Attropolis XXXII

She slapped the flame from Hippos’ hand and stomped it to put the fire out. She felt doomed, as the light might have drawn the beasts towards them. From panic rose noise, the people were turning their whispers into loud voices. A terrifying wave of shh went up the line of people, making them realize of their grave mistake. The silence fell again upon the line of people, but since so did the realization of their mistake, the panic now felt grater than before. The more silence they tried to create, the more their hearts would beat louder, the more the crunch of the leafs turned into whip cracks and the more the terrifying of getting mauled by wild animals was taking over.

They started slowly getting up and moving again. In their hands with knives, axes, swords, daggers and arrows. Afraid, terrified and petrified of what could happen, of what they’ve done and how they’ve exposed themselves to the darkness within the forest. A darkness with no light at the end that felt never-ending like a labyrinth. In the cold dead of the night the people were sweating all their anxiousness, fear, panic due to their own carelessness. The windless forest felt like a suffocating trap that strangled all their bravery out of them. A woman’ scream thundered through the forest, everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Focusing, holding their weapons tight, trying to muster their fear under control. Hands shaking, knees weak, arms heavy, this felt like the reckoning for their mistake. The scream faded as quickly as it came, a few minutes later… Nothing. Slowly they started moving again. The scream of the woman reappeared, just as loud, again. They stopped, again.

Footsteps, quick little footsteps around them. The light of the moon had faded behind clouds. The tears flowing down their faces, but silence made its presence again. They couldn’t trust their eyes or their ears, it felt like they were being played tricks on. A squirrel sprung its head out a bit, Hippos leaned in and took it in his hand, the squirrel climbed onto his shoulder, this made Adpetentia happy, he had calmed her down once again. Another squirrel popped its head out, she leaned in, she put a finger under his head, and the head came after her, and with the head, a wolf trying to bite her arm. Hippos pulled her back whilst stabbing the wolf in the right eye. The wolves ran out of the darkness towards people, Adpetentia couldn’t use her bow, it was too dark, so she took her arrows and used them as spears. Hippos snapped out of his disappointment and lust over his heroism in Creetus, reinvigorated by the attack of these beasts.

And the Roman Army….

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Attropolis XXXI

The Macedonians and the Greeks were slowly building up their forces to try and take down the Roman empire and escape their claws and join Creetus. Knowing that the Romans would tighten their hands around their neck, and that they’re on their way to strangle them, this felt like their only chance to fight back. But this proved to be a really hard task, one or two persons missing wasn’t a big task, but building an entire uprising under the stern eyes of Roman legionnaires was something immense. Pretending to be ignorant, pretending to be satisfied with your life as is under certain people and being content with how things are, isn’t a small feat. Especially when you have the urge to really destroy those oppressors and feel free for the first time in years. For the first time in years, not feeling trapped during the seasons of the year.

Night after night, they’d look to find a way around the soldiers, but, the watch over the citizens got stricter by day and by night. Nothing was to escape the watchful eyes of the soldiers patrolling the streets of any and all cities. Everyone was on high alert, the tension was palpable, both people and soldiers were petrified, unable to move naturally or make any sudden moves. As if there were two snakes prepared to strike one another. The blacksmiths were crafting more weapons and smuggling them, one for the Romans, two for their own. The armorers were doing the same thing. Working longer hours, to give themselves a fighting chance, as they learned and stole technique from the conquerors . The food makers were giving the soldiers worse and worse products, sabotaging their crops and production. The traders were always sacked of their imported goods for the Roman soldiers. Or they were getting into accidents.

These things felt like they gave them an advantage over the Roman arms, it felt like they struck smartly upon a larger foe, much like a rattle snake on a lion. Thus there were some that would be even more daring, putting out traps at night, so the Romans would step into them, trying to pick the soldiers off one by one. Yet in one of those faithful nights, a few of them were found out, decapitated and had their heads put up on sticks as examples. In front of the sticks, the traps they were using. This terrified people, but most of all, started a bright fire in everyone, but especially in those that were indifferent. Which meant that they were motivated to do more, better and quicker.

