Dawn of Night Chapter Three: Deathly Revival

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Sunlight streamed into the room through the leafy roof of Johanna’s bedroom. Johanna sat up and stretched with a massive yawn. Swinging her legs over to the edge of the bed, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. As she stood up, Johanna breathed in the rich scent of summer leaves coming from around the trees of the jungle tree fort village. Today was one of those perfect summer days where the sunshine was warm with a cool breeze. *Perfect for working!*

Johanna walked through the open archway that acted as an entrance point to her room. As she stepped out, she stopped at the chest right outside and opened it. From it she grabbed her favorite foods for breakfast, fish and honey, as well as her trusty diamond pickaxe. Turning, she walked down through the city. Pandoria City was the largest city in Felden, and was created shortly after the Second Great War. It resided in the treetops of the dense jungle around it. Rooms were made in the tree tops and connected to each other by Wooden bridges with fence rails for safety. Lighting in this place was provided in the form of lanterns on the railings, hanging from trees, or from tree trunks.

Johanna walked through the city and passed many of its residents. For the most part, the city’s population consisted of Felinas and Humans. However, a few Ardoni and Magnorites could be found in the more shady areas of the place. She made sure to stick to the safe roads and continued walking towards the building known as the Headquarters. Here, miners checked in to get to work on the nearby mines beneath the city. As usual, all miners were accompanied by a guard at all times to ensure their safety from dangers such as spiders or even the occasional undead warrior.

As she walked into the Headquarters, she looked around. In the front of the room stood lecterns with a book and quill for workers to use to clock their time and haul for the day. In the far left corner stood the trapdoors that led to the ladders leading out of the city and into the mines. All the rest of the space was taken by tables with chairs. In them sat guards in official Felden military outfits. *They're waiting for their charges to come to work.* Many looked bored, while others sat silent. Some of the guards were eating and talking with each other, while the rest sat in solitude. The one Johanna was looking for, however, was sitting by himself as he sharpened his blade on a pocket grindstone. He was stooped over, but turned when he heard her enter. His face lit up and he ran over to her, scooping her up into his arms and spinning her around. Johanna laughed as he put her down. “Good to see you Daniel.” Johanna’s boyfriend and bodyguard, Daniel, was a tall human (6 '4'’) and extremely handsome. His uniform fit perfectly on his lean frame and was without any wrinkles or grime. His soft brown eyes and dirty blonde hair finished his smiling look.

Daniel beamed back at her. “It’s good to see you, my shining star,” He winked, “It always refreshes me to see your surreal beauty!” Johanna blushed a deep crimson at his comment. Everyone always complimented her on her looks. She supposed she was a beautiful Felina. She was always told that she had a perfect, lethe but muscular body. Guys would even ask to touch her raven black hair with its purple highlights. They would always act entranced by her piercing emerald eyes. She was usually described as tough and sarcastic, but she would melt when she was with Daniel. *He’s just perfect,* she sighed dreamily

Daniel just smiled and pointed at the lecterns. “If you want to get the money you need,” he nudged her, “You had better clock in.” Johanna shook her head hard, annoyed and embarrassed at herself for not doing that yet. *Daniel can be so distracting sometimes!* And he seemed to know it as he smirked at her. Johanna made a face in return and put in her time. Together, both she and Daniel headed to the trapdoors. Daniel went first as he opened a trapdoor and began climbing down the ladder. Johanna took a deep breath and was about to follow when Kaybeth, a Felina guard, stopped her. “Johanna, promise me you’ll be careful,” Johanna looked at her brother with a confused expression. “I’ve heard of attacks on miners by some unknown force.” Alarm was evident on Kaybeth’s face. “There have been no survivors so far.” Johanna knew her brother was trying to look after her, but it was still exasperating. *Does he think I’m foolish? I’ve been doing this for years now!* But she didn’t let her irritation show. Instead, she gave her brother a reassuring smile. He didn’t seem to buy in, but he still nodded farewell. Returning his nod, Johanna went down the ladder.

