《Chasing Shadows》 Chapter 01 - Ordinary life June 1964 2:15am Underground parking lot ¡°What. The fuck. Is going. On.¡± Charles pointed at the pile of bodies sprawling on the ground. Trembling, he yelled at the woman noisily drinking a strawberry milkshake in front of him. ¡°Who the hell are they? No wait! Don¡¯t tell me. I don¡¯t wanna know. The less I know, the less I¡¯ll say when the police come to get me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overreacting. They¡¯re not dead.¡± ¡°Yet! They¡¯re not dead YET!¡± He was freaking out. ¡°Nah, they aren¡¯t going to die. Bad children ought to be punished, not killed.¡± The black woman burped. ¡°What should I do? Oh my god! Am I going to jail?¡± Charles paced around in a frenzy. ¡°Nah. They¡¯re mafia, the police won¡¯t say a thing. Relax.¡± ¡°They are what? There are mafias in town? Wait, no, don¡¯t tell me!¡± The baby-faced teen plugged his ears. He wanted to cry. He shouldn¡¯t have listened to his father and followed this psycho. ¡°As a matter of fact, I can¡¯t see you. I can¡¯t hear you either. I¡¯m not even here, how could I have seen anything? None of my business. Nothing to do with me. I¡¯m going back home. Bye! I¡¯ll steal a couple of beers from Pops and pass out so I won¡¯t wake up when someone breaks into my house to slaughter me into pieces tonight.¡± ¡°What a drama queen! Next time, I won¡¯t call you.¡± ¡°Yeah. Brilliant idea! Next time, don¡¯t call me, call¨C What next time!? There shouldn¡¯t be a next time!¡± He howled. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± she waved her hand, ¡°can you drop me by Eric¡¯s?¡± She threw her empty cup on someone¡¯s head, sending them back to nothingness. ¡°Why do you need the Doc at 2am?¡± He glared at her. ¡°I got shot. My fingers can¡¯t reach the bullets,¡± She pouted pitifully. ¡°It¡¯s itchy.¡± ¡°Bullets?! How many? Freaking hell! I¡¯m gonna die, ain¡¯t I? I¡¯m gonna die! I¡¯m too young for that and now people will come and kill me for sure! Aaagh, why me? I just had my first date tonight! We watched the moon landing and it was so nice. Now, I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ll be alive long enough to have a second date! Hell, I don¡¯t even know if I can make it past summer!¡± Charles wailed. ¡°You¡¯re overreacting! Come on, I¡¯m bleeding rivers over here. Oh, can you stop to get me burgers on the way? I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Fucking hell, I don¡¯t even have my driver¡¯s license yet!¡± *** May 1996 4pm Apartment Downtown, East River ¡°Ah! Did you trash your place again?¡± A scream shook the apartment filled with trash, shattered glass, broken walls and people. ¡°Get out!¡± A voice emerged through a pile of blankets on the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s that smell? Did you die in there?¡± Charles trod with difficulties through the chaos, waving here and there and putting things aside. He opened the windows and let fresh air and sunlight into the dark place. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Trash bags were filled, and a vacuum purred in the background. ¡°When was the last time you ate?¡± Charles tried to take away the covers the woman was hiding under. ¡°Stop it! Do you wanna die?¡± She resisted. ¡°When did you last shower? You stink!¡± ¡°Go away! It¡¯s none of your business!¡± ¡°As a matter of facts, it is. Why are you throwing a tantrum!¡± The middle-aged man complained, giving up the prospect of washing the sheets and their owner for now. ¡°You haven¡¯t stepped outside for months. It¡¯s almost summer and you¡¯re still hibernating. By the way, do you know that the cable company sent someone over for a welfare check? He asked me if everything was alright. Apparently, someone had spent fourteen hours a day watching documentaries on penguins on repeat for five days in a row. Even my toddler can¡¯t stay interested that long about PENGUINS!¡± Charles grumbled. ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± ¡°I care! I saw the bill. A grand total of one hundred and fifty-seven hours on prairie dogs. One hundred and forty-eight hours on tropical fish. Three hundred fifty-two on arctic animals. Two hundred sixty-seven on ducks and three hundred twenty-two on cactuses! Fucking cactuses! Who the fuck has this much time to make documentaries on the life of cactuses?¡± The more he said, the angrier he got. ¡°And don¡¯t get me started on all those VHSs you rented!¡± ¡°It¡¯s cacti. The plural of cactus is cacti.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Stop watching TV! Go outside. Breathe some air. Destroy some ferns. Sleep around. I don¡¯t care as long as you get the hell out of this room. My god, you¡¯re worse than a teenager.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wanna see people.¡± She grumbled. ¡°And people don¡¯t want to see you, either. That¡¯s life! We¡¯re always doing things we don¡¯t want all the time. We hate others for it, and we hate ourselves even more. But that¡¯s the way the world works. Get over it and get out!¡± Charles kicked a fuss. ¡°If you can¡¯t enjoy life, fake it, like the rest of us. Buy some friends, travel the cosmos, be a vigilante again, I don¡¯t know! Do something. OUTSIDE!¡± *** Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. September 2016 10:45 PM In front of a Police Station ¡°How are you doing, Charles?¡± A forty-something man in full police regalia exited the doors of the precinct and saluted the old man. ¡°Sam.¡± Charles shook his hand with a good grip. ¡°Still alive. You¡¯re finally chief of police. Damn, time flies by so fast. I still remember your first day in town. The look on your face when you realized how weird this town was... I still laugh when I think about it.¡± ¡°Tell me about it. Nothing could have prepared me for that Master of yours. Look at us now. You¡¯re an old man, I¡¯m the chief, and we¡¯re still babysitting a grown adult who can¡¯t stay away from trouble...¡± Sam chuckled. ¡°The patrol team found her taking a drunken nap inside the fountain again. They put her in her usual room with some food. She¡¯s still treating the station like a daycare. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s fall, after all. She¡¯s restless.¡± Charles said. ¡°Still too heavy on the bottle, you know how she is.¡± ¡°How come you¡¯re still picking her up? Where¡¯s your daughter? Didn¡¯t Alice pick up your job as a caretaker? You know, there¡¯s something called retirement,¡± The chief raised an eyebrow. ¡°Alice got locked in the basement again. She¡¯s too naive.¡± Charles shook his head. ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Sam snorted. ¡°I always forget how fast time passes every time the master drops by. She doesn¡¯t seem to realize how the world has changed.¡± He handed Charles a folded piece of paper. ¡°It¡¯s getting harder and harder to cover up her antics. The higher-ups have changed, and nosy people are snooping around. She¡¯s been too flashy these past forty years. Even if we can hide her as a community, with the internet, secrets will sooner or later become facts.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Charles sighed. He raised his head and watched as this forever-young woman exited the precinct with a shoe in her hand. A messy afro and smeared makeup, she stumbled and almost fell down the stairs as she giggled. ¡°Bye bye, Sammy. Say hi to Sarah for me!¡± She kissed the chief on the cheek, staggered and struggled to get in the car. ¡°Charlie, I¡¯m hungry. I wanna eat pancakes.¡± She complained, ¡°I don¡¯t remember where my other shoe is.