When Jordy reached Townsquare, he stopped immediately. His eyes widened in disbelief... There was blood and chunks everywhere the eyes could see. A thin river of blood streamed down the brick road to the sewer drains. Most of the crowd had already scattered, leaving him to see the aftermath. Before he dashed towards his grandfather’s statue, Phobos jumped in front of him. The old man merchant looked frightened, shook even, but it wasn’t enough to stop Jordy. “Phobos, what are you doing here? I have to get inside there to see what in the hell is going on.”

  “No, Jordius! You don’t want to go in there... Come with me instead.” The merchant began pulling Jordy’s arm trying to steer him away, but it wasn’t enough. This was unusual for the merchant to behave this way. Phobos was known to be calm, cool, and collected person. At that moment, he was behaving as if he was desperate for something.

  Jordy yanked his arm back then replied, “Phobos! I don’t have a choice. I need to know what in the hell happened. Look at all this blood dammit, and I don’t see my cousin nor my uncle. They might need my help. Move out of the way old man.”

  Again, the scrawny merchant tried to stop one of his longtime friends from seeing the monstrosities the girls left behind. Truth be told, Phobos didn’t know who was alive or dead. All he knew was that his way of life was being threatened. Something that took him a long time to mold for his benefit... The old man merchant was a sneaky one. He knew how to maneuver through certain situations and keep those close that kept his pockets filled. He had no problem playing both sides and exposing secrets when needed. Phobos was smart and very intelligent... There was more to him than what meets the eye, but only one other knew who he really was. Only one... “I’ll tell you everything that happened if you come with me. I promise!”

  Before Jordy replied, he noticed his cousin Ishmael lying face down covered in blood. His clothes were ripped to shreds. There were broken glass bottles everywhere as well as trash that was intertwined with cut up body parts. He had only turned his attention away from Phobos for a few minutes. When he turned back, the merchant wasn’t there anymore. Jordy shrugged off the disappearing act and quickly dashed towards the left side of the statue. He couldn’t help but cover his nose from the smell when he ran through the guts-filled Townsquare.

  Without Jordy knowing it, Oki continued to rip apart the rest of Rogelio’s men to shreds. They were on the other side of the statue and out of view for Jordy. She swung at them violently, cutting off limbs and fling their parts into the air. The only one who was armed at the moment was Rogelio. Pridefully, he wanted to be the only one who pulled the trigger tonight. Pulling what resembled a magnum that was tucked in the back of his pants, the KFM leader shot towards the Grande Bear as she charged directly at him. BANG! BANG!

  “Whoa!” Jordy stood up and quickly checked his surroundings. The guns shot happened again two more times before he ran in the direction they were coming from. To his surprise, there were still quite a few people lingering around. Some stood still in shock while others were witnesses. Right before his eyes, Jordy saw the gigantic bear roar and moan from the bullets hitting her skin. Taking one more final run, Oki dashed towards Rogelio but just before getting to him, she turned into a large white owl. Jordy’s jaw dropped wide open as he watched Oki pick up his uncle in the air. She struggled to fly as she lifted the KFM leader a few feet over his father’s statue. Jordy watched as the large owl released her claws that grasped his shoulders. Rogelio screamed as he hit the top of the statue’s arm making him twist violently, landing on the ground face down. Every time Oki flapped her wings, she released a small trail of blood. Only Jordy noticed the trail for it was the only blood spatter that could be seen outside of Townsquare. At that moment, he decided to return back to his family and tend to them.

  Jordy saw his cousin trying to crawl to his feet. He then ran back to Ishmael’s side and tried to assist him. It was his cousin Ishmael he was worried about. He slowly turned his cousin over to his back and discovered his face had three large gashes across it. Barely missing his eyes, Ishmael managed to mumble something under his breath. “I... saw... my mother and your brother. The Child of Dreams...”

  “Shh. Don’t try to speak. You have lost a lot of blood already. I’m going to try to pick you up and take you to the medics. Ish, you’re hurt really fucking bad. How’d the fuck a bear get inside the walls?” The memory of seeing the bear transform into an owl still burned fresh in his mind. “If that even was a bear...” Jordy grabbed his cousin with one hand then draped Ishmael’s arm around his shoulder with the other.

  Just as they both turned around, Jordy and Ish heard a loud scream. It was Molly and she was standing next to her father’s severed head. She was screaming so loudly that it made everyone turn around to see what else was happening. Ishmael reached out his arm to his wife-to-be nearly falling out of Jordy’s arms. Once Molly saw him, she quickly ran to his side. “Oh my God! What the hell happened here! Why is my father’s head rolling on the fucking ground?”

  Jordy answered for Ish saying, “I’m still trying to figure that out myself. For now, take Ish to the medics. Don’t stop for anything else, Molly. Go!” She nodded and quickly assisted Ishmael by wrapping her arms around his waist the best she could. He managed to take a few steps but only with help. Ishmael tried his best not to lean too much on Molly for she about due to having their unborn child. Jordy watched as both of them walked away slowly. That took some of the pressure off of him for the moment. As he proceeded to turn back to his uncle, he was stopped dead in his tracks for what he was witnessing.

