Atlas Cloud And The Amulet of Thieves (9 page)

I looked around, hoping to find something, anything. There was nothing, just trees, nothing but bloody trees. He began to smile, he could see the fear in me and he was lapping it up. His hand broke through, and his talons pierced my shoulder, pressing its claws into my wound. Twisting his finger, I let out a shriek. I jerked my arm out to the side and erupted a ball of fire through my arm. It smashed through the shield shattering it into pieces, leaving me defenceless. The beast didn't strike straight away, it was saving every moment, licking its lips. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see it devour me alive. I could hear creaking and snapping of wood. I opened my eyes, there was fire spouting from a tree nearby. The creatures eyes were still fixed on me, its mouth widened and it was done savouring the moment. The tree trunk was crumbling under the flames. I crawled back on my elbows, freeing up my right leg.

“Aaaaaahhhhhhh!” I kicked off the monster, knocking it backward into the path of the falling tree. It slammed into the animal. As it was being crushed into mulch, it exploded into a white cloud. A deathly scream echoed through the forest. Everything shuddered, the mist began to clear. More and more trees came into focus. I could feel the evil that lived here, fall back to the shadows. I was safe. For now.

12 –THE APOSTLES-

We sat there, all together. Silent. No one said anything after leaving the nightmare. It was plainly obvious everyone experienced the same sort of terror, twisting our memories to please the fantasies of the mist creature. I've had enough of this magical world. It is full of nothing but evil and spite. I would rather greet the monsters under my bed and in my cupboard than stay here another night.

“Come on, let's go.” Farro said

“No!” I shout at him. “I'm fed up with this stupid journey.”

“I know it's been tough but...”

“Tough! I was poisoned by the first thing I saw. And not only that we've been walking for days, resting only when it suits you. I don't want to eat the slop you give us. I'm done.”

“Atlas.” Eli said in a calm tone.

“No I'm serious, I'm done. Did you like that stroll through the forest, because I sure in hell didn't?” I stormed off, watching them give up to try and stop me. They can all see what I see. I walked off to be with my own thoughts. I don't go far, as much as I want to leave I can't. If I went out on my own in this wilderness, I wouldn't last the night. I pushed through the long grass, finding a secluded spot. A large rock, the long grass and me with my thoughts.

I was only alone for a matter of minutes before I could hear rustling of the leaves behind me. It was Farro, the last person in the world I wanted to see. He didn't say anything, just sat beside me. He took out his smoking pipe and started filling it generously with tobacco. I kept my eyes forward, watching a dragon fly hover over the tall grass. It wasn't like anything in my world, it zoomed down into the weeds and after some very odd squeals it revealed itself again, this time carrying a vole like creature. It had eight legs like a spider but it had the head of a rodent. The dragon fly had its teeth buried into the neck of the critter and then it flew away into the distance with its dinner.

“I don't even know why I am here, you expect me to follow you blindly. Well it's not happening.” Farro sighed taking a couple more puffs of his pipe before putting it away.

“There are far greater dangers out there than that forest or the hunter you faced Atlas. Evil that won't even flinch before killing you.” He said “There is a monster out there, who we have been hunting...”

“We?” I said confused I'm sure we weren't hunting anybody.

“I usually travel alone but from time to time I have help. They’re called the Apostles and they are the people I am bringing you to meet.” He said. The Apostles? Sounds like a cult. Images of me being sacrificed to some pagan god popped into my head. “You will hear more about them as we get nearer the city.” Farro said, assuming I was still going with them. “The monster I have been hunting is called Cain he is the most dangerous and the most resourceful enemy I have ever faced.” Farro said. I wanted to stop listening to him; I didn't want to hear any more about the dangers out in this world “There are some that merely believe he is myth, a tale of legend, a fairy tale to spook little ones.” He said “But there are some of us that spend every waking hour trying to find him and kill him.”

“I thought it was a monster?” I said

“He used to be a man but he was overtaken by rage and madness. He's powerful and a danger to everyone and everything.” Farro warned, just thinking about him made Farro's hair stand on end. His body was scarred and his knuckles were worn. He has been fighting for a long time and it was starting to take effect on him.

“How long have you been hunting him?” I asked intrigued. He paused, as if he was counting in his head.

“A little over fifty years” He said, as if fifty years was nothing.

“Fifty years?” I spat out.

“Yes, almost a quarter of my life has been dedicated to hunting him.” he said.

“A quarter? How old are you?”

“I must be about two hundred and twenty give or take a decade. It’s hard to keep track when you’re as old as me.” He said, not even flinching. That’s a lot of birthday cake. Magic, monsters and now people who can live to over two hundred, what have I got myself into?

“Why has it been so long?” I said wondering why he has spent so much of his life chasing a demon.

“He is an enigma. Back in the beginning we defeated him, but he is gathering his strength. I can sense his evil, he must be back.”

“Must be back? You don’t even know if it’s him you’re fighting.” I said. He sighed.

“I know it is him. He is trying to cross over.”

“Cross over, to where?” I said

“To your world. Here he is a powerful force but there are defenders of this world. Your world however, has no guardian. We are the keepers of the gateways, we stop him from crossing over and becoming an unstoppable force, enslaving and killing all in his way.” The tone of his voice changed, he was angry. The thought of Cain having such immoveable power made his stomach ache. It made me think how fickle life was, one minute you’re happy and the next it is all taken away from you. One car wreck at a time.

“What was he like?” I said, my lip quivering. The question took him off guard, but he knew what I meant.

