

She looks at him confused, but concerned now, her body tensing as she straightens, the strength in her back matching his. "Yes of course-"


He walks right over to Obrean, Julia following him closely. But as Obrean sees Khan's approach, he quickly meets him halfway, "Please Khan, i wish to not speak with you, i've things to do. Surely you can understand this. Now please step aside."

Khan grabs him harshly by the shoulder, "Obrean listen to me!"

Obrean throws him off, "I say get off me. Do not test me pilgrim." And with this Obrean storms off.

Khan looks around and locks eyes with Julia, as he catches a glimpse of something. A look he's never see in anyone else. Her eyes a different color now. And along with this look, something inside Khan began to stir, something not felt, not an emotion, not a pain, not a physical sensation. This was something, mystic.

But suddenly, this bliss is interrupted, but the terrible crack of thunder. And Khan immediately grabs the sword on his back. "Something's coming." Another bang, but this isn't thunder, this is an explosion. From far off in the distance the explosion rattles the earth. As the ground continues to tremble, the soldiers army surrounds the celebration and begin savagely attacking it's people. As though with a flash of lightning carried them, they swarmed on the village overtaking it;s people. The town's folk struggling with all there might to hold them off just long enough for children to escape through a pre determined exit. But the army too quickly overwhelmed, and now the captain walks out into the middle of everything. He shouts above the madness, enough for everyone to hear, "You infectious waste of Crimson City, you have spread your plague of unnecessary rebellion for far too long, we therefore plan to execute all villainous scum who do not submit to the king's rule, tonight!"

Khan quickly wastes no time and begins attacking the soldiers, taking many of them down, his speed and skill under some sort of control he wasn't aware of. He frees many soldiers, many villagers and tell them to run. He bumps into someone behind him as he quickly turns to find Bear struggling with soldiers of is own. But he quickly overpowers them. "Bear! Take the ones you can, and the ones already leaving and go now."

"I must save Julia!"

Khan runs over to him to strike down a guard coming toward him. "My god they wont' stop coming. Please Bear just go. Where is Obrean?"

"I do not know but do not expect me-"

"You have to go with them, you have to be with them, take care of them. I will get Julia."

"No no i can not-"

"Please trust me brother," Khan holds Bears shoulder firm, "I will protect her."

Bear looks down at this man, and cannot believe himself to trust his sister's life to him. "Keep her safe Khan." As Bear runs away he sees Julia struggling with Neila. Holding her own quite well, much to the Captain's frustration. Though there isn't much time till Neila begins to fight dirty. Julia is struck to the ground.

Khan leaps over toward her and throws Neila away. He crouches down to see if she's alright. The captain slowly removes his armor, calling Khan over to him, laughing. "Come boy, let's see if you're worthy of that sword." Khan looks at him, just beckoning that pain in his chest to spread, "Yes Carlucious told me."

Khan jumps in his direction swinging the sword downward. Neila moves with great speed, and bring his foot to whip across Khan's face. He recovers but in time enough, as another kick knocks him off his feet. Khan swings his leg around and trips Nelia he falls harshly on his back. But soon other soldiers climb on top of Khan, stripping him of his sword. The feeling of the cold metal hilt sliding out from his grasp, gave that little edge to send Khan over the edge. Neila however continued to speak, "Your romantic act of self sacrifice really served no purpose. You cannot stand against a mountain and expect it to move with the breeze. I am sorry my boy but...you and you're people will die. We cannot escape time."

Khan screams. A terrible scream, the yells filled with every ounce of rage he had bottled up, the fire in him, that burning felt maddeningly delicious to him now. And he knew he would enjoy this. He effortlessly tosses the pile of soldiers off of him, and immediately runs toward Neila, the burning in his legs moving him swiftly. The captain, so taken back by the speed in which Khan reached him was unable to act. The young man spins and drives his heel into the captain's chest. He flies back, spitting blood, as the force from the kick knocks him harshly against a tree. Khan jumps on the other soldiers and begins beating them with everything inside of him, never tiring. But soon the rest of the battalion turns there attention to the beast killing there men. Khan's anger slowly wares off as the pain from there beating dazes him. His hearing reduced to a gentle mindless ringing that overtakes all other noises around him.

Suddenly, a bright white light engulfs everything around him, suddenly he is clean, pure, without pain or rage. The white light grows brighter and brighter, as the young man slowly falls into rest from exhaustion. The only thing him being able to remember, Julia's eyes.