By Zachary Holbrook
David crouched underneath a twisted rock formation at the base of the Temporal Cliffs. His trusty radiance revolver, the oldest of its kind, fit snugly in his hand. Overhead, storm clouds gathered, made darker by the wraiths’ smoky black trails.
Thunder rolled across the sky. A raindrop fell on David’s cheek, and lightning flashed in the distance.
Lightning. The signs were lining up one by one. Soon the door would open.
David darted out from his hiding place and ran along the edge of the cliffs. The wraiths shrieked and dove toward him. They should’ve learned to fear him by now, considering how many of their kind he’d sent to the void while defending the village. But perhaps it was wishful thinking that anyone would notice David, the shadow always dogging after his brother, Jesse. Telea certainly hadn’t.
The lead wraith stretched its spectral talons, its incarnadine eyes glowing murderously. David dispatched it with a blast from his R.R. The wraith disintegrated into black wisps.
David continued firing on the remaining wraiths, splitting the evening sky with blast after brilliant blast. The last time he’d fought them had been for others. For the village. For his brother.
For Telea.
The rain fell harder now, and the wraiths rallied and dove. David shoved aside Telea’s memory and focused on the fight. He ran forward, careful not to slip on the slick rocks. The door loomed in his peripheral vision, ancient inscriptions beginning to glow.
Dreaming of Telea was foolish to begin with. Jesse had enthralled her since the moment he and David had walked into her village. Her interest in Jesse only kept growing after they’d answered her pleas, setting aside their original quest to save an innocent populace terrorized by wraiths.
David banished another wraith and pivoted toward the door. He’d done his duty. The townspeople were empowered to protect themselves, organized under Jesse’s leadership and armed with R.Rs of David’s design. Today he was here for himself. To complete the quest before Jesse and seize the future he wanted.
Lightning flashed again. A bolt arced down and struck the lone tree standing on the cliff’s edge.
The final sign.
David was ready. He alone would ascend to the Future Tree and partake of its fruit.
The stone door carved into the base of the cliffs glowed a brilliant white. A deep rumbling from beneath the earth rose to meet the thunder above, and the door slid slowly open.
Hundreds of wraiths waited within. Pairs of red eyes gleamed in the darkness—then turned toward him as one.
David’s blood ran cold. He raised his revolver and fired wildly. The army of wraiths swooped forward, a mass of darkness so thick it swallowed the blasts from David’s weapon.
He turned and ran, then slipped and sprawled on the wet stone. The wraiths descended and tore away his gun. Spectral claws dug into him, sending a chill through his soul.
The wraiths lifted David into the air and hurled him forward. He crashed into the rocks, pain ripping across his skin.
One thing. David pushed himself up. Is that too much to ask? I’ve followed Jesse’s lead on everything else. He gets the girl, the glory. My only chance to leave his shadow is that tree!
The wraiths charged. David let out an anguished howl and pounded a fist against the ground.
Over his shoulder, a battle cry defied the storm. A figure wielding a sword forged from pure starlight leapt over David and cut down the foremost line of wraiths.
Jesse. David let out a bitter sigh. He’d take the fruit of the tree, of course, but David supposed he should be grateful. Better to be a shadow than dead.
Jesse ducked. A line of villagers behind him opened fire, disintegrating the mass of wraiths. The surviving specters fled.
“What are you doing out here?” Jesse pulled David to his feet.
David clenched his teeth against the pain from his bruises. “You forgot? Seriously?”
Jesse looked toward the open door. “Once every thousand years, one man alone may climb the stairs to the Future Tree…” He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, go ahead. We’ll keep watch here.”
David hesitated. “The quest was yours to begin with. You don’t want to finish it?”
“I’ve already found a future I’m happy with.” Jesse clapped David on the shoulder. “Go, brother. You deserve this.”
David heaved in a sharp breath. At last, a chance.
A chance given by the very person he sought to escape.
Jesse faced the villagers. “David has saved your village. Now he returns to the quest that brought him here. Guard the entrance while he ascends to the tree.” He turned back to David. “Good luck.”
The majestic tree towered over an unscalable cliff, a menagerie of strange fruits hanging from its boughs. David shivered as he approached.
He wrapped his hand around a soft purple drupe. Images flashed through his mind, kicking his heart to a gallop.
Telea. Older, but still beautiful. She kisses me softly in the village cemetery. We look mournfully at the tombstone—with my brother’s name.
David withdrew his hand, confused, then touched another fruit.
A mighty army readies for battle at my back. I laugh scornfully at the enemy commander—a man I once called brother.
David tried again.
Striding down the dungeon steps. Needing to ensure the only threat to my kingdom is secured. I can’t just kill my own brother, but—
David growled and reached for a higher fruit. Then another. All the same.
Jesse dead, or Jesse his enemy.
David staggered backward, fists clenched. What future did he want? It certainly wasn’t here.
The decision would’ve been easier if Jesse had taken everything from him. But no. That wasn’t who Jesse was.
And it wasn’t who David wanted to be.
Rain soaked his clothes. David began the long journey back down the stairs, exhausted but resolved.
He’d build his own future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A very powerful story of brotherhood! I love the imagery and snippets of worldbuilding. Well done!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I liked the twist at the tree! I kept wondering if there was some biblical inspiration in the names and concepts.
Fast-paced and straight to the point, but it also cuts deep. Great job!
Aww I love the theme of two brothers’ bond