Flight - 1

Jenny stomped from the room, slamming the door behind her. She'd been waiting for Alex for too long. She was going to be late. Alex, of course, never came. This wasn't really a surprise to her. He never followed through with his promises. Apparently she didn't matter to him. She had hoped that he would listen when she threatened to leave him, but he didn't. She was alone, as always. She did leave him a note, in case he showed up three hours late.
Alex. I warned you I would leave if you didn't come. Don't come looking for me. You won't find me. I'm scared. I can't do this alone. I'm going to find someone who can support me. As far as I'm concerned this baby isn't yours. Stay out of my life. Jenny.
The note was written hastily. The words scrawled aross the page were barely legible. It didn't matter. Alex would be able to read it.
Jenny ran down the stairs of the rundown apartment complex. I can't do it anymore. She thought. I can't live here, in this life, with that man. I never should have married him. The tears ran unchecked down her cheeks, blinding her as she ran. She slammed into a stranger, nearly knocking him off the sidewalk, but she hardly noticed. Her only thought was that she had to escape the existence she was living in, and give this baby a better life than the one she had.

The Darkness Comes - 4

Here is the fourth section of this story. Bear with me, there is more. If you haven't read the rest of the story, I suggest you read that first. "The Dark of Night", "The Night is Darkest just before Dawn", and "The Battle ensues"

Caden led me through the darkest parts of the city. The blue streaks were not falling here. He moved slowly, cautiously, making sure every move he made was safe.
We came to a corner of the city that had been abandoned. There were no people around, only crumbling buildings and rubble.
Caden reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crystal. He threw it into the air. It hovered above us. Light radiated from the crystal, creating a bright orb with the crystal as the center.
Caden scooped me into his arms and jumped into the orb, grabbing the crystal as it rushed by him. We were falling, plummeting to the earth. The bright light of the crystal was replaced by an eerie, green glow.
Caden hit the ground running, still carrying me. The earth beneath his feet was deep green, and flat as a still lake. There were no trees, no mountains. Nothing but grass. He seemed to fly across the land. I never felt the thud of his feet touching the ground.
In the distance a city rose up like a spire from the land. The city was clearly our destination.
I heard a horrid sucking noise behind me and felt the air rush by my face. When I looked back I saw a black hole open in the sky above us. Dark objects dropped from the opening, landing upright. The stood tall, shrouded with black cloaks. They were the Kaifuri.
"Caden. They're here!" I cried.
Caden glanced back and saw the creatures. "Oh no!" He groaned. He picked up his speed. The landscape flew by in a blur.
Within minutes the sky was filled with gaping holes, all dropping the malevolent creatures. They fanned out behind us, following us. Their eyes gazed out from their cloaks, dark and loathsome.
The Kaifuri did not have the speed of Caden so they slowly fell behind. The city loomed in front of us like a glittering sanctuary. By the time we reached the gates the Kaifuri were no longer in my sights.
Caden did not slow his speed when he entered the city. He raced through the streets, until he came to a tall building. The doors opened as soon as he neared them and he rushed through. A dark-haired man stood waiting inside the entrance.
"Caden," He said enthusiastically, "I've been expecting you!"
Caden stopped in front of him. He released his hold on me, setting me gently on my feet. "Lahuir," He nodded, "I come not for pleasure. The Kaifuri have taken Ja'riel. They have breached the gate between our realms. They are coming for our city."
Lahuir stiffened, "Already?"
"It is so."
"I didn't expect this so soon. What brought them here?"
Caden dropped his eyes, "I fear it was me. I had to save Kyra. It was the only way. I believe they followed me into our realm."
Lahuir's eyes widened, "Kyra?" He turned to me and took my hand, "The key." He whispered, awed.
I stared at him, unable to pull my eyes from his. Caden tightly gripped my free hand.
"Lahuir?" He said, breaking the silence, "What must we do?"
Lahuir's eyes snapped back to Caden's face. "We warn the city. Tell them to prepare. How long do we have?"
"Ten minutes, at most."
He nodded, "They will be ready." He dropped my hand, "Take Kyra to the temple. Prepare her for what must be done." The way he said the words sent chills up my spine. He turned and hurried from the room.
Caden led me into the building, up winding flights of stairs, "Caden?" I whispered, "What do I have to do?"
Caden glanced at me, "I don't know. Only Lahuir knows. All I know is that you must go to the temple. There will be further instructions for us there."

