[Today, today something is supposed to happen.]
My hands close into a fist.
[But what?]
[Should I really be hanging out today?]
[I should stay inside today. Just in case.]
As I turn around a voice calls me. – "Yo Balor, hurry up."
Both Rohan and Apollo are waiting for me at the gates and are calling out to me.
I stop to think to myself.
[I should tell them that I'm not feeling well.]
"Hurry up." – "Yea what are you doing?"
They keep shouting.
[As long as I stay away from the King and the guards I should be fine… Right?]
[Im just being paranoid nothing is going to happen]
While walking towards them I say "Im going im going." In an annoyed tone.
On the way to the spot we make small talk.
"So what have you been up to Rohan?" I ask.
"N-nothing much, training and studying like always" he responds avoiding eye contact.
"Are you alright man?" – "You seem nervous."
"Yea i-im fine." – "What about you, what have you been up to?"
I stop for a second to let a woman pass by then start walking with them again.
"Same as always, training and studying and everything else"
"Not that it's working." Apollo quickly says.
"Whatever you say." I say annoyed.
After walking in silence for a while, we all stop in front of a gap in an old wall.
Me and Rohan look around.
""Go now"" we say in sync
Apollo goes through the gap then me and Rohan go in.
We watch our step as we walk through the forest.
"Was it always this damn far?" Apollo says with a sigh.
"We are almost there." Rohan with deep breath says.
We finally reach a clearing.
There is nothing but a small entrance to a cave.
"See? Told you."
A branch can be heard breaking behind us.
We turn around.
"Did anyone else hear that?" I ask.
Apollo and Rohan look at each other.
"N-no.. you must have imagined it." Rohan says.
[Could it be… No it wouldn't be.]
"Let's just go inside." Apollo is quick to say.
"Yea.." Rohan follows up.
"Lets look at the view for a bit."
We start climbing a rock.
My grip loosens on the rock because of the dirt.
Apollo and Rohan climbing behind me start hurrying me.
"Okay, okay" We all start laughing while climbing.
Once at the top we sit on the edge of the rock overlooking a view or the Kingdom and the forest and Rivers surrounding it.
Rohan points at the kingdom. "Man, it's been awhile since we've been up here."
Apollo lifts his head. "Yea it's been crazy long."
The afternoon breeze feels good, although it's still hot.
"It feels like I'm getting cooked alive… Why is it so hot?" Apollo says, almost yelling.
Me and Rohan go into an uncontrollable laugh.
""Hahaha""
Apollo joins us not too long after.
Rohan stands up. "Seriously though, let's go inside, it's wayyy too hot out here."
Standing up as well, I take one good look at the view and we start heading down.
This time I'm the last one to go down.
I sigh. "And you were calling me slow?"
They pause. ""Cause you were!""
Once at the bottom we start heading towards the cave entrance.
The grass is almost tall enough to cover our ankles.
The cave is more of a cavity on the side of a rock. But it's still big enough to have some chairs, a table and even a hammock inside.
The cave is also filled with a bunch of old crates and weird stuff.
We never paid much attention to anything though.
The entrance is big enough for 2 people to walk in side to side.
Once inside we sit down.
Nothing but our breathing breaks the silence.
Picking up a deck of cards from the table. "Do you guys want to play?" The silence breaks with my question.
"Since there is nothing else to do."
Apollo reaches his hand out. "Yea lets do it."
I hand out the same amount of cards to everyone.
After playing for an hour or two the final score was me: 10 wins - Rohan 7 wins -
Apollo 3 wins.
Rohan, picking up the cards, says. "Man you suck Apollo."
An angry look fills Apollo's face.
They both quiet down and look at each other.
[I have never seen them this weird.]
Both of them stand up. "Balor.. Well be right back."
"Huh?" – "What's going on?"
"N-nothing" Rohan says.
As Rohan walks past me he whispers.
"Im sorry." It catches me off guard.
"What do you mean?" He ignores me.
They stop walking 6 feet or so in front of the entrance.
Suddenly the sound of heavy armor moving can be heard.
Three guards suddenly appear.
"Whats going on?" I'm quick to ask.
Two of them start to put thick wooden planks blocking the entrance.
Once I realize what they are doing, I stand up and run to the entrance.
One of the guards is holding a lit torch.
"What are you guys doing?.. I can't leave I'm stuck in here."
A scream behind them makes them turn around.
It's Mia.
Quickly rushing over. "What are you guys doing?.. What do you guys plan to do to Balor?"
Apollo, shocked, grabs her arm and holds her tightly. "You aren't supposed to be here."
The guard throws the lit torch onto the wood.
Mia screams. "Noo.. What are you doing"
"Let me out. What are you doing..?" I yell out.
The flames become more intense.
"Please don't do this.. don't do this!" Mia cries out.
"Help me come on."
The heat from the flames and the smoke makes it harder to breath.
I step away from the entrance.
[The king.. No they wouldn't do this to me.] – [Right?.. Right?]
As smoke fills the cave, the only thing I can make out is a smirk on Apollo's face and the guards backing away as they take crying Mia with them.
[They wouldn't do this to me.] – [Right?]
Tears fill my eyes.
The flames engulf everything but me and the wall behind me.
"IT BURNS.. IT BURNS" – "SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME"
"IT.. IT HURTS.. PLEASE, SOMEONE"
My tears feel as if they were evaporating.
The intense flames feel like stabs on my skin.
"WHAT DID I DO?.. WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?"
My body feels like it's being cooked.
Falling on my knees. "Was it because I was so weak?"
My eyes weaken and I fight to keep them open.
[Was everything fake?.." – "Were all the laughs and struggles fake?"
I fall forward onto the floor full of flames.
[Was I alone?]
My eyes give out.
—-----
"Should you accept, you shall be reborn powerful but, with an uncontrollable rage."
A deep voice suddenly spoke.
"And forever be a slave to the consequences"
I try to open my eyes and fail to do so.
"Do you accept?"
"Who..who are you?
"Where are you?"
"I am Wrath."
"We are in your head."
"The sin Wrath?" – "What happened to me?.. I was just burning."
"Do you accept"
[They betrayed me.] – [Because I was weak.]
"Am I dead?"
"Do you accept?"
"Accept what?"
"Do you accept"
With a voice full of anger "Speak!"
An immense amount of pressure runs through my body.
The pain of the flames quickly comes back.
"AHH.."
Barely able to speak under the intense pain.
"I..I accept"
Somehow the pain from the flames gets worse.
I try again to open my eyes, this time it works.
"AHH" – Randomly anger overcomes me.
It hurts more than the flames ever could.
"Aahh.. I.. I'll kill them." – "I'll kill them all."
"I'll never allow them to– to look down on me again."
I almost jump up out of anger.
Screams leave me as I try to get out of the cave.
"It hurts." – "S-so much anger."
I slam into the wall.
Making it outside, I trip on a rock and fall.
Nothing but the night sky light up my surroundings
"Haa… ahh."
Punching rock that tripped me.
"I hate you." – "Die… Die.. Die."
My knuckles bleed as the skin on them breaks.
"I'll destroy you."
I stumble everywhere as I try to get up.
"I'll get my revenge on everyone." – "Everyone that betrayed me."
"AHH!"
"I swear i'l–"
The ground below me breaks.
My body feels as if it were floating.
The sound of what sounds like flowing water gets closer and closer.
I landed on what felt like bedrock.