Chapter 13 : Streets of Memories Past

Lisa returned to her room, changed out of  her day clothes into a grey cotton nightgown. She couldn’t believe Theo brought everything into the house without a snide remark or ordering her to help. Maybe he was capable of not being a complete asshole all the time. The thought made her turn her attention to the bookshelf across the room and her eyes rested on her favorite book. The Guide at the Crossroads, it brought a smile to her face.

It was the first piece of entertainment she had owned, actually could call hers in years. She thought of the story’s brave hero, a noble prince named Valbeck Greyhorn, and his unusual mentor. It reminded her of Theo, mentor was rude, cold, but did everything for the growth of the prince. It was a nice thought, but she figured Theo would just use her then let her go when the debt was paid. 

There isn’t anyway he could have my best interest in mind...could he? Either way, I have to trust him. She walked over to her bed and laid down. Gazing out the window into the overcast night sky, She witnessed a cloud in the shape of a skull form with the light from the moon punch through the eye sockets.

It called to her, it screamed out the countdown to her death. It told her, One day remained. Her heart threatened to break her ribs in it’s doomed attempt to escape her chest. Lisa floundered around and shot under the cover. 

In the absolute darkness of the sheets, the silence of the room was broken from a low drone in her ears, yet her eyes sat heavy. Her vision faded as her body completely relaxed, right as the sandman’s work was almost complete, the sounds of shackles shook in her head, setting off the alarms in her heart and head, yet the sandman’s duties can not and would not be halted.

(XX Years ago)

Lisa regained awareness and found herself back at her birth house. She heard her orc lover, Stu, outside unleash a roar that tore away the dismal sense of safety like a tornado ripping through a small village. 

Her mother ran to a window, “Oh no, Mortal Soul protect us,” turning to dash over to the kitchen, and she dug through the utensils drawer.

Lisa’s stomach turned, watching her mother’s pale hand tremble, with knife in hand. She found herself asking the matrion of the house, “Mom what is going on?” 

“Lisa stop! Don’t go to the window,” Her mother’s voice sharp as a chief’s blade cut through the air.

Lisa found her body locked up, unwilling to disobey, despite craving to see what was going on. Lisa’s voice trembled as she asked. “Mom what's going on? Is Stu okay?”

“Bad men are here and Stu is taking care of them,” mother walked over grabbing Lisa’s hand. “Baby girl, I need you to go to the attic and stay there till I get you.”

“But Stu?” 

“Stu will be fine, you don’t want him to worry about you, while he is handling things,” 

Your lying…,Lisa felt the pulse pounding in her mother's hand.

Mother placed a hand on Lisa’s face, “Please do not argue and do as I say, NOW.”

Lisa looked at her mother's hand, “Yes ma’am.” She felt her mother’s grip loosen. Lisa walked toward the attic door. Grabbed the cord bringing down the ladder and started to ascend.

She turned briefly and saw her mother gaze back at her with a small smile. Lisa instinctively gripped the ladder stairs to the sound of meta clashing and mortified screams. Please be okay Stu. You swore to marry me... She took a hard shallow then climbed up to the attic and pulled up the stairs.

Pushing past all the boxes and forgotten antiques, she could barely make out what was what up here. She felt a sharp pain stab into her hip, and a thud clunk off the floor behind her. Lisa spun to see a hatchet laying on the ground with a sheath over the blade. The handle was a burnt ashwood covered in strange sharp angular markings, and a pointed metal cover at the base of the curved handle..

Where is that from? She thought, picking up the weapon. When she laid a finger upon it, a clock’s tick started. She instinctively jumped back, slamming into a series of stacked boxes. Her heart drummed, she gave a quick scan of the room attempting to find the source of the ticking. Slender blades of light from the floorboards provided her only source of light. She couldn’t see a clock through the clutter, even with the help of the constant ticking. 

Lisa picked up the axe, she didn’t know why, but it felt like the right thing to do at the time. She moved softly through the room following the sound.  She glided around the boxes following the pull of the noise. She came to a large curtain draped over something large and rectangular. 

Lisa threw it aside to see a picture of her father with a green skinned woman wrapped in blooming flowers. Several men in military uniforms stood around them with smiles. Her eyes locked on the axe in his hand. Lisa looked down and saw they were the same. “Dad?” she muttered, running her hand down the length of the handle stopping at the sheath, when a bang from down stairs.

She knew it was the front door slamming open. She skirted around the boxes, moving over the living room. Lisa slowly lowered herself onto the floor, peeking through a crack. 

Three men stepped through the door all in similar black studded-leather armor. They carried an array of weapons on them, everything from the daggers on their hips and boots, and the hand-crossbows attached at the thigh, to their short swords on their backs. Blood coated the center man’s face and clothes. Oh no no no… slavers. How did they find this place? STU!! Tears formed in her eyes, Where are you? Did they capture him? 

