Titan:
In the Clutches of the Leviathan
pt. 5
Regulus stood frozen as he gazed
across the scene of destruction laid out before him. Much of the city he had
been sworn to protect lay in smouldering ruin. His hands began to tremble in a
mixture of fear and rage as he stared down from the hill top. He dropped down
to street level to gauge the extent of the damage.
From the middle of one of the
nearest streets to the edge of the hill Regulus saw firsthand the extent of the
damage left by the Leviathan. Buildings all around were either completely
levelled to rubble or had large pieces ripped out of them. The street was
littered with debris and bodies. Regulus could see several citizens limping
badly with visible wounds or lying in the street struggling to get up.
“Regulus, oh Regulus, I am so
glad you’re back,” came a familiar voice from behind him.
Regulus turned and was shocked
to see a man with a wide gash down the side of his head that was still seeping
blood down the side of his face and neck. The man had one arm outstretched and
the other clutched at his side which was also soaked in crimson. It took Regulus
a moment to recognise this man as his friend, Seamus.
“Seamus, what’s happened here?
How can all of this be?” Regulus asked as he rushed toward his friend.
As Regulus reached him, Seamus’s
knees buckled and he began to drop to the ground. Regulus quickly wrapped his
arms around him and eased him down to the ground.
“The Leviathan awoke shortly
after you left. There was nothing we could do,” Seamus said in a faltering weak
voice.
“Why did you approach the beast,
old friend? You should have simply ran,” Regulus said, as he tried to wipe the
blood from Seamus’s face.
“I had to confront the creature.
It had reached your home, and your son was still too ill to be moved.” The
words to cut Regulus like a knife to the heart. He suddenly froze and looked
into Seamus’s eyes. “We tried old friend we were just not strong enough. We…”
Before his voice could even
trail off to an endless sleep, Regulus was setting his friend aside and rising
to his feet, that old feeling of fear and rage boiling over now. He glanced
over to the east toward his home and saw only various thick plumes of smoke
that rose high into the air. He took several steps and then launched himself
into the air.
Regulus, I know you are worried and angry, but you cannot let your
anger cloud your judgement now. You must find the Leviathan and put him to rest
for good.
“No, nothing else is done until
I see that my family is okay,” Regulus seethed as he flew over the city.
Do not forget your higher duty to the innocent civilians still at
stake. Also, do not forget that this has only happened because you were
neglectful of your duties before you left. You should never have left that
creature to the people of this city.
“Do not worry. I have forgotten
none of this.”
Regulus almost refused to
believe the sight of the scene he saw before he landed and could see it up
close for himself. His home and all other structures ion the surrounding area
were completely and utterly destroyed. It was as though they had been stomped
completely flat. He rushed into the ruins of what was once his home and began
to frantically search for his wife and son. He was tossing wooden beams and
throwing big chunks of rock when he saw a long thin arm poking from beneath the
remains of a wall.
Regulus rushed over and tossed
the rubble aside with ease. There lying before him was his wife. Clutched
tightly in her arms was their son. He knelt on trembling legs and reached out
with one shaky arm to check for any signs of life. He found none. He pulled
them close and held them as his body convulsed and shook. At last, a loud sob
escaped him and rivers of tears poured down his face as he looked up to the sky
cursing himself for letting the happen to his family.
Regulus clutched his family
tightly letting his grief consume him when a long dark shadow suddenly hung
over him. Warm air pushed against the back of his neck. He recognised the
breathing sounds instantly, and gently laid his family down. Then, he stood and
turned and stared at the Leviathan as it hovered over him, teeth bared.
“You were unwise to come back,
creature,” Regulus said, as he gazed up at the creature through tear streaked
eyes.
Without another word Regulus
leaped for the beasts head with one mighty fist outstretched and the other
cocked ready to deliver another immediate blow. The Leviathan opened its mouth
wide, exposing rows after row of sharp jagged teeth, and ready to accept its
prey.
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