Chapter 1: Encounter

"Run!"

"Faster!"

These are Xander's thoughts as he tripped and stumble with Ezekiel on his

back.

"Damn it!"

"I was so naive to think I could face these damn Fugeres head on."

Xander cursed under his breath as he pant and struggle for air. Covered with

sweat and blood from scratches he got from running in the thorn filled path as

he try to run from their pursuer.

He could feel Ezekiel's body burning up the more they run.

Cough! Cough!

"L..leave me h..here."

Cough! Cough!

"Y..you'll be a..able t..to out..r.run it if you'll l..leave me"

Ezekiel struggle to speak in between his coughing.

"Idiot!! I brought you here to cure you. I will never leave you here! I

will-" Xander was cut short as he was snatched away from Ezekiel.

He was tossed midair as he struggle to regain his footing.

"Xander!!"

He could see it. The Fugeres. Dark beings. It is Black from head to toes

with eyes so white it's blinding and its sharp teeth and claws.

Blag!

From midair, he was kicked and tossed in the tree nearby.

"aack!!"

He felt as if his body would be cut in half with the pain and struggle to

stand up as he clutched his stomach.

He slowly lift his head. he couldn't see clearly anymore.

From afar, he could see Ezekiel's blurry figure calling out on him. Between

them stands the rampaging Dark beings slowly walking towards him. To him, it

seems that this Fugere doesn't have any consciousness. It would attack anyone.

This is the reason why he wouldn't attack Ezekiel although it could attack him

with his condition.

He can't stand anymore.

His consciousness is fading.

He remembered the promise he had with Xena, Ezekiel's sister, yesterday

morning.

"what if... what if brother can't make it?" Xena worriedly said as

he sat under the tree while watching Xander chop firewoods.

"I don't want to think about it.. can't we do something bout it?!"

Xander deliver the axe on the last piece of firewood as Xena continues.

Covered in sweat, deep in thought.

"Why are you here? shouldn't you be by your brother's side during these

times? He asked Xena.

He sighed. He was with Ezekiel when he collapsed. He didn't know what to do

that time.

"mother and father won't allow me near brother. They said it it could

be contagious"

"hey! Xan-Xan. Why don't we have someone in our city that could cure

illnesses.? ah.! Maybe. Maybe they have someone like that in the Moon

City."

Xena chipped as she stand and run towards Xander.

"hey.! Let's bring brother there! Xan-Xan!! Let's save big brother!!

Hey!! Please Xan-Xan!!" Xena plead with teary eyes as she approached

Xander and held his arms shaking, unbothered by Xander's sweaty arms.

"Calm down Xena. It would takes five days to get there by carriage even

by our fastest horse. We can't rely there."

He removed her hands and guide her back to the shade of the tree and they

sat down.

"Xena. Do you remember grandpa's relics at the basement back

then?"

Xena looked at him worried and he sighed as he reached on his things near

the trunk of the tree.

"Xander!! You could be sentenced to death if someone knew about

this!" she stood up as she saw the item Xander was holding.

A compilation of paper binded by a string.

"I know. But this is the only thing I know on how to help

Ezekiel."

"Listen Xena. I'll bring Ezekiel in the forsaken realm. There is an

herb there that could cure him."

She slumped next to him not knowing and contemplating what to say.

"You don't know what is waiting for you there. What if there are

Fugeres, what will you do?"

"I'll make it happen. I promise I won't let Ezekiel die."

There was nothing but silence.

She can't bring to say it but she clenched her fist and utter the words.

"What can you do out there!?"

The words are simple yet heavy. He wasn't able to move or answer. He was

conquered by lack of confidence.

"We don't know what Fugeres are. We only know it through hearsays. You

don't even have a mean to fight."

He managed to smile. A bitter smile.

"I was forsaken because of grandpa by everyone. "

"I actually don't care what they think about me but you are the only

ones who stay by my side. You and your family. They always say he was

insane."

"I would bring him back here cured AND alive. Even if I would have to

lay my life, I would bring him past the gate, even if I'm in shred."

He said as his eyes lit with determination and then Xena stand up.

"My..My.."

"The ever uninterested Xander finally felt determined, do it tonight

and come with me now."

"Silly."

He stood up and picked his things then follow Xena.

They trail through the woods they always play when they were kids and past

the spring.

"Xena, where are we going? This is our usual playing ground when we

were kids."

He asked but she never respond, instead, she continue to walk and on her

final turn after passing through the bushes, they ended up in the waterfalls

only them knew.

She hopped on the stones they would always hopped on and stand at the edge

of the falls. She looked around before smiling.

"What-"

Xander did not finish what he was about to say because Xena pulled him

inside the waterfalls and there, he saw a passage that lead to a bigger

chamber.

Inside, he saw something that could put all of them under the guillotine.

A sword.

"How come?"

"Xan-Xan, you are not the only person working hard. Big brother also

took a liking on creating .... things.."

"We really are a strange trio." He chuckles nervously. "She

lift the sword and hand it to Xander.

"Now, let me see the documents. I know you are not very good with words

and the last thing I want to happen is for my brother being poisoned by something

you just randomly picked."

After that, they spent the whole afternoon until dark studying the documents

and devising the plan on how to come back.

They went straight to Ezekiel and Xena's house to convince her mother and

father.

"This is too risky Xena, Xander"

Mr. Mon said.

