Nail - A Short Story by Kell Inkston

Author:Kell Inkston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, literature, fantasy, dark, postapocalyptic, dystopian, thematic

Chapter 4

The crowd looses a collective gasp as the elder draws back with a distant, superior look of disgust on his dark features. “Do you mean to call me a liar, then— some form of deceptive tormentor bent on your agony?”

Zell clenches his aged fist and sharpens his gaze. “Yes, elder,” he declares; an older woman bursts into tears.

The elder recomposes himself to a full stature. “What wrong have I done you? Are you not happy and industrious here in the true world?”

“No. We’re dying out and working for you day and night! Wood—” He looks over to the giant mountain of long wooden beams that the elder provides for them. “…lumber! I’ve never once seen it occur naturally here. I want to see where wood comes from, and I know it’s not here. You’re keeping us from figuring out the big picture!”

Amidst the commotion of the surrounding people, Bas’Tun stands tall next to the elder. “The lightless sickness has finally gotten to him! We should throw him in with the sick and kill the spirit man!”

The elder draws back, as if shocked like the others— but this is precisely what he wanted. “Yes, Zell is no longer fit and the next hero must now display his wisdom for the next generation. I would prefer we spared the spirit-tricked man— but of course he could always return from our banishment and spread lies again. We must achieve a permanent solution… Bas’Tun?”

Bas’Tun bows again. “Elder!”

“Lead the people against this madman. Have him killed.”

Zell pushes his back against Ralic as if to shield him. “No! Everyone listen to m-”

“And as for Zell’Ahn, he is not in his own mind. Put him in with the other sick.”

The crowd hesitates as Zell grabs hold of Ralic’s hand.

The elder leans forward and addresses the crowd with his expectant, superior gaze. “Well?”

The men and women of the grand work shop slowly build ranks to surround the two just as Zell pulls Ralic forward and into the town cavern. “Run!” Zell shouts as they dash out through the forge-lights into the dim lamps of the town.

“If they escape they’ll doom us all. Get them!” The tall elder points forward a gloved hand, and his voice has the powerful direct tone to put the crowd into action.

With a bolt, Ralic and Zell are around the corner and dashing for the escape. The town comes alive with shouts and souls emerging from all the unlikeliest corners to watch or chase.

“This way, Ralic!” Zell shouts as he snaps up a sizable pot lid from the ground.

“But where are we going?”

“To the real world. The surface!”

The two dodge incoming pursuers as Ralic hears thin, sharp sounds of objects moving past them. He doesn’t ask until he hears Zell’s pot lid clang with a violent impact.

“What is it?”

“Bolts from crossbows,” Zell says as they duck down into another tunnel, lamplight pursuing seconds behind.

“That thing you were holding when we met?” Ralic says, glancing at the 'crossbow' slung over Zell’s shoulder.

“Yes, a bow

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