The first rays of warm dawn sunlight shone on the left side of the humongous wooden chalet.
As a tepid breeze holding in its folds the chants of morning birds strived but in vain to mask some groans and moans, which came from inside the abode.
Ones which had an air of deep distress.
Such a mood was rarely if ever encountered in there.
It was usually peaceful, an atmosphere of tandem help and laughter reigned the place.
It's inhabitants were mostly women who had their fair share of pain and trouble in life, alongside their children.
Refugees of sorts.
Sharing the stay with few monks, and men of religion who's lives are as routine as one can be.
Completing their repetitive daily chores, such as prayers, agriculture, eating, feeding livestock and i spare you the rest.
The youngsters mostly started the day by helping the elders in their daily tasks.
Then played with each other, messed with the cattle or tried hunting birds and small rodents that infested the basement.
Any sort of amusement was welcomed amongst them,
They rarely got into trouble, save of course when dueling and fighting each other the way knights do.
To prove that they were worthy of the charming princess's heart, or so the tales and stories they enjoyed hearing before sleep dictated.
Thus that day, the overall vibe was contrary to the habitual.
Heralding the begging of a tragedy, an event that will drastically turn the villagers life upside down.
The beginning of the end for some, and the advent of a new age for others.
---
While sleeping on the thin layered pad he had always slept in.
Feeling uneasy and anxious, something was stirring distressful groans and moans out of the poor 3 years old toddler, a nightmare perhaps.
He kept rolling from left side of the pad to its right, and then back.
All the while he rumbled and mumbled in a fearful manner.
Not the gentle breeze passing by nor the chant of the finest birds of the nearby alley could appease such a torment.
A few moments passed by and he finally woke up. but before that, just for a jiffy he had a vision !
One which was like naught he had ever came across in his life.
He saw what seemed to be dark lines similar to those drawn by the artists of his village using old brushes, only clumsier, being printed by a demonic hand on human skin.
The general colors of the vision were mostly of a blood curdling dull violet or mauve.
Screams of agony and suffering could be heard as the lines were drawn on flesh.
It all ended with a large scarlet rhombus characterised and defined by the same dark lines previously described.
"Mama !" Were the first words that he dared shout as he awakened.
All the other children that slept in the room rose heads, stared curiously at the panicked little child screaming and crying.
Some gentle, though swift foot steps were heard advancing towards the door.
"Am coming boy, am coming" his mother said before entering.
"Come to me my sweet boy, it's okey, i am here now" she worryingly said after seeing her beloved boy's tears and his frightened attitude.
Her generous hug and the warm smile she mustered were more than sufficient to establish some comfort and bring stability to the child's heart.
"Go now to the watersource wash your face, have a change of clothes and lets hop down i will prepare my little boy some'ing to eat".
For he only wore an oversizes undefined piece of cloth that served him as a sleep garnement.
It was just like someone cut three holes on a sheet and put it on the little guy's shoulders.
He went hastly to the watersource, basically a room with what seems to be like a small fountain draining water from a certain nearby river or such, used for cleaning, baths, and even sometimes drink when times required so.
He began by dipping his hands in the crystal cold water, washed his neck and nape, then his face, but the coldness of the fresh water crashing on his eye lids was accompanied with visions...
Clumsy lines floating on a dull violet background.
Defined scarlet rhombuses of various shapes.
But this time he saw a child, black hair, red forelocks similar to his own, thin body, classy clothing.
Along side a demonic figure, wings wide open behind him, pointing at a certain location which was hard to spot because the vision started blurring and disapearing as he opened his eyes.
Submerged by fear he ran downstairs ignoring all his friends calling his name along the hallway leading to the stairs.
Once down he sought his mom but was petrified by what he saw, a dim scarlet light glowing around one of the doors leading outside.
Through his childish curiosity he braved the terror, advanced towards the light, reached the door handle, as the grew brighter with each step.
The atmosphere was so calm not even a fly could be heard buzzing.
He hesitantly put his hands on the wooden handle, and started pushing.
The door is now wide open, behold in front of the small young boy was...absolutely nothing !
A vast empty horizon beaming sunrays on the desert of Terra Nullius.
He was relieved that his visions were only a fruit of imagination.
Happy that he will finally get join his mom to fill that empty little stomach of his, he turned around facing the door from the outside, took one step forward.
Suddenly he disapeared.
In a deafening clic sound.
Leaving behind him but a breath of dim violet smoke, and glitching rune like marks, made out of clumsy black lines engraved on some areas on and around the door.
---
All the neighborhood rushed to the place after hearing such a strange sound, they were intrigued, for they have never witnessed marks like those before.
Though the clic sounded like a big explosion, no sign of damage was sustained.
They called upon all the children there from fear of an unknown threat coming from outside the village, all were present but one !
They searched everywhere...
Ever each dark corner he took refuge in while playing hide and seek with his friends.
Ever each basement and storage room he got caught nibbling on dried fruits he stole.
Nothing.
He was nowhere to be found...
His mother after realising the calamity of her loss.
In despair collapsed on her knees and screamed in agony, from the deepest depths of her lungs : "Aster, why !" Before she lost consciousness.
YOU ARE READING
Epiphany
AdventureHe was there alone, crouched, hands hugging his knees while he cried his eyes off. Ears still numb after the loud click sound. He had trouble breathing the more air he inhaled, it was contaminated with violet dust. A few seconds have passed, he beg...
