The land was dark, full of shadows whipping around every corner. Any small remnant of light was snuffed out, now all that is left is- Aahaha pfft! Brooding, that is the last of me trying that. This world or planet-nevermind. Humanity has pushed all those foreboding barriers one by bloody one. Our planet is united, we all are equals. Though, I believe we-
"Syretia! Come on! We are going to be late." Cassander yelled. Dang, it! I forgot about school. I quickly stop typing in my dream journal. I hurried and rushed down the stairs of my home whisking past each picture of my family. Then I finally see the little twerp sitting on the edge and playing on his phone.
"I have arrived, your queen is here peasant!" I say, making sure my accent was on point.
Cassander looks up from his phone, powering it off before sighing and looking up to me. He then takes in a deep breath and says, "It is a wonder we are related. Now let's get going before the headmaster yells at us again." He proceeds to walk on to the garage and I follow laughing.
We arrived at the campus on time, like we always do and go to our respective classes. I go into history with my books and sit down next to the window. Checking my watch, I see that class will begin in twenty minutes. I let out a yawn. Nothing ever changes, it's the same routine. Everyday rinse and repeat, we go to the school and then return home and do homework then start the process again. I shake my head and ignore the internal crisis that awaits and takes a quick power nap to ease another mediocre day.
The silence was tranquil. I feel at ease, my body one with the universe. My shoulders relaxed more as if I just stayed in an endless pool. As I open my eyes, I see the vast array of nebulas almost flowing into a harmonic rhythm around me. I reach into one, and as my fingertip touches one it expands into a small universe filling with life. Then my body is no longer mine, I suck in a breath and no matter what I try in my head my body does not follow. I feel as if my soul is being torn apart from my body itself. Tears begin to cascade down my face as I am thrown into the universe like a ragdoll. Something that looks like Earth comes closer at an alarming rate and then within a blink of an eye, I am sitting on the grass. I let out a breath, and grip my body in relief. The discord I felt inside myself was gone. I carefully stand and take in my surroundings.
This place was more than I expected, the land was untouched by society and technology. Mother Nature had grown out and seemed in at peace with itself. Though something caught my eye, there was light brighter than the sun careening through the trees. I gingerly walk closer to it, wondering how it could exist. As I trudge the foliage I passed by a wolf and a fox together, huh this really is an abstract of a place. My stomach flutters as I get closer to the source. I walk past the final tree obstructing my view. It was a person? They looked like they were on fire, yet the flames didn't seem to be harming them in any way. I gawk before I hastily make my way through the bushes and branches and reach to touch them. I achieve touching their shoulder and they start turning around and I begin to-
"Wake up nerd." An all too familiar, obnoxious voice mused. I internally sigh. With a heavy heart, I look up to the perpetrator of making me not so the fire dude. I meet the eyes of him, why couldn't be Bethany, or heck even Creepy Antione.
"What do you want Bleiz?" I quip, clenching my teeth before I say something I may regret. Bleiz only responds with a smirk, lightly shrugging before finding his seat with those other kids, those "popular" kids. Thankfully, before any of them could snicker over the rude awakening, Mrs. Mana came in. Shushes and whispers suddenly fill the room.
"Good morning class, I hope all of you have read the introduction of this unit's preface on how to match mythos to history." Mrs. Mana says, gazing more over to the "popular" kids' side than any other. I shook my head, she and all the other students knew they didn't so this unit was going to be a pain.
"I actually did it Mrs. Mana, believe it or not," Bleiz began, "It was really intriguing how those mythologies gave away many historical and cultural cues." I don't believe him, he never does any in-depth stuff, especially with those people as his friends.
"What is the sudden change of heart, Mr. Fitz?" Mrs. Mana asked. The whole room's aura suddenly shifted. Breathes were held in, everyone close by Bleiz moved in closer wanting to hear the most desired guy's change of heart. He waited a few seconds chewing on his cheek for a bit before cutting the room's palpable tension.
"Well, um, high school doesn't last forever and I also really enjoy myths so I never thought there would actually be a correlation between them and history." He muttered out. The popular teens laugh and cheering on his 'speech'. Mrs. Mana shushes them and gives and gives Bleiz a genuine smile.
Mrs. Mana then turns center and starts her lecture, "Now I know many of you side with praying to the Greek gods yes?" She starts. Many teens raise their hands, including me. The gods that have forsaken us, yet our parents force us into praying for. "These gods believed that we were so powerful with our soul alone that they cut us in half to stop us for seeming to overtake them. Now let's move on to the day similar to the history books of the gods and goddesses all leaving...." She spoke on continuing on to the things of the Greeks I have read in my past time and Start jotting down key points that expand on my knowledge.
Each class goes on, each in a pale yellow classroom in a different location. Soon the day is over as it began. I trudge onto to the parking lot of our campus, already done with the day.
I can see our lifted, sleek car. Sadly Cassander is nowhere to be found. Oh, no please by all the gods may he not be late again. I really need to get home and start on the project, so I can just coast for the rest of the semester. I tap my foot and let out a yawn. You know what? I'm just going to head to the park if he takes so long and let's see him all upset. With that thought through I grab my stuff and head off campus to the Roman park.