The center man stepped forward with a smile on his face, “Well ma’am, I have wonderful news—-”

“Shove it you, yelf, I know why you're here and you will get nothing but dead or a corpse from this house.”

The man pushed the black bangs from his face revealing a scar running down the left side of his face. He leaned back with his hand to his chest, his face twisted into a shocked look. The men behind him chuckled, looking between themselves. The lead man smile grew, “Ma’am, that hurts—-”

“Your gonna end up alot more than hurt if you do not step from my home,” Mother with the look in her eyes of a caged bear ready to break free. 

“I heard you Horn Cove women were stubborn as dwarves, but you are the only one so far to have this—-”

“I don’t care. . .leave,” Mother gripped the knife so tight, Lisa heard the wooden handle’s  silent screams.

Losing his smile the head man pointed at mother, “Boys get her. Some fat slob will have fun breaking this Quilp into shape, I hate rude women.”

The two men skulked forward, the one on the right keeping his eyes on her, “Fritz, watch the knife.”

Fritz replied, “I ain’t blind Jake, you just watch yourself. Would be shameful if I had to tell your mother, you got killed by some woman after not bringing your A game.” Fritz smiled.

Mother’s eyes darted between the two men attempting to get on opposite sides of her and she slowly backed up while moving to the right.  Taking note of this the men rushed to outpace her, but she ran shoving her back into the corner. 

“Hellia Fritz, good job. You let her get the corner, guess what, you are going to go first now!” Jake spoke getting himself into a more defensive stance.

“Well, why didn’t you speed up if you saw she was moving to the corner? Huh Jake?” Fritz snapped back pulling out his sword.

“How bout you both shut up and capture her ALIVE and relatively unhurt. Some people will pay big coin for a fighter like this,” the boss demanded.

Nodding at each other, Fritz put his sword away and like a viper inched closer to her sizing her up, their eyes connected. The tension between the two was palpable, the world of the physical left behind as they engage in a game of the mind. Mother's face was stone solid, her hands steady ready to move. 

 Lisa held her breath waiting for something to happen. She felt her pulse pounding in her fingertips, that were pressed against the wooden floor. Come on mama, get them. I know you can do it. Her heart hurt knowing that she would likely never see mother alive again, but she had faith that the Mortal Soul wouldn’t leave her without a living parent this day. It couldn’t, it wouldn’t be fair.

Jake stamped forward with a single step, and mother’s eye moved not to Jake but in between the two. Fritz snapped forward with an open hand aiming for the knife hand. Mother not moving her gaze from in between them,  moved her free hand to grasp Fritz's hand. Mom took hold and drove the knife through his wrist. Blood poured from his wrist, before he could scream, the knife was withdrawn and Fritz’s hand fell limb.

Jake lunges forward, mother stepped away from Jake and toward Fritz’s injured side. She swung the knife horizontally at throat level. Fritz looked down at his wrist. Jake grabbed  Fritz's shoulder trying to pull him away from the  death blow. Jake fell backward, dragging Fritz down with him. Specks of liquid splattered on Jake’s face, looking over he saw the river of crimson flowing from Fritz's neck. 

Fritz shook on Jake’s lap, grasping at his severed throat, tears flowed down his face. Gurgles spurted from his neck in vain attempts to speak.

Yaah, that's it mom, send them down to the Ten Hell’s where they belong, Lisa grinned ear to ear, with clenched fists.

Mother saw Jake distracted, stepped forward and thrust the knife forward at his head. Jake looked up to see a death blow coming, and he tensed up. A swoosh cut through the air followed by a dink. Mother crumpled onto the ground clutching her stomach, curled into a ball. Her growls crept out as the boss walked over, kicked the knife away from her, and reloaded his hand crossbow. 

“Boss, she. . .Fritz,” Jake struggled to cover his friend's throat wound. Boss looked at the woman and unleashed a bolt into Fritz’s head.

“BOSS!” Jake shot to his feet, “How could—-”

“Don’t be stupid, she cut his throat like she was trying to cut his fucking head off. Would you have let him sit there and choke on his own blood?”

Jake shook his head looking down at the corpse. 

The boss placed his hand on Jake's shoulder, he looked at the ground with his violet eyes, “He was a wonderful man. I promise you she will pay. I got just the guy who loves breaking women like her. I will cut him a deal that he would be stupid to turn down. Tie her up and let's go,” the boss said, passing Jake a set of manacles. 

