The Other Side: A Second Chance

It was nightfall by the time we arrived at the borders of Kassel, a town on the shore of the Kenchala Lake. As we approached the edges of town, I could hear what sounded like a large concert beyond the buildings. The sound of distant jazz, along with a chorus of voices and shouting children, as we drew nearer, we were stopped by a group of soldiers who had dug a deep trench line between the tree line and the town's edge. With their weapons drawn on us as they approached, we all halted and raised our hands.

"We're armed but friendly!" Father gave them a heads-up as the soldiers rushed towards us.

The men and women came between us, their hands patting us all down, and I heard my mother and a few of the other women in our group shout at the men.

"Watch where you're touching me!"

Even I had some hands clamping down along my sides and chest as the soldiers made sure we possessed nothing overtly dangerous aside from a few of the men's firearms.

"Apologies for the rough greeting." An officer said that as the soldier patting me down moved onto another, I looked up and saw the one who was speaking. She was a well-decorated and well-dressed woman with a fancy peak cap. She held her gloved hands behind her back as she looked over at us. "We've had a handful of Rusivite collaborators sneaking into town through the grove lately, so we can't be too careful."

As the soldiers finished searching through everyone, I heard a light scuffle as Peter cursed as one of the soldiers pushed him up front towards the woman.

"I'm moving; no need to shove me." Peter grumbled and looked at the officer.

"Corporal Peter Lochte, ma'am. I was with the Fifth Brigade at the front." He saluted her.

She saluted him back. "At ease, you must've been through a lot if you came this far." Her eyes scanned him from head to toe. "Judging by your appearance, I take it you saw your fair share."

Peter nodded. "Aye, I have. It was hell." He said it gruffly.

The woman nodded. "I won't deny that. Corporal, follow me. As for the rest of you," she glanced at the rest of us. "You all also look like you've been through hell." She motioned for the group to follow her. "Welcome to Kassel. We may be able to get you beds set up in the refugee quarters if you plan on waiting for the ferry to get across the lake."

"Waiting?" Father blinked as we all followed her and a few of the soldiers. "Don't you have any boats ready to take more across?"

The woman laughed. "We do. We have six ferries running. Two are en route between destinations, while two pick up and two drop off. We've been making a few dozen trips a day, but I don't know if you can hear the commotion, but we have what I last heard to be over a thousand people wanting to get out of the province."

"How many people can a ship carry?" Father asked the woman as we stepped over the wooden walkways placed over the trenches, which were filled with dozens of men and women keeping watch. All of them looked tired and filthy, and further down, I could see a few more cleaning large field cannons surrounded by sandbags and barrels. Yet as we went by, I turned my attention back forward.

"Comfortably, a hundred. Though we've been filling them up to about a hundred and fifty, each hour and a half we send off about three hundred people. Yet more keep arriving by the hour." The woman explained as she led us through the trench lines and into the edges of town. "If things continue to go smoothly come morning, we should have a majority of the current people out." She said it positively.

The pessimist in me tells me she's saying that to make us feel better. I thought.

As we entered the town, we saw how packed the place was. Shops and churches were gutted and refitted as living quarters; tents were pitched up around every corner, along with soup kitchens. Down the main street leading to the docks, there was a massive line of people waiting for what I saw to be a large steamboat pulling into port and docking.

The ship's horn bellowed loudly as it came to a stop. Crew members lowered the gangplanks, and a woman's voice echoed from the ship.

"To anyone seeking to evacuate, please report to the HSS Fellowship for immediate evacuation. We currently have room for one hundred and fifty souls."

The officer leading us stopped and turned as she gestured to the mass of people waiting in line to board. "This is where we part." She nodded to my father. "I hope from here your journey is safe; may the Seven bless you."

"Wait, before you go." Papa stopped her. "How long does it take for the boat to cross the lake?"

The woman thought for a second. "About an hour and a half, maybe a little under."

Father nodded to her and said, "Thanks."

She then held up a hand. "If you need a place to rest, The Tilted Tavern is just down the road." She pointed. "They should be able to accommodate you; like most taverns, they're still open even during these times." She chuckled. "Though I heard the owners are letting people stay for free."

Father blinked, and even I said, "Excuse me?"

Tilted Tavern? Like the one in New Gessik? Is this a bit? A Franchise?

The woman glanced at me and said, "The Tilted Tavern." She pointed again.

Mother placed a hand on my and Father's shoulders. "Don't question it," she said suspiciously.

That doesn't sound ominous. Maybe it's just another tavern with a similar name?