And on Trail North

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Attropolis XXX

The pain from the disappointing departure from the place he was born in was still strong, a frustration that he couldn’t let go. The past was haunting him, even if it was the past from just a day ago. The path through the dark forest was terrifying for the ladies and old women, the children were unsettled by the noises, and yet, Hippos couldn’t focus on anything, he couldn’t care about any of it. The howling of the wolves was echoing as the wind provided the bass to this song of nature. While insects were the beat to which people were marching on through the forest with clenched teeth and sweat dripping down them in this cold night.

Adpetentia holding her small bow in one hand, and the other hand ready to reach for her quiver to shoot. Two by two, in a row, walking, without any light, except what crept down between leafs and branches, from the moon. Everything was too peaceful, too simple, she knew that. Ready for everything, expecting the worse of the worse, as with every step the danger was growing. Silence started to settle in as they went deeper and deeper into the night, the winds calmed down, the pace started slowing down too. Then it came to a stop, a few minutes passed, they didn’t start moving, a few more minutes passed, nothing. They started becoming unsettled by the fact that they were in the middle of a forest, at the feet of the mountain, in a place full of wild animals that could easily kill them all…

Word came down the row, saying that some of the elderly women and men were bitten by some bugs that buried their heads into their skin. While others were bitten by something red and small or something flying. And that they all needed treatment. Hearing this, they only worried more about their fate as they now were hindered even more. Adpetentia started to feel something on her skin, she started itching. It felt like a thousand slimy bugs crawling up her legs. She grabbed Hippos by the hand, squeezing him, yet he didn’t feel anything, having his mind still focused on having left Creetus behind. Her mother noticing something wrong with her, picked the girl up, the bugs started crawling on her too. Biting them both, but both blind to see them and fight them off. They couldn’t see, nor could the know if what they felt was real, but their skin was reacting to all and everything. The itching, the swelling, the feeling of icky disgusting creatures on you and the puss left in their path. Something had fallen on them from above. It was slimy, it started to feel like it was crawling down on them. And then, Hippos, with a small flame, had shown them that there was nothing.

And in the rest of Macedon and Greece…

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Attropolis XXIX

The disappointment set in Hippos, as he has to leave, he has to bail on what is and what was his home. Dissatisfied, as he felt he was a coward, failing to protect and help those he grew to love, failing to defend the place he loves. Running from responsibility, running away from the right thing to do. His heart heavy as he failing himself too, as whatever power he has wasn’t invested where it mattered. Adpetentia was joyous on the other hand, as she knew that having him by her side meant they were going to spend more time together. Since she didn’t leave him behind, didn’t desert him to the cold grips, war, of death to strangle the life out of him. And instead, the warm embrace of her love would be there to soothe whatever wounds he has from this disappointment of his.

He had few things, a lock of hair from his mother, a bracelet from his father and the sword The Giant gave him. That, a robe and another pair of footwear for rainy and cold times. All were neatly packed in a white sheet that was tied around his shoulders. His white locks of hair that grew to under his shoulders were in the wind, as the two made their way towards her house, to now pick her things up. And from there they, together with her parents, went to the north of Creetus. A soldier was waiting for all the women, children and able elderly, to instruct them on the path they should take. How to dodge the Roman army men, pass without going through rough terrain, how to protect against wild animals and how to set up camp properly for the night. And in the worst case scenario, how to act in case that none of that helps. Some of the hope that he’d be helpful came back into his eyes, once again Hippos thought to himself that he’d be worthy and prove himself. But it all got crushed, when some women decided to stay to help the men. By either cooking, patching them up or taking care of what needed to be taken care of.

Slowly, carefully, a few hundred people from Creetus started moving north. The Giant was nowhere to be seen. Hippos felt a deep throbbing pain suddenly in his heart as he looked behind, yet saw no one. Just the image of a green hill, some yellowish buildings and the blue sea getting tiny, in his field of vision. Until they were nonexistent, as the trees started to envelop everyone as they moved further north.