Lisa bit her lip so hard she felt something wet stream down her chin. Mom, no, I can’t. . .what do I do? She thought as the ticking sound picked up in intensity. Carefully she picked herself off the ground, gazed at the hatchet. Her hands shook and she felt her thumb glade across the sleaths leather latch. Hot, heavy breaths dried her lips. She heard the click of the latch release and she looked at the rune covered axe head. It made her feel something strange, a feeling that she couldn’t place a name to. It left her with energy and burning up in her own skin.

Visions of her mother flash before Lisa’s eyes. The night's mother would walk through the door at the dead of night after working all day, in the weeks leading up to Lisa’s birthday ensuring she had a gift. She felt the past pain of every scrape and bruise her mother bandaged. 

Something was wrong, she noticed her life played backwards from another person's perspective, times that she knew she couldn’t possibly remember. She saw her own birth, a man held mother tight, embracing the baby version of herself. Everything was clear as day now, Father? Is that you? She thought.

The clocks ticking beat so fast it became a singular sound. Gripping the handle she felt a wave of unity. A feeling of peace, pride, love, anger, and courage flowed through her being from the weapon. A crash and clatter of objects raditied from infront of her. What in the Ten---

“What was that boss?” Jake called out from below.

“Go check it out,” the boss spoke, footsteps thudded through the house heading for the attic entrance.

Lisa’s eyes moved toward the source of the noise and saw a figure shrouded in darkness. The being stood behind a set of boxes peering toward her, its shoulders and statue told it was male. Deep down inside her, she felt a connection. Lisa didn’t need light nor words. “Dad,” she muttered softly. She raised an open, grasping hand toward him.

The figure nodded toward the weapon and then to the stairs. Deep down in her very core she knew what the figure was saying, Defend your Crash. “Protect my family…” She muttered, her hands felt sure and guided. Lisa saw the runes on the blade and handle glow as knowledge flowed into her mind and muscles. Veins bulged against her skin, threatening to tear through their thin cover, her heart throbbed with an audible beat. 

Years of her father's training flashed before her eyes, every mock battle, every battlefield victory, every kill, and eventually his dying breath. 

The visions ended and her father’s visage was gone. The creek of the attic door opening caught her attention. She looked down at her weapon and the runes laid dormant once more. Lisa stepped into the darkness, careful to match Jake’s steps. She knelt behind boxes near the walkway and waited for her prey. 

She slipped the cover off a nearby chair pushed against the wall. Lisa look a deep inhale and listened to Jake’s steps. Twelve to twenty seconds at max, I need a, her thought cut off seeing a small wooden ball in an open crate. Quietly and hastily she snatched it and wrapped the ball in the chair cover’s ends and tied them together.

Jake took his first step into the attic and judging by the look on his face, she knew exactly how he felt. Creeped out? Really want to go back down stairs? Lisa felt her teeth press down on her bottom lip, got to be rough, being in all that light. Shame you won’t have enough time to adjust to the darkness up here...well, enough to matter.  

Jake swiped at the particle filled air and sneezed. “Yup, just as I thought. Creepy as the Ten Hells.” Giving a quick once over, “Boss nothing is up here but boxes!”

“Did you actually look?” 

“Of course, I did!” Jake turned his attention down stairs.

Lisa a flesh gargoyle rested motionless, her breaths were non-existent, Should I move now? No. . .if he moves down stairs I can catch him climbing and helpless, wait.

“For some reason I doubt that, is there room to walk up there?” 

“Kinda, there are boxes on both sides of—-” Jake turned back to inspect the room.

“Then move your ass and search it so we can go!”

Jake pulled out a dagger, grubbling under his breath taking his first steps into the jungle of wooden crates and tarps. He moved slow and methodically, scanning every corner with each advance. He walked parallel to Lisa’s entrenchment, the trap was set. Lisa’s felt something within her shift. She was calm, cared little about the act she was about to perform. Her heart was silent but thumped hard in her chest and throat. Time felt slow, each second lasted for eternity, his breath and steps were loud and clear.

Jake scanned the front of her hiding place, but didn’t react. Her eyes engulfed her iris watching his off foot step into her viper’s pit.

NOW! Lisa pounced, and with adriniline drop the world narrowed to her target. Stepping to the side of the box, the floor squealed under her weight. Jake spun with his dagger already in full motion. She releases the ball, but held onto the other end of the tarp tight. Jake dropped to his knee, allowing the veil to fly over his head. 

Lisa formed a twisted grin, as the ball pulled against the cover in her hand reaching its max distance. She held firm against the ball’s tug, and the sheet fell upon Jake. Lisa lunged forward, driving the axe down across the left side of her body, and buried it in the wood where Jake's foot was. 

