It was happening again. The soot, the screams, the dust and ash and the smoke that had clouded the world, rising into the heavens and rapturing with the clouds. That sense of dejection and sorrow and fear. It was all happening again as if reminding her of what she was, what she had left at the brink of uncertainty. She could still hear the cry of her daughter and her husband as the fire consumed them, causing their skin to droop from their bones. Everything was happening again. She had not done anything then, and she doubted she could do anything now.
Hissing, Catherine's hands reflexively went to her stomach. It had come so naturally, and it didn't amaze her when she saw the swelling tummy. She was pregnant, and would soon be put to bed. Her husband was supposed to make the cradle, to prepare the house for their second baby. But, there he was, shouting out her name as he burned with their da
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ELIXA CHAPTER 45
Fun is not complete until they are spent with friends, close friends, and one that could breathe and speak their problems into your heart. Often we meet such people, and when we are with them, the time we spend is what defines the true meaning of pleasure. Carlos smiled at the thought and dropped the glass cup for a refill. He had just had his evening rounds, making sure his dealings were in check. Too lousy a hand could make things slip from his fingers. And he was not ready to let that happen, especially since the days were beginning to birth new threats. It has become easy for some lowlife fools to step up from the shadows and try to wheel life in their favor. That was not going to happen, not while Carl was alive.Round the table of four, hails of tobacco clogged the dim room, contrasting the disco lights which trailed through the center. The lights should have been bright, and colorful and should have lighted the room, at least, to kill the shadows. Yet, the fogging tobacco smok
ELIXA CHAPTER 46
Carlos pouted and using the back of his wrist, he wiped the blood that smeared the sides of his cheeks. Marcos was lying lifeless on the floor, blood pool stretching until they were lost under the divan. Carlos had never seen such devotion before. Not in his short life. For Marcos to have taken his existence, only one thing remains eminent, they were dealing with something that was perhaps greater than any of them. Something mystical and outrightly dangerous, so to speak. What bothers Carlos was that these groups were using his name and emblem. If they were as powerful and an intrepid organization-as Marcos’s action had depicted-why go through the hassle of using his identity and brand? Why not create a name from scratch and make it fearful. Or was this a quest for supremacy? Was this another way of sending a blind message that a battle line has been drawn? The grass suffers when two elephant fights. Who was the elephant and who was the grass? What was their aim? What do they want? Ca
ELIXA CHAPTER 47
The shouts and shrieks came when the first gunshot flared, bouncing on the smooth wall and resonating through their eardrums like an endless rhyme of a chiming bell. The two men in red and black had shut the door behind the last civilians, forming a barricade of their own. Side by side, they stood, keeping their hands on their weapon and looking anything but funny. Next from the east, towards the other side of the room, two other garrisons placed their shoulders on the northern door, blocking the back entrance. There was no possible way of escape, even if Carlos wanted to try, he would need to fight his way through. And given his current predicament, he was not in the position to. They were hiding behind the counter. Tina was nowhere in sight, the girl had disappeared, perhaps with the rest of the civilians. Her claims of being a lone wolf that was unfazed by gang threats spoke negatively of her. For one who claims to be tough, Carlos ha
ELIXA CHAPTER 48
Vick moseyed through the flight of stairs, chest sitting up in the air as if she saw and knew what no one else did. She was on holiday or had retired, so it was difficult to ascertain her current status. The Dwellers had paid some of them off, laying them from their duty. Since there were more people—young fresh blood—willing to serve their country, it was time to travel to the prominent Wetland continent and settle down with the man of her dreams. She didn’t have one in her life, but she was sure she would find one if she searched. The last man she had tried to love had cheated and betrayed her. She had killed him though, she had rid the land from the infirmities of fools who would stop at nothing but bring disaster upon the earth. Not that she was bent on following the law, no, far from it. She was the law herself. Every Dwellers was, especially the Shaleks. They were the ones who killed and brought to justice any off
ELIXA CHAPTER 49
Hoisting the bag over her shoulders, Vick walked out of her room and started towards the only door on the far side of the hall. A female voice was speaking from one of the speakers, reading out the daily reports. It also encouraged some of the Dwellers within the hall to have a nice life while they waited for the result of some sports they had placed their bets on. White marked the ends of the walls, and grays were on every side the sculpture of a wolf was. It was etched on the edges of the wall, looking down on the people that went about their business. This was the Dweller’s quarters, spacious and harbored about three hundred and fifty-six apartments. Three hundred and fifty-six men and women had retired from the hunt. It was supposed to be a space for resting and spending the rest of one's days while one watches the world fade away into emptiness and memories. It was a home of comfort, a comfort that has thorns in its teeth.Vick tugged down her black face cap as she hurried down t
ELIXA CHAPTER 50
THE PLOWMAN WAS HERE. After days and months of dreading to see its ugly face, it’s no wonder that it had finally shown its hooding white cloak and cold sharp fangs. Trees had lost their green and were bending their heads in subjection, wailing with the blistering winds that dusted the white fog. There were no sands, stones or anything that could contrast its challenging tuff. This time of the year was a time Kristen would have wished to be in the comfort of her bed. If this were Freetown, she would have used the heater to keep her room warm, and since the emperor normally declares holidays, she would have had every single moment to herself. Even if she wanted to work, it would be indoors, within the comfort of a nice hot coffee, and a warm fire to keep her body from these angry white fangs. And with Cazlin cracking one of those silly jokes of his. Cazlin. She breathed in as the thought walked through the edges of her mind. The man was full of jokes and would make her life until her c
ELIXA CHAPTER 51
Walking into the cave brought a different feel and added a natural warmth to their soul. Though the heater heated their body, it was the sudden warmth on their faces that made Kristen lick her lips. She rubbed her hands together, swallowing and remaining at the entrance of the cave, without zeal to continue. There was something about the cave that made her heart skip. It was a hunch, one she wished she could keep at bay. On days like this, she would have avoided the occasion and walked far away, until the feeling stopped. She hugged herself, eyes, searching the winter-plowed land they had just stepped away from. Even if she wanted to try, it would be suicide walking away from the group. It was true that the heater kept her warm, but she didn’t know how long its power would last. The only way to survive was to follow Kenish and his compass. God help them if they find the wall. “This would do,” Kenish lowered himself and dropped the brown bag on the cold floor, “We could continue our j
ELIXA CHAPTER 52
It was the ringing in her ears and the dust in her mouth that made her realize she was no longer spinning in the air. Coughing, she tried to raise her head, but her hands and feet were suddenly numb. There was even a thump at the back of her head, pulsing slowly like a second heart. Swallowing was difficult, and the dust in her mouth caused the side of her lips to burn terribly. Everywhere burnt. From her nose, the side of her face, and her ears. She must have brushed her face on the surface of a stone. And the ringing in her ears was becoming too loud that she could barely hear herself think. Why did it hurt so bad? The first fall had been better. The ground had cushioned her and had prevented her from getting aching muscles. What has changed? Why did it hurt so badly?Coughing, Kristen tried to return to her feet. She could move her head, and it seemed the stiff neck had regained its grace. However, the rest of her body kept their mind, preventing her from even moving her fingers, f