"The Dreamers"

Chapter 01 Chapter 02 Chapter 03 Chapter 04 Chapter 05 Chapter 06 Chapter 07 Chapter 08 Chapter 09 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37

The stench of smoke filled the air. Lukas could smell burning flesh, and the screaming around him was about to drive him crazy. He tried to crawl out of the house, making sure to stay below the smoke. He struggled for air as he made it to the door, which was glowing hot itself. He snatched his hand away after touching it and screamed for help at the top of his lungs.

“Help us! Anyone! Get us out of here!”

A pounding on the door made Lukas jump, and he stepped back just in time to see the door fly open and rugged Sean O’Brien standing there, with hammer in hand and black soot all over his face.

“Come on, laddie, where’s yer folks?”

“I…I think my sister and mother are still inside…” he struggled to say as he coughed.

“Don’t ya worry, now, me and me men will get ‘em out.” Sean called for three other men to come help him, and the four dove into the burning house in search of life.

“W-wait, where’s Father?” Lukas yelled after Sean. Realizing he would not get an answer, Lukas journeyed outside to confirm his fear: the whole village was ablaze.

He took a look around as straw roofs burned away, exposing the inside of the homes to the night sky. He gasped in horror as he saw friends he had known for years running out of their homes, screaming and burning alive. He ran throughout the village looking for any signs of people he knew. When he reached the center of the village, he found the cause for the carnage. An army of horsemen stood with torches and swords, seemingly awaiting command. All were silent and staring blankly into the night, the burning of the torches and the horses’ breathing the only sounds that could be heard. Lukas heard footsteps coming from a house to his right; he turned in time to see a man emerge from the house. His violet cape flowed in the wind as he looked around and then turned to his men.

“He’s not in here either. Burn it down.” Immediately, the entire army ravaged the house, setting it ablaze and anyone inside with it. Lukas could not move; he just stood motionless as the soldiers destroyed everything in sight.

“You, boy! Where is Marcus Einlanzer?” the caped man demanded. Lukas could not mouth a response, unable to comprehend it all. “Don’t you have a tongue, boy? Tell me where he is or I will give you a reason to be terrified.”

Lukas blinked, gathered himself, and ran with all his might. He knew he couldn’t stand up to these men, so he might as well run until they catch him and run him through. He ran and ran, heading straight out of the village. He soon noticed that neither the man in the cape nor his soldiers were following him.

“Sir, shall we follow the boy?” A soldier asked the man in the cape.

“No, let him go. If we do not find Einlanzer, he will get the message when he discovers what has become of his home.” Just then, another soldier ran up to him with documents in hand.

“Sir, we searched the town meeting hall and found papers that mention Einlanzer. He is a member of the city council and this diagram shows where each of the members live in the village.”

The captain observed the diagram, noting the location of Einlanzer’s house. “We have already searched and torched this part of the village. I will personally search this house for hidden doors or traps.”

Lukas breathed heavy as he reached the entrance to the village. He stopped and looked around, spying a girl being attacked by a soldier. The one shred of bravery he had in him won out and he ran toward her. He tripped over the body of a villager and landed face first in the dirt. He clenched his teeth as the girl’s screams for help pierced his eardrums. He looked to his right to see a crossbow in the hand of the dead man. Hesitantly, he wrenched it from the man’s cold, dead fingers and yelled to the soldier, “Let her go!”

“And what are you gonna do with that, boy?”

Lukas held his breath, aimed, and fired. The arrow missed the soldier by a mile, but it enraged the soldier enough that he charged toward Lukas sword first. Lukas realized he didn’t have any more arrows and closed his eyes, waiting to be run through.

Hearing the sound of something rushing past his head, Lukas opened his eyes to see an arrow in the soldier’s heart; the soldier clenched his chest and fell over dead. He turned to see Sean O’Brien with bow in hand.

“Come on, Lukas, we’ve gotta get out of here now!” Lukas helped the girl up and Sean dragged them both out of the village.

“Sean, my mother and sister, are they alright?”

Sean looked at him but couldn’t find the words. All he could manage was, “I…I’m sorry, laddie.”

Tears filled Lukas’s eyes and rage filled his heart. All he could think of was the man in the cape. He turned to the girl at his side. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“T…Tristam Conner. You?”

Lukas looked around as he fought to hold back the tears. “The name’s Lukas. Lukas Einlanzer.”