Excerpt:
Remnants of Shattered Souls – Chapter 1
Customs
“What is it you’re trying to hide?”
“…”
“What is it you’re trying to forget?”
“…”
“Are you trying to forget your losses…?”
“Or simply trying to bury the pain…?”
“The world will forget anyway. Whatever you’re doing, it serves no purpose…”
“…”
“Nothing will change… and nothing will return you to the past…”
“You’re trapped with us… whether you like it or not…”
The city falls silent. The lights went out hours ago. What once was a home now barely remembers its shape.
Filthy blood seeps from its wounds. There is no strength left to fight, and no answers remain.
“Enough. You keep repeating the same thing. You’re no use anymore.”
The leather on the hilt creaks, the blade shivering with anticipation.
“You won’t change a—!”
SCHRRK!
With a wet thud, everything goes quiet again.
Darkness stains the floor, spreading around his shoes.
Aiden doesn’t move, still absorbing what just happened…
He sheathes his sword—after wiping it clean.
“You don’t have to tell me. At this point, I’m tired of hearing it.”
He walks on. The headless body is left behind, already decomposing.
The stench lingers too, though faintly, in one way or another.
It’s ten at night. Aiden reaches the town with a slow, steady pace, careful not to draw attention.
The cold bites—seven or eight degrees, maybe colder later.
By this hour no one remains outside their rooms, except for the occasional guard—one of whom sees him approach.
“Hey! Aiden! How are you, my friend? Productive night?”
“Almost…” he answers, passing through the entrance.
“Sorry to hear that. Let me know if you head out again, alright? I’m on watch tonight.”
“Fine.”
He barely listens. The few answers he obtained weren’t enough, but for tonight, it doesn’t matter.
On his way to his room, someone steps in front of him.
“Hey Aiden, you took your time.”
“Yeah. That thing was tougher than it looked—and it wasn’t alone.”
“And what happened to the others?”
The ground still mirrors the rain. Each step splashes through a puddle, breaking the silence of the night.
“I avoided them. I want to save my energy. Any of the hunters can deal with them—I don’t need to.”
“Well… you’re not wrong.”
They open the door to the building across the path. A faint warm light welcomes them.
“Did you find anything?” Aiden asks.
“Uh… no?” she says, looking away.
He stays silent.
“Why… are you asking?”
“Because you’re in a good mood. So I assume you have good news.”
“Seriously?” she snorts, trying to hide a laugh. “I think the lack of sleep is making you paranoid.”
Aiden narrows his eyes at her.
“Ugh, fine! I was trying to cheer you up, don’t be so dull.”
“Just tell me what you found.”
“Alright, alright,” she says as they stop in front of the stairs.
“So… I found one.”
“A what?”
“You know… one of them. A guy with the mark.”
“What—?!”
“Shhh, don’t yell…”
“Sorry—but why drag it out like that?”
“I wanted to sound mysterious. And… I locked him in the basement.”
“But…” He rubs his forehead. “Never mind. Did anyone see you?”
“I don’t think so…”
“That doesn’t reassure me.”
“Oh, it’s fine! Come on, follow me. It’s this way,” she says, heading in the opposite direction of the stairs to the rooms.
They enter an empty room. Beside it, locked doors lead to the basement.
Once opened, only cold, stagnant darkness greets them.
“You left him with the lights off?” Aiden asks as they descend.
“Yep. He refused to tell me anything. A bit of darkness might loosen his tongue.”
“Good idea.”
“Wait—here, I think I have a flashlight,” she says, stopping before the last step.
“Huh? I don’t need it. You use it.”
“What, can you see in the dark?”
“No, but I’m used to it. I can make out silhouettes.”
“Ooh, then I’ll stay close and keep the light off. For extra suspense.”
“Sure.”
Their steps echo, bouncing off the walls, emphasizing how empty the place is.
“Where did you find him?”
“He was trying to trade pills for a bit of food.”
“What kind of pills?”
“You know what kind.”
“Oh… and?”
