Chapter 28: Running

Chapter 28.

01. Reskeme ran in fear, He could hear the loud whistles of the guards as they began to arrive at the site of the killings. Reskeme could hear whistling ahead blocking off alleys, Reskeme fearfully glanced over his shoulder. He didn't see any pursuers but he did notice that the whistles of the guards coming from all around him. Reskeme realized he couldn't get away as there were no places to hide, He checked around the corner of the alley noticing three guards blocking off his escape and he could hear more guards coming behind him. Reskeme looked down at his uniform, It was covered in blood and was torn in places. He had clearly gotten done fighting and the guards weren't idiots.

02. The guards rounded the corner behind him, One yelled, "Hey you!" Reskeme turned fearfully looking in every direction looking for a way to escape. Reskeme eyed up the three guards who had rounded the corner both had weapons drawn and looked shaken. The guards said," Are you all right, One said," We heard a demon was headed this way." Reskeme realized the guards were indeed idiots, Reskeme tried to look shocked that they were there as he said, "It came past me and was trying to kill me, luckily you guys scared it off." One guard said, "We are going to need you to come with us to the church, The inquisitor is going to need to help describe the demon."

03. Reskeme said, " Don't worry about my injuries I can get them fixed back at the guild." The guards were cautiously looking around, they looked down each side of the alley until they were satisfied that nothing was hiding in anything like the crate the was partway down the alley. Reskeme was happy that he Hadn't tried to disguise himself as a box, These guards were not taking any chances, one had thrust his sword into the box to make sure nothing was in it. Reskeme was pale at the thought of that being him. One guard eyed up his white hair before saying "why is your hair that colour?" Reskeme tried to remain calm as he stated," I'm the illusionist for the messengers guild on the job to go delivering messages." The guard looked exited, He said," I heard that you made one of the guards heads bald with your magic, the guard chuckled and one said," that's priceless." Reskeme chuckled trying to show he wasn't nervous.

04. The guard in charge hit the man laughing upside the head and said, " Hey focus, don't let down your guard or you will get us all killed." The superior officer clearly was much more affected by the deaths of 2 people than the guard who had laughed a moment ago. Reskeme calmed his breathing and looking like he was in a hurry glanced in back and forth at each guard, One guard said:" What are you soo nervous for do you have somewhere to be?" Reskeme said," I'm working right now, Let's get this over with I need to return the message back to my guild master." The guard didn't seem to care much, and Reskeme followed the guard in charge as the other two followed behind, He grumbled at this development as these guards were not giving him any chances to leave.

05. Reskeme sighed with Resignation as he began returning to near where the fight had been. Reskeme Really didn't want to as maybe the person who had seen him was there, Hopefully, they wouldn't recognize him with the colour of his skin no longer red. A group of guards with two that were dressed in much fancier armour were in a circle talking to each other. Reskeme and the guards approached the group, The leader of his group said, " We found someone who seen the demon from up close, He was attacked in an alley but we scared it off." The guard was clearly making it sound like he was solely the one who did all the work and should get all the credit. If Reskeme wasn't trying to stay out of their attention he would say something. Without looking back The inquisitor said, "We were searching for that blasted demon when we got the message from one of the guards." The inquisitor Kelvin was looking at the corpse who was in the middle of the circle of guards and looked like he was trying not to vomit.

06. Reskeme almost vomited when he saw the horrific burns covering the body of the thief. The man looked like he was a husk and judging by the pale faces of some of the guards they too were equally unsettled. High inquisitor Kelvin placed his hand on his massive gut while covering his nose with a piece of fabric. Reskeme noticed that even this piece of fabric had a gold lining, Reskeme was disgusted at how rich some people are.

07. Kelvin turned around and glared at Reskeme, The inquisitor clearly wasn't happy to be there and was even less happy to deal with Reskeme. Kelvin angrily said, " What is this little shit doing here.' The guard escorting Reskeme paused and turned to Reskeme with a look. Reskeme said," I have already met our priest, Reskeme sighed to no one in particular and said, "If only every priest was as busy as you, he continued in an innocent tone," I heard that some priests of the city don't wake up until three in the afternoon and drown themselves in strong drink late into the night." Reskeme smiled at that last part. Kelvins' face turned bright red and he yelled, "you stupid paper pusher." Kelvin's face was as red as a tomato as he glared at the laughing guards while looking around not meeting anyone's eye. Reskeme tried to sound innocent when he said," I assumed I would need to wait until 3 in the afternoon before you would come here I hope you slept well.