“He was stubborn.” He said looking at me with a crooked smile on his face, but it wasn't there for long before his expression changed. “This war got a whole lot harder without him. He was a loyal friend and I am lesser without him.”  He didn't say anything after that, he just got up and walked back to the group. He said all he needed to say. The veins around my shoulder and down my arm were getting darker. Black. The poison was corrupting my body. It was decay, a disease that was slowly destroying my flesh. I could feel it eating away at me. I have to go on, as much as I hate the idea of travelling through this hazardous landscape; it's the only chance I have to find help.

I returned to the group, and at once Eli's eyes light up. He has been worried about me ever since the hunter and I don't blame him. Roko just nodded at me, she knew of the consequences of not seeking help far more than Eli.

“Ok, my arm is about to fall off so if we don't get to Northvale soon you will be carrying one extra bag.” I said, trying to lighten the mood. Eli looked at me horrified and paused. He chuckled and we started our journey towards the city, hoping to find a scrap of good luck and a bed to sleep in.

13 –AN APPLE A DAY…-

The streets were full of people. There was some sort of market placed just inside the entrance. Tables of odd looking ornaments, weapons and even food littered throughout the entire market. It looked as if a thousand people were in the street buying and selling. The sound of hundreds of people all speaking and haggling at the same time culminated into this buzzing sound that surrounded everyone. Eli and Roko split from the group and went browsing.

“I'm going to find out where the Apostles are staying and I will come find you.” Farro said walking into the crowd, disappearing within seconds. I was left alone to browse each little stall as I walked past them. Each one of the sales merchants shouting prices, trying to goad me into buying something. I had no money, I didn't even know if this land had normal currency. It was weird and wonderful, especially when being persuaded to buy a two headed parrot. It felt like a maze, every way I went I was met by another vendor until I came across a tent. It was fairly big and grey, uninteresting, except for the fact there was no one outside shouting for customers. There was no sign, no goods for sale that I could see. I was drawn to it. I stepped in expecting to find nothing but a cramped space with a blanket on the floor, but it was colourful. Candles surrounded the inside of the tent, all having different coloured flames. It was so simple but yet so beautiful. At the other side of the tent, a pet of some kind was staring at me. It looked like an iguana, perched on a branch. It didn't look too happy to see me.               “What the hell is going on, am I tripping?” I said to myself wondering why the tent, candles and pet iguana was combined together. The iguana started to shuffle and move along the branch, it hissed and moaned. Its skin changed from a dark green to a light pink colour. It looked like human skin. Its neck began to grow and then the arms and legs followed. Feet, fingers and toes. The candles around burst into excitement, blue, green, red and orange, blast up together covering me. I was engulfed in a rainbow flame; I closed my eyes protecting them from the bright beams. I didn't feel any pain. I felt nothing but the cool breeze from the outside. Opening my eyes I was met by an old lady. She was sitting there stretching her arms and neck.

“The older I get, the harder that is.” She said. I didn't reply, I was still dazzled by the animal to human stunt she just did.

“What just happened?” I said

“I changed from my animal form to my human form. I'm a Daor.” She said. I looked at her baffled; I had no idea what a Daor was.

“But I guess you don't know what one is, do you Atlas?” She smirked.

“How do you know my name?” I said

“I know a lot about you Atlas; I know you seek the Apostles.” I sat there wary now. I didn't like the idea of someone knowing about me. If she knows who else knows?

“How do you know about me?” I said. My eyes were taking in the surroundings, watching my back as I was talking to her. “I'm not here to see anyone actually I'm here to shop around.” I said hoping the measly lie I told would change the subject.

“Atlas, I have no interest in the escapades of you and your little band of idealists.” She said easing my mind. “I know many things, about many people. But you Atlas are the most interesting.” She said

“What's your name?” I said “If you know mine then it’s only fair I know yours.”

“No no Atlas that's not how it works now put your hand out.” She said gesturing her palm out. I hesitated, distrustful of the nameless woman's bony fingers. I submitted and handed her my hand, she grabbed it and held it so my palm was facing her. She didn't say a word, but caressed the creases in my hand, following the paths. It reminded me of school, the games in the playground, reading the palm of a younger kid. You're going to be rich, and own a big house. Also you'll have a swimming pool, then spitting in their hand. Thinking about it I realised it was a lot funnier then and a lot crueller now. “Your life is filled with tragedy.” She said her eyes glossed over with a thin surface of water. “Such anger haunts you; the loss of your father is crushing you.” She said her lips were now quivering. She was holding my hand tighter now. I swallowed hard, holding back the infectious lip shudder. “Your heart is heavy, burdened by the sorrow. Foreign blood flows through these veins, death stalks you, and he will find you.” I pulled my hand away, bolting up. A lonely tear dropped from my cheek. I burst out of the tent, blocking the thoughts from my mind. I rushed into the crowds hoping to escape the crazy woman. Her voice rattled in my head, as if she was right behind me, following me.

I pushed past strangers, passing through them unnoticed. Faces flew past me. She grabbed my shoulder, holding me still. My heart stopped, it felt as if it fell into an abyss never to beat again. I swivelled round to find Eli carrying sticks with honey glazed spiders on. I let out a sigh of relief, looking over his shoulder to see if the woman was there. Nothing.

“I got you one to cheer you up.” Eli said handing me a sticky treat. I took it off him and looked it over. Spiders. Really? “They’re nice I've had four already.” He said

“How did you even pay for these?” I said hoping the answer wasn't. I stole them.

“I swapped it for a KitKat chunky I had in my bag.” Eli said smiling, looking as if he was the smartest boy who ever lived.

“So you swapped a chocolate bar for dead spiders?” I queried

“Yeah, I know a bargain.” I was surprised at his answer, but then it all came back to me I'm travelling with a twonk! “Farro found the doctor we're looking for by the way, that's why I came to find you.”

“Good news for a change.” I said nodding to Eli while taking a courageously big mouthful of arachnid. Crunchy and sour.