King Eglon stood frozen on his platform, his bowl of popcorn now forgotten, tumbling to the floor with a soft pat pat pat.
"What… What is going on?" he muttered, eyes darting toward the castle gate where thick smoke now coiled into the air like a serpent.
Another guard ran to him, panting. "Your Majesty, there's a breach at the east gate! Armed men are pouring in!"
"Stop them!" Eglon barked. "Stop them and return with a full report!"
The guard saluted and dashed off into the chaos.
Minutes passed.
No one returned.
The sounds of the battle grew louder. Closer.
Eglon's fingers twitched.
"You!" he pointed at another soldier. "Go and find out what's happening!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Gone.
Silence.
Then, more screams. Screams that sounded less like war cries and more like the dying.
Eglon's heart raced.
One by one, he sent the rest of the guards around him. Five. Then six. Till fifty. All vanished into the noise, none ever returned.
Only silence followed.