“They didn’t buy them. He got mad and slammed the table—almost broke it.”
“And you didn’t do anything?”
“O-of course I did! I ran over when I heard the noise and saw the table cracked—and it was stoneware.”
“That made you suspect what he was?”
“Yeah. I went in quickly, convinced him someone else would buy them, lured him here, and locked the door.”
“Wait—you brought him here without checking if he had the mark first?”
“Well… yeah. He was causing trouble anyway, so I didn’t think too hard…”
Aiden rolls his eyes.
“We’re almost there.”
As they approach the cell, the smell of rust thickens, blending with the damp air.
The prisoner hears their steps and starts yelling.
“Hey! Who’s there?! You sons of—!”
They stop before entering. Metal doors block any easy escape.
“Oof, he heard us.”
“Doesn’t matter. Anything else you want to clarify?”
“Well… he’s kinda big…”
“So what? He intimidated you? You?”
“What?!” she huffs. “Of course not.”
“Ahh, so that’s why you didn’t hit him and brought him here with tricks.”
“Shut up. I got him here, didn’t I? That’s what matters.”
“Yes, yes. Good work, Talia.”
“Good. But you owe me a favor.”
“Sure. I’ll open the door—aim the light at him.”
“Done.”
She hands Aiden the key.
He presses an ear to the door as he unlocks it. Faint breathing leaks through.
Yeah, well. That won’t matter.
“Brace yourself.”
THUN!
Aiden slams the door open, sending the prisoner flying a few meters. He lands with a crash that echoes around the room.
“Shit! My nose!” the man groans on the floor, clutching his face with one hand and propping himself with the other.
Aiden enters calmly, Talia behind him with the flashlight.
“Sit.” His voice is quiet but firm.
“Alright! Alright…”
The man sits on the lone chair, wiping blood from his nose.
“Could you stop shining that damn thing in my face? I can’t see.”
“You don’t—”
“It’s fine,” Aiden interrupts Talia. “Shine it on me.”
“Hm. Alright,” she says with a shrug.
She circles around Aiden, stepping back so the light spreads evenly.
She raises the flashlight, illuminating him fully.
“W-wait… you’re…?”
“You know me…” he says, approaching slowly.
“Hold on! Wait!”
“…”
“Hey! Don’t let him come near me!”
His footsteps echo sharply.
“Come on! I haven’t done anything to you!”
The distance closes.
The man grips the chair, terrified.
“Just wait! What do you want?!”
“…”
“Just tell me!”
His breathing grows frantic.
“You—you’re supposed to only kill those things! Not m—!”
Aiden reaches out.
The prisoner shuts his eyes, baring his teeth, turning his head away in fear.
Aiden grabs him by the collar and shifts him aside.
“There it is. So you’re like me…”
On his right collarbone—a mark. Small, but its tangled root-like pattern is unmistakable.
Not in the same place as mine. Neither like the others. It confirms the mark manifests differently each time.
Whether that affects abilities or potential… I still don’t know.
The man peeks one eye open, seeing Aiden hasn’t harmed him.
“S-so… you’re not gonna kill me?”
“That depends on you—and how useful you are.”
“O-okay… h-how can I help?”
“Tell me where Varos is.”
“I—I don’t know.”
Aiden sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“H-hey! I’m sorry! Really! But I swear I don’t know!”
“That’s not true.” Aiden extends his hand toward Talia.
“Here!” She tosses him the bag of pills.
He catches it easily.
“These pills—he makes them. And I doubt you’re stupid enough to steal from him unless he sent you to scout.”
“B-but drugs are common! Anyone could’ve made them!”
Aiden holds up a pill. Tiny initials are carved into it: V.M.
“Varos Merek. The idiot’s too arrogant to leave them blank. They need his name, or he’ll think someone else gets the credit.”
“B-but…”
“Look, I’m tired of this nonsense. I’ll ask once more… Where. Is. He?”
“I—I…”
“Fine.”
