Approaching the town, running at his full speed, Asher’s dread only continued to rise. There were still screams echoing throughout the city, they felt like they were coming from every direction at once. Smoke was beginning to rise up out of the deeper sections of town and Asher’s nose was beginning to sting with the hints of a fire somewhere further in.

Asher wondered if something had happened to the town guards. He had been wracking his mind as he ran trying to understand what was going on. Thus far he had come up with nothing. It looked as though the town was under attack, as though it were being raided, but if that were the case where were the enemy forces? He had been out in the fields all day, if an army had approached, he should have noticed.

There would be time to figure things out later, for now he had to focus on finding his mother. She would likely be on her way home from the shop around this time of day. The city was constructed in concentric rings expanding out from the tower. First there were the royal gardens wrapping around the tower, second came the ringed construction of the King’s Round, then the aristocratic suburbs, The marketplace ring and finally there was the residential district where his family lived. Asher was just now entering the outermost ring of the town and would need to cover quite a bit of distance to make it to his mother.

Having just entered the city limits Asher was immediately overwhelmed by the chaos. Panicked people ran by in all directions, smoke lingered in the air, and the screams echoed from all directions. He saw the minor tragedies playing out all around him, parents shouting for their lost children, people being knocked to the ground and trampled by their panicked friends, but the worst of it was the blood. It was everywhere, spattered on the clothing of the people running by, dripping from wounds that Asher couldn't even begin to imagine the origin of. Something was in the city and it was ripping people apart.

Asher held back the bile rising in his throat with considerable effort as he steadied himself on a nearby wall. This was insane, unreal, impossible. What in the world could be causing all of this? Asher realised with a start that he hadn't been breathing and he forced himself to take in a deep breath. He needed to control himself, he needed to find his mother.

He didn't wait to catch his breath, he didn't have the time, he began running once more. He did his best to avert his eyes from the nightmare around him. He couldn’t help these people, he was powerless, he had to look after what he could and right now that was his mother and brother. Asher wept as he ran, he wasn't sure if it was from the smoke or from everything else, but either way, it stung.

Asher soon arrived at his mother’s shop and found her huddled inside, behind the counter. He dashed inside and crouched next to her.

“What are you still doing here?” Asher whispered, trying his best to regain control of his ragged breaths.

“Ash! Why are you here? I thought you and Ben would be safe outside town.” Anna said, her eyes wide with fear.

“We were on our way back when we heard all the screaming, I’ve come to get you. Ben should be waiting for us at home. Why haven't you left?” Asher asked as he scanned his mother for injuries.

“I panicked Asher, it’s so bad out there. I thought it might be safer to hide here.” She was trembling as she spoke now. “I thought you two would stay away.”

“Okay, that’s okay ma, but we have to go now. We need to get back to Ben so that we can keep track of each other.”

Asher’s mother nodded in agreement, she seemed relieved to hear that Ben was okay and would be at home. She closed her eyes, counting two long slow breaths to calm herself, opening her eyes afterwards she looked to Asher and nodded once more to indicate she was ready, a grim expression plastered on.

Asher checked the street outside and finding it empty, he proceeded to guide his mother out of the shopfront, leading her by the hand. They began down the street at a slow jog, barely more than a walk, and did their best to stick to the shadows. Asher had still to this point not seen the threat, he still didn’t know what had actually caused all of this destruction.

Arriving at an intersection Asher and his mother came to a sudden stop when they saw something impossible. Asher had heard legends of the monstrous creatures that lived in the world of the Tower. He had heard tales of immortal elves, giant tree creatures that walked like men, and many more. He had loved the stories, but he had never considered what they might actually look like. He didn’t have to imagine anymore, it was as if the creature standing before him had stepped right out of a storybook.

The enormous beast had dark red leathery skin. It stood hunched over a shadowed figure on the ground. Asher guessed that the thing was half as tall as him again. It carried a massive wooden club which resembled more the base of a tree than a weapon, and it wore simple leather clothing. By its size, colour and the exaggerated, harsh facial features, Asher guessed that this was a goblin. Throughout his life children had been taught that goblin’s, beasts which lived in the world of the Tower, were the incarnation of terror and violence. Folklore told that other entities from the tower may be more powerful or more intelligent, but nothing else thirsted for violence like a goblin. Asher privately hoped that their reputation was exaggerated.

The beast was terrifying even from a distance. A moment of frozen time passed, Asher struggled to process his disbelief before he was forcibly snapped back to reality by a rough tugging on his shirt sleeve. Asher’s mother was desperately trying to pull him into a different direction, to avoid the monster by taking a more roundabout path. In the moment of Asher’s hesitation he bore witness to the horrifying brute strength of the creature,with surprising speed considering its size it lifted its massive club and brought it thundering down into the ground, a hunched figure that had been in front of the goblin disappeared beneath the gargantuan club, a disgusting wet cracking noise rang out. Asher felt sick, even from this distance, not having seen the details, he knew what had just happened and it was almost too much for him to bare. The slam had been so hard that it had echoed throughout the street and Asher wouldn't have been surprised if the pavers underneath the strike were broken.

Asher felt like he was losing grip on reality. He knew that magical creatures were supposed to exist in the world of the Tower, but they shouldn't be able to come here. For as long as the town’s history recorded, nothing had ever come back through the Tower’s portal. If the monsters from the other side could make use of the Tower’s ability’s then Asterdel would be doomed. The city guard would have no way of resisting the magical beasts of the Tower. In a panicked moment images flashed before Asher’s eyes, he foresaw a city destroyed, burning buildings crushed to rubble, dark beasts ripping apart fleeing people, the end of all he knew.

