Nightfall: Chapter Five

Chapter 5

Flip and Grey are running down the street. Behind them, are about six soldiers from Lawrence and Roberts’s battalion chasing them. Flip and Grey continue running until they jump into an alley. They run to the end of the alley and look around and it's a dead end. They turn and see the soldiers at the entrance of the alley. "They just won’t quit!" Flip said turning to Grey.  

One hour earlier:

"Are you guys absolutely sure?" Brian asked. The three of them had just left a fast food restaurant and Flip and Grey told him. Back when they were waiting for the food. Flip and Grey were quietly talking about what to do. "Yeah, we appreciate what you've done." Grey was saying. "But, Grey and I were talking, and we think you should go back to the entrance of the city." Flip added. "We don't want to be wasting any more of your time with us while you have a city to defend." Grey finished.

"I really don't mind it, I could use the break. Brian told them but they weren't having it. "Look Brian, go and defend the city, it needs its leader, and we'll be on our way." Flip said sternly as Brian sighs. “Alright.” He beckons them to follow him. Ten minutes of walking they reach the station where they were held at upon making it to the city. Brian goes into the building then comes back out with their bags and an extra bag. "What's with the third bag?" Grey said curiously. "Don't worry; it's an extra supply bag for you two." He told them as he was handing them their bags. "Thanks again for everything; like we said earlier, you didn't need to do this." Flip said as he was putting his bag on his back and taking the other one. "Like I said, it was technically my fault you two were in this mess to begin with. But I don't mind helping." Brian was saying while walking up to them. He put out his hand and Flip shook it then Grey did. "Good luck you two." He told them. "You too Brian, stay safe." They said as they began to walk away.

Not long after leaving, Flip and Grey were a couple blocks away from the station when they started hearing a noise. They turn around and see someone running up to them. "Brian wants me to take you guys somewhere safe right away!" He said breathing heavily. It was Will, the soldier that was arguing with Brian outside the city. "Why?" Grey said as he crossed his arms. "What's going on?" Flip questioned Will. He finally took a long breath and exhaled. "Lord Black's army is in the city!"

Flip turned to Grey. "Why?” He questioned. “How the hell did they manage to get in?" Flip said pacing. "I am seriously starting to get pissed off." Grey said punching the side of a building they were by. While they were talking, Flip notices Will quickly looking around then back to them. "Are you two done? I have orders to get you two safe. Let's go now." He said with an attitude. Flip crosses his arms and eyes him. "If you're going to act like that, then we'll go our own way." Flip said retuning the attitude. They turn to leave when they are interrupted by Will. "NO!" He yelled getting in front of them. "You will follow me and that's final."

Grey sighs and Flip shakes his head no. "If we go will you shut up?" He thought for a few seconds then nodded his head. "Fine, lead the damn way." Grey said motioning his hand to go. Will starts to walk ahead while Flip and Grey follow a little behind. "Dude, I do not like this at all." Flip said quietly to Grey. "It'll be alright bro, I got this." Grey reassured him. Flip sighed and continued following them. Ten minutes have gone by with them walking when Flip noticed something. "Grey, I haven't seen any chaos or soldiers since he told us they were in the city." Grey as they are walking looks around and everything seems normal.

He puts his finger to his mouth and quickly walks ahead of Flip and stealthily grabs something from the side of Will's bag and doubles back to Flip. He shows Flip what he got and it looks like a grenade. "A little insurance; just in case." He puts the grenade in his bag and they continue following Will for five more minutes when he stops at an abandoned area of the city. Flip and Grey look around while Will walks over to an abandoned building looks around then comes back. "Get in there now." He told them pointing over to the building. Flip and Grey just look at him. "I said move it!" He yelled at them. Flip shook his head while Grey responded. "We've been through this earlier. Actually be nice about it." Will looked at them and it seemed he was about to go off but he finally responded. "Ugh fine, please get in the building." Flip and Grey walk by him laughing. "See that wasn't so hard now was it?" Flip said smiling to Will as they went through the door.