He screamed and backpedaled from the unseen attacker, leaving the front part of his food behind. Jake lost his balance flailing about, then tumbled to the ground. The death shroud concealed Lisa’s intention. She waited for the silhouette to display the dead man’s failing guard. He swung wildly in a poor attempt to cut the cover.

She pulled the axe from the floor and held it firmly in one hand, then leapt onto his torso, Lisa jammed her knee against the knife hands shoulder, and used her left hand to hold on to where his elbow was. 

Jake’s death throes were filled with panic, “BOSS! BOSS!!BO—-”

It brought an ear to ear grin on her face, This is for Stu! Lisa brought down the blood stained axe upon his head, the sound of bone sundered crept throughout the house. And mother! She brought the axe down again, and again, with it the hard crack of bone was replaced with the liquid squashing and blending of brain. 

The cover glistened red. Her mind was blank as her body repeated the death blow, crimson syrup specked her face and closed from the repeating assault.

“Lisa?” Her mother squeaked, blood dripped from the attic floor board. 

The boss growled, “Fucking peasants.” 

Lisa heard her mother’s wimpers and thuds from below. Momma!.She scramped off the body and pressed her face against the floor and saw the living room empty.

From outside she heard, “Jake and Fritz are dead at the hands of these whores. This is embarrassing and I ain’t gonna lose another one, burn it down! Ready your crossbows!”

Lisa rushed to the stairs, with axe in hand. From outside her mother calls out, “LISA RUN!! YOU HAVE TO—-,” her warning was cut off by a sharp smack cutting through the air. 

She jumped down the last three steps and slammed her shoulder into the wall. Glass shattered as a dozen bolts of fire flew into the house. The searing miniature pikes seeped liquid fire onto the walls and floor, igniting everything they touched in a purple flame. What should I do? If I go out to the front I am dead, but mother? Lisa saw illusions of her mother taking care of her inside the house made her choice clear. 

Walking in between the violet flames to the door, she took in a deep breath with her nose and let the warm air glide across her lips. The axe dimly illuminated, refining the visions of her father's skills and valor, passing forward his skills to her mind and body. Stress from the instant encoding of her muscle’s memory caused her body to twitch as she walked. 

She saw some of the men raise their brow and one spoke up, “The hell is wrong with her? She got the fits or something?”

The dim light and the twitching resolved itself upon reaching the door. Stepping out onto the blood stained grass, she saw twenty men with crossbows at the ready.

Off to the side Stu’s green hulking body lay in the middle of a garden of blood, filled with bolts and the corpses of six men around him. Thank you my love. I will be with you soon… Tears streamed down her face, I guess we won’t be taking that trip to your homeland after all. But, I swear I will send at least a few more of these hellian monsters to hell before we reunite.

Her heart hurt, her hand trembled and took the axe in both hands to steady herself. She wanted to fall to the ground and cry, but by the Mortal Soul she was furious and wasn’t dare going to give these fucks the please of seeing her weep in sorrow.

They would see these tears, these tears of hate. A rage churred in her stomach, it burned so bad inside her, it was like a forge was lit and that fury was, being molded by the axe in her hand. Sadness funnelled down through her and steadied her hands, her resolve fueled by anger and this need to kill them, all.

“Focus. . .Focus. . .Focus” repeated in her father's voice plays in her head. Her breath was so hot that it steamed upon contact with air. Lisa’s eyes zoomed in on her mother’s capturer. 

“Well well well, this is the one who killed my other man, good to see you still wear his blood upon you. I would have been disappointed if I couldn’t give my dearly departed proper revenge,” the boss clapped.

“Me and you now,” Lisa’s voice was steady.

“Lisa, please jus—-” Her mother cried out, her face almost as red as the blood that coated her stomach.

He punched Mother dead in the mouth, busting her lip. “Oh, risk my life in a duel? You whore of a mother,” Boss pulled Mother’s hair causing her to wince in pain. “Yeah, no. I ain’t gonna risk it. Boy just kill her—-,” he looked to the men at his left. 

If you won’t give me the chance to kill you honorably, then I will die taking you with me. Snapping into motion, she gripped the axe with both hands. Her muscles mimicked perfect form, and she whipped the axe horizontally at the boss. He looked over just in time to lose his smile. He leaned to the left as the axe was upon him and it’s blade sliced through the right side of his teeth and gums. The arc of the blade shreds through to the back of the right side of his throat missing the spinal cord, only by an inch.

The men raised their crossbows and aimed, when the man next to the boss tried to stop the bleeding, ordered, “Take her! She doesn’t have a weapon, plus boss will want vengeance!”

The men pulled out swords and shackles approaching her, the world goes grey as the shaking of the chains vibrated the world itself. Her peripheral vision faded slowly engulfing everything into a nothingness with each shake of the shackles.