The more cracks that close the more strands that are cut, each one falling to the ground. Soon innumerable strands of something line the horizon. As if alive they wiggle, rising and falling like a snake's death throes. At first they gather, spiraling and climbing each other to form something resembling a warped tree of light. Then, right at their densest they explode in all directions. Before the people of Lindbourough can do anything the strands arrive.
Thin as wire and tougher than diamond. Within seconds a waving wall of chaos pierces through buildings and the ground leaving a flat trail of black dirt where it passes. It seems capable of destroying anything, like a tsunami of silver. Everything except people.
"Ah…I see it."
The strands, the second they touch someone, wildly pierce into them. As the tsunami moves more people are consumed by the strands until nothing is left of the tsunami. The people…their eyes dull and their skin tears. With eyelids shot open and silver hairs gushing out of the never ending tears in their skin they look to the sky with a deranged smile full of desperation and nostalgia.
Polund is gone.
The capital is gone.
And Lindbourough is almost wiped away.
Stillness
Just as the writhing wave is about to reach the Lindbourough outskirts it stops. The strands continue to weave and shake like deranged worms but they don't move forward by even a centimeter. Suddenly, they go back to the capital, heading north while infecting every person and animal in their path. Right as they reach the capital they shoot up into the sky, spreading in a circular pattern beyond the horizon.
Trapped?
Within moments a large silver cage has encircled half the country, leaving not just Lindbourough but whatever survivors there are to struggle. While the crowd outside looks on in astonishment and confusion a lone man sits inside the hotel with a still face, his eyes glowing an eerie silver. Will and Crim stare at each other for a few moments, Will eventually breaking the silence. "Harry say anything about this?" Despite his calm facade, fear fills his voice. Crim, after looking around to see there truly is no escape from the cage responds. "No…First tha region rule is broken then this 'appens?" The pair look on, Crim getting lost in his thoughts.
Tha heck? Calamities are sapposed ta be one 'an done. What's with tha cage? He thinks.
Meanwhile Will looks at the crowd. Beyond the fear in their eyes some look to the horizon with overwhelming sadness. Elders mumble about dead children, people murmur about lost lovers, while some scream about lost homes.
He focuses on a little girl hugging her father. He's dressed like a merchant, his daughter in a nice dress. Wordlessly he holds his daughter close as she cries and screams. Her mother, pet, and home are all gone. Meanwhile the father can only look on and try to smile, trying his best to comfort and reassure his precious daughter. Instinctively Will clutches his backpack tighter, his face showing a hint of regret.
Trying to distract himself he returns to examining the crowd, eventually noticing the man. Crim on the other hand looks to the horizon and sees something moving closer far into the horizon. Seeing the pair so calm the man decided to approach them. Will immediately flags Crim, reaching into his backpack while Crim reaches into his jacket pocket. Within moments the trio stand face to face among the crowd. They stare at each other, waiting for someone to make the first move. Eventually, the man speaks.
"Hey hey! Names Harry! Nice to meet you. Considering how calm you two are, you're probably fans who heard my warning, right?"
Just like that the tense air between the three disappears. Harry offers a handshake to the pair, awkwardly scratching the back of his head when the two do nothing but stare. For a few seconds he leaves his hand in the air, pulling back and letting out a small cough.
"So, ummm. Why'd you two decide to come here?"
Will looks at Crim. In response he shrugs. "We 'ere cause we wanted ta see tha calamity and meet'cha." Will immediately shakes his head and speaks out. "Speak for yaself. Im just 'ere cause I can't trust ya alone." A few people turn their head to Crim, wondering if Crim knew this would happen. For a few moments a chunk of the panicking crowd calms down the glare at the trio. Thankfully, they do nothing to the three, instead choosing to return wherever they're staying and gather their belongings.
Suddenly the trio are left alone outside the inn. Will ends up speaking first. "Ya 'ave any idea how long this'll last?" Harry lifts his hand and raises two fingers. "Two weeks." Crim, trying his best not to flood Harry with an onslaught of questions, thinks about how best to deal with the situation. "I think I'm gonna take over one of the small manors in the inner city. You two want to help?"
Confusion.
"I'm sorry but what?" Will said, glancing at Crim to see if he has any Idea what's going on in Harry's head. Seeing the two looking at him like some weirdo he panics, immediately explaining himself after making sure no one else can hear. "The markets should be flooded with thieves by now. If we steal a manor we can secure food and shelter without much fight." Will nods, thinking about how it beats shuffling through a chaotic crowd. Glancing at Crim he can't help but think again, nothing can be worse than crowd surfing. Crim, remembering his first calamity, decides to follow Harry, thinking it's better than trusting a group of unknowns. At least Harry seems to know what's happening they think.
