A Stroke Of Originality

It was Zias first day on the job, and he wanted to make an excellent impression for the headmasters. He walked outside of the Great Wall and observed the area with his head held high, and a sign of pride. Zias stayed alert watching for anything that seemed to be a threat to the Golden Kingdom. Today was the day he would report no criminal activity and honor his family with such a great job. As he began to patrol the southern route, he thought he heard a noise but couldn’t place where it was coming from. He put the thought to the back of his mind as he continued patrolling, but the sound came again this time louder and once again he couldn’t make out what it was or where it was coming from.

“HELP!” The noise was finally apparent as it came from deep within the forest.

Zias didn’t hesitate as he ran towards the noise with a quickness.

“I’m coming!” He shouted back as he ran.

As Zias ran, he came into a clearing in the forest, and a woman who looked bruised and beaten came running at him.

“Please, you have to help me they’re going to kill me.” Her voice was shaky as she pleaded with Zias.

He looked at her as she squeezed him tightly as her body shook viciously with fear. Her blue eyes swollen with tears, and her pale skin cut up from running through the forest. Since it was Zias first day, he didn’t think he would run into such a situation. The first day was going to be a breeze right? The easy route is the southern route… Zias suddenly heard more noises approaching fast, knocking him from his thoughts. He looked in the distance and seen men in red robes, and their swords were drawn running straight into the opening.

“Get behind me!” Zias shouted to the woman as the attackers approached.

The woman got behind Zias quickly.

“Stand down! this woman is now under the protection of the Golden Kingdom, and is not to be harmed!” Zias shouted at the attackers.

“Well, well, well, I don’t think you get to make that decision.” A bald man who seemed to be the leader said with a cunning voice.

“I’m warning you! stay away from this woman, or I will be forced to use deadly force.” Zias drew his sword from its scabbard.

“I don’t have time for this, kill him and bring the woman back.” The man said as he sheathed his sword and smiled.

Fear activated the adrenaline in Zias body as the attackers began running at him. Zias stood his ground as one attacker came at him going for his throat, but Zias immediately deflected it and retaliated thrusting his sword in the gut of the attacker as his body moved on its own. As Zias withdrew his sword from the body of the attacker, another one followed up swinging his weapon wildly, and as Zias dodged he fell to the ground on top of the woman shielding her and deflecting the man’s attack. As Zias rolled around, trying to deflect the attacker, he eventually got cut across the chest. The cut sent a pain spiraling throughout his body, but he pushed it as far as he could in the back of his mind.
Zias finally saw his opening on the second attacker as he overextended, giving Zias the perfect opportunity to thrust his blade in the throat of the attacker and end the attacker’s life.
As the attacker’s lifeless body fell to the ground, Zias jumped up as quick as he could. “Get out of here and run towards the gate! Go now!” he yelled at the woman.
Zias watched her face laced with fear as she struggled to get to her feet and run towards the gate. After watching her run, he turned around and was welcomed with a sword to his abdomen. Blood gushed from his mouth as he stared his attacker in the face. In a quick instant, Zias grabbed the attackers hand pushing the sword deeper inside him, and delivering a clean cut to the attacker’s neck removing his head. Zias stared at the other enemies and let out a war cry as he sent another to the afterlife. They stared back at Zias hesitating to make a move as he stood there looking like a mad man with a blade in his stomach and blood all over. Zias pulled the sword from his stomach and let out another war cry. He didn’t know what came over him, but he felt as if he could take everyone in front of him until an unexplained pain came over his body, dropping him to his knees. He looked down and noticed a dagger protruding his chest. Zias looked around wondering who got behind him, but when he turned, he saw the woman he was trying to protect. She stood over him with a grin on her face, holding a second dagger in her hand.

“My hero,” she said as she ended Zias life.

“One guy shouldn’t have given you that much trouble. Don’t disappoint me again or it’s your life, I will be ending next!” She said out loud to the men as she wiped the blood and tears from her face. “Now on to the kingdom!”

 

Hey guys! Here with another Flash Fiction story. I hope you guys like this one and as always if you don’t, let me know in the comments below on what I could do better or what you would like to eventually see posted. Until next time! Stay great!