BlogNomic: The Ninth Dynasty of ais523

June watched in horror as the shop quickly went up in flames, and the yells for help grew louder.

1. As the thugs ran off with their loot, June leapt into action. She didn’t have long; the flames had already started creeping up the walls. Dashing inside, she saw smashed shelves and ruined merchandise. And a growing pool of blue liquid? No time to investigate! Her brother was doubled over in pain. His scrawny frame—not unlike Eddie’s, though he lacked the latter’s black hair—seemingly did not stand up as well to a gut-punch as June’s own stocky, squat stature.  She helped him up, and saw their escape thwarted by hot, crimson tongues. Their only option lay upstairs.

2. June leapt out from behind the cart, her auburn hair shining like gold as she hit the first pirate with a solid THWACK! One quick spin and the second pirate fell to her frying pan as well. She kicked the door to the shop open; the cries still ringing in here ears. The smoke made it hard to investigate, but she soon saw a figure in the corner. “Owen, is that you?” she asked, racing to the figure. The old man’s face was already blue, so she quickly picked him up and carried him to the church.

3. Natasha, head cocked, listened as the little village at the top of the cliffs fell. With the ocean to her back and stone cliffs to her front, she seemed to have an advantageous cover, but something about this still felt wrong. Every so often, about 50 paces away, bags of supplies thudded down from the dark cliffs into the sand. Crew members were taking bags of supplies from shore to the ship when she heard, “Captain! We have it!” She turned to investigate and momentarily forgot about her worries as she saw the pale blue glow of the jewel.

4. She had to act fast. The entrance was already dangerously ablaze. With her long arms, June brandished her frying pan and swung at the nearest window, smashing it to bits. “Everyone, out! NOW!” she yelled. Her heart pounding, June investigated each person’s face as they climbed through the opening. There was Eddie, his black mop of hair immediately recognizable. Her little brother, clutching a basket of blueberries, looking terrified but uninjured. Her father, the patrons… “Where’s Ma?” June asked, her eyes frantic. June’s father faltered; he looked dazed. “The pirates, they… they took her. They took your mother.”

5. June ran into the burning shop. “Mom, where are you?” She yelled. “June! Help!” Racing towards the back room, June found her mother under an overturned table. Knowing they had no time to waste, June lifted it up just enough for her mom to crawl out. Rushing out the back door, the two collapsed to the ground. “Are you ok mom?” June asked “I am now hon” her mom sighed. “One of them did drop a note. All it said was ‘meet at the pit; bring the ingredients’” June’s blue eyes flashed with determination, she’d have to investigate Hell’s pit.