Awakening (Telindell Book 1) by Darren Lee

thicket.  Peering from inside the brush, Marrow watched as an Enforcer made his way through the forest seemingly starting fires by waving his hand.
    Marrow’s eyes widened. “What kind of demonic creatures are these?” he said to himself.
    The Enforcer stopped at the edge of the thicket concealing Lian and Marrow. He looked around slowly and then continued through the forest past Lian and Marrow.  A crack of thunder echoed through the valley.  They looked up through the smoke and broken canopy to see black clouds forming and beginning to blanket the valley sky.
    Lian observed the clouds emitting a green hue.  Flashes of green lightning struck down into the village.  Lian’s eyes widened. “What is going on?” he thought.
    Thunder continued to crack loudly as gusts of wind violently shook the burning forest.  Leaves and cinders riddled the air, accompanied by the choking scent of smoke.
    Marrow looked to Lian. “Now, boy, you stay in this thicket.  I am going to make sure that thing is gone before we proceed.  The village is just over there.”
    Lian nodded to the elder.  Marrow slowly crept out of the thicket, being as quiet as he could.  Twigs snapped under his feet as he cautiously stepped farther away from Lian.  Sweat born of nervousness and fear began to creep down Marrow’s face.  Lian watched tentatively as Marrow took each step.  Marrow traveled fifteen slow, lightly placed paces from the thicket that concealed the nervous, fearful boy.  Tree branches creaked in the wind as the sound of the leaves flapping pierced his ears.  Marrow looked around, searching for any traces of nearby danger.  Feeling that the danger had passed for the time being, he turned back toward the thicket.
    Lian’s eyes widened as he saw a dark figure approaching Marrow from behind.  He opened his mouth to warn Marrow, but no words came.  Fear had paralyzed the boy.
    Marrow opened his mouth and began to speak, “Lia--” Before he could finish calling to Lian, he was violently interrupted.
    Lian watched as the dark figure’s hand pierced through Marrow’s chest.  Marrow looked down to see the black armored hand dripping with his blood.  Unable to speak or cry out in agony, he simply looked back toward Lian.  Tears seeped from the boy’s eyes, knowing that he was witnessing the brutal murder of Elder Marrow.  With an agonizingly slow motion, the hand retreated back through the wound.  With blood gushing from the hole, he staggered forward before turning around to face his killer, the monstrous Enforcer they had witnessed moments before.  Then, a crash of thunder carried a strange voice throughout the valley.  Marrow looked up, seeing the green hue amongst the clouds and knowing his time had come.  Laughing in a deep, devilish tone, the Enforcer reached forth and grabbed the elder through his wound.  The remaining color in the elder’s skin were quickly fading to the pale shade of death.  Continuing to laugh, the Enforcer raised him into the air.  With a violent stroke, the Enforcer’s second hand pierced into Marrow’s body.
    Lian watched in horror as the blood gushed from the elder.  The Enforcer let out a bone chilling roar.  Lian closed his eyes as the Enforcer ripped Marrow’s body to shreds.  His stomach churned at the sound of rending flesh and breaking bones.  Blood soaked the forest floor.  Lian heard a thud right outside the thicket.  He opened his eyes and peered out to see part of Marrow’s torso.  Lian was speechless.  Marrow’s head was still attached to that part of his body, his cold lifeless eyes stared right at Lian.
    The Enforcer walked toward Marrow’s head, laughing. “Lesser human filth!” he shouted.
    He let out another terrifying roar and crushed the elder’s head with a swift stomp.  Blood and brain splattered, coating the thicket and covering Lian’s face.  The Enforcer turned from the thicket and retreated deeper into the forest.
    Lian sat in the thicket for