When Johanna hopped down the ladder, she took a second to take in the view. Everywhere she could go, there were holes in the ground leading down mining shafts that led towards the heart of Mount Tempest. Going towards the volcano was a dangerous thing to do, but it also held the highest concentration of diamonds in all of Felden. Because of that, the risks were judged as worth it. *Just avoid lava.* As long as you were careful and avoided the lava, you would be fine. *But if you don’t, you end up as crispy ashes.* Which wouldn’t be good. Johanna thought back to what her brother had said. *There have been attacks that left no survivors.* She shivered at the ominous statement as a chill traveled down her spine. Daniel noticed and took her hand in his, grinning at her. “It’s all going to be fine.” Johanna smiled back, but deep down he felt unease.

Rather than go deep into the mines as they usually did, Johanna went into the newest part of the mine. Just days ago, a pair of miners discovered a new ravine that was open to the sky. Immediately, it became part of the mine system. As she walked in, she could see just how recent it was. There were no walkways towards the top to allow miners to work up there as well as down at the ravine floor. Still, there were many miners working on the floor level, creating tunnels of their own. Some of which actually led to other cave systems. Johanna picked a spot towards the end of the ravine and began to mine. Many hours passed and she had hollowed out a decent sized tunnel. Unfortunately, there weren't many ores around to get. *Just a little bit of iron.* It was still dangerous work. Once, she opened up a cave system and was almost bit by a spider. Daniel killed it, but Johanna was still a little shaken. *It came out of nowhere!* Another time she had to dodge falling gravel. Luckily, she had quick reflexes and a good shovel, and she was fine. Mining was hard work though. Bending down, putting so much into each swing, it was difficult. However, she still loved it. Since she was 6, she had been forced to support the family by mining. Few did it because it was dangerous, but the government needed more resources. Because of this, they paid well for miners. *Without that pay, we wouldn’t be able to support our mother.*

It was dark outside before Johanna decided to call it a day. She slipped her pickaxe onto her back and wiped the sweat off her brow. She looked around for Daniel, and found him standing guard in the next corner. Walking over the stone floors, Johanna went to him. When he saw that she was finished, Daniel hugged her. “How did it go?” Johanna simply shook her head, and Daniel’s expression became sympathetic. “I suppose that means there wasn’t much here?” She nodded. “Well, I’m sure you get more next time.” Together, they began to walk towards the nearest mine entrance, when Johanna’s sharp ears caught the sound of what seemed to be moans coming from her tunnel. *That’s odd. Why would there be someone in there?* Hoping to help whoever was moaning, she ran towards the sound. What she saw stopped her cold in her tracts.

In front of her stood a husk wearing chainmail and wielding an iron sword. *But undead aren’t capable of arming themselves without help.* And their eyes. *They’re white. Surely that isn’t normal.* Johanna stood petrified. Time seemed to pause as she and the undead faced each other. Then, one of them swung at her. The sword it wielded would have taken her out, but another sword blocked up. She glanced behind her to see Daniel holding the saving blade. Johanna had never seen such rage on his face when she stumbled back. His face had become a cold sheet of fury. Pushing Johanna behind him, Daniel faced his foes. Planting a quick kiss on her forehead, he shoved her towards the exits. “Run,” Daniel barked at her. “Run now!”

Hating herself for her fear, Johanna’s body took over and sent her sprinting towards the exit. In her panic, she stumbled and fell to the ground. *I should just get up and continue running.* But when she got up, she couldn't help but look at the fight behind her. Daniel had just finished killing the last of the undead and was turning to join her, when a new figure emerged from the tunnels. The new person wore a black robe and hood. Covering his face was a skull mask. The blood drained from her face as she watched the scene before her. *It can’t be!* Seeing the new threat, she remembered what she had been told about the Second Great War. How Felden had fallen due to undead led by skull masked villains. *Necromancers.* And here one was staring her in the face. Daniel turned to the Necromancer and motioned behind his back for Johanna to continue. But she was rooted in place. In the ravine, she could hear shouts of terror as undead and creepers swarmed the miners from all sorts of areas.

The battle was not going well for her boyfriend. Daniel may have been skilled, but he wasn’t invincible. *The Necromancer is too powerful!* Johanna could do nothing as the duel came to an end. Daniel swiped at the Necromancer’s legs, but the Necromancer countered by swinging and hitting Daniel’s sword hand. Daniel cried out in pain and dropped his sword. Then he lashed out and tried to punch the Necromancer. But the Necromancer grabbed his fist and slammed him against the wall.

Daniel met Johanna’s eyes one last time. While Johanna couldn’t hear his whisper, she could read his lips. “I love you Johanna.” Then the Necromancer stabbed his sword through Daniel’s heart.

