TM
Without even stopping for a rest Crichton ran more furiously than before. He knew time was competing with him, not even thinking for his own life he entered the forest. It was a spooky place. Though it was early morning the forest was shrouded in darkness. The thick layers of leaves and tall trees blocked every inch of sunlight from ever reaching the soil, sudden rustling’s of leaves made Crichton turn to its direction every minute.
“I’ve wasted so much time, damn it! I hope Raymund’s okay.”
Crichton suddenly heard a noise not so far that made his stomach turn, it was a cry of a boy, it was a cry of a poor helpless boy.
“HELP, PLEASE HELP ME! PLEASE ANYONE PLEASE!” Ray yelled.
He was running. With coins and fresh loaves of bread in hand, he was furiously running, a dark shadow hovering above him, it was the Rifter.
It was a menacing sight. it looked like a huge lizard, having pointed overlapping black skin plates from head to tail. What frightened him most were the creature’s eyes. He could see those red glowing eyes glaring at his very soul.
The Rifter was the size of a man except of its large wings which tripled its body size. It was screeching at him wildly. As if playing with its prey before the kill it swooped down at Ray missing him by only inches.
Running frantically Ray didn’t see a small protruding root on the ground and he tripped over it, as if his fall took forever, the boy, so full of innocence thought first of his family rather than the value of his life, as he fell, Ray broke out a tear, for the first decent meal of his family fell to the ground, all splattering to the ground, his family’s happiness meant everything to him, but he failed them and fell. As memories were flashing before his eyes he caught sight of the Rifter just seconds away from him, all he could do was cry. He closed his eyes and he cried for he knew the creature was near him, so near him.
A loud clash was all that Ray heard, he opened his eyes and right in front of him was a savior, an angel, a brother, it was Crichton, blade and arm guard working in tandem, forming a cross. Crichton was able to keep the menace at bay. He pushed his sword and arm vigorously forward with all his might, it made the beast fall back.
“You all right Ray?” yelled Crichton. But there was no response, Ray had fainted and sat leaning on a tree.
Crichton diverted his attention to the Rifter which was once again airborne. It seemed determined for a kill. Its skin glistened at the small patch of sunlight where it was hovering and standing in mid-air.
And then Crichton saw for the first time the most dreaded thing about the beast, from its knuckles emerged a blade which grew longer and longer, it was the size of an average sword.
Then the beast snarled and screeched once again. It thrusted forward. The air behind the creature boomed like thunder. Though several meters away from Crichton, it took merely seconds for the Rifter to be halfway away from him. Crichton ducked and rolled on the ground.
“Close one” Crichton said to himself as the Rifter soared upward, clearing a huge patch of trees which revealed the sun and sky which lightened a huge portion of the forest.
But something was wrong. Crichton felt pain on his left arm. The Rifter didn’t miss, he was bleeding.
Ignoring his cut Crichton stood up to prepare for the monster’s next assault. The Rifter swooped down like lightning and hit the ground right where Crichton stood. But Crichton was able to jump back.
“Now‘s the time” he said. As soon as he was back at the ground Crichton ran to the Rifter, with sheath in left hand and handle in right. At the right moment he forced the sword out. With a loud clashing sound he hit the Rifter at the neck.
Not even a dent revealed on the creature’s skin. Unscathed the Rifter flew upwards again.
Crichton felt pain on his chest, for he didn’t notice that the last assault of the Rifter gave him a cut on the torso. He fell to his hands and knees. He was shaking in weakness as blood ran from his arm to his fingers. And blood dripped from his chest to the ground.
“Damn it! This is not happening!" “It’s too fast, not even for the Valiant’s to slay, but how could I face "HIM" if I can’t even slay this creature? Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Crichton yelled.
Determined to keep up the fight, Crichton stood himself up with his sword. Surprisingly the Rifter waited for him to stand up before it even prepared to attack. Once again the Rifter swooped down to the ground. This time Crichton didn’t move away. Their blades clashed.
He was now face to face with the monster. But Crichton felt something different. Through the monsters eyes he could feel a living, thinking presence. As if the Rifter had intelligence. For the creatures eyes were glowing more than ever and its face now revealed white pointy teeth, it wasn’t snarling, it was smiling.
Crichton felt his stomach lurch. “Could this beast possess any intelligence at all? But why is it smiling? Why does it seem to be enjoying the battle?” These thoughts flew in his head.
Their blades let go, and both prepared for their next attack.
The beast flew towards Crichton and swung at his head, but he was able to duck, seeing another chance to attack Crichton rolled sideways stood and swung at the beast’s weakest spot, the wings.
His blade cut through the Rifter’s fiber-like wing skin. The creature screeched in agony, purple blood spraying from its left wing. The Rifter’s bony plated tail swung at Crichton and hit nothing but the ground for Crichton was able to jump up, in midair Crichton turned, in a falling motion sword rested on his left shoulder armor, he slashed and cut off the Rifter’s right wing. The creature’s screeches intensified and it swung its tail once more, it hit Crichton with a mighty force which sent him flying to a far away tree where he had a bone breaking hit.
Crichton fell to the ground coughing up blood his once white shirt was now red, soaked in blood. He caught sight of the Rifter which was spraying purple blood where its wings were before the creature was on its knees.
“That should even up the odds” he said still lying on the ground.
Badly weakened from his deep cuts and loss of blood Crichton forced himself to stand up for the battle was far from over.
The Rifter regaining its strength was now more eager for the kill. Without its wings the Rifter was running towards Crichton, screeching and hissing wildly. It hurled its blades vigorously at Crichton, but Crichton was able to block each swing.
Crichton leapt to the air and struck at the creature’s back once again, but still not a scratch.
As Crichton hit the ground his weakened body caused him to stumble, this gave the beast the opportunity to cut him at the back.
“AAARRggh!!” Crichton yelled in pain. Crichton fell and lay on his back. He saw the creature jump to the air. Once again there was a loud clash. He blocked the attack, but the inevitable happened.
His sword broke in half because of the mighty force. His sword’s blade flew spinning in the air and fell nearb
The Rifter’s blade missed his shoulders by merely inches. Now unarmed Crichton was ready for his death.
“This is it, I guess I never got to fight "YOU", I’m sorry father mother I never got far enough to avenge you, Im sorry Ray, I’m sorry.”
The death Crichton waited for never came, for when he opened his eyes he saw the Rifter, standing still, grinning at him with its demonic black plated face. Then it turned its head to where Ray was lying. It was a few yards away. Then it walked slowly, it was headed for Ray. Crichton was in disbelief.
“Why? Why is it doing this? Why is it toying with me? This cant be real, this cant be! Could this monster have a mind of its own?”
“No don’t! Not the boy! Crichton yelled”
But the Rifter kept walking towards the helpless unconscious boy.
Gathering all the strength left in him Crichton stood up, but weakened he couldn’t even stand straight, he fell to his knees still holding his broken sword. The creature was now only steps away from Ray.
“No, no!”
The Rifter was now inches away from the boy
“no…no….”
The creature raised its arm ready for the kill…
“no… No….”
The Rifter swung.
“NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Then the forest was consumed with a white blinding light.