"But father, I don't want Ezekiel to just went down without us doing

anything!"

He shut his eyes tightly and listening as Xena pleads and his wife sobbing

softly.

"Father, you always tell us that we should always do the things that we

think is right. Please. Just let me and Xan-Xan handle this."

She know her parents well. They are always kind hearted and among the

villagers, they are the most supportive ones even though they got in trouble

because of these at times.

"Uncle, I promise I'll bring Ezekiel back, safe and sound. Even if I

have to drag my feet. I'll bring him back.!"

Xander declared as he vows his head.

"Dear, I'm afraid. We don't know what would happen. it's not just the

Fugere. There are possibly wild beasts and your way back is uncertain. We all

know that the royals here in Sun City is a bit lax when it comes to people

going outside the gates, but not the other way around."

Mrs. Claire stated as he held their hands gently.

"I can't stand to lose two son at the same time"

Xander meets the eyes of Mrs. Claire and he saw the dark circles around her

eyes. He bet that Mrs. Claire have been crying and sleep deprived for four days

since Ezekiel collapsed.

He clenched his fist and look straight into the eyes of Mrs. Claire then turn

to Mr. Mon that have been contemplating all those time.

"Uncle, Auntie, please let me help Ezekiel."

Mr. Mon sighed.

"You really wouldn't change your mind."

He smiled bitterly.

"Please, Xander, if you have a way, save Ezekiel. We still want to

extend the years we can spend with him if we can. "

"I will uncle!!"

That night, he prepared to depart.

"Brother. Xan-xan is already here."

"Ezekiel, are you ready?  I will carry you on my back when we are

past the gate. For now, just bare to walk for awhile.

Cough!Cough!

"Xander, you don't have to do these. It's okay if I'll just be the one

to die with this disease but when we go outside, you might die as well. "

"Shut up. The conversation about this is over earlier. I'm glad You are

so weak you can't fight back and argue with me."

He flashed his smile as he hid the sword under his coat.

Ezekiel saw the sword but didn't talk anymore.

"Let's go!"

When they reached the gate, the guards are sleeping.

"Wow. What an easy task."

Xena blurted.

"You can't blame them. They don't know what they are guarding against.

Some people don't actually believe in Fugere. Maybe they are one of them."

"Ssshhhh. Just get going"

Before going outside, they bid their goodbye.

"wait for us after 5 nights okay? we'll be back at the fifth night."

"yes sir!"

She smiled brilliantly until it slowly fade.

"If both of you realized it is impossible, go back immediately."

"We can make it." said Ezekiel as he shuffle his sister's short

hair.

After they passed the gate, Xena slowly closed it.

They have been walking for an hour already when Ezekiel speak.

"come on Xander, Y..you don't h..have to carry me on your back."

Cough!Cough!

He didn't respond but instead continue walking while his sword is dangling

in his left side.

"Never thought someone would be able to use that sword"

Ezekiel said smiling.

"Who would have thought you will also break rules and create a goddamn

sword man."

They both chuckled as they passed a bunch of leaves.

After passing a couple of bushes, something cought Xander's eyes.

"woaahhh! it's really true. This herb thing.!"

He gently put down Ezekiel while he reach down to pick the herbs that Xena

drained in his mind.

The thought of their session make Xander shiver but then he smiled and

slowly turn around.

"Found it earlier than we expect-"

He wasn't able to finish what he was saying because before him stands a dark

being. So dark that even just staring makes shiver run down his spine.

He reached for his sword and unsheathe it.

The Fugere raised it's hand and ready to blow Ezekiel but Xander's reflexes

got the better of him and he blocked the attack. Fast reflex and stamina. It is

Xander's strong points.

Xander grit his teeth as the force suppressing him increases.

"I c-can't die here yet!

Xander manage to deflect its claws and the Fugere seems off Balance so he

took the chance and make an attack.

From his position, he concentrate all his strength on his hips and slowly

release the pressure up to his arms and swing his sword so hard as he decided

to deal the final blow smiling.

Due to his fast movements, the Fugere wasn't able to move and Xander aimed

at its torso. Slowly, he could see the sword passing through the dark Being

unfazed that took him off-guard. His smiling face turned into a grimace as he

lost hope.

"Xander!!"

Ezekiel's called him and he decided fast. They got what they need. The

herbs. It's all they need. They'll manage to hide it from the authorities. He

decided that he would cure Ezekiel back at home than in this forest. He's

taking his chances. He saw that the Fugere seem to not see him and he took the

chance. He run to Ezekiel and carry him on his back while picking the herbs

earlier.

He run while carrying Ezekiel on his back until he stumbled that brought

them into this situation.

"Xander!run!"

He could hear Ezekiel's voice fading. He also collapsed due to exhaustion.

"Ezekiel....i promised. I promised I'll bring you back."

He's trying to fight back his fading consciousness but to no avail. He saw

the Fugere walking towards him making that eerie sound that seemed like a scream

but it stopped midway. He saw another being on a black robe walking towards

him. The scream of the Fugere fades away and gone as the person passed through

it. Before he realized, the person is in front of him. Through his barely open

eyes, he stare at the person that's staring back at him.

Pretty eyes. Shining like the glitters in the sky and a pale skin. An Engel.

The Rulers of their land. Why would someone like that be in the forsaken realm.

He can't ask questions anymore for he have no strength left. Then, his

consciousness fades away.

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