Papa shook his head. "Thank you, but I think we'll wait."

With that, the woman nodded her head and began to walk away, but stopped upon seeing Peter behind Isa. "Corporal, come with me; the Colonel will want to speak with you."

Peter glanced at the rest of us and sighed as he looked at the woman. "Please hold for a second, ma'am." Peter said this to her and turned back to us. "It looks like this is where we part ways for now. Hopefully, I'll see you all on the other side." He turned toward Isa and bowed. "Thank you for saving me that day." He then turned to my parents and also bowed, "And thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Ashflow, for taking me in." He then glanced at me and Varis and gave us a simple wave before turning to follow the officer back towards the trench lines.

"Good kid," Father muttered. "I hope they give him an easy position somewhere away from the front."

I nodded as well and noticed that Paul and his group were walking up to us. Paul came over to my father and shook his hand. "Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Ashflow." He said this as their hands gripped tightly and they patted each other on the shoulder. "My friends and I are going to be heading off. We'll be continuing a bit south of here once we cross the lake."

My father smiled and gripped the man on the shoulder. "It was nice meeting you too. Best of luck, and I hope you find what you're looking for."

Paul nodded, and soon, our group dwindled back down to its original size as Paul and his group disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Father turned back to the rest of us and said, "Well. Let's go find a spot to wait before it's taken."

 

---

 

We slowly made our way down Main Street, our shoulders bumping and bouncing off of the waddling sea of refugees.

"Please come forward calmly." A soldier shouted as he made his way down an open walkway alongside the crowd. "The boats can make more than one trip!" He waved us along.

"Soup! Fill your bellies!" A woman shouted from a nearby stand. "We have plenty of soup to go around!" She called out as we walked by the stand.

As we continued down the road, I saw a large bulletin board covered in photographs and portraits of smiling people of all races. On top of the board is written, "Have you seen me?" And I felt my heart sink as I saw dozens of elderly men, women, and children listed on it.

"If you have a missing loved one or relative, come forth!" A purple-skinned Akumari shouted beside the board. "Place a photograph and any information on how to contact you. If you don't have a photo, our character artist can help you sketch a description."

I stood beside my mother and Isa as we all stood close together, gripping each other gently as the massive crowd of people gradually moved toward the steamboats. The sound of calming jazz music echoed across the town, and out of curiosity, I glanced around to see where the music was coming from. It wasn't until my eyes landed on what I thought was a light post. A tall cast iron pole with a blue sphere on top of it glowed brightly, its brightness adjusting with the sound of the music that came from it.

I smiled upon seeing it and noted how interesting it was as my attention turned back to my parents and Isa, who were muttering to each other. I could hardly hear them over the crowd, which shuffled and bumped us occasionally. I turned to see that behind us, men and women of all races and classes marched together. I saw men dressed in fancy garb, the rich bumping shoulders with farmers and peasants. Like me, I saw young children who were confused and oblivious to everything happening around them. Clutching the hands and fingers of their parents. Nearby, I saw a man arguing with soldiers about bringing his strider aboard the ship.

"Please move forward calmly; the boats can make more than one trip." I heard the soldier shout to the crowd.

I felt Varis grab my hand gently, and he said, "I don't like how crowded it is," into my ear.

I glanced at him and nodded. "It's only temporary. Once we get on the boats, we'll be out of here in no time."

He nodded. "I wonder what the city is going to be like." He said.

Avdol, who was right behind him, spoke up and said, "Most likely crowded as well. Father and I have been to Johanneson once; there're so many people there."

Varis and I glanced at him. "Have you been there?" I asked.

He nodded. "The place is massive. Super tall buildings and hundreds of people in the streets." Avdol gestured around us. "Not this bad, but it can get hectic. There's even those 'automobile' things there too."

"Automobiles?" Varis said with a tilt of his head. "Like those box things the soldiers use?"

Avdol nodded. "Sort of. Though they're smaller, Father said they're called 'taxis'. They take you around the town."

Seeing Varis's shocked face at the idea of a taxi made me smirk. Some days I wonder what it'd be like if I could take my family to my old world. I chuckled to myself.

Avdol chuckled. "Father and I never rode in one, though; we used the trains instead."

"You've been on a train?!" Varis gasped and smiled. "What was it like?"

Avdol smirked and said, "It was super cool. It rattled a lot inside, but it was super fast!"

Seeing the two boys chat relieved me. It was nice to see them act more normal since things started. With a content sigh, I glanced away from them and noticed something a bit strange.

