Behind The Wall II

---

The rumble persisted throughout the night, chaos and terror reverberating in the cries of the people. The attack was shrouded in mystery, with no clear perpetrator to hold accountable.

As dawn finally broke, a serene silence emerged, the light of morning shimmering through the dust like a divine veil.

Lucius opened his eyes, hearing nothing but the sound of his own breath. Confusion clouded his mind as sunlight bathed his face. Rising slowly, he looked around. The once-imposing wall lay in ruins, and the city, with its once beautiful scenery, had vanished in the span of a single night.

Pain surged through his body as he moved, compelling him to look down. His legs were broken, as was his arm. Fully conscious now, the reality of his injuries struck him with full force. He screamed out in agony, his voice echoing through the desolate landscape.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

His desperate cries filled the air, reverberating through the empty streets, but there was no one to come to his aid.

He continued to scream until he was utterly out of breath and exhausted, struggling to endure the searing pain. His broken leg and trembling hand moved instinctively as he attempted to set his limb. Hesitation and frustration clouded his efforts, but with brute force, he pushed his leg, the agony eliciting another heart-wrenching scream. Tears flowed freely, a poignant reminder that he was still but a child.

Summoning what remained of his strength, he turned his attention to his broken arm. Once more, with grim determination, he applied brute force. Another scream pierced the air, his voice raw and ragged. Panting heavily, he battled against the waves of pain and exhaustion, tears streaming down his face.

He paused to catch his breath, panting and swallowing hard, his body trembling with the effort. As time passed, he gradually calmed, though the pain still throbbed incessantly. He looked around, desperate for any sign of familiarity.

"Shen...?" he called out, his voice trembling as he shivered in the cold morning air.

Using the left side of his body, he slowly realized his clothes were drenched in blood, the sight sending a fresh wave of fear through him. But he pressed on, determined to find Shen.

Struggling and frustrated, he looked around, utterly alone in his dire condition. As the sun rose higher, its heat intensifying, he finally spotted a flash of blonde hair nearby, unmistakably Shen's. With renewed urgency, he hurried over, finding Shen trapped under a large boulder.

Grunting with effort, Lucius strained to lift the boulder, only able to see Shen's bloodied face, the rest of his body hidden beneath the heavy stone. Lucius refused to give up. "Shen!!!" he shouted, tears streaming down his face as he pushed against the unyielding rock, his cries mingling with his sobs of frustration and weakness.

A child in unimaginable pain, struggling to save his friend, he searched for someone to blame. But who?

In his anguish, Lucius slammed his fists against the ground and screamed to the heavens, "Aren't you supposed to protect us?!!! Why?!!" His voice was raw with fury and desperation.

"Damn you, Gods!!! You took everything from me!!! You destroyed everything!!! I will kill you... every single one of you!!! Bring him back!!! Bring him back!!!" Lucius broke down, his mind consumed by grief and rage. He swore vengeance against the Gods, his cries echoing through the desolate ruins, a testament to his shattered heart and relentless spirit.

Lucius continued to tremble, not knowing what to do, alone amidst the ruins with his best friend's lifeless body before him. The sight filled him with a haunting sense of wonder and despair. He murmured to himself, "Why am I still alive... how?"

Time seemed to stretch interminably as he finally gathered the will to stand. His movements were awkward and unsteady, almost as if his legs and arms weren't broken. In his grief and frustration, he didn't notice the unnatural way he moved. He stumbled toward the collapsed walls, his mind a blur of pain and confusion.

With each step, the remnants of his former world receded behind him. Lucius found himself at the edge of the breach, the once formidable barrier now nothing more than rubble. He took a deep breath, the empty expanse of the outside world laid out before him. A shiver ran through his body as he realized the enormity of the journey ahead. He knew he must move forward, but the path seemed insurmountable.

To steady his nerves, Lucius placed a trembling hand on his chest. Instantly, he recoiled, his eyes widening in shock. "What..." he whispered, lifting his shirt to examine his torso.

Where there should have been flesh and bone, there was instead a gaping hole, a sight so surreal it left him gasping. He could see through his chest, the ragged edges of the wound defying logic and nature. His breath quickened, panic rising within him. The pain from his previously broken limbs had mysteriously vanished, replaced by a numbness that was almost more terrifying.

With a shaking hand, he gingerly touched the edge of the hole in his chest, the reality of his condition sinking in. "What is happening to me..." he whispered.

To be continued-