Johanna screamed in revolution. “Daniel! No!” Tears flowed from her eyes as she struggled to accept what had happened. Her perfect boyfriend who had been with her for a year. *He’s gone.* Her mind had gone numb with shock and disbelief. *But he can’t be dead! He’s too strong! Maybe when I wake up, this nightmare will be over.* Dazed, she looked around. The undead now had the exits cut off. The only way was to scale the wall. *Glad I brought this with me today.* Johanna pulled out her lucky fishing rod and cast it. When she saw it catch the top of the ravine, she began reeling herself in. Just as she had hoped, it held and she began to pull up towards the edge of the ravine’s top. Angrily, the Necromancer pointed at her. Several skeletons came forward and began to shoot at her. She winced as the pain flared in her shoulder, back, and left leg. *Looks like some of those arrows found their mark.* *Good to know.*

Her muscles screamed in pain and her entire body shook with exhaustion, but she managed to get to the top of the ravine. She pulled herself to the top and began to stagger towards the city. Her vision was swimming and her consciousness faded in and out as she shuffled. Drenched in sweat and tired, Johanna quickly collapsed to her knees. Suddenly, her ears perked as she heard the sound of horses galloping. Her hope soared as the riders, a couple of Felden military officials, came around the corner and stopped in front of her in shock. Feeling herself growing weak, she met the gaze of the first officer. “Help me,” Johanna mumbled. “Please.” Then everything went black as she felt her body give out and hit the soft grass.

When she woke up, she looked around. She was in her own room and looked towards the doorway. In it stood her brother and a person she didn’t know. His uniform identified him as a government official. He had brown hair and blue eyes. She knew him from somewhere, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. “Hello,” the stranger stated. “I am Lucan, the mayor of this town. I hope you don’t mind me asking some questions. You are one of the only few survivors of the attack.” *So that’s why he was familiar.* “Was one of the survivors a young man named Daniel?” Her hope crumbled as Lucan’s expression turned sympathetic. “No, I am afraid he was found dead.” Lucan sat down next to her on the bed. “Would you please tell me what happened?” So Johanna told him about the undead attacking and about the Necromancer. Her brother, who had remained at the door, exchanged a concerned glance with Lucan. “I am sorry Johanna,” Lucan said patiently, “But there could not have been a Necromancer.” She was about to interrupt Lucan in disbelief, but he stopped her with a hand. “The other survivors told of the zombies, but there was no Necromancer or even glowing eyes.” Johanna’s face burned with fury as Lucan continued. “I know that the death of your beloved hurts, and your brain is trying to cope in some way. But it couldn’t have been Necromancers. They were disbanded or killed. The only survivors now live under government surveillance, and that surveillance has show that no Necromancers where present.”

“Someone else could have figured out how to command the undead!” Johanna blurted out her rebuttal. But Lucan wouldn’t listen. “They couldn’t do that without training. They would die before they understood. I understand your need to find a way to cope, but do not spread these lies among the city. There is no need to spread such baseless fear.” Though Lucan’s face shone with kindness, Johanna still wanted to strangle him. *If you had seen what I had seen, you would believe me!* But, of course, he hadn't. Lucan left her room, leaving only her and Kaybeth.

With a pleading look, Johanna turned to her brother. “You believe me, don’t you?” But Kaybeth simply shook his head and headed out. Angry tears flowed out of Johanna’s eyes and she cried out in frustration. Anger boiled through her. At Lucan and her brother for not believing her. *They act like they were there! I know what I saw!* And at the Necromancer for killing Daniel. Oh, her perfect lovely Daniel. Why did he have to die so young?! As she recalled the look on his face, so filled with love as he looked at her before dying, her fury choked off her tears. All the kisses. *I love you,* his final words. He hadn’t cared about death, he was just content to have lived with and protected her. It was time to return his love as her final gift to him. Quietly, since it was still night and her neighbors would be sleeping, she walked out to the wooden bridge outside. Leaning on it with clenched fists, she looked out over the city. With revenge burning bright through her, she silently vowed to the stars. *Don’t worry Daniel,* her mind was grim as she made her vow. *I will hunt down the Necromancers and make them pay.* A mad smile came over her face, the smile of one who had nothing left to lose. To whom death would mean reunion to all she loved. *And when I do make them pay, they will wish they were never born!*

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