And then…

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Pilot Program- The Ob(li)vious

So, here I wasn’t again, faced with the toughest of the choices any person can make. Do I want chocolate chip ice cream? Or do I need chocolate chip ice cream? The obvious answer is yes to both those questions. Hey, can I not have a chocolate chip ice cream? What a sexy look he has on his face. No. Oh, I so didn’t expect this treatment. At least the ice cream tastes like trash. So what am I not doing next today? Bad question, you could say, or not, I don’t know you. I think I’m not going for something salty now, because definitely wasn’t too sweet and I’m not thirsty at all. Ugh, a crow, I’d hate to be one of those. Wait! NO! Fuck! Miss, can you please continue whatever it is you are doing here? Because I’d love to see you make an ass of yourself some more. Oh wow. Do you have to be so condescending all the time? Hah, that will show him. Well, you’re talking to me like I am the crow. What an ass. Go and don’t screw yourself, mister. At least I can fly and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Talk about not rude… Jeez. Now where shouldn’t I go next? Oh, I still don’t want something salty. Now how didn’t this work? I forgot… There once wasn’t a witch that didn’t curse this whole nation to not talk in not opposite actions. Otherwise the thing they didn’t talk in opposition would happen to them. But somehow it’s just the good things that always don’t happen to people, like this. But what I remember is how much this doesn’t last, a day, an hour, fifteen minutes? I just don’t know if it wouldn’t work if I weren’t to try the same, but not looking at a woman. Bless her heart for blessing us for thousands of years for no bad reason.

It doesn’t look like a rain is coming, and I don’t hate the fact that the rain isn’t coming and I have every clue to not undo this. Why aren’t I like this? Why is my brain not a mess? How not hard is it to not figure this out? I am doing this right… I don’t think. Don’t crows get wet? I know this, obviously. This rarely happens to me, so I’m not used to this. Ha. Very funny, this is very funny. Am I not going to live as a talking crow from now on? Or is this not the best idea for a blessing one can ever receive? All of these are bad questions, for a good girl like me. And I love them all so much. Nothing like not sitting on the apartment building you don’t live in, with your keys in your mouth, not waiting for this storm to not pass. And for me not to get back to normal. Someone please don’t shoot me. God bless this.

This is not the seventh entry in the Pilot Program. How does this not work? If you don’t love this short story, and don’t want it to become the story of 2020. Don’t read it, don’t comment, don’t like it, don’t share it.

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Attropolis XXVIII

The army had settled, the battle plans were set too. The route towards Creetus was drawn and the mobilized army around Macedonia and Greece was patiently waiting for the great Caesar to start his journey towards another triumph. Happy that Olanus was there next to him, displeased with the fact that he had let Alicaria come with him. And the fact that he saw the moral boost she had given the troops just with her presence annoyed him even more. “Mere animals.” he spoke softly under his breath, talking about his soldiers. The frustration regarding the loss of Creetus was overwhelming him, no matter what was happening around him. He felt disrespected, dishonored and discombobulated by the lack of competence shown by his governors. Since they were people he worked with for years and that had shown him the qualities he thought right for the jobs they were tasked with.

Olanus still shocked that he had a now dead son, something he thought he wouldn’t get to have, due to the nature of his job, and the guilt of his actions. His focus wasn’t what it was supposed to be, Augustus saw that, but he himself wasn’t very lucid either. How could one live knowing their only child was killed? How do you forgive yourself when you were never present in the life of your child? When instead of taking care of the family you were supposed to have, you were whoring around, drinking, enjoying life, all while a child was growing up without a father. If he knew, he could have protected Juliusegos, if he only knew. The rape of the child, the rape, could have been prevented. This only grew on his conscious, the dread, the pain, the suffering the child must have felt in his final moments.

The clear skies, the nice warm breeze that was hitting their faces as they marched northwest was making this much easier for them. At a calm pace, the clinking and the clanging for their armor and weapons was harmonizing with the trots of the horses and the songs of the birds. As the sun set, the orange skies were defusing the colors bathing them in a bright red that was glistening off them like they were vengeful gods descending upon Earth to punish and cleanse it of those unworthy. The first stop came around… A small city north of Rome. Right as the sun had set and night had reached them...

And then…

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Attropolis XXVII

Hippos wouldn’t let go, he insisted on staying, fighting with him, promising that he won’t stand in their way. The giant couldn’t stand this anymore. It was dragging on and there were more important things at the moment than some child’s feelings. Listen here, boy. You’re going or you’re on your own. I’m not going to stand here to negotiate with your moody tantrum. And if you ever want to see her again, you’re going to go. She looked at the boy nodding, confirming everything he was telling the boy. Tear started rolling down his face, he simply couldn’t hold it all in anymore. The frustration, anger, the feeling of powerlessness and the fact that now, he had to leave behind another thing he had loved. But, he had given into The giant’s orders, that only made the girl happy.