"Please move forward calmly; the boats can make more than one trip!" The soldier's voice echoed in my mind.

I saw a large flock of birds flying over, heading to the west over the lake. It was a massive flock, so much so that I could hear them alongside the bustling crowd around me. I felt my chest tighten as I partly had a hunch as to what this was. Many years ago, in my old nature science class in my old life, I recall learning how animals fled from danger and when such a large group moved at once. Something bad was coming.

"Keep it moving, people; don't rush, but don't stop either!" The soldier shouted. "Please move forward calm—"

As if on cue, a distant boom echoed, followed by another, and another, and another. Lit up the horizon line behind us to the east. The entire crowd fell silent as my stomach jumped into my throat, and I turned back to see the grove on the edge of town lit with flames. Another bang, followed by another, echoed as the sounds of cannons fired were followed by distant shouts and rifle fire.

"Make way! Make way!" A group of a dozen soldiers shouted as they pushed their way through the crowd and they made their way towards the explosions.

I felt Mother's hand aggressively take hold of me and yank me to her side as the soldiers pushed past my family, separating us from Varis, Father, and the rest of our group.

"Hey!" Mother shouted as the soldiers pushed past us.

"Cailynn!" Father shouted over the soldier's head. "Get to the boat! We'll meet you there!"

"Stay calm!" Another soldier shouted as a second wave of cannon fire deafened the town. "Do not panic!"

"Get on the boat." I heard a man's voice in my head.

I gripped my mother's hand. "Momma, we should get moving," I said, looking up at her as she.

"Start moving now." The voice snarled.

I gripped my mother's hand and began to move forward, pulling her along.

"Luna, what're you doing?" My mother gasped.

"We need to run!" I said as I pulled her, yet Mother resisted.

"We can't; your father and Varis are—"

The ground suddenly heaved, and the hundreds of people around us screamed in terror as the windows of nearby shops rattled and shattered. I stumbled forward, my face slamming into the back of a stranger as my mother tumbled behind me. A loud explosion deafened our ears.

Panic swept through the crowd like wildfire as people began to scream and stampede towards the boats. I tried to straighten myself, yet the sea of terrified people pushed and shoved me before slamming me into the ground. I tried to scream for help as I felt the heavy weight of feet slamming down onto my legs and back, crushing my ribs and spine. I gasped and cried as I shielded my head and face with my arms.

Suddenly, amongst the stampede, I felt someone's hands grab onto me and yank me off the ground.

"Get up! Get up!" A familiar yet panicked voice shouted as the person began to carry me among the ocean of screaming refugees.

My vision swung and blurred as I frantically looked among the sea of people, trying to find the face of my mother or anyone from my family. Finally, my eyes landed on the face of the one who saved me.

"P-Peter?!" I gasped as the young soldier carried me through the crowd. When did he get here?! I thought as he pushed and forced his way through the crowd with me as we moved with the flow toward the boats.

"Hang on! For the love of the gods, do not let go!" Peter shouted to me over the roaring of the fear-stricken crowd.

Over the screams, the sounds of machine gun and rifle fire echoed, along with more cannons. Among the cacophony of noise, a haunting howl rippled through the air, like a chorus of lifeless voices that sent fear directly into our hearts. The crowd went into an absolute frenzy upon hearing the roar. Men and women shoved, kicked, and cried as the crowd stampeded towards the boats.

"Cover your ears!" Peter screamed, and I did just that. I blocked out the sound of the haunting cry as I sobbed upon seeing the fear-stricken faces of everyone around me.

Looking back in the direction of the fighting, at the end of the street, a blinding flash of light ripped across the road. Like a massive searchlight, it panned upwards, and I watched in horror as those caught within the light screamed with agony as their bodies erupted into flame before bursting into ash.

The buildings on either side of the road were quick to suddenly catch fire. The brick foundations buckled under the immense pressure and heat before bursting outwards as this spotlight of death swept across them. I watched as people cried and ducked out of the way of the ash and rubble as buildings left and right began to crumple and be set ablaze.

My heart slammed against my ribs and echoed in my ears. I slapped Peter on the back as I screamed, "Momma! Papa! Varis!" I cried as my eyes scanned over the panicked faces of the crowd.

"We are casting off!" A voice boomed up ahead, and the loud fog horn of the steamboats bellowed loudly. "Cast off now! We need to leave!"

"Just hold on!" Peter shouted. "Stop squirming!"

"My family!" I screamed. "Momma! Pappa!" I shifted in Peter's arm.

