Chapter 7
I came out of the room, and was greeted by some friendly, half-breed creatures. They asked I come outside to join em and smoke. “No thanks I don’t smoke”, I responded trying to sound careless. They began to grow angry, and demanded me to come, “C’mon! They’re fun. We just wanna see a friendly human, and…”, I stopped and pulled out my 30 string grenade set. They backed away, and gave me a snarl.
I ran outside, and began running down the streets. Soon I heard the long, ring I once heard back in my home. I could hear them getting close by the moment, hunting us down. I had to run, I had to get to the Shrine. I could see them behind me within 500 feet. They seemed at least 30 times larger than the old army. I knew I could take them, but that would bring no good.
I began running faster than ever before. Sprinting at least 50mph. The army I began to realize, wasn’t running, but were on cars. They were all driving to me. I sped up to an incredibly fast speed. Maybe 75mph. I felt them closing in. I pulled the string on my grenades and threw them 200 feet from the cars. I heard them all trying to pull the breaks then, the grenades went off wiping out about 10% of the army. I looked back to find them all halted behind the explosion. I sighed with relief, and just began jogging at 10-30mph, to save my energy.
Next, I saw it. The Hakabu Mountain. I knew climbing would normally take 3 days. Luckily, I remembered the old route I would take as a child. It only took a 2-hour walk. At my age, I could probably run it in 10 minutes. I chose the quicker way, and sprinted.
I finally reached the top, and could see smoke coming from the old house, that I once lived in. That meant the fireplace had a fire going. I walked slowly, to keep my heart rate steady. As I walked up to the door, I knocked. I heard everything stop. The crackling of the fire, the lights in the rooms. They all went out, and stopped. I realized, Arkiado didn’t know it was me. I simply shouted, “Arkiado, it’s Soma. I got your notes. It’s okay, can I come in?”. Immediately everything went back to normal, and the door swung open.
Arkiado had nearly dragged me inside. I could smell some food cooking, and was reminded how I had eaten for days. Arkiado began talking, “Oh god soma you made it! The children are playing in the living room and-“, I stopped and ran to the room. There they were. Little Emma and Christian. I was so happy and slided in and picked them up. They didn’t cry but happily spat up, and enjoyed being swung around in circles. I was so happy I hugged them for a few minutes, until Arkiado came back in.
“Oh yes, the children were okay the whole time. I was staying so far ahead of you, so they wouldn’t have to even hear those..monsters footsteps, hear them breath, hear or see them”, Arkiado said with concern, but care. “Arkiado, I was worried I’d never make it to my children. That they’d never live. I don’t know what to do, as words and tasks cannot make up for this”, I said. “Soma,” Arkiado began talking, “It’s okay. These children, one day will grow up to be like you, making this world safe. You raising this children is the way you pay me back”. I nodded with approval, and set the children down.
I watched them, and decided I would never leave them. I’d have them sleep in a playpen in my room. They could stay with me, until we had this hell sorted out. “Dinners ready”, Arkiado said and I picked up the children and went over to the table.