We Are Code

I woke up, or I think I did. Not many people can say they’ve experienced opening their eyes to find they were already standing. But that’s what happened to me. Nevertheless, there I was, standing atop a stone tower with a view of the castle’s inner workings below me. I thought the castle was empty at first, but then I saw an ally, then another, and another. Soon the castle was filled with people dedicated to defending it. The castle itself was made of sandstone, but wooden supports were used to reinforce the castle. The men on the inside were preparing fortifications to defend the castle with their lives. “You know, generally our job is to keep a lookout outside the castle walls.” The voice called my attention. I turned to see thirteen other bowmen with me. I didn’t know any of them, but I knew I needed to stick with them for as long as I could. The eldest among them shook my shoulder. “You still with us?”

“Yes sir,” I said as I collected myself.

“Good, because the enemies are mobilizing.” I looked outward from the castle to find a barren desert. There was nothing for miles apart from the enemy forces in the distance. They were so far, they looked to be the size of ants. Yet they marched with such pride. It was clear that they were certain they would win the battle. “Ready yourselves men! The moment they come in range, send a volley.” I pulled an arrow from my quiver and mentally prepared myself. I was told that nothing truly prepares you for battle, but I was ready to give it my all, no matter how little I could provide.

The first wave of enemies didn’t get close enough until just before nightfall. The eldest raised his bow. “Ready arrows,” he said, inspiring the rest of us to do the same. “Fire!” We released a volley along with the rest of the bowmen in the other towers. The arrows flew into the first wave of enemies, making it appear as if the hoard of marching soldiers stopped in their tracks for a moment, but it was really their first line of soldiers falling to the ground. The opposing army quickened their pace and readied their shields. “Fire at will, men.” I fired arrows as fast as I could, but it was pointless. Most of the arrows were blocked by their shields.

“This is folly,” I said. “We should move to a different vantage point and wait for an opening.”

“We will hold this position,” the elderly said. “Do not stop firing.”

At the front of the enemy army’s march was a single man without a shield. He wore black robes and had a metal mask covering his face. I targeted him with my next arrow, but as the arrow flew directly to him, he vanished into dust before my eyes. Moments later, our gate was being opened from the inside.

“They have breached,” the elderly said.

“Wait,” I said. “How is that?”

“Now is the time to focus our fire inward. Take out as many as you can.”

The castle became flooded with enemy soldiers. Our men were dying everywhere I looked, but I couldn’t give up. I kept following the orders I was given. When the castle was nearly completely overrun, I turned to the elderly and said, “We should cover the ladder. Our foes will be coming up at any moment.”

“Do not stop firing down there. If I see one person turn their back on the battle, I will shoot you myself.”

The elderly’s madness was frustrating to say the least, but I could not disobey him. Sure enough, I heard the cry of one of our bowmen. I turned to see him stabbed by the man in black robes. I fired an arrow at the robed man, and it hit him in the neck. He fell to the ground and black blood pooled around his body. The elderly grabbed my shoulder and said, “The fight’s not over. Get your head on straight and keep-”

The next thing I knew, it was mid-day again, and all the enemies that flooded the castle had disappeared. All the soldiers I watched die were back on their feet like nothing ever happened. I blinked rapidly in confusion. Was it all a strange fever dream caused by the intense heat? “You know, generally our job is to keep a lookout outside the castle walls.” The voice of the elder bowman brought me back to my senses as I turned to face the other bowmen in the tower. He shook my shoulder again, like before. “You still with us?”

“I think so.”

“Good, because the enemies are mobilizing.” I looked out to the barren desert to see the enemy in the distance again. It was no fever dream, but a premonition. I was certain of it. I looked at this as a positive. I was mentally better prepared for the upcoming battle. However, even with my knowledge, I doubted that we would survive the coming assault.

Everything happened just like I saw in my vision. Even the robed man at the front of the charge disappeared just before our gates were opened. When the castle flooded with intruders, I turned toward the ladder, ready to end anyone who came up it. The elder bowman grabbed me and shook me as if he demanded my attention. “Focus your fire down below,” he said.

“They’ll come up the ladder any moment,” I shouted.

“Irrelevant, focus your fire.”

“We will be slaughtered if we do not cover the ladder.” During our argument, I heard the familiar cry of one of our bowmen getting stabbed by the robed man. I raised my bow and fired at the robed man, but he deflected my arrow with his sword. In a flash, the robed man charged me and stabbed me in the chest. The piercing pain only lasted for a moment before my entire body went numb. I fell to the ground and my vision faded as I watched eight of my fellow bowmen fall by the hand of the robed man. Then the robed man fell beside me, an arrow in his neck. His black blood mixed with mine. I stared at the eye socket of his metal mask, waiting for my suffering to finally end, and I swear I saw the robed man lock eyes with me before it all went dark.