Chapter
6
Kevin’s point of view
It was now what I thought to be 6 months since my physical death,
but like Anubis had said, there was no real way to know. In this time I had
learned a lot, from fighting and new powers available to me to alien races I
was bound to meet when I had finished training and headed home. Yet, Anubis
claimed I still had a lot more to learn before I could travel alone.
I was growing very impatient. I missed family, friends, and home.
Anubis had forbid me from leaving the Hall of the Ancients, as when I left I
would be vulnerable to what could harm me.
But, I was willing to take that risk to reach home. I couldn’t
delay any longer. I would have to defy Anubis and take my chances alone. He
didn’t understand that I couldn’t stay here, enclosed and trapped.
I knew Anubis left me alone for five hours at a time to attend the
Ancients council, so I could leave then. Anubis had taught me of evasion and
stealth, and this would be the key to escaping. I could make myself invisible
even to him, and my enhanced speed would allow me to put a lot of distance
between us in a short amount of time. My only problem was energy. I had to
conserve as much as I could to succeed. I couldn’t build up a large supply of
energy, as Anubis might have become suspicious.
But now I was ready.
“Anubis,” I called just before he left for the council. He turned
to look at me. “Can I take on a physical form?”
Anubis pondered for a moment. “Yes, but it can be dangerous. Also,
it is only temporary. Why do you ask this, Kevin?”
“I was just thinking about combat. If I had to fight any aliens,
I’d have to have a physical form to actually hit them. I was making sure that
was right.” I lied, trying to sound casual.
Anubis soon left, but I waited for a few minutes before I took off
for the end of the Hall of the Ancients and to freedom.
Outside was a barren wasteland, where only rocks and long dead
trees stood like monoliths. The skies were filled with black clouds with tints
of purple mixed in with it, and nothing stirred. I ran out into this dead plain
for at least two hours, my enhanced abilities providing me with more power and
endurance than a normal mortal human. Anubis had taught me that I surpassed
human strength by double; I could move twice as fast, jump twice as far, and
attack with twice the strength of any human. Although I had the mind of a
human, I was no longer truly a human any more: I was a Soul Creature. I never
found out how many others of my kind there were, if any, but I needed to find
another to teach me, but not in imprisonment. To be taught in freedom was the
only way I could truly learn. I ran on and I felt my energy fade more and more.
I stopped to consider whether I should stop to recuperate or continue on more.
Would Anubis find me from so far away? Did the distance I was
putting between us matter? Could he travel faster than me?
Maybe I shouldn’t have left? Maybe I did still need to learn more
before I could leave safely? I shook my head. It was no way to live, learning
in an empty stone monument, practically alone.
Before any other thoughts could go through my head, I sensed other
minds nearby. Someone was watching me….
I spun around, “You think I can’t sense you?” I called into the
shadows, where the presence was greatest.
At first there was nothing, but after a tense moment, a small
creature dived out at me. Being a Soul Creature, I didn’t have a physical form,
so the small thing went straight through my nearly opaque form.
“Fool!” I shouted in a strong voice, giving an intimidating first
impression. “You can’t touch me! Don’t make me angry.”
The small creature composed itself. It was a small reptile,
winged, with a long snout and small, sharp teeth. It snapped and growled
angrily at me, taking to flight and sitting on a dead tree branch nearby.
“You are the fool, creature!” It spat. I was taken aback. I
understood it! But how? It was only using growls and roars, yet I could
understand its language.
It looked at me with malice. “This is Valedron territory! All who
dare to enter here are ours to lay claim to as slaves!”
“Just try it, scaly!” I sneered.
The creature opened its mouth and let out a war cry of some sort.
Another creature appeared, and another, until I was surrounded by these flying
reptiles.
“I don’t have time for this!” I declared, heading towards them,
planning to walk straight through them.
The nearest creature flew at me and clamped something onto my
wrist with its scaly talons; a strange metal armband. It glowed with blue
energy.
In an instant the rest of them flew at me and all started biting
and clawing at me. Confused at how they could touch me, I began to thrash left
and right. My vision blinded by wings and scales, I let panic set in. Instinct
took over as I grabbed something.
A snout.
I could feel it trying to break loose of my grip. I hurled it to
the floor and punched at anything my fists came into contact with. A creature
locked its claws around my fist. I gritted my teeth in pain and bashed it off
another creature. When loose, my fist hurt so much I couldn’t use it at all.
Things became hazy as I felt my energy draining too low. I closed my eyes and
collapsed.
Before I completely fell into unconsciousness, I heard faint
voices.
“Stupid creature! Thought he could win, did he?”
“What is he anyway?”
“Don’t know, but he’s strong. He’ll be perfect for the mines!”
“This alien reminds me of a race very far off in the universe. Is
this what the Ancients called a human?”
“Who cares! He’s our alien now!”
“The Ancients said humans have a reputation for stubbornness. What
if he refuses to be enslaved?”
“He’ll not refuse when he goes for ten suns without food or water!
Now lets get back to the colony!”
***