He unsheathes his sword, resting the blade on the man’s shoulder near his neck. The weight is heavy. Very heavy.
“Wait! Wait! I’ll talk! Just—don’t tell him I told you, he’ll kill me…”
“If you don’t talk, I will.”
“O-okay! Okay! He’s at a dam a few kilometers from here. We built a temporary camp there—the river water is fresh.”
“I don’t need extra details. What direction?”
“North. Straight north. You’ll reach the river—follow it and you’ll find the dam.”
“How many of you?”
“Sixteen. Including me…”
“Good. Let’s go, Talia.”
“On it!”
They turn toward the door.
“Wait—That’s it?”
“…!”
Aiden turns swiftly, marching back toward him.
“N-no! Wai—!”
He grabs him by the throat with his left arm.
The man struggles, choking.
Aiden lifts him off the ground effortlessly.
“Listen, idiot. Don’t test your luck. If that location is false, they’ll have to scrape what’s left of you with a shovel.”
“And if you try to run,” Talia yells from across the room, “we’ll tie you to a post outside the city!”
Aiden throws him onto the chair, shattering it to pieces.
Before he can get up, they’re already leaving.
“Are we really going to do that?” Talia whispers.
Aiden glances at her silently while locking the door.
“Oh…”
Once sealed, they head out.
“Hey, how did you know he was connected to them?” she asks.
“I didn’t. He told me.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I asked for Varos. Instead of asking who that was, he said he didn’t know where he was.”
“Oh!”
They climb the stairs, leaving the basement behind, locking everything on their way out.
“So, what will you do now?” Talia asks.
“Sleep…”
“What? Really? I thought you’d go right away.”
“To find that bastard? Of course not. Even if I had the energy, going there without a plan is stupid.”
“And… do you have any idea yet?”
“Nope. I’ll consult my pillow. I’ve been awake long enough. My body needs rest.”
They head toward his room.
“How long were you tracking that Conform?”
“Three days…”
“Damn. All that… for nothing.”
“You don’t have to remind me…”
“I still don’t get it. That thing you were after—what was it? A Deform or a Conform?”
“Something in between. Still kept a sliver of human form, but not enough to fool anyone.”
“Well, I don’t know how similar a Conform looks to us…”
“Trust me. You don’t want to find out.”
They approach the door.
Aiden takes out his key; the metallic rattle pulls them back to the present.
Darkness greets them inside.
“I’d invite you in, but unless you want to watch me sleep, I’m not great company.”
Talia laughs softly.
“No worries…” She hesitates, playing with her fingers. “But… there’s something else I wanted to ask.”
“Go on. As if you didn’t ask enough questions already.”
“Hey! Sorry, okay? That’s just how I am.”
“Fine, fine. Shoot.”
“You’ve fought a Conform… right?”
Aiden averts his eyes slightly.
“Y-yeah. I had to. Before. Don’t know if I’m proud of the results, but at least I survived…”
“And… i-is that why you have those scars?”
Aiden’s eyes widen, startled.
“W-what? How—?”
“I know, I know! I’m sorry, really! It wasn’t on purpose. The other day, when the doctor was checking you in the tent—I happened to pass by and…”
“Ah.” He sighs. “Fine. It’s okay. Yes, those fights caused them. But not all.”
“But from what I saw—how are you still alive?”
“Luck? I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“You have stab and slash scars on your chest like something impaled yo—”
“You sure stared a lot for someone who passed by ‘accidentally.’”
“I said I was sorry! But still—”
“I know. I don’t understand it myself. But maybe he saved me…”
“He? Who?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m rambling. If you’re done examining me, I’m going to sleep.”
“But—”
“Good night,” he says, closing the door and leaving her outside.
Aiden is swallowed by darkness. He doesn’t bother turning on the lights.
Each step toward the bed feels heavier. When he reaches it, his body collapses.
He saved me? Sure. All he ever did was watch. Wait until the last moment… and—
...."
–Continue reading in its original Castilian language at https://fictograma.com/ , an open source Spanish community of writers–