(Flip's POV)

As I enter the room after I finish smiling to Will, I see that it's really run down. I look over and see Grey walk towards the windows which were broken and look outward. I turn to explore a bit before I hear a door shut and lock. I look over and Will was the one that shut it. He walks over to a wall and knocks on it when I hear Grey on my left. "So, where is Black's army at?" Will crossed his arms. "Don't worry, I was told to get you two somewhere safe, and I did. Now we just have to wait." I don’t like this. I walk over to the window Grey was looking at earlier and saw that everything was normal and turn to see Grey shaking his head.

"If what you say is true, then why isn't there any form of chaos going on?" I said pointing to the outside. He just looks at me with a scowl. "Whatever, so how long are we gonna have to stay here?" Grey said going over to a chair and sitting down. Will walks back to the door and opens it. "I'll go look around you two just stay here." And he was gone. "Jeez he is such a dick." I said going to Grey. "Big time, but let's think." He said grabbing his bag. I sit down and grab my bag too. "We're gonna leave aren't we?" I asked Grey. "Oh yeah. This is totally a trap. I never trusted him after we saw him back at the entrance to the city." Grey said pulling out the grenade he took earlier.

I stare at the grenade when I start to smile and get an idea. He better go with this. "Hey Grey." I asked when he looked up from what he was doing. "Yeah Tucker?" "You ever wonder why we’re here?" He looks at me and I can tell he's thinking. "It’s one of life’s great mysteries isn't it? Why are we here? I mean, are we the product of some cosmic coincidence, or is there really a God watching everything? You know, with a plan for us and stuff. I don’t know, man, but it keeps me up at night." We both stare at each other in silence for a few seconds. Yes yes yes! "...What?! I mean why we are here, in this building?" I said breaking the silence. "Oh. Uh... yeah." He replied. "What was all that stuff about God?" I said curiously. "Uh...hm? Nothing." He said dodging the question. "You wanna talk about it?" "No." "You sure?" "Yeah." He finally said. Happy he went with that, I decide to actually say what I wanted. "Seriously though, why are we here? As far as I can tell and you also know, it's an obvious empty building that’s leading into a trap." I point to the windows. "Let's just leave and go where we were heading in the first place before we got stopped by Will."

I see Grey thinking for a moment then he started putting what he grabbed from his bag back into it. He gets up putting his bag on his back. "You're right, let's just get the hell out of here." He said heading towards the window. I grab my stuff when I notice Grey forgot the grenade. Well, this would’ve been a bad situation. I pick it up whistle to him and toss it as he turns around and catches it. "You did a dumb Grey. I said to him about to go through the window. "Yeah yeah." He replied back. "Where are you two going?" A voice came behind us and we froze. I turn around and Will is back.

"Oh-um-nothing." I managed to say. "Yeah we were just getting some fresh air." Grey said quickly. Smart. "Whatever, I found some people that have been looking for you." Will suddenly said as he went to open the door. A group of men entered the room followed by two others. I realize who they were. Ah shit. Grey and I quickly made glances at each other. "Someone pick up the phone because I fucking called it." Grey said angrily. "I knew there was something fishy about you Will, and now your colors are shown." I pointed to Will and he shrugged it off. Dickhead. I turn to Grey hoping he had an idea when we heard a voice.

"I wouldn't do anything if I were you." Said a voice walking up to the front of the group. Another body followed up behind the first. "Stay there, we would like to have a nice chat." The second body said. They started to close in around Flip and Grey. "Allow me to introduce myself." Lawrence was saying. "I am Sir-" "We don't care who you are." Flip interrupted Lawrence's introduction. "My my such disrespect coming from you." Lawrence said softly. "Mind your tongue boy. Robert snapped at them. Lawrence continues talking. "Now since introductions are out I'll just explain." He started walking towards them. "We've been looking for you. Since there's two of you, we aren't fully sure who but our Lord wants one of you.....alive I'm afraid." Flip and Grey eye Lawrence suspiciously. Why would Lord Black be looking for one of us? "You're probably wondering how we've been able to find you two since your hometown." He continues on but Flip interjected. "Seriously please tell, because it was fucking annoying how you guys were able to find us so fast." "Our Lord during the time he retreated back to his castle, he started to develop something." Lawrence continues talking while Robert eyes Flip and Grey.

