David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

and we must see to it. We cannot help you right now as we had hoped, but I promise you, as soon as we look into it, we will seek you out and aid you in any way possible.

“But for now, you must run from the city and hide deep in the forest. Take the hidden path leading out from the northern wall, you know which one I speak of.” Erin nodded urgently, as the Elder continued.

“Seek refuge in the village of West Post just past the ancient ruins of Abington. There you will find an old friend of ours; he goes by the name of Orin.  He will be able to tell you more of this orb and what you must do. Now go, and hurry! There’s no time to waste!” the elder finished hastily and looked quickly around at the others. They each nodded at once, all seeming to know just what the other was thinking, interconnected in a way that left David wondering just how much he really didn’t understand of the world he now found himself in.

The Elders stood all at once and vanished without a trace, leaving David and Erin alone and trembling with fear. “What in the world could have upset the Elders that badly?” said Erin.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think we should stay to find out. We should go.” David replied, grabbing her hand, and starting for the door.

They ran out of the room and down the hallway, bursting through the front door and into the dimly lit streets. The sky overhead was dark with strange swirling storm clouds, sending violent winds and lightning streaking across the skies. The townspeople were standing around pointing and staring upward, apparently wondering what was causing the sudden change of weather.

Some had already gathered their wits and started shouting for others to run for shelter as children began wandering aimlessly about, crying for their parents. David and Erin used the distraction to their advantage and took off down the streets before the panic started setting in, making it impossible to navigate through the chaos that would ensue.

“Where are we going, this isn’t the way to the gate is it?” David shouted over the howling winds.

“No, we must get some supplies from my house. We need to be prepared when we leave the city, it’s a long journey through the woods to West Post taking the northern path.” she screamed through labored breaths as she ran.

They ran through the streets, trying to avoid being knocked over by the panicked citizens and struggling to keep up their swift pace. Two times they nearly got ran over by crazed mobs running and screaming for safety from the increasingly violent storm, but they narrowly managed to duck and weave around them, escaping the danger.

When they finally reached Erin’s house, they noticed the door was kicked in and the place was trashed. Someone had been here recently looking for something and nearly destroyed the place trying to find it. They cautiously walked in being careful to remain alert for any signs of danger.

“Mother! Mother are you in here?” Erin called as she carefully stepped over a fallen chair. The place was a mess and panic was starting to set in when she heard no reply from her mother.

“I wonder what happened here?” whispered David, as he walked over the remains of a knocked over bookshelf. The books were strewn across the floor, leaving the bookshelf empty.

Someone was looking for something, he thought, but it doesn’t look like they’ve found what they were looking for…everything is torn apart.

Erin ran up the stairs to the hallway leading to the bedrooms and disappeared into a room at the end of the hall before letting out a horrid scream.

“Mother! No! No, no, no…”

David ran into the room after her and saw a middle-aged woman, lying on the floor covered in blood. She had a hand over a large wound on her stomach and was barely conscious.

“Mother, what happened, who did this to you?” cried Erin, tears flowing freely down her face.

“Erin… is that you, dear?” said her mother, faintly, reaching up with her blood-soaked hand.

Erin grabbed her hand and placed it gently on her face. “Yes, mother, it’s me. I’m here now, it will be okay…” whispered Erin, consolingly. She knew it was a lie, it would not be okay…her mother was going to die.

“Oh, Erin, dear…I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you better. They found it, dear…they know the truth...you…must go….” She started to cough up blood as she closed her eyes, wincing from the pain.

“What do you mean, mother? What did they find? Who did this to you?” cried Erin, confused and horrified by the scene unfolding before her. It was like living in a nightmare, but one she knew she wouldn’t wake from.

“You’re father…. he….” Her mother let out a final, labored breath and closed her eyes. Her hand dropped from Erin’s face, falling lifelessly to the ground. She was dead.

“Mother…no…please don’t leave me….” Erin let out a heartfelt cry and wept on her mother’s chest. She was gone, leaving Erin alone in the world. Her mother was the only family she had ever known, apart from Tyrius, who was not her family, but had been there for most of her life, taking her in as an apprentice of sorts.

David walked slowly up to Erin and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Erin…I’m so sorry. Whoever did this to her, we will find them. We will make sure they pay, somehow…whatever it takes. I swear” his words sounded strong and convincing, but David secretly wondered what he could do to avenge her mother’s death.

Despite what everyone had been telling him about this orb and its incredible powers, he still felt like just a weak nobody, like he had always been.

“Yes…we will avenge her…” whispered Erin, a fierce anger growing inside. “I will find out who did this to you, Mother, and I will avenge you if it’s the last thing I