What Memory Remains
Chapter 21

The forest was nothing but a green blur as the two pushed their way through in a hurried frenzy. It seemed liked time had stood still as they put as much distance between them and the train, stuck in some endless loop of running. Both sucked in air as quickly as they could, but Alice’s heart couldn’t handle much more.

“Stop,” she heaved with her hands on her knees. “I…I have to….take….a breather.”

“Alice, we have to get as far as…”

“I know! But….I’ll just…die another…way.”

Knowing there was no other choice, he stopped and allowed her to sit for a while. As they sat and drank from their canteen, they noticed how different this part of the forest was. It seemed brighter and not as forlorn as the forestry further back. He wondered if there was any particular reason for it, but could think of none.

“I really wish Horace hadn’t put that code in to operate the train,” Sade grumbled. “Even in death, he spites us. Starting the train back up could have made things much easier.”

“He planned it,” Alice’s eyes took on a fierce look. “It was a backup in case we won over him. And we did. He just made life more inconvenient for us.”

“What was that back there, Alice?” She only looked away, and Sade got the message so he waited another moment before continuing. “Look, I don’t want to judge you. We’ve both done things we regret. I just want to understand. You know about me. I know hardly anything about you.”

“It’s better that way.” Another moment of silence went by.

“You think he’s alive?” Alice saw a glimmer of hope in Sade’s eye at the question. She envied it, yet also thought it naïve.

“No. I would have felt him by now.”

“Maybe he’s not close enough yet.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Well try to stay optimistic. I know it’s not always easy, but sometimes it’s all you have.”

“Or just a way to get let down. I tried. My father was the one who protected me, made me feel better about what I was. But when I….acted out towards my mother, he gave me over to NOSRAD. Instead of protecting me like he should.” Sade’s eyes looked to the ground.

“And then I was subjected to those tests, by men who were supposed to protect me. Then the one person….the one I thought could really be there for me is gone. I’m afraid I don’t have much hope left.”

“So what is there, then? You have to have something to keep you going right now.”

“Revenge,” she said dreamily, and the satisfied glimmer Sade saw in her eye disturbed him.

“Can I really blame her? I have no idea what she’s been through. Perhaps much more than me,” he thought.

After resting a bit more, they continued their long journey through the forest. According to the map, they could cut through the forest and make it to the province of Virgeen, which was safer due to anti-government strongholds. Minerva had surely put out a notice for his capture, and they were less likely to be reported by people there In fact, his friend Coren may still be in his hometown.

“Be wary of any sounds. Goblins are prominent in this area, even if it does look less dangerous,” he warned.

“You know, I’ve never seen one before.”

“You haven’t? Better that way. Nasty things. Easy to kill, but they usually appear in groups and that can be a problem. I’m good with a sword, but only so good. Thankfully, we have a gun we can at least use for now.”

“Is it true? About how they came about?”

“Yes. That’s why they’re humanoid, just like trolls or orcs. The fallout from the Great War killed many, but some left alive were horribly disfigured and never made back to civilization in time to be taken care of. They stayed together in forests, eventually forsaking their humanity. Breeding together, they formed offspring just as disfigured if not worse. Now you can’t even tell they were once human, except for their language being the same as ours.”

“So why aren’t they all the same? How did some becomes orcs or other creatures?”

“That is still a mystery to some, but there is evidence to suggest some good theories. Most people believe it’s due to human-animal experimentation and breeding. It makes sense with orcs, because they resemble pigs. Trolls have likenesses of various creatures, so they’re harder to tell. The reason its unsure is because we had to stay so close together to survive after most everyone died in the Great War. We built high walls that we didn’t venture out from for 500 years. Once we began to go out and attempt to replace other survivor strongholds, we saw that these creatures had sprung up.”

“What about magic? Couldn’t they just be magically created?”

“Maybe, that’s another theory but not believed by many in the North. Even then, not too many people in the South think they came from magic. Besides, there is no known spell that can conjure life. Only to sustain a life or bring it back from the dead.”

“People can do that? Like a zombie?”

“Precisely. Only in the South is there any magic-user that’s capable to do so. But it’s strictly forbidden. That is considered a dark art and an easy way to get imprisoned for life there. Our dear Dr. Pennington attempted to do it using science.”

“Really? Did he do it?”

“Not in the way he imagined. Stop!”

The hard rustle of leaves from above put him on high alert, but he could not replace the source of the noise.

“Maybe it was just a squirrel.”

“You can never be too careful. Let’s keep moving.”

After moving another fifty feet, they heard a loud whistle to which he drew his gun and pistol. Then a loud voice called out from nowhere.

“Put down your weapons, traveler and you won’t be harmed! You are surrounded.”

“Surrounded? You’re the only one I’ve heard so far! How do I know you’re not bluffing?” Another whistle sounded, and suddenly groups of people in green tunics with bows stepped out from every direction. They were tall and lean, with high-pointed ears. Most were blonde or brunette, but some had a striking blue-colored hair. Sade knew exactly what he was dealing with.

