Chapter 8

8

 

"SOMEBODY HELP!" I shrieked again. Nobody was answering. Blazing bombs struck the ground, wood and earth splintering everywhere.

Breathless and distraught, I sought out shelter. My legs ached from running and my eyes brimmed with tears. They came too soon, and now we were yet to face death itself, armed with a thousand loaded guns. I should have flown, but sudden fear forced my wings shut.

I was their first target. The blast of a bomb immediately ruptured in the sky above me, sending a blast of pain through my back. It had ripped through the bones in my wings and split them apart, now forcing me to the ground in agony. Then shadows of blackened hell edged closer to me, singling out their next victims. Sparks flew and six-foot rockets dived towards the ground, in clusters as big as the helicopters themselves. Once they touched the ground, death to those nearby was certain. I trembled with a helpless horror, struggling to move or to even breathe. They edged closer, flashing like demonic beacons, and I couldn't even escape. I was paralysed with pain and fear. It would only be a few seconds until they destroyed me, but what could I do?

Fly? My wings were snapped and broken.

Hide? There was nowhere to go.

Fight? Don't even mention it. That in itself was a death wish. Those helicopters had everything against me.

Run? Run as fast as I could. That was the only option left.

"HELP!" I cried to myself, struggling to get my legs to work. I needed to run, but a fearful paralysis held me hostage. "PLEASE!"

Finally, and in the nick of time, my legs jolted forwards and I ran faster than ever before. The missile landed just a second later, exploding into a fit of burning flames. I had saved myself once, but that was hardly the end.

More missiles shot out of the sky at lightning speed. Twenty spiralled towards the centre of the kingdom. My academy was the second to fall. As I cowered behind a small building, I thought of everyone in the academy who were either now dead or dying. Tears flooded out of my eyes; I should have gone there to save them. But instead, I had saved myself.

Selfishness and guilt started to haunt me as missiles dropped by. But rockets no longer mattered anymore. I had let down everyone I knew, and no amount of missiles could take that fact away. My cries echoed through the noise, drowning out the screams of others, and reaching the ears of the dead and the broken. Another blast and the throne-room fell apart. Shards of glass and metal erupted from the buildings, smashing into anything and everything. They collided with the windows, the doors, and the walls of the houses, tearing them apart.

A metal disc suddenly flew through a window above me, the sound of smashing glass piercing my ears. Then a blast of searing pain shot through my arms and legs. It was like something had driven a knife deep into my flesh and ripped it apart. I shrieked in pain and terror. Blood spurted out of my arm like a crimson fountain, splashing the ground and the disc beside me. On its course through the window, it had managed to catch the side of my arm and leg and slice them clean open. Tears flew out of my eyes instantly, the pain sending my senses out of control. My breathing became quicker, nausea took over and dizziness consumed my whole body.

"HELP! HELP!" I shrieked, using the last of my energy to open my broken wings. Despite everything, I flapped as hard as I could. I had to escape from this nightmare, whatever the cost. But the pain from ruptured wing bones electrocuted my insides and sent a shockwave of spasms through my body. It was too agonizing to continue and I was forced to crash back down in a cluster of mangled feathers. That was all I had left. Nothing could save me now. One more blast sent the whole kingdom crashing down. Piece by piece. First, a downpour of rocks skidded from the highest point in the kingdom, crashing into buildings and breaking them to dust. The collision sprayed blood on the ground, smoke in the air and tears on every helpless face. Then parts of the kingdom broke off the sides, tumbling into an abyss of murky clouds. Houses ripped apart, hearts broke apart, the sky turned a deep red and everyone screamed in terror. Their useless cries were soon drowned out by another explosion. Fire slithered its way past a fallen frenzy of angels.

 "N-No...please. N-Not them..." I breathed, the blurred light of the flames stinging my eyes, "anyone b-but them..."

Bodies of people I had never talked to started to fall away in dozens. Their lifeless arms flailed above them, blood sprayed from their chests and then clouds of smoke filled the air. Their lives were over. Now I feared for my own life. No wings could save me now. No armour could protect me. No sword could make a dent in their machines.

Suddenly, my grip onto the rubble loosened as the ground gave way beneath me.

"HELP!" I cried out for the last time, reaching out desperately for someone. But nobody could take my hand. Nobody was there. I fell to my own eternal doom, darkness surrounding me on my way down. Was it over already? Had I lost the battle I hadn’t begun to fight? My hands tried to grip a falling sword, just heaving it out of the sky. Beads of sweat and tears trickled off my face. I was too weak, too feeble, too broken to wield my own weapon. Bullets flew towards me as I plunged through the sky, the sword only weighing me down. They kept shooting, bullet dents emerging in my armour.

"S-Stop...!" I choked. But their bullets only got faster and closer, caressing my cheeks on their path of destruction. My eyes widened with terror.

"S-Stop...!" I screamed again. But every word I choked out meant nothing to them. The ground was approaching faster and faster. I made another futile attempt at flying, but it was painful and pointless. I knew they were waiting for me below, probably with cages and traps.  A mewl of panic escaped my lips. "N-No wait-!"

All of a sudden, my body hit the ground with a thud, burning my back and shocking the life out of me. I collapsed, the sensation of pure disaster rattling my skull. I lay there, while the bullets danced in the sky, motionless but still alive. Through my burning eyes and glistening tears, I watched the rest of the kingdom break apart. To finish it off, the humans' last bomb entered the air. It made a gleaming trail behind it; like a shooting star. Except, the only wish being granted was the Devil's. It collided with our national flag, blowing it to bits only seconds later.

"M-My home!" I cried softly. "Everything is gone!"

Tears and grievances spilt out of me, but it didn't change anything. Everything was gone. But as I turned my head slowly, the sound of laughter met my ears. Was I hearing things, or were people actually laughing? I listened again, and it was true. "How d-dare you..." I murmured, a burning rage forming within me. NOBODY dared to smile at the death of a nation. I stood up with a sudden ease, my eyes blazing with a rage that wouldn't quit. No damage on my body could ever stop me. I lurched towards the humans on the ground, flashing my sword aimlessly at the innocent and the guilty.

"DIE! PAY FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE!" I screeched, blood and fire blazing before me.

Babies cried and women begged, but I couldn't care less. Their race had taken everything from me. But in the midst of my fury, I felt something grab me from behind. It was strong and wouldn't let go. More of them came shortly after, but it only took a minute to figure out everything. More humans. They were trying to hold me back.

"GET OFF ME!!" I yelled, twisting my sword backwards. But they grabbed it with ease and threw it across the ground like it was nothing. Enraged but deprived, I tried to resist their attacks. But they were stronger. 

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" My cries were ignored as they held me down, pushing my face against the ground with an iron grip. Then they brought out something sharp, engraved with plastic measurements. It pierced my skin as soon as it reached me, sending a wave of shock through my nerves. I just couldn't escape from their new weapon.

"Insert all of it, we need to knock him out," I heard them mumble, a sharp pushing sensation following shortly after. It hurt like hell.

"S-STOP!" I said, my body starting to feel weaker by the minute. They kept digging into me and as I turned my head, a large syringe came into view. Now there was nothing I could do to save myself. I had no choice but to succumb to their butchery.

I stumbled around, finally slumping to the ground.

Author's Note

Tell me what you think!