¡± The two men smiled wryly. The chief patted his old friend on the shoulder before turning around with a word. The journey home was silent. Charles glanced at her. ¡°Listen¡­ I¡¯m worried about you. The world is moving on, and you refuse to change. Whatever happened, wherever it was,¡± he paused, ¡°Whenever it was, it¡¯s so far behind now. You can¡¯t keep going like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing alright, thanks.¡± She yawned. ¡°You¡¯re not. Everyone knows it. You¡¯re the only one stubbornly refusing to acknowledge it.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The tipsy gleam in her eyes was replaced by apathy. She laid her head on her arm hanging over the window. ¡°Decades after decades, our family has taken care of you, you¨C¡± Charles sighed as he saw her unmoved. ¡°This endless journey¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she declared firmly as she closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m dying,¡± Charles simply stated. ¡°Lucky you,¡± she giggled as she played with a loose lock of hair. ¡°Jealousy doesn¡¯t suit you,¡± he sneered. Charles drove through the night with mixed feelings. It had been a while since he last picked her up. He observed the woman from the corner of his eyes; so many decades had passed, and nary a change in her. He thought she had become more subdued these past few years, had tried to pry and asked her to open up, but she stubbornly remained closed off. Yet, there were some words he couldn¡¯t keep in anymore. ¡°When I was young, I thought I was so lucky. Only after I took over did I realize that not only were you insane, you were also heartless. A selfish piece of rock.¡± He scowled. ¡°After a while, I started to hate you for choosing our family. If you weren¡¯t there, many bad things wouldn¡¯t have happened to us, to me. I hated Dad even more. I thought¨C¡± He paused, glancing at the woman by his side. ¡°I even tried to fight him. I confronted him one day. You know, he didn¡¯t say a word, he just quietly looked at me. After my rant, he stayed silent for a while and asked me, ¡°Who are we doing this for?¡± I was pissed. Our family takes care of your life and comfort in exchange for treasure and power, who else are we doing this for? At that time, he just shook his head and sneered. You know what he did after that?¡± The woman didn¡¯t respond. Her long and delicate ebony fingers were dancing through the wind. She didn¡¯t seem to have listened, nor did she seem to care about anything he said. Charles went on nonetheless. ¡°He showed me your files and told me about how he met you. I was naive back then, twenty-two years old, barely more than a kid. Thought I was a babysitter for an extremely immature woman, and that you just liked to fight people left and right. I never truly understood the stakes. Pages after pages, I couldn¡¯t help but shiver. What kind of evil were you? How could my dad ever make a deal with you?¡± He recalled that day, his fingers gripping the steering wheel. ¡°How could he watch me follow you around when he knew how fucked up you were? I was terrified. I couldn¡¯t believe it, so I questioned him. Berated him and cussed him for dooming us with you. He just stood there, silent. My mind was a mess. My dad wasn¡¯t that kind of man. He used to be a soldier, he would never tolerate someone like you around his kids. And my mom¡­ she must have known. How could she let him do this to us? I didn¡¯t know how to feel about this whole situation. In the morning, he took me to your room. We sat there, waiting in the shadows. He held my hand and told me to wait for you to wake up. I scoffed at him. Since when can you wake up on your own? Someone had to scream and shake you alive for you to wake up. We waited there in silence for hours. And then, I saw you. For the first time in my life, I saw you wake up on your own. That day¨C¡± He didn''t know how to express himself. Back then, he had experienced so many emotions, been so young¡­ And the truth was too heavy. ¡°I was shaken to the core. That day, I witnessed true heartache. I don¡¯t know what, I don¡¯t know how, but something in me broke that day. Something I never knew existed shuttered and could never be retrieved. And in a blink, I discovered true terror. True fear. Dread that takes you by the throat and crushes your heart and soul. I saw your eyes and I knew what kind¨C¡± His voice faltered. He gulped down the following words, and it took him a moment to get himself back together. ¡°Then, I saw dad open and slam the door as loud as he could. He started his usual morning scolding. And like a switch, I saw you turned back into your usual self.¡± Charles¡¯s frown loosened and his wrinkled eyes softened. That day was bitter-sweet. He remembered how he grew up in the span of a day. ¡°I spent the day in a daze. I doubted my eyes, myself, you, the whole universe, and just sat on that porch until dusk. Dad sat next to me and we watched the sun set. He asked me again, ¡°Who do we do this for?¡± Then, it stuck with me. Mom used to say that taking care of you was taking care of the world. Serving you was protecting the world. Only then, did I realize the weight of her words and the burden on our family.¡± Charles parked the car in the driveway and cut the engine. He gazed at her with complexity. Observed the face that never changed in over sixty years, her nonchalance, her disinterest in the world. ¡°Master,¡± he turned her head to face him. The glint of drunkenness had disappeared. ¡°My affairs are in order. Alice, that daughter of mine, always gets fooled by you, but she¡¯s ready to take on my task. My life is about to end¨C¡± There were so many words left to say. So many complaints and joyful memories, so many laughs and tears. So many things he wanted her to think about. But they both knew that it was in vain. ¡°I¡¯ve learned many things with you. Lived so many twists and turns. Witnessed things that ordinary people would never be able to imagine. But in the midst of all that, there is one truth that I realized following you. This familiar hell, unless you truly wished to leave it¨C¡± He rested his forehead against hers. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you deserve a chance as well?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a good person,¡± she declared. ¡°You¡¯re not as bad as you think.¡± Charles paused, ¡°You may be worse than I can ever fathom, but you¡¯re not as bad as you think you are.¡± ¡°I agree to disagree.¡± She muttered, ¡°What you think, it¡¯s just like a red veil of illusions and falsehood. The sage says it right, ¡®Red dust converging from all directions, merging with smoke and clouds over the entire city¡¯. An endless nightmare.¡± ¡°Nightmares or mere dreams, everyone has to wake up at some point. There is no endless night. Everything has an end.¡± Charles stared into her hazel eyes, ¡°Even you. Your ending is just different from ours. You alone can define it. You alone can own it.¡± Chapter 02 - Shadows The early morning sun was shining timidly through the foliage of a tree, the blue sky peeking through. She heard a voice calling for her in the distance. The echo awoke ancient memories of sunny mornings welcomed by poultry and bird choirs. The smell of dew on orchids, the old songs that sang joyfully, and the slow squeaking of wheels. The faraway whisper of the sea. In a blink of the eye, a child¡¯s face appeared above hers. ¡°Found you!¡± The child giggled, his blue eyes bending in delight, his brown, curly hair bouncing around. ¡°Ma! Let¡¯s go!¡± He stretched his bronze hand, taking hers and pulling her away. Running through the golden field along a familiar path, she stayed silent as she listened to the child. Random stories and daily life gimmicks, useless and heart-warming chitchat. ¡°Everyone is waiting for you.¡± He sauntered past the garden gate. ¡°You¡¯re the only one missing!