Everyone was dead. There was blood everywhere. On the trees, the bark was red, not brown. The grass was stained crimson. I stared in horror. There were no Dark Ones around. They must have thought they killed me. Idiots.

I knelt down to Blake's lifeless body. I examined his body. There was a large X cut into his chest. I gritted my teeth.

"Are...Are you a ghost?" said a small voice behind me.

I turned. "A ghost? No. Are you? How are you alive?"

"I don't know. The last thing I remember is my brother throwing a large barrier above me and some other person" he nodded at Blake.

So that's how I'm alive. Blake threw a magic barrier over me and his little brother, Jake. I sighed.

"You think any others got in the barrier? Maybe escaped as soon as they could?"

"I don't know, Jake. It's a possibility, but a low one at that. We could search, I guess."

"Okay. I don't see my mom or Miss Baylora. I think they might have ran."

Miss Baylora is a young cleric who tagged along to heal the wounded. I looked around and didn't see her or Jake's mom. I guess Jake might be right. So, before we ventured on, I grabbed Blake's sword and handed it to his brother. Jake was a warrior now. He had no choice. I slung my quiver over my back, including my bow, and held the handle of the sword on my side.

"May our hunt for the Dark Ones and survivors be successful" said Jake, head down.

"Yeah. Hope we find some survivors. Even some Dark Ones and end their lives. Excited to be a warrior now?"

"I guess."

And so we walked on, not looking back at the tragedy behind us.