When Darkness Strikes

Prologue

There is a moment in your life when everything you believe is turned up, down, and sideways. That moment came to Cia Walker when she was 8 years old.

It had started out like a normal day. Cia woke up and had looked in the mirror. She was hoping to see small horns poking out from the top of her head or bright red scales covering parts of her skin, considering she was part dragon. And just like everyday there was nothing. Without those characteristics, nobody would know that Cia was suppose to be part dragon. Which thinking back on that, it probably saved her life.

The rest of Cia's day was normal, except that her mother was acting strange all day. Cia would look at her mother and see small specks of sweat on her forehead, or her glancing at the window, as if waiting for someone to come.

Later that night, Cia went to bed thinking it be the end of the night. Of course, that wasn't the end. It was late into the night, and that's when Cia woke up to a scream. She opened her eyes and looked around, thinking that the Boogie Man was there to collect her soul. Cia grasped her blanket and hid under her pillow.

Her door was kicked open by an unknown predator. Each step the perpetrator took shook the room. Cia couldn't help but let out a whimper in fear.

A big, burly hand grasped Cia by the head and examined her. " She doesn't look like a dragon," the giant man said in a grumble. The man sniffed her as well. "She doesn't smell like one either."

Cia's eyes went wide in fear and started to cry. "P-please don't hurt me!" She stammered.

Another guy walked in and looked at Cia. " Leave her here. I mean it's not like she has anywhere to go. She'll either die or get taken and sold in the black market." His voice had the wheezy, high pitched, rat voice you would give a villain.

The big guy dropped her on the bed and walked out the door. The other man followed. Cia had looked at the two felons right before they left, but there wasn't anything to them. She couldn't tell if they were light or dark skinned or if they had any hair. It was like they were shadows.

Cia waited what felt like hours before getting out of bed. All she wanted at the moment was to get in bed with her mom and dad and go to sleep. She wanted to snuggle with her mom and know that everything would be fine.

Cia got out of bed and went down the hallway to where her parents room was. Cia walked in and saw that the bed was empty and unmade. This is strange, mother always makes the bed after she gets up. Cia thought going over and making the bed herself.

After finishing the task, Cia went to the dining room and saw a surprise. Slouched against the wall was what could only assume to be Cia's mother. Dark brown locks of hair covered the body's face, and that was all Cia could identify. The rest of the body was scoured across the floor. Intestines dangling from the upper half the body and organs lying at the feet of the body. Cia walked over, making sure to not step on the stomach, and moved the hair from the body's face to see a face of terror permanently implanted.

Cia's lip quivered as she gently touched the cheek of her mother's body. Cia knew she was dead. Most eight year olds wouldn't understand that her mother wasn't alive, but Cia was different. Cia's mother had taught her that the world was cruel from the beginning. Some people would say that the things her mother taught Cia were strange or morbid, but without those lessons Cia would've been a lost puppy stuck in a nightmare.

Cia couldn't help but sob. Her sobs were cut short when a shadow towered over her. Cia was not in the mood for another terrifying meeting. She turned around and kicked the figure in the shins.

" Just leave! I don't have anything left." Cia whined as she started making a run for it.

The silhouette grabbed Cia by the shirt and let out a low growl. " You little brat! I'm trying to save your ass."

" Don't say that word! My mother would give you a spanking for saying that." Cia tried to swat at him, but he hold her away from his face.

He glanced over at Cia's mother then smirked, " If she was still alive I wouldn't mind that." He started to walk towards the door with Cia still in his hands.

"Where are you going to take me?" Cia asked as she tilted her head to the side. "My mom won't let me go anywhere with strangers."

" My name's Zander, and I'm trying to save your life. There now we aren't strangers." Zander smiled and walked out taking Cia away from the mess she once called home.