¡± Conversations echoed and people¡¯s shadows flickered by a table of food. Behind the bushes, she could catch a glimpse of a familiar and comfortable scene. ¡°Pa!¡± The child yelled as he spotted a man¡¯s back. He let go of her hand and ran to the man. She stilled, her feet rooted deep in place. This house, this family, this man¡¯s back. This child, this past of his, and this piece of her. The heart-warming scenery and the laughter pierced through her emptiness. She heard their joy, their love, their liveliness. She watched the shadow of herself witnessing the scene with an accustomed apathy, each echo stabbing and sinking deeper in the nothingness. ¡°Look!¡± The child grabbed onto the man¡¯s arm as he pointed to her. The man patted his head, a doting smile illuminating his profile. Slowly, the man turned around and extended his bony hand, too far to reach her. The familiar warmth turned into the usual desolated scene. The handsome face melted into an abomination. Words of accusations. Cries and tears. The shivers of death. Light exploded in fragments of happier times. The despair. The scars. The blood. She had seen it on repeat for so long. The rot. The wails. The pungent smell of iron. This endless nightmare was stuck on repeat. Memories and desire came in waves. She stood there, immobile, witnessing for the umpteenth time the downfall of her existence. Screams filled the space within. Wave after wave came at her. Overwhelmed by the pressure, she felt trapped, her breath stuck in her throat. In this endless dream, her shadow shivered and pain erupted. Her head buzzed and a surge of emotions rose from the depths of her soul to her fingertips. Panic. Anguish. A despair so great, so great¡­ And anger. So much anger, towards herself, the universe, and destiny. Anger for being indecisive, anger for what she was. Wrath for being¨C No. She needed to step back, to blend once again into the shadows. Seal everything away. Away from everything. Away from the ugliness she couldn¡¯t accept. She wanted to run, hide. She felt lost, unable to find her way out. Breathless. Exhausted. Her mind wanted it to end, wanted it to be destroyed. Destruction and annihilation. She could end it all. Right here, right now. She could¨C She stirred and gasped, emerging in a wave, splashing water everywhere. Her hands cramped against the tub¡¯s edge as she sat up straight. Wheezing, her head was throbbing and her throat parched. She knew it. ¡®Red dust converging from all directions, merging with smoke and clouds over the entire city¡¯. No matter how many times she shed her skin and started over, she couldn¡¯t lay the past to rest. Darkness clouded her heart, vivid crimson blossomed in her eyes like a flame tree. Wrath. Endless wrath and madness. She wanted to let it seep out, let the blood pour out and dye the world. Let her wounds fester and rot. She rested against the cold edge and felt as if her soul was freezing cold. She felt the heaviness of her soaking wet pajama, the itchiness of fabric against her skin, and almost tasted the overly sweet scent of the soap. She clawed at her throat, and the three beauty marks sprinkled on her skin reddened. She tore her skin, drawing blood. She felt overwhelmed and sank back into the water. She sank back into the silence and the tranquility. *** Days passed by, and after the deep lows came the dizzying highs. She started to roam outside, exploring the beauty of the unfamiliar beds, and drifting to unknown peninsulas. She would talk to people she didn¡¯t find interesting. Sleep with those whose names she didn¡¯t bother learning. Lost in the vastness, like a wreck, she desperately indulged. She played games. Laughed. Drank herself to oblivion. Yelled and berated. Broke and burned things to ashes. And, at its peak, she would come crashing and wash ashore by the violence of her high temper. She would wake up trembling and panting. She wouldn¡¯t cry, she wouldn¡¯t fuss, she would just sit there. Sit and stare in space for hours. Numb and unfeeling, as if empty spaces reflected the mirage of a distant past. Just like the tide, she would rise and fall endlessly. She just wanted it to stop. Stop being torn, stop being hesitant, stop being. Just stop. *** 31 October 2020 6:35 pm Stewart Mansion It was one of those days she hated the most. She loathed this season the most. The unbearable heat that turned freezing cold as soon as the sun set. She hated the lingering feelings of summer joy, the heartlessness of dying leaves, and the cold rainy days. She was stuck inside watching documentaries on bread all day. She heard movement at the door, followed by several knocks. Knock. Knock. Knock. Whispers of conversations and muffled laughs. She frowned and looked around. Nobody was home and she had no intention of getting up. She believed that if she ignored it long enough, the knocks would go away. Knocks came in waves, broken rhythms of random people. At some point, she became annoyed. Why were there people at her door? She went to the window hidden behind thick blackout curtains, opened a slit, and peeked outside. The bright street lights stung her dry eyes. In a daze, she observed the street below. Legions of adults and dressed-up children strode along the crowded streets of a suffocating afternoon. Echoes of conversations and shouts spread through the air, which added a chaotic tempo to the clatter of footsteps on the pavement. The delirious crowd was full of life and laughter, a wave of bouncing bodies, impractical costumes, and baskets of candies. ¡°Ma! Let¡¯s go! I want to eat candies. And bread! And meat skewers!¡± The child giggled. ¡°I want to eat it all. Do you think I¡¯ll see fireworks?¡± Stunned and bewildered, she stood there, her frenzied heartbeat being carried away by the crowd that soared and danced in a mad farandole. She felt her breath shortened, chest crushing down her heart, and shivers spreading down her body. She clenched her fists and bit her lips bloody. Her hazel eyes glazed over. Her hand trembled and her breathing grew heavy. Her head started to hurt. No. She didn¡¯t want to¨C Stolen story; please report. She stepped back further into the shadows. She didn¡¯t want to be overwhelmed, didn¡¯t want to lose control. She clawed at her throat, drawing blood. Blood trickled down, dripping down her heart, tainting her mind. A red veil shrouding her soul. No. She had to end this. She needed to remember who she was and stop being indecisive. She can¡¯t keep this charade going. Her lonely figure stood in the middle of the bleak room. Old pajamas, black circles around her empty eyes, tired eyelids that struggled to remain focused. Twisted locs, pallid black skin, and an overwhelming thirst for control. She needed a drink and a nap. Just a sip. Just a glass to make the darkness a tad quieter. Just a bottle to sleep a bit better. *** 7:17 pm ¡°Uncle Sam, you came for candies too?¡± Alice teased. The chief of police showed an awkward face, ¡°Can we come in?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Alice stepped aside and saw Sam gesturing to a man in a military suit behind him. The man was tall and in his late fifties. He entered first, his face severe and a trace of disdain in his eyes. Alice frowned at the sight and turned to Sam for some explanation. ¡°This is¨C¡± ¡°I am General Igs. I must see¨C¡± The man started. ¡°She¡¯s not in a good mood right now,¡± Alice cut him off. ¡°I don¡¯t think¨C¡± ¡°No one cares about what you think, young lady. This is a serious matter concerning national security.