Free Dark Age by Felix O. Hartmann Page A

them thinking it was noon. But then it rang again. And it rang a third time.
    “Oh what a shame,” the teacher said, “poor young soul.”
    I ignored it, focusing on the lesson. Ever since I overheard the council’s warnings at the secret meeting, a guard died every few weeks. Nothing could have happened to Peter, since he just started training.
    It must have been ten minutes later, when Anthony ripped open the door without being asked to enter. His face was distraught, his eyes fixated on mine, “Adam,” he said, “come with me.”
    Elias. For just a moment I forgot about him, just so that I would never be able to forget him again. The next moments ran by so fast, leaving nothing but a blur. All I recall are images: Anthony telling me to follow him; Charging down the staircase towards the red corridor; Fighting my way through the crowd of curious spectators. Elias lying on the body cart.
    Mother and father had already been there. I fell into their arms before I could form any sentence. My mother’s sobs and my father’s strong embrace gave me support, both emotionally and physically. Their skin brushed against mine, and for a moment it felt like we were one body. I felt so close to them. Yet I knew I would lose them too… or they would lose me.
    Removing myself from the huddled masses of my mother and father I turned towards my dead brother. At first sight he seemed estranged. It took me a while to recognize him as my own brother. Nearly eight years had passed since I had seen him. The boy had turned into a man.
    His death came not in battle; No blade or bolt had pierced his skin. It was the damned gift of the gods that took his life. His entire body had been destroyed by a fire. Deep red discolored the darkened skin at his limbs where the flames had eaten through his flesh. His clothes and armor were ragged, his body violated, and his face forever left in pain. My hand softly brushed through his ash-blond hair that had mostly been spared by the flames. I tried to hold on to him in that moment, but there was nothing I could have done to bring him back. With tears rushing down my face, my throat was still blocked by a lump of pain, and yet screams emerged from deep within my soul.

    My final hours passed by, as the rain trickled down on me. It was the last thing I was worried about. I sat on the Mount, maybe for the last time. Katrina held me tight, tears running down her face uncontrollably, while I numbly gazed into the horizon. A chapter in my life was about to close, and yet I seemed to be stuck on the first few pages. I was not ready to leave this all behind. My eyes caught Orion once again. He did not make it, but hell I would.
    We were still sitting atop the roof, when the sun began to rise in the distance. I closed my eyes and cherished the warm rays. I wanted to focus on the moment, but all I could think of were the things I didn’t do and may never get a chance of doing. At seven o’clock they would make me leave this city behind; before morning mass, before almost anybody had left their house. Opening my eyes, I hoped to wake up from a dream, but everything was still the same.
    I slowly climbed down the Mount and made my way back home. My parents were already packing together anything that they thought I should carry with myself: Souvenirs as memories and clothing to get me through the winter. At last my room seemed vacant, almost dead, with nothing but a few books on my desk. My hand glided over the wall and the furniture as if to say goodbye.
    With my parents at each side, I passed through the Works, heading towards the gate.
    A band of familiar faces and friends already awaited me. Robert embraced me with his strong arms and fought the tears, “Be careful out there boy,” he said. “Whatever will happen, I only hope that Seth will one day be as great of a young man as you are. Take care Adam.”
    Anthony came next, and overcame formalities to embrace me as well, “I will miss you my friend,” he