Chapter 2: Tragedy

Annie and I looked at each other in confusion.

"What is happening? What do we do Theo?" Annie frantically said.

"Um. I don't know. Something bad maybe? But what in the world could go wrong in our peaceful village? Never mind, let's just hurry and go find my mom." I responded unsurely.

Without wasting any time, we bolted back to the marketplace. We saw other clueless Nemean folks also running around frantically and then we could see mom and Cassie dashing toward us.

"Oh, thank goodness you two are safe." mom said in relief.

Turns out both of them also have no clue what had happened and mom decided that we should go take shelter back at home. As we were about to reach home, we saw Annie's worried mother in the yard. They got reunited and my mom brought them both inside our house as well.

We waited inside while probably hoping for dad to return and explains the situation since he is a guard at the coast. However, he was still nowhere to be seen after some time. Mom suddenly spoke, "It has been a while. Nothing has happened yet, I think I will go outside for a bit to figure out what is going on and maybe search for Alex."

"Wait, mom. Let me go. I am quick and can search faster." I said.

Sure enough, she would not let me. It took me everything I have to convince and persuade her to finally let me go. It was only after she gave me a lecture about being careful, avoiding danger and running straight back here at any signs of danger first, before I was able to head out into the unknown.

Outside, no other person can be seen out in the open. They are most probably hiding in their homes just like us. I headed towards the village hall and met a few folks along the way who were also clueless about the situation. At the village hall, an adult on the lookout at the entrance motioned for me to come silently.

That was kind of weird. I approached him silently anyways.

"Quick, go inside and don't make any noise." he whispered.

I was shocked to see many folks gathered inside, all cowering in fear. Seeing me looking so clueless, an old man pulled me over and whispered, "There is a gruesome monster lurking outside."

"Monster? What? I did not see such a thing when I came." I whispered back.

"Oh, then the coast guard did it then. They managed to lure that horrifying creature away from here. Thank God." he said in relief.

Coast guard? Dad must be there. Is he safe? They must have defeated the monster. I have to find him.

Suddenly, there was this unfathomable sound coming from a distance. The loud eerie screeching sound mixed with low pitch growling sent shivers down my spine and really got the hairs on my arms standing straight. Every instinct in my body told me to hide and cower in fear yet for whatever reason, I found myself jumping out of the window, moving myself to where the sound originated from.

I was scared but I was worried about my dad, curious about the monster and deep down, the actual reason might be that my heart yearns for an adventure. An unforeseen event such as this might just be what I need to turn my mundane village life upside down into a journey filled with adventure.

The false bravado that I had just now took a hard punch as a trail of bodies began to appear forming some sort of path that probably leads directly to hell. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see.

It was the amalgamation of all the hideous creatures you could ever imagine, all squished into a huge gooey ball that oozes nasty purplish-black liquid, with all sorts of rotting limbs and organs protruding all around. The jumbled body parts formed four legs, well, if you can actually call those abominations 'legs'. The creepiest thing about the creature would be the countless eyes spread all over it, each blinking on their own.

My gaze shifted from the gruesome creature to the few people that actually have the courage to confront the creature straight from the depth of hell. It was none other than the coast guards, my dad included. I was still only observing from afar, too stunned to advance any further.

From that distance, all I could make out of the ongoing battle was that the coast guards were throwing out all the spells they have at the creature while barely damaging it. If I am right, the grotesque creature that towered over the trees might not have much of an intellect, only moving mindlessly towards the stimulus that it receives.

I kept on observing and a thought crossed my mind. My dad and the other coast guards might be able to hold the monster off for now, but sooner or later, they will run out of mana and energy. Maybe, just maybe, while they are distracting the monster, I might be able to target its leg and immobilize it.

This is my chance.

An opportunity to be a hero, the turning point of my life or my chance to die heroically and be reincarnated as I have always wanted.

I can do this.

I looked around for any useful tools since surely releasing fart-like wind at the monster would definitely do it no harm, perhaps not even enough to tickle it. Luckily, I found a rope and maybe I can use it to trip the monster. Wow, dad would definitely be proud of me if this works.

I really am doing this.

I took a deep breath and mustered all my courage. Surreptitiously, I moved a bit closer to the monster and tied one end of the rope tightly to a nearby solid tree. I plan to tie the monster's back leg to the other end of the rope and hopefully trip or at least incapacitate him.

I was contemplating whether it would be better if I communicated with dad and the remaining coast guard in order for my plan to go smoothly but then I remembered what happened with mom earlier. Surely they won't allow me to do this either.

Hence, with the rope in my hand, I waited for the right moment and swiftly approached the monster. As I was about to reach its back leg, to my horror, that evil thing freaking turned to face me.

Crap.

Some of the rotted body parts began jutting out from its side, forming some sort of a tentacle. That tentacle is now being swung at me while I was still too shocked to even move. I could only close my eyes as I accepted my fate. I felt my body being grabbed and my legs are lifted off the ground. There was a strong horizontal force but it did not hurt as much as I thought it would.

"Theo! Theo! Open your eyes! Are you okay?"

It was not the monster that appeared before my eyes but rather, it was my dad. It was his hand that grabbed me earlier that helped me dodge the monster's attack.

"Dad? Dad. I'm sorry. I was trying to help. I thought- "

"It's okay son. It's okay. As long as you're not hurt. That's the most important."

There was a sense of relief but it did not last long as I suddenly felt liquid dripping from my arm.

It was blood.

Lots of it.

I checked my body for injury but I was totally fine. It was NOT my blood.

"Dad? Y-y-your a-a-arm!"

Dad has lost his entire left arm and it was all my fault. Because of me. What was I thinking?

My heart sank to the ground and my mind went blank.