¡± The general barked. The general disdained talking to an irrelevant woman. He was there for only one purpose; to retrieve an asset. He had been in the center of power for many years, but he still didn¡¯t understand why the Cabinet had let her roam free for all these years. Someone like her, with her knowledge and capacities should have been kept in a box far from sight. Studied, shelled, and analyzed in depth to retrieve all her worth. Him coming to politely ask for help was tantamount of putting his government on the weaker side, which was unacceptable. He stepped in with force. Alice blocked his way and glanced at Sam, only to receive a dejected look. She snorted, displeased. ¡°I understand that you¡¯re doing your job, but I¡¯m also doing mine.¡± Alice crossed her arms and raised her chin. ¡°Please come back tomorrow afternoon.¡± ¡°Shut up! I don¡¯t have time to talk to a child. Move aside or I¡¯ll have you arrested for treason!¡± He scolded. Outside, a team of heavily armed men quickly deployed around the house and some tried to force entry. Alice pursed her lips and in a flourish of her hand, a thin bamboo sword appeared in her hand. ¡°This house isn¡¯t somewhere you can waltz in at will. Your government knows well that it has no rights here and we can¡¯t be held accountable for anything that happens to you inside.¡± Alice declared coldly. Her whole demeanor changed. The sunny college girl melted into an aloof and trained steward. She glanced at them coldly, quickly making a head count. Taking them down wouldn¡¯t be hard. ¡°You guys are noisy.¡± A slightly raspy voice floated down the hallway. Alice and Sam visibly shuddered. Completely oblivious, the general swiftly bypassed Alice and barged in as the heavy armed team trailed behind. ¡°Sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t have a choice.¡± Sam sighed heavily. ¡°It¡¯s too late for that,¡± Alice shook her head. ¡°You saw it too. I warned them. They are the ones who came in forcefully. If they die, it¡¯s on them.¡± She shrugged and left. In the living room, a black woman was sitting on a sofa, watching a documentary on cheese. She was lazily eating cereal drowned in whiskey out of a saucepan. She only wore a pair of shorties and an old sports bra, her wet dreadlocks dripping on the sofa. Nonchalantly, she was slouching there, absorbed in a world full of different types of cheese and cream. Without warning, the room filled with heavily armed men and assault rifles were pointing at her. She didn¡¯t wince and continued without being phased. The general positioned himself in front of the TV, blocking the view. ¡°I¡¯m General¨C¡± ¡°You¡¯re in the way,¡± she declared lightly while munching on her cereal. The man turned off the TV and stared down at her in defiance. ¡°I came on the President¡¯s behalf to¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± She pressed the remote and put back her program. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play games. Follow me, you need to take care of something,¡± he ordered sternly. He waited but the woman was still immersed in her program. ¡°I see that you want to have it the hard way.¡± He signaled to his team, ¡°Take her down.¡± The deployed men took a step forward, her head well adjusted in their sights. She didn¡¯t bother glancing at them, just turned up the volume. As they took their second step, she snorted. Instantly, they collapsed. They didn¡¯t utter a sound, not even a grunt. They weren''t even wounded, simply collapsed as if they were puppets whose strings were cut off. Their fall was silent, their life or death unknown. There was no tense atmosphere, no violence nor killing intent. The muffled thud of their bodies dropping on the soft carpet was drowned by the MC¡¯s comments on Parmesan. ¡°What¨C¡± The general was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re annoying.¡± The woman threw him a side-eye. When her eyes met his, unknown fear gripped his soul. In his mind, the almost naked woman sitting there had morphed into a blood-curdling, monstrous being. His pupils contracted, blood drained from his face, and his knees gave out. Chills made his back tremble. In a glance, this military general experienced terror like he never had. ¡°Alice.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Take out the trash.¡± The woman watching her show still didn¡¯t spare any glance to her surroundings. The general¡¯s forehead oozed with cold sweat. He had been warned but dismissed everything as old wives¡¯ tales. He had been warned but he had thought that he could manage to bring her down, one way or another. On the other side of the room, Sam sighed. He glanced at Alice for help, but she ignored him. He didn¡¯t want the situation to escalate any further. In the end, he crouched on the side of the sofa. ¡°Sam. I¡¯m watching TV.¡± ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t disturb you. I brought those people¨C¡± ¡°Your point.¡± ¡°They say they have a serious issue on their hands.¡± Sam stared at her. ¡°A nuclear reactor has been compromised and is on the verge of a collapse.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°They came to request help.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She changed channels as her program came to an end. She put one on sweet potatoes. ¡°Please, do me a favor. This puts people at risk and endangers the whole country and its ecosystem. It can affect the whole world¡¯s balance.¡± Sam asked gently. ¡°So what?¡± She replied in between scoops. ¡°Please. Do it for me.¡± Sam pleaded. ¡°My head hurts. Leave.¡± Sam grimaced. The truth was, he had expected it. He knew it would end up like that. ¡°This is a serious national issue!¡± The general was completely gobsmacked by her nonchalance. His body was still immersed in fear, but his heart was set aflame. He had served his country all his life and vowed to protect it at all cost and that woman just didn¡¯t care. His country had let her live here, protecting her identity from foreign forces, and she couldn¡¯t be bothered to help in times of crises. ¡°So what?¡± She repeated. ¡°How is that my problem?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do it yourself. Lend us Alice. Or any Stewart.¡± Sam interjected. ¡°Enough.¡± A scowl appeared on the woman¡¯s face. She had been in a bad mood all day and they had to choose this day to come bugging her. She threw her spoon in the pan, seriously annoyed. She could already feel the slight pang of a headache. The general felt completely blindsided. His indignation surpassed his fear. His anger anchored him on his feet. ¡°This is what you owe us! We have let you live free instead of having you locked up in our labs and this is how you thank us? Your freedom is thanks to our charity!¡± He pointed at her and shouted, as he was seething with rage, ¡°Even if I die here, I¡¯ll make you spit out what you owe us!¡± ¡°Then die.¡± Chapter 03 - Regrets She threw the pan on the wall, shattering the TV. The woman¡¯s pupils narrowed and her eyes darkened dangerously. From the depths of her light eyes, ink seeped out of her pupils, slowly spreading outward. Fragments of glass cut through the general¡¯s cheek and a drop of blood pooled, before slowly making its way down, its deep color catching the woman¡¯s eyes. Blood. Red. Her head started to pound. Slowly, specs of red fluttered in her vision, merging into mist. Strands of ink and crimson fought in her eyes. Something in her shook, trying desperately to break free. Darkness and blood. An endless battle. Unwittingly, her hand traveled to her throat and scratched at the splash of beauty marks. A powerful pressure descended upon the room, almost crushing the people inside. The air felt electric, charged with something dreadful. The general dropped flat on the ground, his face squished against the carpet. He grunted in pain. He felt his organs being compressed and his bones cracking. The taste of blood rose in his mouth and his vision blurred, the breath of death creeping on his back. Sam was being crushed under the pressure. The smile of his wife flashed in his mind. He had told her he would be back soon. He knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep until he came back home. