Short Story Fiction Contest May 2014 | Page 113

“Stop!” I shouted, launching after him. Behind me, I heard Ketros fumble with his holster as one of the farmers—I don’t know which—slammed into him. There was a crash, and then the explosive sound of the weapon firing. I didn’t waste my time to turn and see what happened. I simply tore after Eos, the muscles in my legs pumping as I ran.

Eos was already through the rear door of the residence, a cloud of red silt swirling through the air in his wake as he raced across the field of dust that stretched behind the house. Ahead of him, a little boy of about four or five years was running for his life, and the much taller Eos had nearly caught up to him. I darted across the field after them.

The boys were fast, but I was faster. I was almost upon them when Eos glanced over his shoulder at me. Without warning, the apprentice changed direction, slamming his body into mine.

The force of the impact knocked the air out of me, and I tumbled head over feet across the hard ground. Eos’ weight pinned me down. I lashed out with my feet and felt a kick connect with the side of his face. He recoiled. I struggled out from under him and started to run after the boy once more, but Eos swung his own leg around, tripping me.

With me down again, Eos struggled to his own feet and, as I rose, he drew back his fist. I tried to swerve out of the way, but I wasn’t fast enough, and his punch slammed into my jaw. The impact was so hard that the world flashed. It took a few seconds for my vision to correct itself. That was just enough time for Eos to wrench my arms around behind my back, twisted painfully, and hold me.

I furiously stomped down, grinding my heel into the top of his foot, but his thick boots prevented this from having much of an effect. I