The giant too, was content with the situation now, because he could focus on defending the city against the empire. But he wasn’t about to ruin the departure of the little boy he cared for in these past months. Hippos had always reminded him of a younger self, before he had to grow up and become what he became. But most of all, Hippos reminded him of another boy he had met, before he had come to Creetus. In a way, that child sparked the wish to become a father in him, and so did Hippos. But, throughout his travels, he had never met someone as his first love, back home. He remembered all this with fondness, wishing that the boy the woman had was his, and that he had found someone to love him, the way he felt he deserved to be loved. Yet now, he is losing this child too, but he knows that he’ll be safe, or at least safer than being in Creetus.

You will need some thicker clothing, you’re going north. There, isn’t as warm as it is here. And you shouldn’t be sad, mad nor angry. You’re going to see the world, a part of the world, I didn’t even get to see. And there is a friend waiting for you up there. A boy about your age, Scorilo is his name. A friend of mine went up there and befriended him and a lot of powerful people there. You’ll be safe there. The boy’s face turned sad, pouting and teary eyed as he looked at The giant. Don’t worry, I will come for you once we’re done here. I can promise you that. Hippos had a spark in his eyes again. But in all this, he saw in the Giant’s eyes that there was nothing behind them, only darkness and sadness. The boy wasn’t a fool, but he accepted that there was nothing he could do. So he vowed to himself to protect the love of his life, rather than die here with her far away.

And in Rome…

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Attropolis XXVI

Joy and happiness, at least this once, after so much time. Though the memory of his parents was leaning a lot on his mind, even in this moment of pure bliss with the love of his life. This being the first birthday without his parents was weird, as he didn’t imagine that he’d lose them this early in his life. The giant had returned with the cake for Hippos, and urged the two children to eat it fast. That weird feeling from that morning hadn’t left Hippos, the giant seemed more serious than before. In all the sweetness of the cake and of the moment, there was bitterness showing now on both their faces, something that made her burst in laughter, as the two became similar. Yet neither seemed to have caught onto that.

Once they finished the cake, the giant looked at them with a forced smile and told them what was about to happen. War is coming, young boy. The Romans will come. It’s inevitable. They know what we had done. They’ll come in thousands, and many will die. Rome was at peace for so long, now we provoked them, they’ll come with bloodlust. They’ll have no mercy, they’ll have no qualms about slaughtering us all. We all might die, me, her, your friends from school, my friends, everyone you ever knew here might die. The boy started trembling with anticipation and anger at the thought of fighting the . But the giant continued… Look at me, Hippos. There’s a reason she’s here. She, together with her mother, some elderly and some friends of yours are leaving, going north. And I want you to go with them. The boy was shocked, he had trained months upon months with the giant and his friends for what? Nothing? Fury coursed through his veins, as he clenched his fists, frowned and became red at the face. Hippos couldn’t believe what the giant was suggesting, leaving him to die. He knew this would happen, which is why he trusted her to calm him down.

She had tried and tried, and finally succeeded after a little while. And the giant continued… Listen carefully Hippos. You have to leave, there’s no place for you on that battlefield, there’s nothing you can do to help us. If anything, you’ll just hinder us. And none of us would be able to fight properly, if we have to keep watch after you and try to protect you, we won’t be able to do battle. And these are some of the most wicked clever and strong men. The child was boiling with anger. You have to understand this, Hippos. You are no hero, there isn’t much you can do. This isn’t your story, this isn’t your purpose. To needlessly die so young. You’ve lost enough already, haven’t you? Go with her, be in love, have adventures, and stay safe. I won’t be able to protect you.

But…

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Attropolis XXV

In dismay, he thought that she’d never lie to him, that she wouldn’t simply betray him. This felt like extortion from a grieving mother, that couldn’t just let go and move on. It seemed suicidal on her part, and maddening on his, as he wanted to protect her, but this broke his trust. He didn’t know what to believe, but she continued to plead, to ask and beg. She just wouldn’t shut up for a second, this made things only harder of him, as he couldn’t think clearly, her words cluttering his mind and disturbing it. One question kept popping up in his mind, asking himself, why she would lie about this and why should would lie about it now. He kept trying to ask her, but she just wouldn’t answer, just dodging and dodging every single time he tried to ask her why. Thus Olanus grew impatient, nervous, and saddened as she pushed her misery and her tragedy upon him further. He was a father to now a dead son, lover to the mother of said child, grief now struck him harder.