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he recalled how he had promised her this wouldn¡¯t take long. In the end, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep for a while. Alice struggled to stand and her breathing became labored. She scolded the general in her mind. Because of his loose mouth, they all have to suffer with him right there. With difficulties, she raised her hands in front of her chest. Her fingers moved quickly in a mysterious manner. The jade ring on her hand shimmered, she clapped loudly once, and an eerie sound dispersed the pressure. ¡°Master, it¡¯s Halloween tonight and there¡¯s a special limited offer at the cheesecake shop.¡± Alice tried her hardest to cover up the shaking of her voice. ¡°If you don¡¯t put on some clothes, you¡¯re going to miss it.¡± Alice moved to the sofa and clapped again. The echo cleaved the haze in her master¡¯s eyes. To further distract her, Alice did what she knew best: tempt her. ¡°Master. Do you remember the restaurant I told you about yesterday? How about we go there and eat something? You¡¯ve been coiled up at home for ages, let¡¯s go out.¡± The woman in her undies snapped out of her trance and scowled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go outside.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Alice crouched in front of her and tilted her head mischievously. ¡°What to do? I booked a spot and even asked for a cutie to entertain you.¡± Alice pouted her mouth cutely. She saw her master¡¯s eyes twinkling. She knew her master well enough. She couldn¡¯t be coerced into doing things, but she could be tempted. ¡°Wanna see the picture?¡± Alice continued her bluff. The woman snorted softly, her stance softened. ¡°How about this? We go with them and solve their problems. Easy peasy. Then, off we go to Vegas for a week and I let you stay in a brothel instead of a hotel?¡± Alice smiled brightly, ¡°Of course, their government will foot the bill. Isn¡¯t that even better, not having to pay a dime?¡± She knew damn well that Alice was making things up as she went but she didn¡¯t care as long as she got enough benefits in the end. The woman got up, side-eyed the general and warned, ¡°No next time,¡± before going upstairs to change. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Alice chuckled. Once the woman was out of sight, Alice snorted in annoyance. She waved her hand and the littering bodies were sent outside, only leaving Sam and the general. She sighed heavily and helped Sam off the ground. ¡°Uncle, you¨C¡± She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how she is? Why did you let that guy open his mouth?¡± She saw his pale face and popped a small round pill in his mouth and helped him stand. ¡°She¡¯s not in the best shape and mood today so you better warn the people on the other side. ¡°I know,¡± Sam said, feeling better after ingesting the pill. ¡°Alright. Everyone is just unconscious, not dead. She acts like that but she still respects the law, somewhat.¡± Alice cheekily stuck out her tongue. ¡°Here. Give them this.¡± She pushed a small bottle full of pills into Sam¡¯s hand. ¡°We¡¯ll depart in 30 minutes. Everything has to be resolved by midnight, otherwise...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure there¡¯s no more mishap this time.¡± Sam grimaced. ¡°Haha,¡± she chuckled. ¡°You better. You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m a pro at managing catastrophic situations.¡± *** 9:07 pm Control room Secret base, Area 42 ¡°Catastrophic, my ass!¡± Alice swept her hands over the desk and threw everything on it on the ground, shocking the general and the group of engineers around. She had never been the type to throw a fit in front of people but they had gone overboard. They had come all the way here for that? ¡°You build a cosmic reactor! You idiot built a machine that harnesses cosmic rays! You freaking dumbasses choose to test out a prototype during the biggest solar storm in history!¡± She screamed at General Igs, ¡°You fucked up and you dare come to us for help?!¡± She pointed at the blinking red warning messages on the screen and the countdown flashing on the side. ¡°Look at that! It¡¯s a fucking countdown till your reactor explode from overload and blow up half of your freaking country! Six fucking hours. SIX HOURS! And you dare yell at me in my own house?!¡± Alice paced around in rage, pushing chairs out of her way and frightening the personnel. ¡°We didn¡¯t think¨C¡± General Igs¡¯ face was still deadly pale and his breath was labored as his body still hurt. ¡°She usually deals with cosmic rays, we didn¡¯t want to always rely on her. We didn¡¯t think the reactor would be overwhelmed.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Alice threw him a death glare. ¡°You created a technology you didn¡¯t fully understand just because you wanted to rival her powers. Now, it went out of control and you need her to clean up the mess. I guess you also didn¡¯t spare a neuron to think what would happen if Master couldn¡¯t absorb this much energy if it goes south!?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t like how she was berating him in front of so many people. ¡°Master isn¡¯t omnipotent. Most of her powers are imprisoned under layers and layers of seals. If shit hits the fan, we¡¯re all going to blow up.¡± ¡°We¡ª I¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up! I need to focus and think. Something you obviously can¡¯t do!¡± Alice stood in the center of the command room, her head lowered and her eyes half closed. The whole room was dead silent, only the rhythmic beeping of machines disrupted the calmness. She needed a plan. Seconds and minutes flew by with each flash of the countdown. After what seemed like an eternity, Alice finally dialed a number on her phone. ¡°Morgan, have everyone prepare and gather here in fifteen minutes. I need everyone to be ready to stabilize Master when she absorbs the generators¡¯ excess energy.¡± Alice listed items for her cousin to prepare before hanging up. She turned to General Igs, ¡°Start the evacuation now. Leave no one behind. No one is allowed to come in a five mile radius until I say so. No surveillance, no disturbance of any kind. Am I clear?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t protocol,¡± General Igs gritted his teeth. ¡°Protocol or your country, your call.¡± She turned to leave. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time. He stayed there, hesitant for a while before yelling, ¡°Start the evacuation plan!¡± He paused, then declared, ¡°Put the President on the line.¡± *** 9:33 pm Break room Alice entered the break room and saw her master lounging around on a sofa, drinking directly from a bottle of whisky. She lowered her eyes and sighed in her heart. She was about to do something somewhat despicable. She approached, her head drooping and a pitiful expression on her face. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Master¡«,¡± Alice said coyly while climbing on the sofa and laid down next to the woman. ¡°They lied to us. Even after all you¡¯ve done for them, they still try to profit from you.¡± ¡°How unusual,¡± she said sarcastically. ¡°Those bastards¡­ But we still have to help them out. After all, if that reactor explode, it''ll hurt us as well¡«.¡± She snuggled closer, putting her head on her nape, her forehead stuck to the woman¡¯s throat. ¡°Alice, it¡¯s a full moon tonight. ¡± ¡°I know. I don¡¯t want this either but there¡¯s no other choice,¡± Alice whispered. