Shadow's Advent

Chapter Three

She looked around frantically, her body going cold. "Who's there? Come out! Show yourself!" 

There was a growling sound and Caraka scrambled to her feet. The growling grew louder, deeper, more threatening. She looked around, trying to pinpoint the sound; it was coming from everywhere. The sound surrounded her. Engulfed her.  

Something solid grazed her arm. 

She jumped and took off running, screaming.  

"Help! Help me! Cipher! Where are you? I don't want to be here anymore! Someone! Help!" 

Stop. 

Caraka stopped in her tracks. She stood stiffly, her entire body shaking uncontrollably. She gulped, hugging herself. 

You are acting like a coward. 

Why shouldn't I be? Something is following me! 

You've been in worse situations. 

But-But, it could be...it could be... 

Exactly, could be, but it isn't, the voice scolded. You are acting like an idiot. Take a step forward and see where your idiocy could have landed you.  

She inched her foot forward until the ground disappeared. She was near the sea cliffs; a hundred foot drop into the frenzied sea. 

Caraka stood there, her body still shaking. There was something in the mist, something that wanted to scare her. She shouldn't give in to the power. Caraka took in a shaking breath and pressed her fear down into the pit of her stomach. 

She turned around, coming face to face with a figure in the mist.  

The figure looked like a skeleton that had a thick, silvery substance poured over it, giving it a hollowed look. It cocked its head, a cracking sound echoing through the air. 

Caraka felt the color drain from her face. She tried to scream, say something, but was only able to mutter a whimpering sound.  

The wraith hovered forward, the lower half of its body disappearing into the mist. It hissed at her.  

"W-What a-are you?" Caraka stammered out. 

The wraith merely hissed at her again, slowly hovering forward.  

She grabbed her sword, trying to pull it out, but being unable to, her hands slick with sweat. "S-Stay away from me..." 

The wraith cocked its head to the other side.  

Caraka took a step backwards, her foot catching the edge of the cliff. She lost her footing and fell.  

She let out a blood curdling scream as she fell through the air. She frantically opened up her wings and flipped herself around. The wind caught under them, allowing her to glide through the air. She flapped her wings to gain some lift, but she mostly glided down through the thick mist, unable to see any water below. 

A gust of wind knocked into her. Her wings gave out, causing her to fall again. She shrieked, hysterically beating her wings to slow down her freefall. Another gust from the opposite direction hit her, causing her to tumble through the air.  

She hit something hard, bouncing and sliding across it. Caraka ended up splayed out on her stomach, moaning and groaning.  

She lifted her head, looking out into the dense mist. She coughed and weakly got to her knees. Her body was shaking, her wings hanging limply. She looked up, but couldn't see the edge of the cliff, no bearing on exactly where she had fallen.