ELEMENT: Sun and Moon (OLD VERSION)

CHAPTER V ENCHANCE THE PROPHECY

Opportunity stared into the distance, her gaze remaining fixed on the horizon. Panic had moved her for the past few days. A figure with blue eyes had been chasing her in her dreams. The night after that, there was a blue-eyed figure. And after that, too. Last night, her dream had been different though. The figure had spoken.

"I'll get you now. I'll get you soon. No escape, you fool. The clutches of my weapons remain tight on your shoulders. You have been warned." Opportunity shuddered. Had she? She had been very cautious ever since her first dream. She needed some fresh air. She ignored Spirit and her mother Lyra's questioning gaze as she quickly leapt out of the door. The black roofs of her house glinted in the late evening starlight as they slanted. The sky blazed orange and crimson and slowly faded into amaranth and violet. The late evening sun's fiery sparks danced across the sidewalk, littering it with a scalding carnelian glow.

Opportunity's heart gushed with warmth as she saw the moon, a glowing white gibbous that illuminated the roads. Streetlamps started to flicker on as the evening faded to dusk. Opportunity felt a stab of annoyance. Couldn't people let someone enjoy the beauty of the night sky for just one extra minute? She grumbled to herself as the starshine retreated against the blinding white light of the streetlamps. Her feet dragged along the sidewalk, her soul lost in thought. What should I do about Celeste? She advised me. She appeared in my dream. I can't just ignore her message...Opportunity didn't know what to do. The prophecy-like message came flooding back into her mind:

Make the right choice.

But how could she embrace her destiny when she didn't even know what it was?!

"My name isn't very popular among humans," Celeste had said. What had she meant? Was she one of the strange humans who had been killed for their magic?

"Just a dream," Opportunity murmured to herself. But frustration singed her thoughts. She didn't know how to interpret dreams! She was barely eleven, so how was she supposed to understand complicated things like this? Opportunity kicked the ground hard, discontentedly. Anger burned in her throat, but what could she say? Fury flared in her mind, but what could she think? A scowl whipped across her face.

But suddenly, everything went pitch black.

The streetlamps went out abruptly.

Darkness sank into Opportunity's surroundings.

Opportunity felt her anger thaw immediately. Alarm and fear surged up her veins. A cold gust of late summer wind erupted around her, bringing unusual freezing air. She glanced at the gardens around her.

Frost was slowly forming on the leaves.

It cracked silently, spreading across petals. A shiver of cold echoed in the air. Opportunity's heart started to beat faster. She threw her head up at the moon for comfort, panic forming. But the stars were gone. The moon was veiled behind the darkest of all clouds Opportunity had ever seen. Gaping at her unusual surroundings, she glanced at the frostbitten gardens and ran.

Ran for her life.

Ran for all she was worth.

She forgot everything she ever knew, forgot all of her anger. All she cared about was fleeing. She raced across the sidewalk as fast as her legs could carry her, alarm raging like a storm in her chest. She was running so fast she felt like she was flying. The grass around her started to spread with the frost and ice, and every step was one more away from death. She paused for a hesitant second, panting. Her eyes scanned her surroundings for a split second. The grass around her was growing encased in frost, spreading rapidly. She needed to move, quick. Forgetting whatever was behind her, she raced over the pavement. Her house was near...two turns to the right, one to the left...

Sprinting rapidly, she nearly crashed into the black walls of her house. Throwing herself inside, she slammed the door lock. Her heart was still crashing around like a whirlpool, but she was growing calmer. Lyra and Spirit were still sitting in the living room, silent. Spirit raised an eyebrow at Opportunity, her gaze quizzical. Lyra gaped at her, worry screening her eyes. Of course they were suspicious, she had just thrown herself into the house and locked the door, panting and drenched in cold sweats. Why wouldn't they be questioning? Spirit's dark brown hair looked black in the shadows, her amber eyes darkening. Lyra's hazel hair danced behind her shoulders, her glowing gold star-like eyes looking at Opportunity worriedly. Her eyes were like Spirit's. Opportunity felt jealousy beneath all her fear. That obviously made Lyra closer to Spirit than her!

"Opportunity?" Lyra's voice was full of concern. Opportunity blinked.

"I'm okay," she said, abruptly. Ignoring Spirit and her mother's inquiring stares, she carefully lifted one of the window's curtains, glancing outside. Fear formed in the pit of her stomach as she saw frost and ice slowly climbing up the walls of her house. Flakes of ice slowly froze across the edges of her window. Alarmed, Opportunity noticed Lyra and Spirit gaping at the iced window. Opportunity instantly threw back the curtains and stared at her family.

"Why were you looking out the window?" Spirit asked, puzzled.

"What? I can't look outside anymore?" Opportunity snapped. Realizing her sharp tone, she added gently, "the moon is in gibbous. I wanted to see its progress."

"You just went outside, Opp," Lyra said, soothingly. "Want us to see it?" Her voice was gentle and soft. But before Opportunity could reply, Spirit was already bounding out toward the door, and outstretched hand ready to twist open the lock.

"No!" Opportunity leapt in front of her sister at the last second.

"Why not?" Spirit's voice grew surprised, her amber eyes rounding.

"Just don't go," Opportunity pleaded.

"No, let me go see-"

"Spirit-"

"Stop! Get out of my way! What has gotten into you?!" Spirit shoved Opportunity to one side and swung open the door. Opportunity opened her mouth to explain, but Spirit was already gaping at the frostbitten neighborhood.

"Opportunity," she whispered, "what have you done?" 

Hello again! I just decided to end on a cliffhanger, Idk why. Thank you for reading, and remember to comment! Who here thinks Spirit is a whiny little girl who thinks everything is about herself? (I didn't mean to make her one intentionally, but my brother insists that she is). I need to know what everyone thinks about the characters, because since I came up with them, I can't really find fault in any of them. Thx for reading!!!