Hanks knew something was wrong because it wasn’t just Shade he heard crying out in pain. Out in the streets he heard dozens of voices shouting and screaming. He peeked out of the side street they were hunkered in a spied several Death-Hunters falling to their knees or stumbling off rooftops. Soldiers were keeping their distance, but they had stopped firing to watch them writhe in agony. “This can’t be good” he whispered, turning back to the young man on his hands and knees.

Kennedy might’ve been taken by surprise, but he was quick to turn the tables as the stranger spun around and jabbed at him with a knife. He twisted his body, hissing as the blade sliced through the air inches from his face, cutting the strap of his weapon. He let it go, the rifle falling to the ground freeing up his hands to grapple with the cloaked figure. They struggled for the knife, but Kennedy successfully disarmed him and threw him over his hip to the ground.

Dozens of eyes watched the mortal settlement cautiously, analysing the bustling activity within. Surrounded by a harsh wasteland, each tree scorched to its roots to negate any possible cover, its iron walls lined with guard towers and weapons, this town was a fortified enclosure. But even as the figures hovered around the outskirts of the manmade clearing, they knew it wouldn’t could for anything. It was going to be simple to slip inside and find what they sought.

The hushed whispers could be heard from across the room as the Elder entered the council chamber. He came looking for one and found half a dozen gathered in front of his seat arguing amongst each other. He crossed the large circular room purposely, approaching the gathering catching the attention of the man he came to speak to. “Mr Ferndale. I have news of your son” he announced.

Their prison was dark and cold and beyond filthy. Exactly what Kaleb expected from the likes of mortals. But the barbarism on display was something he wasn’t prepared for. He had been told stories of savages murdering without remorse. Until today he had been fortunate not to have to witness it. Not he was tied up in a disgusting pit with a dead body inches away from him, its blood creeping towards his shoes as he shuffled away. He was panting frantically as he watched the two

They reached the barracks without being stopped, which Henry took as a miracle. He and Luke kept their heads on a swivel, their hands on their holsters, their eyes glued to every solider they crossed paths with. They all fought to stay conspicuous so not to arouse suspicion to anything amiss. The increased activity made everyone uneasy however. Fortunately Hanks and Gavin were waiting for them to usher them into the sleeping quarters. “We’ve made a start but I’m sure there ar

The crew of Scavenger team X were scattered, but they all witnessed the shift in patrols. Word reached their ears that prisoners had been escorted inside Needle Point. Details were sparse but Henry suggested they take the opportunity to make a discreet exit. “We should wait until Clark has a chance to speak to the General” Luke said, helping Scarlett apply the bandage to her hand after the nurse treated her burns. She had stopped crying and the pain had lessoned now. He expec

Things got very scary very quickly for the mages as they were surrounded. Emma’s heart was pounding as she was torn away from her dad and her friends. Before she could blink she felt her arms pulled behind her back and something was thrown over her head. Her vison went pitch black and she heard dozens of voices all around her, including Hanson ordering them not to resist and her dad warning them not to hurt her. Kaleb was nearby, shouting and yelling at the mortals, asking th

The expedition made good progress across the wasteland, travelling many miles over the next few hours. They only had a couple of mounts, five wingless horses and a boar to pull the cart of supplies. The High-King rose his stallion with his daughter nestled behind him, holding his waist watching the landscape as it rolled by. Captain Brunhilde and General Hanson each rode a horse either side, their heads on a swivel as well as the horizon. Two of the Royal Guard rode behind th

News travels fast around Needle Point when it wants to. News about mages being sighted in the area travels even faster. Shaw catches wind of it just before she finishes her assignment to guard the lab the General posted her at. She overheard some of the men talking about it before General Sherman returned walking over to relieve her. “Anything to report?” he asked quietly.

It was a long drive back to Needle Point. The convoy followed the secured route back, circling around the major cities along the way including Seattle. The city was confirmed to be overrun with mutations so the General had made a standing order for no one to venture into what was designated the Red Zone. As a result the roads are forced to divert their course to return home.

They collected everything off the Barracuda and set up camp in the ruined port town. They got lucky, the cove gave them a defensible position with the cliffs either side. Hanson sent a team of scouts to secure the lighthouse so they could survey the area, warning them not to interfere with any equipment they might find. Brunhilde set up a perimeter to protect the camp while they set up, unloading the ship and organising everything and checking for damages. Apart from some wat

The Barracuda limped towards the derelict port on the shoreline, the dock waiting to greet them as the ship turned sluggishly into position. On the deck the mages gathered their bearings, shaking off the adrenaline from the battle and checking each other for injuries. They had lost ten people in total and suffered seven serious injuries taking them out of action for a while. They were brought below deck where their medics could treat them while everyone else gathered up top t

It was approaching ten o’clock when Commander Jeffery finally determined the job was complete. The work crews started packing up their equipment, driving the machines onto the trailer where soldiers helped secure them. Clark finally sat down on a crate and wiped his brow, exhaling from exertion. It had been a long night. So much for a few hours he muttered under his breath. He looked up at the road they had managed to repair, fresh tarmac rolled out and cleared, stretching n

It was a long morning for the mages as they sailed over the choppy ocean. The sea calmed down after a few hours, the storm fading behind them as they ventured deeper into the Unknown Region.

Scarlett followed the foul smelling woman across the town nervously. This was the first time she’d been on her own without the others in almost a year. She kept having flashes to when she was taken away from her dad in the Realm by mages in armour. She wondered if this woman was going to throw her into a dark room like they did.

The sun rose over the horizon, though you’d never tell because it was obscured by the thick layer of clouds. Scarlett could see it though. She couldn’t explain how but she could feel it as the sky got brighter, rising over the horizon slowly. She could sense the heat, the power of the star billions of miles away, it’s light crossing such a vast distance to touch this planet only to be stopped by this blockade of grey. She looked out of the window to the barrier stopping her f

Emma was walking through a meadow, the warm sun beating down on her shoulders as she ran gracefully through the grass. She felt the blades tickle her bare feet making her giggle. Her dress was caught in the breeze, wrapping around her knees and she ran, her hair blowing behind her. She was laughing, playing, her hands grazing the flowers at they danced around her. She saw the figure in front of her, a tall woman, her face obscured by the sun behind her. She didn’t need to see

Ramous analysed the echoes of the spells used to destroy the gate from the inside, stepping over metal debris and shattered crates once containing artefacts. He didn’t want to contemplate what was lost in this unwarranted destruction, how many relics had been destroyed, but the damage seemed to have been contained to the exit alone. They didn’t break in, they broke out. Curious he thought.

She had never been transported by a teleportation spell before, but she’d heard the stories of how it was like being swept through a dark tunnel and deposited in a new location as if she’d been flushed down a drain. Nobody told her how much her stomach would do summersaults as she tumbled through this void, making her motion sick as she spun uncontrollably with no idea which way was up or down. She screamed but her voice was drowned out in the rush of air whipping past her fa