By the time I arrived, it was at peak midday. The sun shines nicely through the trees. The breeze follows cooling any discomfort the sun may have brought. I go lay against the tree situated in the middle of the park. I sit and let out a puff of air I didn't know I had held in and start on my history project. The comparative essay is my first task into this project, once I finish this I will be free for the creative process. As I wrote the essay my mind drifted to what I envisioned in my nap in class. Was I reconnecting with my soul mate? To which to explain why we had that lecture on it first too? No, no they could be just coincidences. I don't need one anyway .I-I don't feel empty or sad like they hinted at in the story.
No, I believe my soul is complete and is thriving off of the luxury of being at solace. It doesn't hurt or crack I know it. I rub my head at my existential crisis again. Gosh, why can't I have just a simple-?
The sky darkens, wind picking up speed. Howling the wind goes taking up anything it can. The ground below bellows in almost what sounds like a pain. No more was the beautiful park it looked like the shadows had torn through and sucked all the light away from it. The light is nowhere to be found. Oh, no!
I jump up grabbing my bag and rush back into campus to go get my brother. The winds push back with a force almost as strong as my will power. I endure them the best I can. Each step feeling like my body getting heavier and heavier. I grit my teeth and fist my hands as tight as could against this endless freak of nature. Although my next steps got lighter and it felt like all the burdens left me, but I didn't question it I took that opportunity to sprint down right on the edge of the campus.
The shadows seemingly ran all the light out leaving it almost a pitch black. Not even the green of the sickly patches of yellow seem to jump out of the darkness to my eyes. The only things that illuminated the pool of black were the cars in the parking lot. I head over in that direction first.
No signs of life seem to reside in the parking lot. The vast array of darkness plunders it too. The only thing I could make out was the faint light of a car, or could it be a truck? I walk through, pushing against the malevolent winds. As I draw near the now visible car, I stop. Not on my own accord, not again! A rush of adrenaline passes as I fight back against the invisible assailant. I feel myself being lifted in the air. I kick and thrash, but sadly I hit nothing in my retaliation. I feel a scream welled up into my throat as I try my hardest against this monster.
I feel something leave me, not the air in my body, but something more light. The adrenaline that had come to help me soon left. My kicks and punches cease, and I feel my eyes droop. Tear slowly slips out of my eyes and I know there is nothing I can do. Whatever that thing is too powerful for me. I'm sorry Cassander. I was supposed to protect you. I love you, little brother.
As my last thoughts ring through, I'm dropped and land with a hard thud. The drop woke me up a tad bit and with a blurry vision, I see something in place of the monster.
The thing was actually drooling. Droplets fall on the ground as he salivates. I could make out its outlet with it yellowish-orange eyes glowing. Dang, it! I'm so stupid. The monster slinks closer towards me as I feel myself losing my consciousness again. Though I could have sworn I could hear someone shouting.
Cassander's Point of View
"Syretia!Bleiz I swear if she isn't alive I'm going to kill you," I said gritting my teeth. I start running towards the parking lot to where she was. I didn't feel like waiting up for the Bleiz. Come on Syretia, please be okay. I'll be better for you and spend time together more often. Just please don't leave, I can't deal with that.
"Slow Cass! We have to think this through, if we go in the blind we'll end up like the rest of them." Bleiz nags at me, grabbing my shoulder and halting me in my rush to get to her. He continues his warnings and pleas, "Listen I need you to be level headed with me bro, Syretia was not being level-headed and neither were our friends so we need to be more careful. Okay?"
My tense shoulders start to relax a bit, my brow also ceases. I bite my lip and take in the situation. My poor sister, she lays on the bleak pavement surrounded by the howling wind and darkness. Right by that monster, yet it just sits there content. Was it full? I look at Bleiz who was as equally confused as I. He shrugged his shoulders at me. What should we do? I sigh and pray to the gods who have forsaken my family again.
"Hey, remember the phrase an eye for an eye?" I splutter out, my thoughts became more and more clear. Maybe just maybe one the gods have blessed me, finally. I'm going to save her, no matter what, that is a promise.
"Don't tell me you are going to-" I nod my before he can finish his sentence. He stops, a frown evident on this plan. He starts scratching his head, "Ok...Just be careful okay. I'll do my best to help out. I just want this to stop." He confesses, eyes still red with tears when the thing took our friends. I look at him, putting my arm on his shoulder and give it a squeeze. We'll be okay, I know it will work out in the end, I repeat this phrase over and again in my head.
I head out first, drawing the attention of the creature to me. I run towards the edge of the campus, with the wind speeding me up in the process. The screaming of the wind disables me from hearing anything. My speed is halted and suddenly I'm in the air just like she was. I choke out a bittersweet sob as I see Bleiz taking my sister into the school safe away from whatever these things were. I feel my soul being greedily sucked away from my body because I know now why he didn't fully drain her. Good luck sis, I love you as the void consumed me whole.
