Page 39 of The General's Captive
But then before I could get the last one the Gryphon swooped so low it crashed into the top of the tower forcing Tiffany to jump. My heart was in my throat as I watched her plummet to what would have most likely been to her death when I saw Aster catch her. I was surprised the force hadn’t knocked him to the ground as it must have hurt both of them.
“Alex, look out!” I heard Riley scream as one of the harpies had managed to crawl towards me, suddenly the boom of a shot gun sounded before its head exploded.
“Like old times eh.” He said making me smirk.
“If I knew you were this romantic I would have asked you out sooner.” I teased making him wink before turning serious.
“Did you manage to get them evacuated?”
“The council said no so I said fuck it! The first bus took the kids and some of my team to protect them. The last bus is ready to leave with the rest of the civilians…but we have to go” I shook my head and told him,
“I can’t leave them, Riley.” At this he grabbed my arms and said,
“Look to the sky Alex, they have a fucking Gryphon and a second army is on its way.” I gasped, my eyes wide in terror.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw them when we were loading up the kids, they are coming the other way and we will soon be surrounded.” I stammered back a step as defeat struck me hard.
“Fuck!” I cursed before then asking,
“The General?”
“Yeah, and an army of god only knows what with him. We can’t win so all we can do now is try to save the rest.” I nodded at this and told him,
“We need to tell them.” He nodded and together we made our way to as many as we could whilst still trying to avoid the Gryphon. The only two buses we had were reserved to be packedto the limit with civilians but we also had cars. There wouldn’t be enough to take everyone, but it was something.
High-pitched screams shattered the last of the daylight that was giving way to night. The sounds of gunshots exploding around me, terrifying roars and officers shouting mingled together amongst the sounds of destructive chaos. Soldiers fired rounds of bullets at the monsters below. Goat Bombs flew, perfume bottles exploded and roars of pain and bloodshed bellowed from both sides.
The next screams came as a death cry when the Gryphon picked people off the top of the wall and dropped them to the Myths below that couldn’t get in. This left gaps for the Cerastes to make it through as they started to slither over the wall into the base.
“THERE IS MORE COMING!” I heard someone bellow as now it was time for everyone to run. As for me, I noticed in horror a single girl crying near the gate one that must have been missed! My mind went into overdrive as I went running for her, but this was when Commander Taylor intercepted me gripping my arm tight and snapping,
“You and your fucking boyfriend caused this, if those on that bus had been here then we could have…!” I never let the crazy bitch finish as I ripped my arm from hers. I was just about to give her a piece of my mind when I was suddenly pushed out of the way by an unknown force. I fell back hard jarring my hip in a painful way that I screamed. Yet it wasn’t enough to drown out the sound of Taylor’s scream as she was suddenly ripped from the ground. Now in the Gryphon’s claw it flew off with her before dropping her below to the ghouls. I shivered as I saw through the gate the way they swarmed her making me close my eyes as she was torn apart.
As for me, I had a kid to save so I pushed myself off the ground and started running the rest of the way for the gate.The little girl was crying out for her mother making me ignore the throbbing pain in my hip as I fought against it. Adrenaline pumping through my veins as I could see the spiked uglies butting their heads against the fence trying to get to her.
Six legged beasts with black matted fur and ogrish features, big round heads and rolls of fat that were spiked with broken looking horns. Even their beady eyes had arches of smaller spikes like deadly brows. The largest horns were on the top of their heads like multiple sets of antlers that had snapped and created jagged weapons, each of which were currently tearing big holes in the fence.
“RUN!” I screamed trying to get her to come to me but her crying was uncontrollable as her little shoulders shook. Chaos erupted all around me as more Myths made it over the wall, but my single focus was on her. Even the sight of the next wave of the General’s army approaching wasn’t enough to get me to leave her, even knowing that it meant much stronger Myths were coming. Each one seen easily as they stood out against the darkening blue sky as the last of the sun’s rays were starting to fall from the horizon.
But the second I finally reached the girl before they could get her I realized my efforts had all been in vain. It was a trap! One I only realized the moment my hand swept straight through her just as she turned her head to look up at me, an evil malicious grin on her face as she disappeared completely.
After this a sinister laugh came from beyond the gates as the Spiked Uglies started to fall back, the damage on the gates was already done. Long wide splits in the chain links that were as wide as my thighs. Stood there now facing me was a creature I had never come across before.
A small goblin like creature with glowing red eyes was standing there with a long thin knife in hand, coming at me through the gate. The feel of the very tip making me cry out asit pierced the top of my thigh. But it didn’t manage to go in far enough to do major damage as it was suddenly ripped from me along with the goblin, who flew backwards and was tossed at least fifty feet from where I stood.
My mouth dropped open in shock asking myself what had just happened. Then my eyes scanned upwards to the dark Gryphon about to swoop down when suddenly a second one appeared. Only this one wasn’t like the other as I had never seen anything as majestic in all my life. The legendary creature with its body, tail, and back legs of a lion was a deep golden colour. Whereas the head and wings were that of an eagle and had feathers of the purest white. Its long black talons on the front legs held open at the ready for its attack. But it wasn’t picking up the soldiers like the other one had…it was aiming at the darker one.
And I couldn’t understand why?
I was then left staring in awe at the sight. My eyes grew wide in utter shock asking myself over and over again why…why would it do this? But then more Myths appeared and again I didn’t completely recognise these beasts as they were nothing like the ones I was used to seeing. It was like looking at good versus evil. Hellish creatures against heavenly ones. Even the harpies that followed the change was remarkable. Well, I assumed they were harpies as they had similar physical characteristics like their winged backs, but these ones were beautiful and not the haggard old crones that usually attacked us.
Not just your typical beauty either as these winged women were ethereal. Their perfectly brushed hair, rounded firm breasts, and slender hands complete with perfectly manicured nails. They differed a great deal from those monstrosities Riley and I had fought together. Yet, I knew in my gut that these werestill harpies. And the second the music suddenly died they were able to get closer.
“Alex!” I heard Riley scream my name and I looked his way to find him fighting against a winged creature I didn’t recognise as he tried to reach me.
“RUN ALEX!” he screamed and then his eyes went past me making me turn my head back to the gate, gasping in fright when I saw him as if he had suddenly appeared out of nowhere,