Alicaria seemed proud of herself, bringing such a man to his knees. He stood up, gently, took her in his arms, sat her on a stool and with a serious look on his face asked her again why would she keep this from him, why would she tell him all this now and to what gain. She now got scared, she never saw him this serious with her, and on that deep tone of voice. But she knew that she had to keep this up if she wanted to go with him to war. Since he might not ever return back to her. At least that’s what she was thinking. So she told a partial truth, saying that she was afraid of his reaction, knowing her reputation and just how people are. As to why now, she just told him that she wouldn’t want him gone, forever, she couldn’t bare to lose someone else this soon. Telling him that if he dies in battle, she wants at least to be there with him. He started laughing, and petting her head. Agreeing to her request to take her with him to war. A few soldiers enter and ask for Olanus, as the Caesar has become too impatient and needs him. He goes, leaving her behind, as she thought to pack a few other things with her on the way.

Once Olanus got to the Caesar, he sighed in relief, thinking that maybe some assassins had got to him. Or worse, that he had betrayed him and the empire. But this had made him calmer and happier, seeing on of his most trusted men there. Once they all met, Augustus told his generals, that once he crushes these insolent bastards and does what no emperor had done before and take over Dacia, he’ll maybe add two months to the calendar to celebrate it. Or have some column of some sort to remember his triumphs.

Thus in Greece…

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Pilot Program - Coma,

Time: 10:58:01

Man, I have this headache and my neck is so damn stiff. I don’t know why my body is shaking, maybe it’s the cold that comes with the May mornings. Oh, don’t worry about it, maybe you just slept in a weird position. It happens, you’ll get better once we start running. Let’s go. Ah, yeah, I think I zoned out and forgot why I’m even here. As I raise my head from the ground the shining light blinds me for a second, then the blue of the sky seemed to have opened up. A gust of wind hit us from behind as we started running, as we gained speed, as our hearts started pumping, and our bodies sweating, the wind changed direction, now hitting us with a nice cold breeze to cool us off as the sun was glistening on our skin.

Do you have any family? That’s weird. What do you mean? Why are you asking me this? Nevermind, maybe I misunderstood. What did you say? Ah, so I did misunderstand. Nothing, I just didn’t understand what you asked me. He is chuckling, weird. Do you have a girlfriend? Are my ears deceiving me? What did you just ask me? You know I do. He seems out of it. Sorry, I’m a mess. Oh, I was right. You okay? What happened? He looks perturbed by something. Yeah not really. I’m scared scared I’m losing you. What? Losing me? What are you talking about? He turned and smiled at me. You know… Life happens sometimes and you can’t control it and you just drift apart or life ends and you never get to… You know… What is he talking about? No, no I don’t know. You okay? He chuckles again. Heh, don’t worry about it, I’ll get better, some day. That’s just weird, coming from a guy like him.

Something is different. Man, I could run forever. He started laughing. No one is stopping you, you know? This is all you, man. Run as much as you want, this world belongs to you. Sweat is getting in my eyes, the wind stopped, the heat is suffocating a bit. What time is it? I can’t even read the time on my watch. It’s 10:58. Already? Good thing it’s the weekend. Let’s head back. He is smiling. Didn’t you just say you could run forever? I did, didn’t I? I know what I said, it’s just getting too hot and this heat makes me feel like I’m suffocating. He stops, turns around, puts a hand on my shoulder. Okay, fine. But let’s do this again, it’s one of the last fun things I’m doing lately, and I need it… I need you. Out of reflex I smiled. Sure, see you tomorrow then? His face seemed to have turned ashy. Yes. He ran. I stayed behind as he faded in the distance.

Time: 10:58:02

This is the sixth entry in the Pilot Program. So, remember, if you want to read more, if you want to read more, share it, like it, comment, re-read it and it might become the next 52 week story, the one for 2020.

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