"It took him longer than he anticipated, but after our last failed search just a few weeks ago, he finally finished it." Lawrence pulls out what appears to be a device. Is that what I think that is? Grey looks at it. "So you're telling me it took Black five years to make a tracking device!?" He started laughing. "What a dumbass!" Flip joined in. Lawrence wasn't amused by their laughing. "Robert, teach him some respect." He growled to Robert. He walks up to Flip and Grey as they're laughing, he pushes Grey against the wall which sends him to the ground, then grabs Flip. Oh shit! Robert punches Flip in the face twice and blood splatters onto Grey.  Aw that hurt! "Tucker! You alright?" Grey tried to stop Robert but he was too fast and knocked him down again. "That's enough Robert. I think they'll listen now." Lawrence said as Robert was about to pick Grey up.

"Is-is that the best you got?" Flip groaned while spitting blood out of his mouth. "That's just a taste of what we got. We don't want to kill any of you.....yet." Robert boldly said. Lawrence continued where he was interrupted. "Now as I was saying, this device our lord made is able to track magic. Not just any magic, magic from a prophecy. During those five years he was able to harness the prophecy that told him about the chosen one and how he'll be stopped." Chosen one? Does he seriously think one of us is that? Flip and Grey just stare as Lawrence is walking around the room explaining. "When our lord first heard the prophecy, he did a lot of research and found out it was released with us when we were released ourselves and because of that, the prophecy magic found the chosen one and imbedded itself into one of you two." What the hell is he spewing? Flip looks over to Grey to see if he's getting what Lawrence is saying and if he had an idea, Grey nods and nudges back behind his back. Lawrence now walks over to them. "This is how we kept finding you after you left your town." He looks at the screen and is bewildered, there are two dots. "This is odd. Before we came here there was only one dot but now there are two dots."

Robert rushes over to see the device and is also bewildered. This is perfect timing. I look over to Grey seeing this as an opportunity. He nods his head to the window and behind his back. I nods and Grey slowly slides the grenade out of his hands and towards the group. Hopefully this is a smoke grenade. "GRENADE!" Will screamed as he grabbed Lawrence and Robert and pulled them to safety and in the process having Lawrence drop the tracking device as it went off. "THE TRACKING DEVICE!" Lawrence screamed as smoke starts to quickly fill the room to the point where they can't see anything. God damn it, I should’ve moved my way to the window. I try to make my way to the window when Grey grabs me. He’s directing me to the window when I saw the tracking device on the floor. This will get them off our backs. “Grey!” I whispered to him. “What?” “Grab the tracking device!” I say pointing behind us. We stop at the window and I wait. Grey quickly make his way back to the device and grabs it. He runs back to me and we jump out the window. Grey makes it out but I feel someone grab my leg. God damn it! "THEY'RE ESCAPING!" A soldier yelled to the others. “Let go of me asshole!” I yell while I try kicking him. It doesn’t work but Grey grabs me while he punches the guy face and I’m free. “Book it double time!” Grey yelled and we both took off out of the alley.

[Present time]

The soldiers are getting closer. "Tucker, we can fight through them." Grey said taking a fighting stance. "Grey, there's nothing here that can help us." Flip looked around hopelessly. "Don't be like that buddy, if we go down, we'll go down fighting!" Grey triumphantly said getting back into a stance. As they get nearer Flip wasn't so sure. "We managed to escape them this long; we were bond to get caught now." He said looking at Grey. Grey sighed. "Well, Tucker. It was nice knowing you." He said holding out his hand. "You too man, it's been one hell of a ride." Flip said grabbing his hand and pulling him into a bro hug as the soldiers got closer.

As they got closer to them, they heard one of the soldiers say something. "Just kill them, we can tell Lawrence and Robert they fell off a building and died or something to please Lord Black." They all cheered in agreement. "Take aim!" One said as they aimed their guns at Flip and Grey. They closed their eyes knowing this is the end, expecting it to be fast. “FIRE!" A soldier yelled and Flip and Grey flinched but they didn't hear any firing. Instead they heard the sound of a sword cutting through flesh. "AHHHHHHH!" Screamed one of the soldiers. "MY HANDS!" He continued yelling while blood was pouring out of his arms. Flip and Grey open their eyes and in front of them is a strange figure wearing a black trench coat holding a sword. In front of them and the stranger, the soldier finally collapse of blood loss. "You'll pay for that!" One of the soldiers growled to the stranger and they all took aim. There was a small pause when all of a sudden a noise the sound of metal was heard. Everyone looked down and saw a small canister rolling towards the soldiers from the figures direction. The figure glances over to Flip and Grey. "Get down!" He barked in a hush tone to them as the canister exploded in a white flash.

