Read The Wizard Killer - Season One: A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Serial for Free Online

Then comes a second one, its pitch just different enough to make my heart skip a beat. Wiping my face, I stare at the ground. “What did I do to deserve two ?”  
    A few seconds later, they lumber into view. Their orange and white flames are burning brightly, and their mage-skulls seem to be almost sliding back and forth on their black necks. One of them notices me and its skull’s eyes light up. It’s got a burnt, black scorch mark on its chest.
    A fatalistic laugh escapes me and I hang my head. “I guess I’m at the top of your revenge list. Nice to know it’s personal,” I say, shaking my head. I grab the leader and shake her vigorously until she smacks my hands away. A glint of a small knife in the backseat. Thank you, carn, for the extra light.  
    Heaving the unconscious guy aside, I reach over and grab the knife. In a blink, I’m outside, cutting the straps off the trunk, thankfully to have the levi between me and the two carnu.
    Tossing aside some of their things, I grab my pistol and short sword. Randmon’s in there too, nibbling something. He stops and looks up at me.  
    “Okay, come on,” I say, picking him up and putting him on my shoulder. Crouching down and leaning against the levi-car, I try to come up with a plan that doesn’t involve running as fast as I can and simply hoping that the scarred carn kills them first, instead of chasing after me. “I know it’ll come after me, and that’s why it’s a bad plan,” I tell Randmon.  
    Sometimes that little guy gets on my nerves, the little know-it-all. Stroking the middle of my forehead with my pistol, I realize I’ve got nothing else, other than a slightly less stupid plan. If the others don’t get up soon, we’re all going to burn. “Okay, what do you think? Go for it? Just whose side are you on?” Randmon jumps down.
    Poking my head into the back of the levi-car, I tell them, “Get up. I’m going to distract them. You’ve got one shot to get out.”
    I close my eyes and try to connect with that pressure in my chest, but it’s not there; not even a hint of pain. I chew on my lip wondering if maybe I’m just getting more used to it. It hurt like a yigging donkey kick in the chest at first, then it was just pressure. Maybe it’s there. No time like the present to find out.
    With a nod to Randmon, I bolt for the forest, yelling to get the carnu’s attention. I don’t have to look to know that they’re staring at me, wondering what I’m doing. I run a dozen yards into the trees before sliding to the ground and peeking back at what’s happening.
    The new carn is heading for me, glancing about to see if it’s a trap. But then the scarred one grabs it by the shoulder and growls and clicks at it. They’ve got a language… a freaking language. I bang my head against the dirt… freaking smart walking nightmares. My gut tells me the carnu are going to make sure the others are dead before hunting me down. They don’t want to get outflanked.
    Kneeling, I see that I’ve unconsciously used the short sword to heal my wounds. I better be careful with that; I don’t remember how to recharge the yigging thing.  
    I plant the sword in the dirt and take the pistol in both hands. With one eye closed, I try to focus my aim but it feels like my hands are just having fun mocking me. I watch the pistol tracking all over the place. Taking a steadying breath, I pull the trigger. Nothing happens. Mother of Mercy, can’t something go my way? There’s nothing going on inside me. How does this stupid thing work?
    The scarred carn growls and they take up positions around the levi. Hoping I’ve given the others enough time, I pick up my sword and turn to the toppled levi-car. The leader’s standing on top of it, her hood pulled back. She’s got a bloody nose, a bleeding cheek, and fiery red eyes. With well-practiced calm, she’s gesturing delicately and precisely in the air, mouthing words. An image of standing in a stone hall with dozens like her