Shadowspell: Chronicles Of Ondel

Chapter Two: From Colors, To Gray, To Void

     Morning arrives.

     I couldn't sleep. Not once, in the eight hours I spent, tossing and turning. My mind was clouded, my thoughts were racing. I remained wide-awake, dread eating away at my insides, throughout the entire night. Even as weariness crept upon me, around midnight or so, sleep would not come.

     Now, beyond exhausted, I loiter outside my house, on the creaky, wooden steps that lead to the doorway, plagued by the knowledge that, rather soon, a dome will shroud my town in darkness. There's nothing I can do, except enjoy sunlight while it lasts. 

The other citizens have the same idea, so it seems, for the streets are packed with people aimlessly drifting up and down the roads, heading nowhere in particular. Some folks simply stand around, populating the cobblestone sidewalks, idly engaging in small walk with their neighbor, or friend, or some stranger—anyone who will spare some of their time to chat.

The day carries out normally.

As if the whole town is not dreadfully anticipating the loss of sunlight.

I lounge on the doorstep of my home, gazing up at the sky, taking in what's soon to be stripped away hours to come. The sun. The sky. The clouds. Some things I never thought would be taken from me, some things I never thought I'd miss.

     A shaky sigh escapes my lips.

     Everything seems so fake, so unreal.

Before the courier's arrival, Frostfire Village was blooming with vivid colors and happiness—everything seemed so real. Then those colors turned gray, but there was a strong sense of raw emotion to be felt. And now, there's color again, but those colors are faded. Deficient of genuine emotion. Bland.

     "Come inside, Athena...Breakfast is ready..."

     There comes a voice from behind me: low, soft, croaky, and familiar. I automatically match the voice with a face. "Can we eat outside, Starr?" I don't turn around to face my older sister; I continue gazing at the cloudless sky soaring above me. "This is gonna be the last time we see the the light of day for...ever. Can we enjoy it while it's still here?"

     Instead of responding with "yes" or "no," she plops down next to me, her bony shoulder brushing against mine. I guess breakfast will have to wait.

"I was out of town when the courier announced what the future has in store for us, but word travels fast around here," she says, her voice laced with gloom. She shakes her head solemnly. "I love the dark. I really do, but even I think it's absolutely foolish to trap people underneath a brick dome, never to see the sun's light again. That Commander's a fool—an utter fool. And so is everyone else that shares his views..."

     "You're basically calling half the townspeople fools then."

     "If that many people think slaughtering every other race besides our own and forcing every town and city into hiding is a good idea, then yes, half the townspeople are indeed fools," she spits, with venom lacing each and every word.

     "Even the pro-war people weren't so keen on the whole build-a-dome-to-protect-the-city-from-a-dragon idea either," I say. "I don't think anyone was. Unfortunately, not many voiced their opinion."

     "I don't think that would have made any difference. The Commander isn't influenced by anyone below his status. A prime example of how egotistical that man truly is," Starr mutters, scowling as she speaks her last sentence. "Just imagine how different life would be, if he took everyone's thoughts into consideration, though. There wouldn't be a war. There wouldn't be plans of slaughtering the innocent because of their race. It'd be peaceful."