Flip and Grey fall to the floor as the flash grenade goes off. Their vision semi blinded as they went down barely see the stranger dart to the side of the alley and run at the soldiers. The soldiers start firing wildly but completely miss him as he readies his sword. He rushes right into the face of a soldier whose vision just came back. His eyes widen as the strangers sword goes through his neck. The stranger pulls out the sword takes a quick step in the others direction. He charges and doesn't waste anytime killing the soldiers left and right. Bodies are everywhere as he walks over to Flip and Grey. They get up when they notice a soldier coming up behind the mysterious person. Before they can say anything there was a loud bang and the soldier fell to the ground dead.

(Flip's POV)

Oh that was loud. My ears are ringing as I look at the guy. He slowly puts a gun away that I didn't even see him pull out. Holy shit! I look over to Grey and he too is in shock. I take a step toward him. "Hey-uh that was really impres-" I stopped in my tracks and talking when the guy pointed his sword at my face. Whoa whoa whoa! "Hey man, take it easy we aren't with them." Grey said coming up trying to get the guy to lower their sword. While Grey is talking I get a good look at who this guy is. They seem to be around my height or maybe a little taller. The black trench coat he's wearing has a hood that is covering his face. I could see his outfit he's wearing a little with the trench coat being open and it appears to look like a mafia type suit. Interesting.

My attention snaps back when I see the guy put his sword away. "Thanks Grey." I said patting Grey on the shoulder. "No problem." He replied back. I turn my attention back to the mysterious person. "Who are you and why did you help us?" I said to him. He put his hand out. "Not here, my gun probably alerted the rest of them." He said to us. He walks to the entrance of the alley and waves us forward. "Follow me." He said and left. "Tucker, I'm not sure we should do this." Grey said putting his hand on my shoulder. I turn to Grey. "I get what you're saying. We've went through a lot of shit in the past two day. But I don't know, I can't explain it, but we should follow him." He thought about what I said and nodded. "Besides, if it wasn't for him we would be dead." I added after he nodded to me. "This is true...alright let's go." He said starting to leave the alley and I follow behind him.

We turn the corner of the alley and the guy is leaning against the building waiting. "You two done talking?" He asked us when we got to him. "Yeah, we just needed to converse." I told him and he nodded. "I don't blame you, you two been through a lot of shit." He said standing upright. "Yeah, wait, how do you know what we've been through?" Grey said catching what the stranger said. It didn't dawn on me now until he replied back. "Later, come on." He said as he was leaving. I see Grey eye him suspiciously but he followed when I started to walk in the direction the stranger went.

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The stranger leads Flip and Grey for ten minutes through back allies and old buildings until they reached their destination which is a small hideout on top of an old building. "I set this place up during my travel through this area." The stranger said opening the door to the hideout. Flip and Grey walked in and were surprised to see a lot of electronics in this place. "Wow." Was what came out of both their mouths. "Impressive right?" He said behind them. Grey shook his head. "Alright, no more distractions." He said turning to the stranger. "Who the hell are you?" Grey demanded to the stranger. "For now I will tell you my name and why I was following you." He was saying as he walked to a chair. He sat down and beckoned them to sit as well. Flip sits but Grey stays standing. He goes and removes his hood from his face. "My name is Chrono." His reveal showed that he had short black hair, along with a semi full beard. He also had glasses and behind them were a pair of green eyes. Chrono continues his explanation. "The reason I know about you two, is the same reason Lord Black's army knows." He leans forward. "One of you is the chosen one." He said sternly to them. Grey doesn't believe it as he thinks back to what Lawrence and Robert told them. Flip is also deep in thoughts about this.

