The Third

Chapter I

The Messenger

It wouldn’t be long before the running man fainted. It wouldn’t be long till he got hypothermia, and it wouldn’t be long before he died. But he kept on running, running from the inevitable. It was going to happen, and he knew it. But still, he commanded his lungs to breathe, he commanded his legs to move, and he commanded his heart to hope.

Every muscle in his body burned, but his skin was turning blue from the cold. The rain pelted his body like small bullets, and slowly fell off his naked body. He was soaked to the bone, and each intake of air froze his lungs. But yet, he wouldn’t give up. No matter what happened…he wouldn’t give up.

He heard the footsteps land softly behind him, slowly gaining on him. He didn’t dare turn around, but kept his eyes on his target, and ran. He didn’t think any man had ran like he was now, a full out sprint for miles on end. But still, he ran, knowing that if he could beat the inevitable end …he would be a hero.

Crowds would cheer for him, and raise him on their shoulders. He could hear their cries of joy in his head, and it gave him strength to run.

He straightened his back, and lifted his knees just a little higher, and ran faster. It was the only thing he could do. It was the only think he knew. It was all he could think of other than the message.

The Two Approach…The Two approach he repeated in his head again and again. Somewhere high above him, a lightning bolt flashed through the sky, and thunder shook the earth on which he ran.

The water came into his open mouth like a flood, he might as well have been underwater. He pushed the water out of his mouth, and he could taste the blood and salt mixed in with the rain. He wanted to throw up, but he couldn’t afford to take the time, so he swallowed, and pushed on.

Just like a true soldier he thought. He tried to breathe out of his nose, but it wasn’t enough, and he continued his desperate gasping for air.

He began to have flashbacks in his head. Running, it’s all it seemed he ever did. He briefly thought how pointless it had all been. But something tugged at the corner of his numb lips; maybe all that pointless running had a point after all. Maybe the point was for this moment, this victory…or this failure. In his mind he whispered the first.

His eyelids were heavy, and stung with each raindrop that hit his eye. But he kept his eyes open, he had to continue his straight course, or all would be lost. This is what he was supposed to do; this what his whole life was about. Every moment of his whole life he now realized had a point…and each moment flashed in his eyes like the lightning overhead.

But yet still, he continued to run. He continued to pick his legs up, to ignore his burning muscles, and his numb skin, and did was he was built to do…run.

His goal was finally in sight, and he wanted to yell for help. But he knew even if he could move his numb lips, that as soon as he tried to speak, he would faint from lack of air. He savored his every breath, and thanked some unseen being for each one.

Somebody finally noticed him, and they called out to him. Time seemed to freeze in place, and the distant figure called for help, he had noticed what we behind him

He kept running.

First a few people came out of their shacks, and then more. It wasn’t long before the whole village was watching the runner. They called for him, they beckoned him, they told him to run faster, and he did. He didn’t think he had another second of life in him, but still he pushed that second back, hoping to the gods that he would be able to deliver his final message before his inevitable death.

His eyes started to close, but he pushed them back open. They started to close again, and again he pushed his eyes open. He could barely make out shapes now. All he knew was that the village was in front of him, and he couldn’t afford to stop. His eyes closed, and he embraced the second of almost-rest, before forcing his eyes to open, and to this time stay open.

He could have sworn he heard an arrow flying past his ear, but nothing was in focus, and he couldn’t tell. But he lifted his legs, and continued to run the last few meters he would ever run. An arrow flew past his ear, and this time he knew that it was an arrow. He heard something behind him fall to the ground.

The two approach…The Two approach

Finally he reached his destination, and fell to the ground, his face in the mud. He could feel hundreds of people around him. Their warmth was like nothing he had ever felt before. He tried to roll on to his side, but he lacked the strength. Somebody pushed him on his side. His body protested, but he couldn’t do anything to stop the simple sadistic torture. Blood flowed out of his mouth, and he coughed out what was left. He could have sworn one of his lungs gave out, and he thought that the other wasn’t too far away. The crowd let him roll over to his back, and he continued to gasp for air. But he knew that no matter how much air he let into his lungs, it would never be enough. He had to deliver his message now. The world was silent, not even the rain made a noise for fear of not hearing the man’s final words.

“Th…” He couldn’t talk, a hacking cough took over his body, and he couldn’t control it. He felt like he was in a furnace, and his whole body shook. He had to say his message now.

“The T...” pain shot through his body like he had never known before, he gasped for air, and words flowed out of his mouth

Water will soon be fire

And fire will be soon land

Land shall shatter to pieces

And pieces shall fall as snow

Fire will light the sky

And the sky will smolder black

blue and black will be mans skin

And man will fall to The Two

Thus shall be the end of man

And life as it is now known

But yea, there is a beacon

By The Third, man will be saved

But bones and skulls pave the path

Life is not an easy task

For the third must die thrice

Or men pay the hallowed price

All fell silent, and the rain seemed to pour harder, conveying the feelings of all. The man gasped for air once again, as if coming out of a trance, he looked scared, frightened. He swallowed, and took a last gulp of air. He hadn’t forgotten his purpose.

“The Two approach…” he stared at a little boy in the crowd, and the boy couldn’t help but stare back. The man was dying in front of him.

“The Tw…The Two approach.” He repeated through gasps of air that seemed to shorten with each second.

‘The Two approach…” the man’s eyes rolled back in his head, and all but the rain silently mourned his death.

Before any of you review and say what an AWESOME story this is… cough Ive got to say three things. 1. My first chapter is always my best chapter 2. I have no clue where this fic is going 3. Hopefully number 2 will keep me interested enough to finish it. Sorry to disappoint. Please still review, but I just cant make any promises of where this fic is going. But have faith in me! I’m trying, I really am!