So the three move to the inner city, or at least they try too. Unfortunately, guards have already been set up in the upper area. At first they try to sneak past them but there's too many. Eventually they find themselves in a small midtown alley between two bakeries. The front doors have been broken down, the glass display cases shattered and emptied. Crim sits on the ground lazily while Will and Harry lean against a wall each.
Will is the first to break the silence. "So…we can either knock one of them out and risk a commotion or find a way to negotiate our way in." Harry sighs, responding after pulling out a bucket-like knight's helm from seemingly nowhere and putting it on. "I'd prefer not to have to reveal anything about myself here so negotiations are off the table for me." Crim, while the two discuss, stays silent, choosing to think things over instead.
Two weeks…we won't have ta worry bout starvation but that's a lotta time for tha people 'ere ta lose emselves ta fear. We definitely have tha power ta take over a manor or two but there's a risk a things escalatin beyond our control. Maybe we can negotiate ta work as hired guards, that way if something does 'appen it'll be whoever hired us that faces all the backlash.
Crim, after thinking things over one last time, explains his point of view. While Will seems to agree, Harry says he doesn't want to risk outing himself further. In response the two step away to discuss things again, asking Harry to wait for them. Harry, still wearing his bucket helmet gives a thumbs up and relaxes. Crim speaks first, glancing at Harry occasionally.
"Will, ya agree we need em right? Tha man's been right, tha info is too valuable ta loose."
Will nods, taking a moment to think.
While it's true he's valuable now that they know the time frame of the calamity the odds of survival are much higher independently. Plus, there's still that butler. Neither Crim nor me know if it'll return. At least, for now the situation is definitely survivable otherwise Harry wouldn't have come. Still, there have to be some risks. Knowing when a calamity will come has to come with some unexpected cost. Besides, if we take over a manor we will cause a scene. How is that not outing himself? Hmmm, for now it's best to follow along, he's too valuable.
"I say we follow his lead for now."
After the three confirm their plan Harry passes Crim and Will a helmet. "Where are you getting these?" Looking at Harry without a satchel or backpack they can only wonder. In response Harry smiles and says "Secret." Crim, somewhat annoyed, sticks out his tongue. Will on the other doesn't care, instead putting on the helmet. In the time that passed trying to find a path more have been sealed off, the guards watching over every major path with paid vagrants watching the alleys. Looking around they manage to find a pair of weak looking guards talking to each other. A burly looking short man and a lanky looking tall man wearing a typical police uniform. A blue long sleeve button up with khakis and matching boots. Both are wearing a black sleeveless button up vest with a holster on their left and right holding a small taser and a pistol respectively. In their chest pocket is a small radio and pull-out baton.
"So ya think they'll really up our pay if we stop someone? Can't trust those nobles but the merchants should keep their word right?"
"Aye. Least we can trust the verbitues. They spoke publicly so they oughta or we gonna lop off some 'eads."
The lanky policeman looks at his partner and signals them to be quiet.
"Hm? Ya 'ear that? I think someone's tryin ta sneak past."
"...Next time ya whisper it ta me ya bloody dunderhead. Come out, we know ya there!"
Knowing they've been caught, the trio step out of the alley, Will and Harry grabbing a small rock off the ground before fully exiting. The burly man walks forward, pulling out his pistol while the other tries to speak into his radio. Before the pair can even do anything Will and Harry throw their rocks as hard as they can, aiming for the pair's heads! Despite being panicked the pair manage to dodge, unfortunately that gives Will and Harry enough time to close the distance.
Crim puts on a serious face and pulls out a dagger from his pocket the moment they move. Will moves to smash the radio while Harry moves to knock out the burly man! Now calmer, the burly man takes aim, looking to shoot Harry's knees. Before he can do anything, he sees a dagger blade rushing towards his hands.
"A shifter?!?"
The blade of Crims' dagger extends out like a whip, moving the distance to slash the gun. Now even more panicked, the pair go still. Crim puts on a smug smile, his blade cleanly cutting the pistol's barrel off. Despite the surprise on his face Harry keeps focus, moving directly in front of the lanky man. In an instant he swipes the radio! Will on the other hand leans forward, sending an uppercut straight to the burly man's jaw the second he gets close enough. Harry follows suite, putting the lanky man in a choke hold till knocked unconscious. Within moments the three finish their fight, the blade of Crim's dagger returning to normal as if it never changed.
Harry, after making sure the police duo are knocked unconscious, looks to Will. Almost as if reading his mind Will responds. "No I'm not a shifter and yes I figured the kid was." Annoyed, Crim interjects. "Name's Crim. Anyways, C'mon I wanna see wha fancy food we can snatch!" Astonished by the pair's nonchalance, Harry sighs, choosing not to say anything. I can't judge considering how many secrets I have, he thinks to himself.
So the trio enter the inner city after hiding the knocked out officers by the alley they came out of, prepared to either negotiate or hijack a manor.