08. Kelvin looked all around noticing the guards and even a captain who was there with him trying not to burst into laughter. The inquisitor said, Shut up! "Now tell me what I want to know." Reskeme winked slyly at Kelvin. Reskeme said, "I have seen the Demon heading into the slums, He paused and said, The demon was Really tall, Had Long white hair and Red skin covering its entire body." Reskeme added that last part as he wanted to stick with what he thought the other person might say. After all the best lies had some truth, And he was wearing a bright red uniform that could be mistaken for red skin.

09. The high inquisitor Cursed under his breath, He mumbled "why in the hell do two people always give such different results." Reskeme anxiously asked," May I go now? he stammered I I I have messages to deliver after all." Kelvin cursed and said," go back through the merchants quarter, I don't want to deal with another corpse." Kelvin reached inside his pouch and pulled out an amulet, Reskeme was shocked when the amulet began glowing in the priests' hand. Kelvin said, "First come here boy I need to make sure you were actually in the presence of a demon." Reskeme took a step back in fear, Kelvin said, " don't worry, it won't hurt." Reskeme began sweating nervously, Kelvin brought the amulet in front of him and said," This is an artifact created by ancient mages who used it to track demons for the church.

10. Kelvin smiled and said," Guards get ready, if the medallion Turnes a bright red it means he is possessed, Upon his words all the guards pulled out weapons. If the amulet turned blue he has been in the presence of a demon. Reskeme stared at the amulet and began quickly channelling his mana focusing with all of his will to change the colour to blue as his hands began shaking with fear. The priest placed the amulet in his palm Reskeme wrapped the mana around the amulet as quickly as he could, hoping he was fast enough. with terror the amulet flashed a bright red, The guards and The priest shouted in fear at the bright amulet.

11. Reskemes spell completed after 5 seconds changing the solid Red light to a light blue. Reskeme held his breath staring around at all the guards who had looked like they were going to kill him a moment ago. Kelvin said," Stupid old books, They said, the medallion would only go one colour, He grumbled "they clearly lied. " Kelvin said, "put down those weapons, The guards hesitated before Kelvin Yelled, "the medallion is clearly blue, He isn't a demon.!" Reskeme sighed with relief as he handed the medallion back and broke his spell right after letting goo. The medallion glowed blue for a few seconds longer before sparking to red then back to blue in Kelvins' hand.

12. Kelvin grumbled something about useless ancient artifacts before sliding the priceless amulet back into his pointlessly decorated armour. Reskeme was shaking after the close call, He waved goodbye to the guards who were now much more interested in what was happening as the new person arrived. Reskeme quickly walked away from the man who had spotted him from the alley.

13.Reskeme was expecting the man behind him to yell out and say that's him at any moment but he managed to get around the corner without any such alarm. Reskeme headed back towards the Merchants quarter stumbling a few times and questioning why he made such bad decisions all the time. He was exhausted and needed sleep, Reskeme checked on the letter and noticed the blood in the bottom corner of the note. He sighed and realized there was no way to get away from what was coming. Reskeme passed the guard who earlier had told him it was a bad idea to go through the slums.

14. Reskeme glared daggers at the man to deter him from commenting on his sorry state. The guard said," I'm glad you made it out alright" This shocked Reskeme as he turned to smile at the man who he had met just hours ago. Reskeme had blood all over his uniform and was caked in dirt, not to mention he was also covered head to toe in bruises. Reskeme said," Thanks I didn't realize I would run into a demon," This he said before passing the shocked guards and heading to the safer parts of the city.

15. One guard said, "I'm not going to sleep well knowing a demon is lurking the streets." All the guards nodded their heads at his statement before they continued their duty with much more vigilance, It was too bad they had unknowing let the demon past mere moments ago. Reskeme passed through streets and alleys all with haste and in a state of pain and exhaustion. Reskeme Remembered paying the toll from a pale looking woman who was at the toll booth before passing by, Reskeme knew he was tired as he didn't even care at the two coppers he had just wasted. He didn't even remember how long it had taken him to Arrive at the messenger's guildhall. Reskeme had been surprised when hank hadn't gotten mad and had just told him to change and go to sleep. Reskeme changed into the basic clothes that were conveniently set on a rack, He peeled off his bloody, dirty and slashed uniform before he left not even noticing hanks concerned look at his retreating form.

16. Reskeme made it up the gutter with sheer determination and more fell into the attic then climb in. Reskeme noticed the Familiar fast asleep and wondered how the slacker of a demon always seemed to sleep all day. Reskeme was hazily stumbling to get off his clothes and climb into bed but failed only to collapse onto the blankets, He gazed through blurry eyes he noticed The familiar walking towards the window and staring out at the sunset. Reskeme tried to call out and tell the Familiar to stop but failed to soo much as raise his arm in his fatigue, The familiar glanced at the boy before smiling a toothy smile and climbing out the window. The faint sound of hissing laughter came on the wind from the open window as the demon lept into the fading light.