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll always do whatever you ask me to? ¡°I know, Master. You¡¯ll never let us die like that,¡± Alice closed her eyes. ¡°How can you be sure? I¡¯m not that good of a person.¡± ¡°Because I remind you of someone from your past,¡± Alice declared softly, ¡°You¡¯ll never let me die like that. ¡± The black woman''s eyes narrowed dangerously, ¡°You¡¯re playing a dangerous game.¡± Her voice was calm but the edge was sharp. ¡°As long as Master lets me play¡«,¡± Alice said with a coquettish tone. ¡°Don¡¯t regret it someday.¡± She sneered. *** 10:07 pm Engine room When Alice and co first entered the engine room where all the generators were, they couldn¡¯t help but feel oppressed by the high temperatures. The room was so immense they could barely see the opposite wall at the end of the room. Several cylinder-like units were lined up one after the other, each hotter than the next. Pipes and cables were cursing through the floors and walls. As they advanced in the room, they felt miniscule next to those colossal structures. Alice had underestimated the amount of energy those generators held. Even worse, it was impossible to turn them off, so they kept on sucking cosmic energy like a black hole. She cursed, missing the wisdom of her dad. She shook her head and refocused on the figure of her master standing nearby. She ushered her master to a unit surrounded by walkways and dispatched her cousins alongside the aerial bridges, creating a perimeter around the unit. She had gathered ten of them for this ritual. Each held an artifact in one hand, while the other was extending toward their Master in case they had to restrain her. The black woman jumped down and gracefully landed on the generator. As if she didn¡¯t feel the blazing heat, she sat down on crossed legs, her eyes half closed, seemingly nonchalant. Barely visible currants of energy fluttered before converging towards her. Little by little, the excess energy from the whole room was being absorbed into her body. *** 11:12 pm ¡°It¡¯s finally over,¡± Alice let out a sigh in relief. She looked around at her cousins who were also exhausted. Alice waved her tired arms around and let out a smile. The sitting woman opened her eyes and stretched, her face pale and fatigued. She rose from her seat and approached the edge to slide down. ¡°Master, well done. Let¡¯s go and celebrate Halloween. What kind of candies do you want to eat first?¡± Alice cheerfully chirped despite her pale face while she was making her way down. The sentence echoed through her mind and struck the woman on the edge, awakening a distant memory. ¡°Ma! Let¡¯s go! I want to eat candies.¡± The child giggled. Stunned and bewildered, the black woman slipped and crashed down on the ground. Her heart skipped a beat. Echoes of panicked cries and wails rippled in her mind. She couldn¡¯t distinguish what was real and what was dreamt anymore. ¡°Everyone is waiting for you,¡± he stretched his hand, taking hers and pulling her away. Her breath shortened, chest crushing down her heart, and shivers spread down her body. Her hand trembled and her head started to hurt. Her hazel eyes glazed over. She cradled her head, pushing away the ones trying to touch her. Memories and reality blended seamlessly. Words of accusations. Cries and tears. The despair. The wails. The pungent smell of blood. She was confused. A surge of power crackled through her body, overflowing from every inch of her being. She wanted to let it seep out, let it overflow and dye the world. She couldn¡¯t keep it in anymore. *** 11:37 pm Regrets, Alice was drowning in it. She had underestimated the impact of the date as well as her master¡¯s mood, now they were in deep shit. Her face was taut with concentration and tension, pale as beads of sweat dotted her forehead. The tendrils of darkness spread and swirled, their inky forms laced with whispers of crimson. As they rose, they seemed to morph and shift, taking on fleeting shapes. A surge of power pulsed through the room. The energy erupted and overflowed into torrent. Reaching the apex, the shadows veiled the room in an ethereal haze. Echoes and wails. People and monsters. The haze wove scenes of repressed desire and memories. Laughs and cries. Blood and darkness. Awe and fear warred within the heart of the family members as they witnessed a glimpse of a distant past. A low hum resonated through the room and their blood. Their bodies spasmed and some of them spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°We can¡¯t go on like that!¡± Morgan yelled. Alice bit her lips and made up her mind, ¡°Get ready to suck in the flow, we¡¯ll absorb it ourselves!¡± ¡°In OUR bodies?¡± She screamed, ¡°No way, it¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°Just the excess. Just enough to stabilize the seal.¡± Alice retorted. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. We¡¯ll deal with it after going back home. The priority is Master. If she goes on a rampage, it¡¯s game over!¡± ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°On the count of three!¡± Alice steeled herself, a glimmer of resolve shining in her eyes. One - Everyone threw their artifacts away at once and formed a circle around the woman having a breakdown, their hands extended in front of their chest. Two - Their fingers danced and drew symbols in the air. Three - They breathed in and the symbols stuck to their chest. Immediately, a small vortex appeared and started to suck in the tendrils of power swirling around. A tremor coursed through the air, shaking their bodies. As they sucked in the excess power, it was as if they could feel their bodies scream in protest. Strand after strand of energy, they breathed them in, compressed it and kept it stored. The ground trembled. Arcs of pure, incandescent power whipped their bodies, leaving bloody gashes. They gritted their teeth, suppressing the power that was set on going wild inside of them. Little by little, the surge recessed and the phantoms faded. Only stillness and the frenzied heartbeats of those who witnessed the scene. The woman passed out, curled up on herself, the cap on her powers barely holding on. The people around her fell to their knees, utterly exhausted and livid. They spit out mouthfuls of blood, their vision blurry and barely staying conscious. *** 11:52 pm When Alice came to herself, only the flickering of the emergency lights illuminated the room. She coughed, uncomfortable, and tried to raise her head to survey the situation. ¡°Still alive?¡± Alice asked, breathless. ¡°Barely,¡± Morgan answered with difficulty. ¡°Anyone else?¡± She asked out loud while wincing in pain. Although the others were also in bad shape and some were unconscious, they were all still alive. ¡°How¡¯s Master?¡± Alice inquired. Morgan, who was the closest, took a glance and responded, ¡°Her breathing is stable and she¡¯s passed out. As long as there¡¯s nothing unexpected, she should be fine.¡± Alice sighed in relief and grunted. She recalled the reason they ended up in this state in the first place and was furious once again. A flurry of curses and insults gushed out from her mouth in between coughs and cries of pain. In the end, they could only lay there, struggling to catch their breath, limp and vulnerable. *** 00:02 am Alice was staring into space when, suddenly, her heart jolted and the premonition of a disaster gripped her soul. She tried to sit up but failed. She wanted to move. She needed to move. She looked around in a frenzy. All of a sudden, a blinding light emerged from the ground and it took her several seconds to recover her vision. She heard a gasp and her heart dropped. ¡°ALICE! MASTER DISAPPEARED!