Shallow Blood ™ Chapter 6: Crossing Into Espada
A Drama in Three Scenes
Scene 1: The Forest of Shadows
Setting: A dense, foreboding forest on the edge of Espada. Ancient trees twist toward a dim sky, their gnarled branches blotting out sunlight. A cold mist swirls around the ground, clinging to the earth. The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. AXEL SPADE, a tall, dark-complexioned young man with dreadlocks and a slim but muscular build, moves cautiously, KINSLAYER strapped to his back. The distant cries of unseen creatures echo, sharp and unsettling.
AXEL
(muttering to himself, eyes scanning the shadows)
Keep moving. Stay sharp. This place… it's alive.
[Suddenly, his steps falter. He clutches his chest, a sharp gasp escaping as he looks down. Black veins crawl across his arms and chest, pulsing like molten ink beneath his skin. He stumbles, eyes wide with horror.]
AXEL
(screaming, clutching his arms)
Ahhhhhh! No! What's happening to me?!
[Pain surges through him, sharp and unrelenting. He staggers forward, each step intensifying the agony. The veins writhe, almost alive. The forest seems to close in, shadows twisting in mockery. His vision blurs.]
AXEL
(desperate, gasping)
No… I can't… not now…
[His legs give out. He collapses face-first into the cold, damp soil. The stage goes dark, the sounds of the forest fading into silence.]
[After a beat, a faint light returns. AXEL stirs, pushing himself up. The black veins are gone, his skin normal. He breathes heavily, confused, his hand brushing against KINSLAYER.]
AXEL
(hoarse, bewildered)
What… was that?
[He shakes his head, forcing himself to stand. His expression hardens with resolve.]
AXEL
(firmly)
No time to dwell. The border's ahead. I keep moving.
[He adjusts KINSLAYER and strides forward, the mist swirling around him as the forest looms ominously.]
Scene 2: The Encounter with the Thieves
Setting: A desolate clearing in Espada. The sky is a muted gray, streaked with ominous clouds. A faint, acrid scent lingers. A small fire crackles at the center, casting flickering light. Three thieves—RODERICK, NORMAN, and SHANE—emerge from the shadows. RODERICK is broad-shouldered with a sharp gaze; NORMAN is wiry, eyeing AXEL's sword greedily; SHANE is large, silent, and coiled like a predator. AXEL stands opposite, alert, his hand near KINSLAYER.
RODERICK
(smirking, voice low and dangerous)
Well, well… a lost lamb wandering into the wolves' den.
[The thieves laugh, a harsh, grating sound. AXEL's hand tightens on KINSLAYER, his eyes narrowing.]
AXEL
(calmly, measured)
I'm not here for trouble. Just passing through.
NORMAN
(grinning, leaning forward)
Passing through, huh? With a blade like that? Maybe you should let us hold it… for safekeeping.
[AXEL's eyes flash with cold defiance.]
AXEL
Not a chance.
RODERICK
(raising a hand, feigning diplomacy)
Easy there. No need to get violent. Safety in numbers, eh? Join us—no harm, just company.
[AXEL hesitates, his posture tense. He scans the thieves, reading their intentions. After a beat, he nods warily.]
AXEL
Fine. I join… but I keep my sword.
[RODERICK's grin widens, showing grimy teeth. He gestures to the fire.]
RODERICK
Deal. Welcome to the pack.
[AXEL shakes RODERICK's hand, his grip firm but guarded. The thieves make space around the fire, tossing him a crude blanket and a piece of bread. They sit, the firelight highlighting their hardened features.]
SHANE
(low, suspicious)
So, stranger… what brings you to Espada? Not many wander here without a reason.
[AXEL takes a cautious bite of bread, his eyes flicking between the thieves, noting their weapons and subtle tension.]
AXEL
I'm on a personal quest. Passing through, nothing more. And you? What's your business here?
NORMAN
(raising a mug of ale, smirking)
Survival. Espada's full of treasures… if you've got the guts to take them.
RODERICK
(nodding)
Norman's right. Take what you need or get taken. That's the law here. We've got our little operation. Keeps us alive. Keeps us fed.
AXEL
(raising an eyebrow, lips tight)
Sounds dangerous. But I suppose… it's how you get through another day.
SHANE
(leaning in, intrigued)
And what's your story? You don't carry a sword like that for show.
AXEL
(expression tightening)
Let's just say I've had to use it before. And I'd rather not tonight.
[NORMAN chuckles, shaking his head.]
NORMAN
Guts alone won't keep you alive. You need to know when to fight and when to retreat.
RODERICK
(raising his mug)
Exactly. We've survived by reading people, knowing when to strike, when to step back.
[AXEL sips from his waterskin, relaxed but alert, KINSLAYER resting at his side like a warning.]
AXEL
I'll keep that in mind. But I'm not here to meddle in schemes. Just passing through.
SHANE
(grinning)
Fair enough. Need a guide—or tips on surviving—you know where to find us.
RODERICK
(warm but cautious)
Cooperation's useful… when it benefits everyone.
[The fire crackles, casting long shadows. The thieves laugh and share stories, but AXEL remains watchful, his presence a quiet contrast to their ease. The scene fades as the firelight flickers.]
Scene 3: Nightfall in Espada
Setting: The same clearing, now shrouded in darkness. The mist thickens, curling around the trees like spectral fingers. The moon barely pierces the dense canopy, leaving the fire as the only light. Shadows dance unnaturally, stretching with a life of their own. The thieves sleep, their snores mingling with distant creature cries. AXEL sits apart, KINSLAYER across his lap, staring into the flames.
[A faint pulsing stirs in AXEL's pocket. He reaches down, pulling out the black spade card. It feels warm, almost alive. He frowns, confused.]
AXEL
(whispering)
What…?
[The card hums softly, a heartbeat-like vibration. A faint black mist curls from its edges, wrapping around his hand before dissipating. His eyes widen, heart racing. He glances at his arms—his veins are faintly darker, like shadows beneath the skin. A subtle pulse of energy moves through him.]
[AXEL's breath quickens. He stares at the card, its surface seeming to pulse. The shadows around the camp grow heavier, stretching toward him. A faint WHISPER echoes in his mind, soft but insistent.]
WHISPER
(ethereal, playful)
Power… freedom… your path lies with me…
[AXEL's jaw tightens. He shivers, gripping KINSLAYER. He holds the card before him, as if shielding himself from its call.]
AXEL
(firmly, defiant)
Not… now. Not yet.
[A black shimmer lingers around his fingertips, pulsing with his heartbeat. The thieves' snores continue, oblivious. AXEL's eyes remain fixed on the card, his expression a mix of resolve and uncertainty.]
AXEL
(thinking, tense)
This… it's connected. The veins, the pain, this card. Something's stirring. Something I can't control.
[He presses the card to his chest, taking a deep breath.]
AXEL
(whispering, resolute)
I'll walk this path… on my terms.
[The shadows lengthen, the forest deepening. The card pulses faintly, a silent reminder of its growing influence. AXEL remains awake, vigilant, as the stage fades to black, the forest's whispers echoing softly.]
TO BE CONTINUED…