“Still say I’m bluffing, stranger?” One stepped into view from a nearby tree, with a small crown-shaped circlet sitting atop his head. “I am Prince Eliah. You are now in elvish domain. What business do you have here? Our agreement is that humans are to stay from deep in the forests.”

“We are in need of your assistance.”

“You want our help? You come onto our land and ask for help?”

“It was not on purpose, I assure you. There are men intending to kill us.”

“The girl as well?”

“Yes. Men from Minerva. We are….friends of Zenapharr.”

“The half-elf assassin? Why would we help friends of his?”

“Because we believe him to be dead, and we need to carry out his mission. It is one that could affect everyone, humans and elves alike. You must hear me out.”

“Prince Eliah, they’re lying! You know how humans lie!” A nearby elf in hard leather armor jumped in. “They are perhaps a scout from the cities to replace us and take our land from us.”

“Silence, Captain. I want to ask the girl something.”

The Prince elf knelt down held out his hand for Alice to give hers. She turned her gaze to Sade, who nodded in consent. Reluctantly, she gave him her hand to which the prince kissed lightly.

“And what might your name be, young phylisse?”

“Alice. What does that word mean?”

“ Ah, it means little horse. A term of endearment. Is this man telling the truth?”

“He is. This is Sade, and he’s a good man.”

“I want to believe you, I really do. It’s just strange for a man and a girl to be wandering the forest like this. We rarely see humans, so to see the both of you with such an odd story, it’s hard to think that’s the reason.”

“I can show you.”

“Alice, maybe it’s best…”

“Show me what?”

“Hold my hand very tight.” Sade looked on , feeling defenseless as he expected any moment for the elf to knife himself to death. “Close your eyes.”

“Sire, she means to bewitch you in some way!”

“Quiet, Captain Darion! Does this girl look like a threat to you?”

“No, but…”

“Then be quiet!”

Alice closed her eyes, as well as the Prince elf. A flurry of images and sounds immediately filled Eliah’s mind, and he let go in astonishment.

“Little girl, you are quite gifted.”

“You have no idea.”

“Darion, take these two to speak to the King. I want to check on some things and hear their entire story.”

“The King won’t like this.”

“Do it, anyway. Father doesn’t like much of anything I do, anyway.”

Alice stuck her tongue out the captain, who gave her a warning glance. Sade elbowed Alice, and she gave him a shrug of her shoulders. As they made their way to the elven village, the Captain whispered to another soldier.

“Don’t let the girl out of your sight.”

* * * * *

Zenapharr and the Rainmaker approached the idle train, which sat somberly and motionless on the tracks. A flock of ravens sat on all sides, and took flight at their approach. Right away, Zenapharr could tell the metal was cool, indicating it had been not in use for a while.

“Why would they be stopped already?” The Rainmaker wondered.

“I was thinking the same thing. Something must have went wrong. Let’s check the inside.”

Upon approaching the door, they could see the corpse of a man that been shot in the head. It was the conductor per the cap he wore and the lapel on his overcoat. There was so much blood, and the small train car seemed to emphasize the fact. The Rainmaker stayed outside, as his frame was too much trouble to work inside the car. Inside the conductor’s coat, Zenapharr found a note that had some amounts, times, and directions written on it.

Searching him further, he found a box of bullets with a NOSRAD logo on it.

“Why would he have a NOSRAD gun when he was working for Minerva?” Zenapharr thought. He knew they were worked together, but the types were made specifically for agents of each. Furthermore, why would a train conductor privately transporting Sade have one?

Then it all clicked into place with the note. After double-checking the compartment he stepped outside.

“What’s with the dead body?” The Rainmaker implored.

“He was the conductor who helped my friends escape the NOSRAD facility. Apparently he betrayed them.”

“I’m not entirely surprised. I replace them both to be shady.” Amongst his lies, this was one of few true statements.

“Odd though, Sade is not the type to use guns so he probably pulled it on them. I can’t replace the money he was paid to turn them in, so they probably took it with them.”

“They must be close then.”

“Yes, and that is good news. Bad news is, some people were supposed to meet them here. We need to get moving. No sense in…..”

A loud report rang out, and made a lout metal clang as a bullet ricocheted off the side of the train. On each side of them, a group of five men appeared from the treelines with rifles drawn. Annoyed, Zenapharr stepped toward one of them to which they fired off another close warning shot.

“Hold it right there, Zenapharr!” One shouted.

“Step away, agents of Minerva! I do not want any more blood on my hands! We can make this easy, or…”

Another shot was fired, and with his incredible reflexes he side-stepped a bullet that whizzed past a mere couple of inches from his head. Instantly, his eyes began to turn a burning crimson red.

“…and I just cleaned this sword, too.”