"So, how long have you been following us?" Flip finally asked after coming back to his senses. "A couple days before your town got attacked." He said to Flip turning to his computer and he pulled up some files. "If what you said is true, then why the fuck didn't you help us when the town got attacked?" Grey yelled to Chrono. "I needed to see for sure that I was about to find the chosen one.” He was saying going to the files labeled ‘Chosen One’. “I managed to get ahead of the army when they were advancing and started scouting out your town when I arrived." He started explaining. Chrono opened the files onto the computer and they were about Flip and Grey. He managed to get their names and where they lived too. "This attack was the perfect opportunity to see if their tracking device actually worked, and yes I knew about the device." He pointed out after seeing their surprised reactions. "My theory was correct. When I saw you two were the only ones that managed to escape your town." When he said that, Flip's face fell is silence. He was hoping some would have made it out, but for them to be the only survivors from their town hit him hard. Flip heard a loud bang and turned to see Grey punching the table. Grey knew deep down there weren't any survivors but he also had hope too. "I'm gonna kill them all. Grey said turning to leave.

"Grey wait." Flip started to stop him. "No Tucker, I'm not going to wait. This is personal!" He yelled back to Flip. "How do you think I feel?!" Flip yelled back. "Everyone that we've known and our friends are gone now! Just like our families." That struck a nerve in Grey when Flip said that. "I know Tucker, so what do you say we leave and find them?" Grey asked Flip and he smiled and nodded. "Yeah." "You two aren't doing jack shit right now." Chrono finally interrupted. They both turned and looked at him. "Don't get me wrong, you two have good reason now to go after Black and his army." He tried to cool them down. "However, you two won't get far in your quest, not without any training." He reassured them as the continued to stare into his soul. "That's where I come in, I can train you two. But before I can do that, there's a place up north from here that we need to check out first" He was saying as he walked over to them. "What kind of training?" Flip asked. "Why up north?" Grey also asked. "In due time Flip, and Grey, there's a guy I know that can help us especially with your training." He reassured them. Flip however had a confused look. "Why didn't you meet him first then come to us?" He asked Chrono. "There wasn't time to make the trip, since the army did double time towards your town." He answered.

"Alright, that'll be fine. So what's the plan to leave the city without getting caught?" Grey answered for both of them. "We should leave now before they have a chance to set up shop in the city. With that one soldier that's playing turncoat he can easily send Brian on a goose chase." Flip suggested that idea. "I agree with that plan, the faster I can get you two out of here, the better." Chrono said raising his hand for Flips idea. "Well I suggest we go at night. We’ll have a better chance to leave even if they set up shop in the city." Grey rebutted to their idea of leaving during the day. All of three of them started arguing which they should do until Chrono stopped. "This isn't getting us anywhere, Flip." He turned to Flip. "You make the decision." Flip thought long and hard for the next five minutes when he finally answered. "We go during the day." "Come on Tucker. Night time is the better option." Grey tried to say. "I know buddy, but the quicker we leave the safer we'd be." He told him and Grey sighed and nodded his acceptance. "Alright, but just to let you two know, I don't have extra gear for you guys so stay close to me for the time being." Chrono was saying as he started packing some stuff up and doing stuff on the computer. Flip and Grey grab their bags and wait at the door for Chrono. After a couple minutes all three of them are leaving Chrono's hideout as the inside starts to set on fire.

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Two soldiers fall dead as Chrono kills them with his sword. The three of them for the past hour have run into nothing but Lord Black's army since leaving. They turn a corner when they stop. In front of them was another group of soldiers. "Sunovabitch!" Flip cursed in his breath as they haven't seen them yet. Chrono puts his finger to his mouth to mimic being quiet. He pulls out a grenade. "As soon as I throw this, run like there's no tomorrow." He told them. Flip and Grey nodded. Just as Chrono was about to throw the grenade, a random soldier snuck up behind them. He was about to warn the others when Grey quickly tackled him and knocked him out. "Holy shit!" Flip said surprised. "Thanks Grey." He said and Chrono nodded his approval. Grey nodded and looked down at the soldier and saw that they had a sword and a gun. He takes both and hands Flip the gun. "Whoa." Was all Flip could say. "You two ready?" Chrono asked them and they both said yeah to him.

"Alright. On the count of 3."
"1."
"2."
"3!"
And the grenade was thrown.

