Johanna

• Posted by Jack Griffin December 22, 2013 - 303 views

  I dived towards the body and grabbed the axe. I swung back around with my arm stretched out. Something stopped by swing. The axe had lodged into the Imperial Soldier’s arm. I kicked him in the stomach and he came clean off. I was sure he’d bleed to death, so I didn’t have to worry about him. I glared at the Captain with teeth bared. I lunged at her, but she stepped to the side and I slid on the wet planks. She threw down her sword just as I pulled myself backwards. I tried to reach the axe, as it had fallen out of my hands as I fell. I grabbed but felt a sharp pain in my foot. The Captain had striked me with her sword. I writhed and threw my axe in a rage. Little did I know that the target for my axe was the Captain’s head.

  I limped over to a cloth on the nearby table, and wrapped it around my ankle. Bleeding out wasn’t something I valued as a high priority. The dragon was big news enough, and yet it seems everyone turned on each other, desperate to avoid the dragon’s clutches. I was one of the lucky ones, who’d managed to lift open the gate and run into a tower to wait it out. But everyone had gone their separate ways, and no one knew the imperials had stalked us in. No one really knew what they were doing, some believed the rumours of a tunnel through the gate, but I didn’t want to risk my chances. I’d have to try eventually, but not now. I was something of a procrastinator. I stared at the grinding wheel over in the corner of the room. Ah well, the sharper the better, I figured. I limped over to the wheel, and put my foot (the one that wasn’t damaged) on the pedal. I rested my axe on the wheel and started to push. A few minutes, I had a considerably sharper weapon. Now, with a new air of confidence, I decided to brave the outside, and see what damage had been done.

  Of course, it wasn’t pretty. You know that feeling you get when you’re so tired, that your legs almost fail? Yeah, that happened. But worse. I belched as soon as I saw the first body, which was surprising, because I’ve seen many before. Maybe it was the fact that their flesh was melted. I figured the best approach would to be getting out as soon as possible. I made my way to the nearest gate, and started trying to dig my way through the rubble. As I pulled away a rather large brick, I heard something. Not something you’d expect, like the scraping of stones, or flames or anything. What I heard was human. What I heard was a whimper. I started to compose myself, one more survivor meant that I could have a companion, someone to help out, and be helped out. I shouted out, not too loud of course, otherwise others might hear and try and get a take in my loot. I started digging further through the rubble. Further, until I heard a little boy’s voice say “Hello miss, can you help me?”

  Oh.