I don't want to be alone in this; please, please, God, don't let this happen!

"Get to the boat." The voice said angrily.

Not without my family!

At the edge of Main Street, amongst the burning rubble, massive metallic feet thumped against the burning cobblestone. Through the thick smoke, a bright white light shone on us, and I cried and shielded my eyes as the Rusivite fighting machine unleashed another deathly howl. A few soldiers within the crowd opened fire upon the machine, the energy bolts cast from their rifles plinking off the machine's hull harmlessly.

"We're halfway there!" Peter shouted to me as I looked through the cracks in my fingers and saw the towering metal monster's head open on the sides.

Protruding out of the openings, six massive guns unfurled, and I cried, "Get down!"

Gripping my legs and back, I felt weightless as Peter dove forward, and I screamed as he covered my head as we hit the cobblestone, just as a massive torrent of gunfire unleashed upon the screaming crowd and soldiers.

As we struck the hard ground, I felt the wind get knocked from my lungs as Peter grunted and began to roll out of the way of incoming people. His back slammed against the curb of the road, and he briefly released me before taking my hand and yanking me up onto the sidewalk.

Hundreds of red bolts of energy ripped the air over our heads, slamming into windows, walls, and people. It was as if the world had gone into slow motion as I watched helpless people get struck in the back by the hot red rounds of magrite. I watched as their backs, torsos, and heads erupted in a red mist. Faces and heads blossomed out as bullets pierced the flesh and shattered brains, smattering the cobblestones and those around them with sickly gore as their bodies folded over each other.

My eyes widened in fear, and I screamed with abject horror as Peter yanked me onto the sidewalk and said, "Don't look at it! Run! Run!" He pulled me towards a nearby alley, out of the direct line of fire.

"Wh-why is this happening?!" I screamed. "I want to go home!"

"I know you do, but we can't!" Peter and I began to move down the alley, yet suddenly, back where we were, a stream of searing heat illuminated the alley, and we glanced back to see a ray of fire shoot toward the fighting machine.

A loud explosion, followed by a blinding flash of blue light, caused the ground to heave suddenly as the gunfire stopped.

"Get to the boats!" I heard my mother scream. "Rally the men, protect the refugees!"

"Th-that's my mother," I said to Peter as he held on to me. "Sh-she killed it! She killed it!"

I tried to yank myself free, yet Peter gripped me tightly. "She may have killed that one, but there's more! I saw them! It's too dangerous out there for kids!"

I yanked harder to get away, yet his grip was too tight. "I'm not a kid! Let me go!"

"No!" Peter shouted. "I'm not letting another child die!" Peter said as he pulled me back. "We need to get to the boats before they leave!"

Peter shouted as we heard soldiers and people cheering in the streets.

"We have a magister at our side!"

"We might actually win this!"

Yet more deathly howls came from the direction of the burning grove; metallic thumping and the sound of snapping trees could be heard as more of those metal monsters approached the town.

Peter yanked me back once more, and I screamed with fury as I shot my hand down to my belt. I gripped my wand and yanked it out. In a swift motion, I turned back to him and shouted without a second thought.

"Gust!"

Suddenly, a whirl of wind blasts forth from my wand, striking the young soldier in the chest, sending him careening back and slamming into the brick wall. His head cracked against the wall, and his eyes widened before he lolled as he slumped down the wall.

My heart raced, and my eyes widened. "S-Sorry!" I squeaked.

I stumbled towards him and checked, and thankfully, his head wasn't bleeding, and he was still breathing. He was simply knocked out cold. I took a deep breath and said, "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry."

I stumbled back and ran out into the street, gasping as I saw the entire main road littered with the bodies of the dead. Hundreds of corpses upon bloodied corpses piled over each other, leading to the steamboats, which were quickly raising the gangplanks as others on the docks fought to get on.

I wanted to vomit. To puke my guts out right there in the field and run back into the alley. Yet I needed to find my mother, father, or anyone else. I panted heavily as I looked back towards the boats and columns of soldiers taking up defensive positions as four orcish men pushed what looked to be field cannons into position.

"Form a firing line!" Mother's voice came from above. I glanced up to see she was on top of a nearby general store. "Don't let them near the boats."

"Listen to the Moonweaver!" A burly dwarf in an officer's uniform shouted. "You heard her; aim for the eye!"

"Aim for the eye!" The soldiers repeated down the line.

"Momma!" I screamed as I ran out onto the open road.

Yet that was a mistake.

