Gateway

Chapter 1

The rain was warm against my skin. The thick humidity hung heavy in the bleak Monday afternoon. Annoyance curled around me as the afro I worked so hard on this morning absorbed every drop. My arms strained as I pulled the deadweight package behind me. It dragged along the muddy forest floor, rustling the fallen leaves  with each bump. My pants came in stutters and my lungs burned for a break.

The trees loomed above me, obscuring my body from the outside world. It gave me a fake sense of relief as I dropped the package onto the ground behind me. It made me believe, as I dug out the arm length shovel from my bag, that my secret was safe that no one will ever find out about me. Not again. I fell to my knees and began digging the deepest possible hole that my soaked body could manage.

Only the sound of my heavy panting and the dull thump of dirt against the black body bag could be heard over the rain. Only once the sun had long gone and the chill of the evening had replaced the earlier warmth did I stop to rest. Wet mud streaked against my dark skin and clung underneath my nails. My clothes were in a worse state almost unrecognisable. I sat on the edge of the freshly dug hole and stared ahead into the never ending darkness of the forest regaining my breath.

"Argh!" A muffled cry came from behind me.

The black bag began to wiggle and squirm.  I regarded it cooly. The cold metal of the gun strapped to my thigh weighed heavily against my thigh as more cries echoed into the night. I rose to my knees and crawled over to the bag. I placed my knees against either side of the bag and felt the body inside still. My heart clenched painfully as I thought about my next actions.

My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the zip and brought it closer to my body. Slowly a face all to familiar was revealed. His caramel skin gleamed with a thin sheet of sweat, a wild look of fear and confusion swirled in the depths of his dark eyes. A frown etched itself into his forehead as his eyes assessed me, anger quickly replacing his fear.

"What the fuck! Ano where the hell are we?" He questioned outraged, "why the fuck am I tied up?"

My throat choked the words I wanted to say as I reached to smooth his forehead. This was the last time I'll see his face, I wanted to remember it's every sharp feature without a single frown etched into it.

"Relax please," I whispered. A sweet scent filled the air between us. It was citrusy and fresh and made Jeremy do as I asked. His body slacked but his eyes were very much aware of everything.

"W-what did you do?" He asked softly. His coffee coloured eyes drooped, his lips parted slightly.

"You're gonna sleep now," I said discreetly reaching my gun, "you're gonna sleep for a long time." Tears pooled in my eyes as I watched him nod meekly and sigh.

"I love you Jeremy, so much that it pains to look at you. So much that I have to kill you." Warm wetness ran down my cheeks and through my blurred vision I could see the stark black barrel of the gun pressed tightly on Jeremy's forehead.

"Ano...stop," Jeremy pleaded.

"You are my home Jeremy, you are my safe haven always and forever please understand this...but I can't have that."

"No-" BANG!

I pulled the trigger.

Jeremy's head bounced.

A bullet sized hole oozed dark crimson from his forehead. It trickled down the sides of his temples gathering in the black bag. Blood stained his collar.

"Ugh!" I cried out. I tossed the gun aside as sobs reduced my body to quivers. I didn't bother trying to conceal the waterfall from my eyes.

"Why?" I screamed into the night but silence replied to my plea. I sobbed till my eyes were dry and couldn't produce any more tears. The air was chillier than ever and a biting wind had replaced the rain. My body collapsed next to the bag, Jeremy's dead body my only company.

Suddenly I couldn't breathe, my chest tightened and searing heat erupted from my heart. The rushing of my blood was overwhelmed by the unwelcome appearance of the voices. Murmures, shouts, demands overlapped themselves trying to get my attention. I groaned as I focused the heat to one point in my body.

Painstakingly it traveled down and dispersed into my arms. It burned so much. I cried out through clenched teeth when it seemed to set fire to every nerve in my arms and not in a good way. A strangled sound escaped my throat as the burning heat lit the palms of my hands. A bright pale blue light emitted from my hands.

Focus Ano fuck!

I pressed my palms flat on the ground and shot bolts of scorching heat through the forest floor. Clumps of dirt flew into the air around me and two large gaping holes were now in their place.

"Haha," I laughed humourlessly, "guess I deserved that." My body buzzed with warmth for a long while. The warmth was like a blanket that covered me as I buried Jeremy's body.

When light leaked into the dark sky I knew it was the early hours of morning. I was exhausted and sore everywhere. I dropped the shovel and reached for my phone in my bag. The single number in my contacts made anger boil inside me. I tap it and waited for two rings before she answered.

"It's done," I answered curtly.

"Good." I hang up and turned my back to the unmarked grave. I hesitated only a moment before I grabbed my gun and started to trek down the mountain.

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My name is Anokosha Ndhlovu.

My whole life I've been told one thing. Your purpose on this earth is to serve the most high guardian. Nothing more noting less. My mission was set out for me the day I was born, to protect the Blue Rose even if it costed my life. No this isn't some metaphorical name for something spectacular. It was literally a blue rose found in each continent.

I was an orphan because of this damn flower. The rose attracted plenty attention from different dimensions, all wanting to taste its forbidden power. Last year in the blistering heat of December there was an outbreak of demon like creatures in the Namib desert. All guardians from Southern Africa had to fly in as quick as possible. Unfortunately the plane my parents were on was struck down killing all 120 guardians.

I walked passed the reception of the bed and breakfast I was staying in. It was quiet and empty. It was situated in the more remote areas of Port Edward. I unlocked the small, cozy room before shutting the door and tossing my bag. Clothes came flying off next before a hot shower. Mud turned the water murky brown as I stood under the steady stream. I forced myself to not think about the previous night. I forced myself to not feel any remorse or guilt.

But as I laid under the thick covers hot, fresh tears escaped from my eyes.