James woke with a start as a piercing scream broke through the silent night and more followed suit filled with pain and sorrow.  The smell of burning wood had slightly found his nostrils and he jumped out of bed in a groggy daze. James rushed to his parents room on the floor above clothed only in his cotton leggings.


    James almost ran into his father on the stairs, and to his shock, almost got stabbed as he was holding his old militia sword in one hand and his hunting dagger in the other. He smiled as he saw me.


    “ Did you hear that son?’’James nodded his head and looked toward the door .


    “It sounded like it came from the town Da.’’


    He grunted and nodded his head


    “Go get your bow and arrows son, grab your dagger also.’’


    He told me motioning for me to go to my room. James nodded his head and bounded down the few stairs he had climbed and went into his room, throwing on some leather jerkins and wool shirt. Then James grabbed his quiver of arrows that was sitting on a small chair, in his room and secured it on his shoulder.He grabbed his longbow and strapped his hunting dagger around his waist as he walked into the main room of the house noticing his father had his sword strapped to his side and was speaking to mother.


    “We are going into town to see what is going on love. Look, you can hear the screams still and I swear one did not sound human..’’ James’ father looked at his wife in the eyes and kissed her deeply, “stay in the house and hide in the cellar ok?’’ His father said more than he asked.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Mother simply nodded, understanding the situation and then looked at me with a sad expression.


    “Come back to me, or James Smith or you will regret it!’’ She said trying to hold her tears as she watched us walk out of the house into the welcoming hands of the darkness.


    We silently made our way toward town taking trails that ran along the main road, as we had both decided it would be smart to not travel on the main road into town. The smell of smoke was strong in the air as we neared the small town that was only a ten minute walk from our small home. A faint red glow was visible through the dense woods. Father suddenly stopped and crouched low looking straight ahead.


    He slowed his breathing so that he could listen to the sounds of the woods. Just then, not a rock throw in front of us, a twig snapped.James''s heart started to beat faster than the drums that played at Harvest night. We crouched motionless as the unseen person, or creature, continued its path.


    “ Deer.’’ Father simply said as we continued a slow and silent approach of the town.


    “ Son, if things suddenly get bloody I want you to stay close to me and cover me with those bow skills of yours ok?’’ I felt the sudden impact of what could be happening in our village.


    “ Yes father.’’ Was all James could mutter as a response.


    As we reached the edge of town the screams had gotten louder but were now mixed with un human sounding cries of pain and triumph and the smell of blood and burned flesh was in the air as if all the cows in the town  been slaughtered and then thrown into a giant fire to just burn. Father drew his sword and James drew his bow. We crept into our small town..


    Out of nowhere a creature James  had never seen before sprang out from behind the house to his right. On instinct he drew an arrow from his quiver, sighted breathed drew and released, sending it flying into its eye. It made no sound other than its lifeless body hitting the ground. Father was wide eyed as he looked at the hideous creature that was dead before us.


    “ Orcai…’’ Is what he said and looked at me.