Right as I ran into the clearing, a fighting machine tore through the central building at the end of Main Street. Ripping through the structure as if it weren't even there, throwing debris everywhere, the machine howled as if enraged.

"Fire!" The dwarf shouted, and in response, the two field cannons opened up. Merely inches from my head, two blue bolts of arcane shells screamed over me.

I cried and dropped onto the corpse pile as the shells slammed into the Rusivite death machine. As if howling in pain, the monstrosity roared as the first shell impacted its front left leg, the second striking it right into the center of its glassy eye. The machine howled with what seemed like agony as it stumbled back into the rubble.

"Small arms! Open fire!"

Suddenly, the street was once again filled with the sound of gunfire as the line of infantrymen opened fire with their rifles, and I screamed and kept my head down as the bullets whizzed over my head.

"You're wasting time. Get to the boat."

"Not without Mother!" I cried at whatever was speaking to me.

Yet something grabbed my leg, and I screamed, yanked my leg forward, and glanced back. Behind me, they were lying on the ground in their blood. A human woman sputtered. Her eyes were glossy and hazy, and she reached out to me, mouthing something.

"He-helkp myee…" She sputtered, reaching out with her bloodied fingers. "Am-Amelia…"

Tears poured down my cheeks as I sobbed and shook my head. "I-I'm sorry… I'm sorry!" I turned away from her and began to crawl over the bodies as the soldiers continued to suppress the massive monster.

The machine roared once more as it regained its footing. The massive hole in its glassy eye shot sparks of blue energy as it began to limp toward the soldiers. Their bullets ricocheted off of the monster's metallic hide as they continued shooting.

Yet just as it straightened up, the cannons spoke again. Two massive booms deafened me as both shells struck true, slamming the creature in its glassy face, and spectacular fashion, the creature exploded in a blue and yellow fireball!

"Huzzah!" The dwarf shouted, and the soldiers cheered. "They can be killed; they can be beaten!"

The refugees aboard the boats also began to cheer victoriously as the steamboats blew their horns in celebration.

"Momma!" I screamed as I stood up out of the corpse pile. "Momma!"

"Luna!" Mother shouted from the top of the building and leaped off of it. I gasped as she fell, but before hitting the ground, she held her arms out, and a massive gust of wind hit the ground, slowing her descent and allowing her to land safely.

"By the divine, you're alive!" She ran over to me and wrapped her arms around me. "I-I was so caught up with what was going on; I missed you when we fell. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Yes, I'm okay." I sniffed and gripped her tightly. "Wh-where's everyone else?"

"I don't know; I lost them too. Your father, he said, he was—"

Before Mother could finish the sentence, more howls alerted us to even more fighting machines that were fast approaching. The sky suddenly lit up with the light from a blue and green flare that shot up from the grove, and in the distance, we heard more howls in response.

They're calling for reinforcements. I thought.

"Indeed. The soldiers have bought you more time. Get aboard the ship."

Who are you?

"You know who I am. Or at least you will again. Just move."

Mother grabbed me by the hands. "Come, we need to get you aboard the ship. Isa should be aboard the one there." Momma pointed to the HSS Fellowship. "I saw her get to it safely. "

"What about you?" I asked softly as the soldiers began to quickly get into position and fortify. More cannons were brought forth, and I saw the dwarf shout towards a few men setting up a very, very large rifle.

"I'm going to do my best to buy us some time and search for your brother and father." Mother explained as we walked briskly to the boat, where only one gangplank was left. "The soldiers won't be able to hold them off without magical assistance. If anything happens, you and Isa are to go to Johanneson and find Aenorin Sartosi; he is your uncle, my brother. You will find him at 18th Star Lane. He and his family will take care of you."

"I-I don't want anything to happen to you." I said as we stopped beside the gangplank.

Mother turned and knelt. "I know, sweetie, but please. Do this for me."

I sniffed and cried softly as I wiped my eyes. Hesitantly, I nodded.

"We're raising the plank! Last call!" A man aboard the ship shouted to us.

Mother stood and gently pushed me towards the bridge and said, "I love you. I will find you!"

I stumbled onto the bridge and cried as I began to slowly go up it. "Come on, little lady, please hurry. You'll be safe here." A soldier rushed me, and I began to quicken my pace as I boarded the vessel.

The soldier raised the plank, and one of them went to a strange funnel-like device on the wall. He grabbed a wheel and began cranking it rapidly before speaking into the funnel.

"Planks are up! We're clear for cast off!"

"Roger that." A muffled voice replied, and soon the boat's horn sounded, and the entire ship lurched as it began to move…