The Countdown

Sigurd Agnarsson

The sounds of rolling wheels on rough rocks filled my ears as the cart refused to halt. My head was hung low, chains wrapped tightly around my wrists and hands, rattling away as I sat there, my legs chained to the cart with the galloping horses following closely beside us.

I'm not the only one here. There was a dozen more humans here with me in this cart. Their ages varying from toddlers being held close by their terrified mother, elderly people, even some people my age. But there was no one I recognized. And why would I? I was kicked off from the main group. Discarded like nothing. Like always. 

"Sir! Please, my son is thirsty! We need some water!" The mother pleaded, as her child, no older than three clung onto him.

I knew exactly what they were. Their pointy ears, pale sickly green skin, and their tusks. Half-orcs. Or elves, I don't know what to call them by. Maybe the stereotype might be real, elves are so high and mighty that they wouldn't dare do this dirty work. Leave it to the half-breeds or something.

"How about you slit your wrists! That'll give the kid something to drink!" A particularly large orc chortled, "If not! Then shut up!"

Damn. Isn't that a bit harsh…? No…Probably not. But saying that to the mother is wild. No one else dared to speak up, judging from many of them having multiple bruises, black eyes, or scars on their bodies. They still wore their earth clothing, even as we're chained to the cart.

 There was a man with a Yankee's cap and khaki short. The standard baseball father outfit. Another girl was wearing a dress shirt and black pants, she looked like an overworked server in a busy restaurant or something. Man, compared to our captors outfits, we look like aliens.

 And then there was a boy my age, he didn't appear to be disturbed or anything. The boy with jet-black hair stared into nothing, seemingly deep in thought or something. He donned a simple black turtleneck and pants. Looking like the standard card-board cutout villains from the copy-paste manhwa that I had read before. But the difference is, he's actually real. He bore the same blue eyes as me, albeit, just slightly darker than mine. 

He seemed way too calm for everything that was happening right now. Not even bothering to pay attention to the Elf that stepped onto the cart as it moved, "Good afternoon…creatures." 

I didn't know which was uglier. This scarred elf or the healthy orcs beside us, galloped away on their horses. Either way, the stereotype was thrown out the window, some elves do get their hands dirty, "I'll cut to the chase. We don't know what you are, or where you came from. But whatever it is, our matriarch would figure it out for us. We'll escort you to her and see what potential you have. So cooperate with us and our soldiers."

Most of the captives shared a hesitant look. Nodding to their friends while I remained here. Barely even lifting my head up to anyone, "That will be all. Just stay silent, no more complaints. And you'll be fine." The elf promptly jumped off the cart and onto his horse again.

Before long, I felt someone poking my shoulder, "Hey, goldilocks, are you still going to sulk like that?"

I turned my head to the side, trying to see who was bothering me. A girl, maybe my age, sat staring at me through her reddish-brown hair. She appeared to be Asian, but I don't recall where. She was wearing a simple white tank top and black jeans. However, I wore a red flannel, while she wore a jacket that fell off her shoulders, "Hey, I'm talking to you."

"Hmm…" I mumbled, "What do you want…?"

"I just noticed. I know we are all in a shitty place right now. But man, you're making it worse for me." She said.

"Why…?"

"You look so down. Like…way more than everyone else. Did you get into a car crash before we got here or something?" She asked, maybe she noticed my face as her expression shifted slightly, "Damn…sorry for…asking."

"It's…fine." I muttered.

"Well. You don't look fine. So how about this? I give you my name, you give me yours. An even exchange."

"Why would I do so?"

She raised an eyebrow, "So…we can be friends? Damn mate, is this a first time or something?"

I stared at her with a blank expression, I lowered my eyes and relaxed my face, maybe this will drive her away? I'm not in the mood for making friends, especially after what happened.

"I'll take that as a yes, for both my question and deal." She chuckled. My god, she did not take the hint. "Akira Sato. At your service." She held a hand out to me, her wrists still chained like mine. I keep forgetting that she's also being hauled away like me. Yet, her demeanor is…different, to say the least.

"Sigurd…" I reluctantly answered, not bothering to shake her hand.

"Daaamn? That's cool. Never met anyone named 'Sigurd'." I can hear her Japanese accent slipping through as she lowered her hand.

"Hmm…Guess so." I turned away from her.

"Oof. Bad day huh?"

"Woman, look at where are. Of course it is."

"Alright alright…Just trying to make the best of our situation." She laid back on the cart, "I wanna sleep…"

"Then go sleep. Why are you asking me?"

"I dunno…" She closed her eyes, letting the wind blow against her face as the cart moved downhill. Now that she had effectively pulled me out of my corner, I actually took a second to get a good look at where I was. This place was way too fictive to be reality.

Mountains stood tall in the distance, the howl of an unknown animal or creature echoing through the air as the land below us flourished with a mix of multiple colors. I couldn't distinguish if they were wheat, or flowers, or even trees. It's all too surreal for me.

Maybe if I wasn't being hauled off chained, I would have enjoyed this view for a bit. It's peaceful. Other than the rattling sounds of our chains and the wheel. As I turned back around, most of the humans were still silent. Minding their own business. But there's one that caught my eye.

This guy…with the black clothing still stared into space, momentarily snapping his eyes left and right, before meeting my gaze, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing…" I shifted uncomfortably, "You creep me out."

"Not my problem."

"Rude."

"Then mind your own business."

Beside me, Akira opened her eyes again, "Can you two be quiet, please? I'm trying to sleep."

The guy looked away again, staring at the horseriders beside us as they conversed with one another. Eyeing something of theirs. While I sat here like a complete idiot, I couldn't let go of a feeling.

If I had to approximate, it would have been nearly an hour since we were dropped here. I could feel something ticking down. To an impending doom that loomed overhead. Even as I tried to shake it off, it would never let go. I continued to shift uncomfortably in my place, gazing left and right in hopes of finding an answer.

Tick 

Tick

Tick

 "Much better." Akira smiled, "You good, Sigurd?"

"No…" I shook my head, "Something's happening."

"What…?" She straightened up.

"You hear it too?" The guy spoke up again, the two of us turned to him, as he reached into his pocket for something, "That's a surprise."

Before I could say anything else, a loud banging sound startled everyone on the cart, I nearly fell down from the shock as an orc had banged his sword on the wall behind me, "Oi! Shut it over there! You are loud!"

I didn't care about that at the moment, the invisible clock slowly ticked down to something. I could hear its ticking echoing in my head, it appeared that Akira could now hear it as well. As her expression changed as she gazed at the other humans. They all shared the same reaction as us, while the black-haired guy fumbled with his chain for a bit.

Something was about to go down, and as the clock encroached upon its mark, the agonizing and cold echo in me slowly shifted its form. Chills ran down my back as a fire slowly lit up within me.

Tick

Tick

tick

***

"Here it comes everyone, my glorious gift for them! Better buckle up!

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two! 

ONE!"

TING TING!