¡± *** The black woman didn¡¯t know how long she was out. Swollen eyes and dried blood streaking on her collarbone; tangled hair and a foggy mind were the result of her blackout. Clear tingles of chimes resounded through the space, with distant echoes of a divine-sounding chorus in the background. Eyes still closed, she hovered on the boundary between sleep and wakefulness. Trying and failing to make sense of her muddled thoughts, she felt uncomfortable. Everything bothered her¡ªthe mattress felt harder than usual and the air, colder. The room seemed brighter. She became aware that she wasn¡¯t in her bed and grumbled. ¡°Welcome, O Chosen One,¡± said a delicate and emotional voice. Groaning in annoyance, the young woman clad in old pajamas and mismatched animal slippers kept her eyes stubbornly shut. She was exhausted and it hurt everywhere. She didn¡¯t know why Alice hadn¡¯t put her in her bed already. ¡°You are the one our world has long been waiting for,¡± the voice added. ¡°Quiet,¡± she grumbled. Without her knowledge, the slender figure of a woman appeared up high in the white sky. Long silver hair and eyes as azure as a clear sky; surrounding her, a divine halo shimmered softly, and a slight smile hung on her lips. ¡°We need your assistance, O Chosen One. Our world is in peril; none other than you can save it.¡± The divine being waited for a moment, but the sleepy woman didn¡¯t respond. With a graceful wave of her hand, a spell flew beneath¡ªa blink later, a shriek came from the floor. ¡°I am the divine avatar Lyres. You shall now embark on a journey to another world and will become a hero,¡± she said, the slight smile on her face growing larger and warmer. Chapter 04 - Nothing good happens on full moons ¡°I am the divine avatar Lyres. You shall now embark on a journey to another world and will become a hero,¡± she said, the slight smile on her face growing larger and warmer. The space was grandiose; white and empty, stretching without end. The avatar was floating up above a pompous altar with golden drapes and silver chalices inside a large room resembling a temple. The walls had frescoes depicting mystical scenes and chiseled columns had battlefields carved all over. Large chandeliers and floating candles decorated the ceiling. The room was surprisingly bright and the brightest of them all was the avatar suspended in the air. Her divine halo gently shimmered, sprinkling light in the surroundings. She looked gentle and magnanimous as if she wasn¡¯t the one who struck a lightning spell on the one who was sleeping below. She watched as the black woman glanced up in a daze. Lyres studied the newcomer. Long twisted black hair, black skin, and full figure. She wasn¡¯t slender or athletic, a normal body shape with curves which was too curvy according to Lyres¡¯s esthetics. Faded mismatched cotton clothes with odd patterns, footwear resembling animals, and no fashion sense. Although Lyres maintained her smile, the corners of her lips were still. ¡°Praise be. You have been chosen and bestowed a magnificent destiny,¡± Lyres talked with warmth and enthusiasm. Lyres saw the woman frown, squinting her eyes and glancing around. She scoffed in her heart. Surely, she summoned an ignorant village woman. ¡°As a noble hero, you will go on a journey to defeat the enemy of our people. You will be worshiped throughout the world, and admired by the people. You are the hope of our nation.¡± Lyres shed a tear delicately. Lyres waited for a while for a cry of excitement but only heard an annoyed grunt. Her soft smile cramped. She gazed at her guest with a hint of impatience appearing in the depth of her eyes. ¡°Nobody got time for that.¡± The black woman started to complain. The woman in her PJ rolled her eyes while lying flat on her back. She realized what happened to her and was annoyed. She was exhausted after what happened, her whole body was sore and she only had one desire; sleeping while watching TV. Now she was somewhere way too bright, in a PJ she didn¡¯t remember wearing, and in a situation, she absolutely didn¡¯t want to partake in. ¡°I understand your confusion and¡ª¡± Lyres started. ¡°A summoning? Seriously?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to¡ª¡± Lyres tried to continue. ¡°How am I supposed to watch my documentaries now?¡± She complained. ¡°Leave your old life behind. You¡ª¡± Lyres¡¯ face twitched. ¡°How am I supposed to survive without Internet.¡± She sighed. ¡°Hero, you are our only hope,¡± Lyres deeply breathed, attempting to keep her cool. The black woman wriggled around and groaned, before managing to sit up with difficulties. She finally had a better view of her surroundings. She sniffed the air and made a face. ¡°What¡¯s that smell? Mana? Disgusting shit!¡± She extended her hand and grabbed at the empty space. The ambient mana wasn¡¯t pure and highly unstable. This level of magic and mastery over space was low level. Given how weak and fragile her body was right now, staying in this space was undoubtedly troublesome. ¡°Hero, I¡ª¡± Lyres was losing patience. ¡°Tsk! So unprofessional!¡± Vexed at being ignored so bluntly, Lyres waved her hand again. Ambient mana gathered, condensing into a ray that she promptly threw at the brazen woman. The ignorant woman didn¡¯t dodge, she shrieked and cursed loudly. Seeing her still insolently glaring and cursing, Lyres narrowed her eyes and mumbled a spell. Immediately, a narrow cage made of mana appeared and imprisoned the woman. ¡°Let¡¯s start again, shall we?¡± Lyres was pleased with herself. ¡°You bitch!¡± Lyres straightened out her dress and smiled again, ¡°O Chosen one, a lifetime of glory and adoration awaits you. In this new world, you will be able to use magic.¡± ¡°Let me out, I¡ª¡± The woman in her PJs winced in pain, cramped in the cage. ¡°Thanks to your service, we will be able to fight against the threat of our enemies,¡± Lyres continued as she stared down. ¡°This new world will¡ª¡± The woman in the cage snarled, goosebumps spreading all over her body. ¡°Let. Me. Out. NOW!¡± Lyres pursed her lips. She was bothered that she didn¡¯t receive the awe and adoration she deserved. She waved her hand and chains made of lightning shot up. They snaked on the brazen woman¡¯s arms and feet, binding her in place. The imprisoned woman¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Fuck! Are you¡ª¡± Lyres¡¯s fingers moved in front of her lips and in a smooth motion, a gag wrapped around the chained woman¡¯s mouth, putting a stop to her words. ¡°I am Lyres, the messenger of the Goddess of Mercy. I came here to welcome you and offer a grand destiny and a new fate. See, everything is easier when you listen.¡± Lyres gently floated up and was delighted by the scene. The brazen woman clenched her fists and pulled on her chains. ¡°You will have whatever you desire the most in the world. You shall be adored by the people as you serve a great master and become their pride.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Lyres softly snorted. Now that she had managed to summon someone, she wouldn¡¯t let her get away. She wouldn¡¯t tolerate any more deviation from her original plan either. She had been nice enough, it wasn¡¯t her fault that it wasn¡¯t appreciated. What she needed was an obedient lapdog. Usually, heroes were enticed by fame and glory. Those who weren¡¯t, she didn¡¯t mind taming them before sending them over. Lyres scornfully stared down at the woman on the ground. She had thought she would summon a valuable hero. Unfortunately¡­ ¡°Whether you want it or not, your grandiose fate has been set in motion.¡± Lyres¡¯ face was expressionless. A large grimoire appeared in her hands and she browsed through it carelessly. ¡°I¡¯m giving you the chance to leave your miserable self and pitiful past behind. You were just a weak being with no power and no great destiny.