  Phobos reappeared out of nowhere and stood directly over Rogelio’s unconscious body. His face looked more distorted and long. His once human ears were pointy and thin. To Jordy, Phobos looked more like a monster than the merchant he knew this whole time. Phobos’ eyes glowed blue and his teeth poked out of his lips. With force, Phobos turned him around, then lifted the KFM leader up with his collar. “Get up you worthless man flesh! You’re the last fucking hope I have to ending these Star fucks! I said get up!” The old man shook Rogelio hard but with no luck, he was out cold. Rogelio was lucky the fall didn’t kill him to begin with.

  What the fuck is that?! Is that Phobos? Jordy snapped out of it then quickly dashed towards his uncle. Right before Jordy could make his move, a bright swirling light formed right behind the merchant. Two hands then grabbed Phobos by the shoulders and pulled him inside, making him completely disappear again. Jordy thought his head was going to explode from all the ‘firsts’ that was happening all at once. This is a real cluster fuck! Did all of this really happen? Jordy said to himself. Rogelio coughed as he regained consciousness after being dropped on the ground once more. He didn’t open his eyes but instead rolled over to his back trying to catch his breath. In a low voice Rogelio mumbled, “It was them... I had them right in my hands...”

  “Uncle Ro, are you ok?” Jordy asked while trying to get his uncle to sit up. “A fucking huge owl dropped you from the sky and you hit grandfather’s statue. But the owl was a bear before that, I think. Before I got to you, Phobos looked like a freakin’ monster and he was screaming at you about something.” Jordy shook his head in confusion. “Ishmael is hurt really bad and he claims to have seen his dead mother and my brother... What the fuck is going on, Uncle Ro?”

  Rogelio laughed as he held his rib cage. Barely being able to move he replied, “We survived a fucking freak show is what just happened... This is war.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  *

  The Angels were almost at their destination when a wave of relief came to them. They realized the rebels weren’t following them. Oki’s brother Conner met them at a halfway point just in case, but everything went as smoothly as it could. The moon was high in the clear night sky which also guided them to the rendezvous point. Once everyone walked through the hidden portal, Sky, Kahree and the rest of the freed captives, all could exhale. The sun shined brightly as they stepped on the white sand beach. Their eyes had to adjust to the sudden change, but it was worth it. Getting out was the ‘easy’ part. For Oki and the Angels, it was going back inside Freeland that is going to be the issue.

  Before reaching safety, Oki transformed back into her human form. Holding her right arm with her left hand, she slowly walked through the portal then plopped face first on the ground. Many of her close friends came running to her aid as she struggled to get to her feet. “That piece of shit Rogelio is still alive. I’m sure of it... I didn’t have that much strength to lift him any higher. The fucker got a few rounds off, but I think I’ll be ok.” A small team of nurses tended to Oki’s wounds while she looked around. It still amazed her that the Ancients chose her and her brother to take on the responsibility of saving Star Children from the rebels. As she looked around on the sacred beach sands and trees, she noticed right away Arkaminus was not among them. “Everyone! Where is Arkaminus?”

  The now free members of the working class began to panic. For most of them, this was the first time ever being away from home. Away from work, away from Freeland... A soft woman’s voice appeared in everyone’s mind. “Do not be afraid, my children. My husband Arkaminus and I have our own loose ends to wrap up before all of this is over.”

  Sky and Kahree looked at one another before one responded back. “My Highest One Cassandra, with all due respect what loose ends do you speak of?” Asked Sky.

  A few seconds after asking her question, a swirl light formed around the palm trees. Everyone turned in the direction of the light and watched as a person flew through the portal. Sky and Kahree were the first to jump to their feet for they believed the person to be an intruder. A few moments later, Arkaminus stepped out of the portal as well. Kahree bravely walked closer to the intruder for she swore she recognized who that was. “Is that?”

  The half man, half monster sprang to his feet and snarled at everyone nearby. His body was almost completely covered with brown hair, forcing his clothes to expand and rip in some places. “Get the fuck out of here! What is that?” Yelled Sky. “Get back Kahree!” She did just that as well as everyone else.

  “Phobos...” Kahree mumbled to herself. “Is that you?”

  “Arkaminus, what’s going on? What else do we not know!” Sky yelled at her superior.

  Kahree dashed to her sister’s side and whispered, “Watch it, sis. You’re speaking to an Ancient after all...”

  Sky quickly turned around and replied, “I don’t fucking care anymore! I’m sick and tired of being in the dark! This is our lives, Ree, and we deserve to know. One thing after another! At this point who isn’t trying to kill us. We still don’t know if our father is alive...”

  The Ancient Cassandra raised her hand quieting everyone at once. “Yes, you are right Child of Fire.” She looked over at her husband as he incased Phobos in a floating laser jail cell. “As mentioned before, we all had our part to play. If we had told you everything, some of what we told you wouldn’t have happened.”