Asher eventually allowed himself to be pulled away from the horrific sight. His mother guided him through some smaller back alleys and they made the rest of the trip home in stunned silence. As they moved they heard the sounds of battle and death all around them, they kept their heads down and focused on their destination, hoping that they would make it the distance without being caught. They passed alleyways which had Goblins roaming through them, their figures looming huge in the shadows of the small alleyways, Asher was terrified that one of these huge creatures would see them and start chasing at any moment. He doubted that he or his mother would be able to outrun these beasts even with a head start, the length of their legs alone had Asher convinced that if it came to it and they needed to run they would be doomed.

Rounding the last bend before their home, Asher felt relief flood through him, he felt the tension ease out of his shoulders as he saw that the street was quiet and empty. There was no indication of any movement. Embers had begun to settle in the area and small fires were beginning to take hold. The heat that was slowly approaching was becoming overwhelming and borderline unbearable. The flames themselves were a concern but of relatively low priority given the circumstance, most of the city was constructed of brick and stone. They may lose their garden beds but it was very unlikely that the entirety of the city would be lost in a fire.

Asher’s mind was still frantically racing through the next steps. Assuming Ben was waiting for them here at home, then what should they do? Should they wait for this to be over holed up in the basement? Should they run for the wilds? How could he choose when he had no idea what was going on?

They arrived at the front door and called out for Ben, moments passed and no response came. They called out again, but the silence remained, deafening. Asher began to feel a cold sweat breaking out as dread began to close its cold grasp over his heart. Ben wasn't here.

“Where is he?” Anna asked, her voice shaky with fear.

“He was supposed to be here waiting for us. I told him that if he couldn't hide out here that he should head back out to the fields and meet us there, but I don't see why he couldn't take shelter here, the streets are empty.” Asher responded, confused. The racing of his mind was slowly degenerating into pure panic.

“Uh…” Asher’s stress was making it difficult to put sentences together. “ We have to move anyway. Let’s go to the field, it's the only other place we talked about meeting. If he is there we can hide or just disappear into the woods if we need to.” Frustration was nipping at Asher’s heels, he had been trying to conceive of a better plan but here he was, resorting back to his first thought.

“What if we can't find him? Ash, what if we can't find him?” Anna asked with desperation in her eyes and tears running down her cheeks

Seeing his mother like this broke Asher’s heart. This was all too much, how had Asher suddenly become the leader in the family? This was the first time that their mother wasn't the clear leader and the pressure was a crushing weight on Asher’s shoulder, a pressure on his lungs preventing him from taking a full breath.

“He’ll be there, dont worry Ma.” Was all Asher could say to comfort his mother.

They began running toward the outer city gate. The efforts of the day were catching up with Asher, his body was beginning to protest its treatment. He knew that his mother would certainly be struggling as well. Being a middle aged mother who worked in a shop was not conducive to long distance running.

SMASH

Asher was on the floor before he knew what had happened. Panic flared, he had lost a moment in his fall. Confused, he launched himself back to his feet, ready to do whatever it took to defend his mother and himself.

Asher forcibly held himself back from attacking when he saw what he had run into. Hazel had fallen to the floor following the collision just like he had, she was still picking herself up off the floor when he realised who she was and put his fists down. He leaned forward and offered his hand to help her get off the ground.

“Oh Ash! I’m sorry.” Hazel said as she pulled herself up. “I’ve been looking for you, I didn’t think that I would actually run into you like this.” Hazel seemed distant as she spoke, like she wasn't really paying attention to the moment. Asher could see that she was covered in dirt and scratches, she had clearly been through alot this night.

“What do you mean that you’ve been looking for me? Where did you come from?” Asher asked as he looked past Hazel to see if she was with anyone else. The alley she had come from however was empty.

“I'm alone.” She said at having seen him peering behind her. “The rest of the family is already barricaded in at home. I came looking for you because I saw Ben being taken.” She said with a breathy inflection Asher wasn't sure if her state was more a result of running or fear

“Taken?” Asher and his mother both asked in unison.

Hazel hesitated, her eyes flicked between Asher and his mother. “One of those monsters grabbed him.” She eventually said, her voice cracking as she spoke. “I tried to distract the thing but nothing I did bothered it.” She paused again, bracing herself. “I'm sorry, I’m so sorry. The thing that took him was heading towards the centre of the city, toward the Tower.”

This could not be happening. None of this made any sense, it was all impossible. Asher absolutely refused to lose his brother like this. He grabbed his mothers arm and gently but firmly pushed her toward Hazel. “Please take Ma and go back to your family. Stay hidden and safe. I am going to bring Ben back, no matter what happens.” Asher knew he would sound confident to the others, but his mind was still a total mess and the icy grip around his heart had still not released or eased.

“I’m coming with you Ash.” Hazel objected. “I won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to him.”

“I'm coming too, I’m his mother Ash!” His mother almost shouted in her desperation.

“I’m sorry Ma, but I need to be fast and quiet. You two coming with me would just make us all a bigger target.” He may be overwhelmed and struggling to think, but he still knew that he couldnt put his mother in any more danger. He looked to the younger woman “Hazel, please take Ma and keep her safe, please.” He forced his voice to be as gentle as he could as he spoke.

He knew that asking them both to stay behind would be torturous for them, but he also knew that he was right to do it. There was no way that Asher could catch up to Ben while also keeping an eye out for his mother.

“I’ll take her.” Hazel finally said, clearly frustrated.

Asher was grateful that he had run into Hazel, she had always been a reliable friend. He had never felt the need to second guess trusting her, she had already proven herself to be sincere time and time again. “Thank you Hazel, you may have just saved all of our lives.” He hugged his mother and Hazel both. If he was going to chase down a giant monster to save his brother he wasn't about to shy away from hugging a girl.