The Ghosts of the Past

The morning sun filtered weakly through the clouds as the group packed up the camp, its light casting long shadows on the barren landscape. The aftermath of the battle with the demons still hung in the air, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had a mission, and they couldn’t afford to rest for long. With the golden lamp still glowing faintly in Annabeth’s hands, they set out again, unsure of what awaited them, but certain of their purpose: to bring the light to those who still needed it, to guide them to something greater.

Wheels led the way, his eyes scanning the horizon. His calm presence was a steady anchor, a silent reminder of the mission at hand. Emmalyn walked beside him, her mind occupied with thoughts of the previous night. She hadn’t spoken much since the attack, but the events were still fresh in her mind—especially the chilling presence of the demons, the reminder that they were always just a step behind.

Noah, strong and unwavering, helped organize the survivors as they moved out. Kelli, too, kept her focus, making sure the others were ready for anything.

The land around them was vast and desolate. Fields of tall, dry grass stretched as far as the eye could see, the remnants of small towns scattered along the way, their ruins barely recognizable. No sign of life, just ashes and broken walls.

By midday, the group came across a town, or rather what was left of one. The buildings were reduced to smoldering piles of rubble, the streets littered with the wreckage of what had once been a thriving community. There were no sounds—no signs of movement, just the oppressive quiet of destruction.

Emmalyn was the first to speak. “This place… It’s been hit hard. Whoever did this wasn’t playing around.”

Kelli’s voice was low and tense. “No signs of survivors. This wasn’t a random attack.”

“Looks like a raid,” Annabeth said quietly, her eyes scanning the ruins. “But this… this was different. There’s no one left.”

Wheels rolled forward, his eyes narrowing as he took in the destruction. “The demons hit this place, I’m sure of it. But it doesn’t make sense. Why leave it like this? Why let it burn without finishing the job?”

The group ventured deeper into the town, the heavy silence pressing down on them as they navigated the wreckage. The streets were eerily still, the air thick with the smell of smoke and charred wood.

Then, something caught Emmalyn’s eye. Amidst the rubble, something—someone—moved. A figure, barely visible, lying still but breathing. She sprinted toward it, her instincts kicking in.

“Over here!” Emmalyn shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.

Annabeth and Kelli quickly followed, rushing toward the figure buried beneath debris. As they cleared the rubble, their eyes widened in recognition.

“It’s Colt,” Annabeth whispered, her heart skipping a beat.

Emmalyn froze. “Colt? From our last adventure on the mountain?” she asked, disbelief coloring her voice.

Annabeth nodded, her eyes filled with concern. “It’s him. He’s alive.”

They gently lifted Colt’s battered form, laying him carefully on the ground. His clothes were torn, his face bloodied and bruised. He was breathing, though faintly, and his eyes flickered open for a brief moment, full of confusion.

“Colt, hey,” Annabeth said softly, leaning closer. “Can you hear me? It’s Annabeth.”

His eyes met hers, clouded and distant. “Annabeth… Emmalyn…” He coughed weakly. “I... thought I’d lost you both...”

“Not yet,” Emmalyn said with a grin, despite the gravity of the situation. “But you’re in bad shape. You need help.”

“Was... wasn’t ready for this...” Colt muttered, his voice barely audible. “Wasn’t ready for any of it…”

Annabeth knelt beside him, her hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to get you out of here, Colt. Just hang in there.”

Wheels, who had rolled closer to the group, let out a low sigh as he studied Colt. His brown eyes softened as he gazed at the man lying before them, and Emmalyn could see the weight of the past in his expression.

“You know him?” Kelli asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Wheels nodded, his gaze still locked on Colt. “Yeah, I know him. We fought together back in the wars. We were a team—a darn good one too.”

Annabeth’s eyes widened. “You fought together? I didn’t know you two were—”

“Yeah,” Wheels interrupted, his voice quieter now. “We fought side by side. But after everything fell apart, Colt... he disappeared. He went his own way. I lost track of him after that.” He sighed deeply, the pain of old memories resurfacing in his tone. “It’s been a long time.”

Emmalyn stood up, her mind racing. “What happened to him? Why did he end up here, like this?”

Wheels’ gaze remained fixed on Colt, who was now unconscious again, his face pale. “We fought for survival. That’s all we ever did. But after the wars, after everything fell apart... I think Colt lost something. He didn’t just lose his body, he lost his will to keep fighting. I think he was looking for something more—something to believe in. But whatever he’s been through since... it’s taken its toll.”

Kelli moved closer to Wheels, her voice softer now. “None of us are the same as we were before. The world’s been changing too fast.”

“Exactly,” Wheels said, his eyes still on Colt. “We lost everything. But some of us found a reason to keep going. Others…” He trailed off, his voice heavy with regret.

Annabeth turned to look at Colt, her heart aching for the man who had once helped them survive a deadly journey on the mountain. He had been strong, a fighter. But now he looked fragile—broken by a world that seemed to have chewed him up and spit him out.

“We can’t just leave him here,” Annabeth said firmly, her voice full of determination. “We’ll take him with us. He’s been through hell, but we’ll help him. We’ll make sure he gets the chance to fight again.”

Emmalyn nodded. “I agree. Let’s get him back to the camp. He needs medical attention, and we can’t let him die here, not after everything he’s done for us.”

Wheels gave a small nod, the faintest hint of approval in his eyes. “Alright, let’s move. But we’ll need to be careful. If demons were here, they might come back. We can’t afford to stay in one place for too long.”

Noah approached them, his face a mask of concern. “What happened here? How did this place fall?”

Wheels looked around at the ruined town, his eyes scanning the wreckage. “I don’t know. But this isn’t just some random attack. Whoever did this knows what they’re doing. And they’re not done.”

Emmalyn’s hand tightened on her sword. “We’ll be ready. Let’s get out of here before more demons show up.”

With Colt carefully carried between them, the group began to make their way out of the destroyed town. As they moved, the wind picked up, carrying with it a faint echo of distant cries, as though the town itself was mourning the lives lost here.

The world was falling apart. But with every step they took, they carried the light with them. And as long as they had each other, as long as the lamp burned bright, they would keep fighting—not just for survival, but for a future, for a reason to keep going when everything seemed lost.

Together, they would rebuild. And with every soul they saved, they would bring the light one step closer to driving back the darkness.