The Land

Soul Survivors

Before Jacob could continue his frantic, yet fascinated observation of the new land he was quickly and violently born into, an explosion rang and echoed exceedingly loud about the mountains he had just emerged. What Jacob had guessed had become fact. The gates that he and his fellow band of captives had just been marched hastily from exploded with such force to bring the whole side of the mountain crashing down to cover and block the great hall exit. What had become of the people left inside, Jacob sought not to wonder since the presumptions would be too horrid, surly the faiths of those people were grim. While others screamed and shook with fright at the detonation, Jacob followed in Alfred’s example and hung his head low and kept moving as the leading soldier atrociously commanded. Thought Jacob wished not to bring any due attention to himself from the passing militant men of destruction by whimpering or sobbing at the horrors he had experienced, he helped not but squeeze his eyes close tight at each ot her bang and rumble of falling rock he heard. The sounds of the cheering crowd he left behind in the great hall were as distant to him now as was his old comfortable bed back home.

For a moment, as Jacobs head hung low, thoughts raced through his mind of all he had seen in his brief time of arrival to this strange and now terrible land. With his eyes closed he thought of as many things possible to shield his mind from the sound his ears introduced to him but though he tired to picture pleasantries to keep him sane, only images of the fallen innocent he had just witnessed presented themselves. Jacob felt an overwhelming urge to open his eyes once again so that these picture thoughts would escape his mind. Not knowing which would be worse, he opened his eyes and mind once again to his surroundings. Now aware, his ears once again listened but heard nothing. The explosions had ceased, the mountain rocks had fallen, and landed to their destination, no sounds now lingered. Jacobs was once again sensible and hunted for information of the situation he found himself in. Silent still, even footsteps tread quietly since each foot landed softly on sand in a surroundings almost exactly similar to the topical scenery that he left behind in the arrival bay of Expletus. Jacob found his small group far behind the rest of the army that had quickly hurried further ahead in hast, nobody spoke. Alfred marched quietly along, looking stern, as ever, the soldier beside him had no reason to shout further commands since the group was already doing as he wished. Miller, who was running just behind Jacob, looked wet faced and stunned with wild white disc eyes. Next to him Jacob saw the horrid little rat-faced man who seemed to be muttering to himself, though no sounds escaped his lips, he seemed quite eccentric. There were other people about but Jacob took not heed of them for that short while and continued to look ahead, finding the whole sudden silence very eerie.