The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens Page 0,11

gone.

“Please come, sit.” Gabe directed, taking the woman’s arm. Guiding her away from his puke towards the water’s edge, they both took a seat. Gabe just stared at her as they sat. Unable to reconcile that this woman had been the same one he left all those years ago. She was only a few years older than him and Gabe had fancied her when they first met, though she had never returned the interest in the time they spent together.

“What happened here?” Gabe finally asked, referring to the changes he had seen around Baynar.

“My God, you haven’t aged a bit.” Clarite said, ignoring Gabe’s question.

“I don’t think I would exactly agree with you. I’m feeling so tired all the time. It’s exhausting always looking over your shoulder, waiting for someone to find you.” Gabe replied softly with a smile. The woman reached out and touched Gabe’s cheek as if she had to convince herself he was real.

Gabe grasped her hand firmly. “Clarite, you have to tell me what happened.”

Clarite looked away, staring at the water. They sat in silence for a few moments until at last she spoke. “When Baal’s men came, we all thought you would return. The chosen one would come back and slay the demon’s army. Baylor tried to tell them, the town’s people. He told them there was no way for you to know what was happening here. When the questioning started it didn’t take long for someone to give up Baylor. They tried torture with him, but you know Baylor—he wouldn’t talk.”

Gabe squeezed Clarite’s hand even tighter. He wanted to scream out in anger, but remained silent, listening. He needed to know more and upsetting Clarite wouldn’t help him.

“We could hear Baylor’s screams from the prison. Kryn couldn’t take it anymore; he decided he would break Baylor out. It didn’t go like he planned. He made it inside but then he — well, it was like he lost all his will to fight when he discovered Baylor was already dead. Kryn just sat there, holding him, he didn’t even try to resist when they found him. After he was captured they decided they would make an example out of him.” Clarite’s voice caught in her throat and she began to tremble.

Gabe pulled her closer, not letting go of her hand and wrapping his other arm around her body in an effort to comfort her.

“They burned it all to the ground, everything he had in the world. He didn’t even react, just watched silently. I don’t even know if Kryn was in there anymore, his stare was glassy and when he walked it was like he was a machine instead of... I don’t know. It just didn’t seem like him. When they realized torturing him was not going to be any fun they killed him and put his head on a stake outside of town. They wanted everyone to know that if you help the protector you will not be shown mercy.” With those words Clarite heaved as if she were going to cry but had no tears left.

“I’m so sorry, Clarite.” Gabe said, wishing he could lessen her pain.

Clarite closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing herself to continue. “Many of the town’s people, including myself, were put to work serving Baal’s men. We fed them, cleaned for them, anything that needed done we took care of it. I don’t think I slept at all during those months. Then one day they were gone. I don’t know where, just gone. Do you know what it’s like to wake up every day expecting it to be your last? When they left I didn’t know how to feel. The Wintoks have been around ever since, mercenaries of Baal.”

“Clarite, if I had known— ” Gabe began.

“What? What would you have done if you knew?” Clarite growled.

Gabe sat silent. No words coming to mind.

“There was nothing you could do, Gabe. There’s nothing any of us can do. All hope is lost. You know, I used to believe in this protector crap. But now I see, what good is one kid against an army of darkness?” Clarite stood and walked towards the road before stopping and turning one last time to look at him.

“You shouldn’t have come back, Gabe.” Without another word she walked away, climbing to the roadside and then down the dusty path, out of Gabe’s sight.

Gabe sank to the ground. He thought about chasing after her, but what would he say? What could he possibly