¡± Lyres made a motion and the gag disappeared, ¡°I will give you powers beyond your greatest dreams. You will be bestowed fame, glory, and power. Are you ready to be a hero and save the world?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit about the fantasy bullshit you¡¯re selling!¡± The feisty woman spat. ¡°Enough! I am a God¡¯s Avatar! How dare you be rebellious!¡± Lyres finally lost her patience. She deserved awe and submission. Disobedient pets needed to be given a memorable lesson to learn to stay in their place. Her grimoire glowed, mana swirled and twisted into an arrow that flew and pierced the woman in her shoulder, drawing blood. ¡°You were chosen for a mission. This is your destiny.¡± Lyres declared coldly, ¡°Your fate will be in our hands henceforth.¡± The black woman gasped as pain bloomed in her limp body. She winced as she felt the mana course through her body and melt into her blood. Tremors traveled from the wound to her throat as blood dripped down. She clenched her fists, trying to ignore her trembling fingers and the tremor of her heart. She blinked rapidly, her head pounding. Agitated, her chest rose and fell and her hands spasmed. The surrounding mana began to produce static and was slowly being absorbed into her skin, giving her an uncomfortable tingling sensation. She knew it, nothing good happened on full moons. The statics in the air spread and formed arcs of powers around her. The chains bidding her exploded in fragments of light. The cage phased and the ground trembled. Blood dripped and each drop made the surrounding space ripple. And suddenly, a giggle echoed in her mind. Everyone is waiting for you. You¡¯re the only one missing! Waves of power were awakening the secrets she kept hidden deep within her. A myriad of memories swirled in her mind, creating a whirlpool of confusion that threw her back and forth in time. Fragments from a distant past began to play on repeat. She choked on air. She felt her heartbeat soar, pounding so violently it became the only sound she could hear. Shadows of the past and distant echoes blended rhythmically. These memories, this power, she wanted to push them down, keep them from overflowing and escaping her grasp. She wanted to seal them in again. Keep them bottled up and rotting inside, festering the wounds she didn¡¯t want to heal. She rocked herself back and forth, nails digging trenches along her throat. Her beauty spots swelled up and reddened. She dry heaved. Her human body was already weakened after the previous happening in the base and now, this. She had tried so hard for so long. She couldn¡¯t go on like that. Yet she didn¡¯t want to change. She didn¡¯t want to move on. Yet she didn¡¯t want to stay the same. She had been torn for so long. She shouldn¡¯t keep on going like this. ¡®Red dust converging from all directions, merging with smoke and clouds over the entire city.¡¯ Her body shook and an unbearable heat surged forth. Her fingers clawed harder at her skin, in vain. In a beat of her heart, the unstable seal on her throat shattered. ¡°I¡¯m fucked¡ª¡± The surrounding mana trembled. Shockwaves rippled through space. Mirages and illusions emerged, flickering intensely. The scene of a young woman with white fuzzy hair running together with a child appeared. The back of a family smiling in their garden. Scenes after scenes played under her glazed gaze. The crimson petals of their flame tree. The gushing creek behind the house. The scarlet flame drowning the remains of their home. Voices laughed and echoes begged in agony. Phantoms ran around. Rising from the depths of her soul, the memories she had buried for so long swept her away. The happiness of a lost paradise, the warmth of home, the comfort. The hurt, the pain, the scars; she hid them all under apathy and maddening wrath. The loneliness, the emptiness. The guilt and the ruthlessness. She bore them in silence, drowned them at the bottom of a glass. A surge of power coursed through her veins, pouring out everywhere and mixing with the surrounding mana. The ink in her eyes covered up all the light. The cage trembled, struggling to contain her, and the ground cracked. Little by little, the woman sank deeper into the insanity. Black and red fought in her eyes. Shadows surfaced, spreading around, fracturing the ground and absorbing the pieces. Scenes of battles and devastation appeared. Oceans of blood as far as the eye could see. Ink and blood wedged war on each other in the hope of devouring the other. The apparition swallowed the space in an attempt to possess it. The space trembled, unable to withstand the turbulence. Floating amid a storm, Lyres crashed to the ground heavily as signs of space distortion appeared in the sky. Terrified, she scrambled to stand up. ¡°What is happening!¡± She screamed. She was swept along the turbulence and thrown around. She couldn¡¯t understand what went wrong. The situation escalated so quickly that she failed to react in time to contain the magic storm. Lyres was utterly panicked. She just wanted to teach that brazen woman a small lesson. She avoided any vitals on purpose. She just wanted that woman to feel a bit of pain to make her obedient. This shouldn¡¯t have happened. Lyres¡¯ eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the scene before her eyes. She now could clearly see how ambient mana was getting devoured. How some foreign energy was wreaking havoc in her space. She tried to open her grimoire to activate protective shields, only to be electrocuted as soon as she touched it. The energy around her was too dense. So dense that a thick mist started to form. A shockwave of power rushed towards her and invaded her body, heading straight toward her brain. She howled in pain and cradled her head in her hands. She cursed and thrashed around. Something was messing with her mind. In a matter of seconds, Lyres¡¯ wails faded into whispers. Her body turned sluggish. In a last attempt, she stood in front of the altar, her grimoire within reach. Yet, as her hands reached out, she froze. Her ethereal elegance petrified. The space distorted and the illusions became more violent and unstable. In the center of this anomaly, the black woman remained oblivious. Like an arrow at the end of its flight, her body quivered, losing its warmth. The woman let herself sink into the darkness. Echoes turned into whispers. Illusions faded and colors receded. Laughter and cries vanished. Only the shadows of a man holding a child remained. They crouched down and embraced the unconscious woman. The last ripple of power blew by, scattering the warm family reunion. Specks of life, like petals fluttered away. The illusion eroded itself and faded in the mist. *** Clear tingles of chimes resounded through the space, the ground lit up and the silhouette of a youth clad in jeans, long navy blue shirt, loose black windbreaker, and sneakers popped up. He blinked, stunned, and immediately pulled back the foot that was about to take a step forward. He had been walking home in the middle of the afternoon; how did the quiet street by the park turn into this? He looked around in confusion. All he could see was a dense mist all around him. For sure, he remembered leaving work and then taking the metro. After that, he stopped by the convenience store and grabbed himself a slushie. He left the store and almost got rolled over by a speeding electric bike on the sidewalk. He lowered his gaze to his hands: no big cup, no phone. A quick pat down his pants confirmed his next suspicion: no keys, no wallet. As a bad premonition started taking shape in his mind, his heartbeat quickened. No bag, no people nor familiar buildings in sight¡­ Nothing. His lips quivered as his mind raced, trying to comprehend the situation. ¡°Oh shit! Am I¡­ dead?¡±