  Arkaminus joined the conversation. “Yes, that is true. I am the Keeper of Life, and my wife is the Keeper of Death. Hence, why the dead follows her around. The silhouette's of deceases Stars. I, myself, can see multiple outcomes of the same destiny however I’m never sure which one will come to past.”

  “You knew about Phobos though. Why didn’t you at least warn me about him sooner? Like when I met you in Boro.” Sky asked. She turned and looked at the merchant who was still trying to find a way to escape. “He knew who we were, didn’t he? Phobos was the first person we came across while in the middle of the desert when we landed on Temrack. He’s the reason Alex was on to us...”

  Arkaminus nodded his head in agreement. “Yes, unfortunately this has been your culprit all along. Not that long ago I discovered the queens were assisting him in getting you all captured.”

  Kahree squeezed her arm where the Born-A-New chip was still embedded under her skin. “So, these fancy chips we shoved in our arms were for nothing? That fucking Barbarian looking thing knew who we were this whole time.”

  “Yes. I have been looking for my old servant for almost a millennium now. After all this time, this cat and mouse game is finally over. He will not be able to corrupt and manipulate anyone else ever again. Getting kidnapped by the rebels was not my plan and it threw me off my original plan. When I came across you two, I knew this was the correct plan to begin with.”

  Jaca stood up and walked over to join the conversation. He knelt to the ground and bowed before all of his superiors. “Excuse me, my Highest Ones but the name Phobos is truly bothering me. This cannot be the Phobos... The first King of the Barbarians who ruled over a thousand years ago. The one who helped the propelled them into being the ferocious monsters they are today.”

  “One in the same... Phobos wasn’t just the King of the Barbarians but the first of his kind. He single-handedly started the race without the authorization of the Creator.”

  Phobos growled violently while holding on to the laser jail bars. His flesh burned while holding tight, but the pain didn’t seem to faze him. He laughed deep and sinisterly before uttering, “Still not telling your Star fools the truth, I see. To think, all of this started with having one child. Looks like I wouldn’t be the only one starting my own race.”

  Everyone turned and looked towards the Barbarian’s way. “What are you talking about, beast?” Jaca asked while snarling at the prisoner.

  Again, Phobos laughed sinisterly. “That’s why you took us the LaGon’s tavern...” Sky interrupted. “You weren’t counting on us being so successful in taking those assholes down, did you?”

  Phobos stopped laughing then gripped the laser bars once more. In a creepy low tone he said, “That wasn’t all I was expecting...” He looked down at Sky’s stomach and began to screech in anger. “Go on tell her boss! Tell her what the queens were really afraid of... What the rest of us are afraid of!”

  Sky and the others quickly turned around to Arkaminus for an answer. “The queens had no right to interfere with what the Creator had already set in place.”

  “Tell her husband, it is time...” Cassandra said to her husband.

  “Tell us what?” Kahree asked as she turned to both of the Ancients.

  “Yea tell them about the new type of abomination...” Phobos yelled from afar.

  Arkaminus ignored his old servant’s comment and turned to Sky. He picked up her hand and stared directly into her eyes. “When I told you Jordy had a part in all of this, I meant it. Love will end this war not more violence.” The ancient Star looked down once again at Sky’s stomach, and this time she caught on to it.

  “Why do you keep looking down there?” Sky asked after also looking down at her stomach.

  Arkaminus continued, “I also told you that my light was fading. Well, the Creator had other plans for us all. A much-needed ending to a new beginning.”

  Again, Sky turned and looked at her sister then everyone else. “You’re speaking in riddles. I’m not following...”

  Phobos huffed impatiently then shouted out, “He wants to put his ‘Ancient Essence’ inside your baby. Arkaminus wants to be born, you idiot! Ancients are chosen after millions of years of servitude, but Star Children are made. This High One right here being born would make him the first of his kind. Duh...”

  Everyone nearby gasped in shock, especially Sky and Kahree. “I knew it!” Oki yelled from across the way. She sat up and hopped off the table she was lying on. With one arm in a sling, she dashed towards the group. “When we were preparing the boxes with the body parts I saw you hurling up against a wall. You smelled so different than before that I had a hard time believing it was coming from you.”

  “You sound fucking crazy Oki! This can’t be! I haven’t bled in over a century, so tell me how that’s possible?” Sky yelled back. “I’m over two hundred years old and I’m sure all those parts are well dried up.”

  Jaca placed his hand on his chin and said, “Your father before I parted ways with him, told me the queens were afraid of being replaced. The true protectors of the universe and its inhabitants were to be governed by the chosen four. Well, now two but they were to start a new age of alliances. Sky I don’t know how it’s possible but...”

  “But what, Jaca? Now you believe this too?” Sky asked while trying to walk away. “I need some space and time to think. Now that we’re back on Stella we have to start thinking about how to rescue Father.”

  Kahree stopped her sister by grabbing the sides of her arms. She looked deep into Sky’s eyes before asking, “Bitch, are you pregnant with our enemy’s baby?”