(Grey's POV)

I jumped out of cover on my right while in the corner of my eye Tucker was right behind me as we ran to the building across from us. When we left the cover I saw Chrono vault over it and started firing his guns at the soldiers and killed a couple. A couple seconds after that, his grenade went off, and it took a couple more soldiers with it. Tucker was catching his breath as Chrono showed up. "We need to move now; the explosion most likely notified the others." He points towards the end of the block. "There is one of the exits to the city. As soon as we get close, I'm going to toss a smoke grenade to cover our escape." He was saying. I nodded at his plan until I looked behind him. Another battalion, this time, led by Lawrence and Robert were making their way to us. That’s when I knew. We aren't getting out of here alive. I knew we should've waited til night. Think Grey think. "RUN!" My thoughts were cut short as Tucker yelled and he and Chrono started running. I was right behind them not long after they ran and that's when I started to hear the loud gunshots.

Followed by the gunshots I started seeing fire fly by us. Thankfully they kept missing. As we're all running I look back and see that they stopped chasing us and pulled out a big gun; a rocket launcher. "Ah shit." I mutter to myself as I see they were aiming at Tucker. I have to do it, it’s the only way. They fire and I speed up to Tucker and push him out of the way at the right time when the rocket hit the road. I take the splash damage from the rocket. I land onto the road and slide into a car. "Arrrgh." I groaned as I realized I survived. I look around and see that my bag landed a couple feet from me. My ears ringing from the impact, when I managed to hear someone. "Grey!" It was Tucker; he stopped running to get me. No Tucker! Leave me and go! "G-g-go Tucker!" I manage to yell back as I waved him off. I slowly get up and grab the sword I stole. "I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!" I yelled as I slowly start walking towards the battalion. "Grey don't." Tucker was about to say when I snapped at him. Please Tucker. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! NOW!" "Grey, please don't do this." He begged and I look and give him a glare and see him nod his head down and turned back towards Chrono.

I turn my attention back to the battalion. Tears are now in my eyes, for yelling at my best friend. I’m sorry Tucker. I make a full on sprint towards them as I fight through the pain I got from the rocket it doesn't stop me. As I'm running I see Lawrence and Robert move ahead and it appears they're going to meet me head on. Good. As I run up to them, I swing the sword at Lawrence and he parries it slices down at my arm and it starts to bleed. "Shiit!" I mutter as Robert goes to attack but I dodge and slash at him but I miss. Lawrence goes on my right and makes a horizontal swing and I parry it and slash back at him cutting his chest. "Argh" he grunted. I try to make another swing at him when Robert stabs me in my right leg. I fall to the floor as the pain shoots throughout my body. "FLIP DON'T!" I heard from a distance and I see Tucker running back towards me as Chrono is giving chase. NO! I try to get back up when I felt a sharp pain go through my back. "Ahhhhhhh!" I screamed in pain. Lawrence did a sneak attack while I was looking towards Tucker. "GREY NO!" Tucker was yelling as I was looking at him. Chrono caught up to Tucker and was pulling him back as he was screaming to let him go. I turn to see Lawrence and Robert watch them and I turn back and then they both disappeared. My eyes widened in shock. Chrono knew how to teleport. "That son of a bitch." I barely say.

Lawrence and Robert surround me and I look up and the rest of their soldiers are joining with them. "This is such a shame, killing a kid." Lawrence said. "Eh whatever, he's not worth our time now." Fuck you two. Robert said. "True, we need to find his friend, but first our Lord needs to know that we found him." Lawrence was saying as he knelled down towards me. "So, do you have any last words?" I look at him and smirked. "Go to hell!" I said as I spit my blood in his face. He reacts by stepping back and then kicking me in the stomach. That caused more pain and I coughed up blood. "Disrespectful." He goes to grab his sword when Robert stops him. "Wait, I have an idea." He said as Lawrence looked on. Robert whispers in his ear and then he smiled. "Good idea." He said lowering his sword. He then raises his hand and it starts to glow white.  He yelled something that I couldn’t hear. Whatever it was, it hit me fast that my whole body started shaking. I felt my body began to shut down. Then I slowly and painfully began to fade away…