The world felt muted.
The tremble in the air gradually fading. The pulsating ringing in my ears grinding to a halt.
But the fire didn't stop.
Rhovan was the first to move. Steady his blade as he spoke up. A voice heavy enough to cut through the haze.
Rhovan: "We need to go see what happened. There could still be people under the rubble."
Thyra didn't argue. Gripping her spear so tight her knuckles turned white.
Aric and I followed behind them. Our boots crunching against the courtyard floor.
We stepped out of the gates onto the ash-ridden roads.
The closer we got to the burning building the thicker the smoke got. It stings against my eyes. Makes it hard to breathe.
The road in front of the building was littered with shards of glass and splinters of wood.
All of the people who could flee had. Though the smell of burning blood was unmistakable in the wreckage.
A man staggered out onto the road. Blood running down the side of his head and his arms. He looked at us like we were insane for not running. In a way we were.
Aric's hands trembled on his sword.
Aric: "What if there's another explosion?"
Rhovan: "I doubt there will be."
Kareth: "How can you be so sure?"
Thyra: "Because both of us know who did this."
Aric looked stunned. I'm sure I did as well.
Rhovan rushed into the building. Shirt pulled up to cover his nose and mouth. Thyra followed quickly after.
Aric: "Cmon. we gotta go in aswell."
I nod in response. Following him in.
Inside the wall of fire was a crater. A meter or so into the ground from where the floor used to lay.
To our right was a body. Face down in the wreckage and covered in blood.
Aric gagged. Thyra brings her hand to his shoulder to steady him. Her face grim.
Thyra: "Don't look too long. Preferably don't look at all."
Her tone was far from cruel. More so a warning.
We closed in on the centre of the crater. Walking into a clearing in the haze of smoke.
It looked like the eye of a storm. Marked in the centre by a pillar of some kind. Surrounded by flames.
Nothing but the sound of cracking fire filled the intoxicated air.
Until another sound cut through.
Laughter.
Starting low. Echoing from within the eye of the smokestorm. Rising with the flames.
A broken, wheezing chuckle they grew until it drowned up the cracking flames.
I stepped back. Instinctively.
The flames and smoke shifted, parted from above us.
A silhouette came into view atop the burning pillar. Being exposed by the receding smoke.
Yet still frames perfectly in smoke and flames.
Posture crooked. Head tilted back, staring up into the sky.
The laughter didn't stop.
Didn't even pause.
Thyra's grip on her spear tightened.
Rhovan took a slow, deliberate step. Raising his sword.
Rhovan: "I thought you died."
The figure turned towards us. The head makes a single uncanny movement, snapping into place.
Even from this distance and in the lack of proper sight I can tell his eyes are crazed.
This gaze feels inhuman.
Something about it is cold, erratic, unhinged. It makes my stomach churn
Then came words. Crooked and distorted. Sounding almost gleeful.
???: "Beautiful isn't it?"
Their arms shot out wide, as if to embrace the burning wreckage.
???: "How fragile it all is."
The laughter picked up again. Even louder and more shrill than the last. Cutting through the smoke like a blade.
Thyra tried to take a step forward. But she was stopped by Rhovan.
Rhovan: "Not yet."
We stood there. Frozen in a state between fear and confusion. Watching the silhouette cackle away in madness.
This wasn't a human.
Not anymore at least
???: "Cat got your tongue?"
Thyra shifted. Partially in fear, even more in anger.
Who is this man to Thyra and Rhovan?
Rhovan: "How are you still alive?"
The man shifted his whole body to face us. Taking a slow and patronising bow
???: "We meet again after all of these years and that's all you have to say?"
Thyra: "We never should have met again you lunatic."
Mockful crying noises erupted from his mouth.
Something was coming.
This man clearly was no small threat.
The crying died down as the man veered his head back down to look at us again.
???: "I'm sure you want a present from your old buddy right Thyra?"
Thyra tensed up on the spot. Raising her spear defensively.
Thyra: "You're the last person I want anything from."
Her voice was cold. Sharp.
He dug through his pocket. Pulling something out
*squeak*
A rat?
???: "Catch!"
Thyra: "RUN!"
She pushed me and Aric out of the way. Immediately running in the opposite direction herself. Rhovan moved away as well. We were split up into 3 groups.
*BOOM*
Aric: "THE RAT EXPLODED?"
Smoke swallowed up the area where the exploding occurred. The same maniacal cackle from before rising up again.