The temple was located at the top of the building. It was bright and open. Huge openings let in streams of sunlight. A man stood in the center of the temple. He wore a gold robe which hung to his feet. His hair was gray, and his skin was leathered with age. He was a sage.
"Welcome Kyra." He said, "I am Ya'shiie. Follow me." He took me to a small room and handed me a simple white gown. "Put this on." He commanded.
I obeyed, slipping off my faded tunic and sliding the gown over my body. My knife remained sheathed at my side, easily accessible.
I followed Ya'shiie back to the main room of the temple. Caden paced the room, impatiently waiting for me. He froze when I walked in, "Kyra." He gasped. His face showed open admiration.
I felt my cheeks flame red.
Caden recovered quickly and looked away, "Have they told you what must be done yet?"
"No."
He nodded and crossed the room to my side, "I must go Kyra." He bent and kissed my cheek, "You look beautiful."
The flame returned to my face. He chuckled and walked out.
Ya'shiie watched us. His eyes showed concern. "You must not look at him with those eyes Kyra."
I turned to him, "What eyes?"
"With eyes of love. You and Caden can never be. The lot has fallen on you to save our realms and because of that task you must forget your love for him."
I didn't reply. My love for him? The sage was delusional. I loved no one. I never had. My love was focused on my world and keeping it alive.


I'm sorry. I know this is a terrible place to cut off the story, but I didn't want it to get too long. I promise I'll post the rest soon.

The Dark of Night - 1

I felt the dark around me, like a thick fog. I couldn't seem to escape it. I ran blindly, afraid if I stopped running my living nightmares would catch up with me. I could hear their labored breathing all around me. Their feet pounded on the pavement and echoed of the rough stone walls.
They were behind me for now, but I knew their strategy. They would break off and follow different paths through the maze that somebody dared call a city until they had me surrounded.
Then they would take me.
I knew they would kill me as surely as I knew I was breathing now. But it wouldn't be a swift death. I knew too much. They wanted what I had, what was in my mind. They would make sure they got that first.
I raced around a corner and saw one of them cross the street in front of me. He looked straight at me. I shivered, feeling goosebumps raise on my arms. His was a look that came straight from hell.
This one had been young. He was probably new. He didn't recognize me. I shied away from him, rushing down a familiar alley, one that would take me out of the city. It would be safer for me now to face the creatures that lived outside the city than to spend another moment fighting the darker creatures that lived in the city. The creatures that had once been human, that had the minds of humans, that strategized like humans, but that I was sure were not human any longer. They couldn't be.
"Stop!" A voice cried. The voice was demanding, but it wasn't hard like the voices I was used to.
I spun around, facing the intruder. He was just a phantom in the shadows. His dark silhouette was barely visible against the stone structure.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"You don't need to know."
"Why are you here? Everybody knows the city isn't safe." I tried to keep my voice firm, but I was panting so heavily the words came out in broken gasps.
"Why are you here?" The man said calmly.
"That's my business."
"And you are mine."
I froze. "What?"
"You are my business. That's why I'm here. I came for you."
I gaped at him. For me? Nobody came for me. Nobody even knew I existed, except the ex-humans that pursued me.
The sound of heavy footsteps broke through my thoughts and pounded in my ears.
"Come on." The stranger said. "Let's go."
I stood in indecision just long enough to hear the shouts of recognition, then sprinted after the stranger. I would take my chances with him.
He waited for me at the end of the alley. As soon as he saw me again he took off. I followed closely. He raced down the back alleys, toward the north entrance. I knew this city like the back of my hand. We could not get out that way.
"Where are you going?" I panted, "We'll be trapped if you go that way."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course I'm sure! There's nothing there but guards and more guards. Do you want to die?"
"I'm not going to die."
"Who are you?" I demanded. It was a trap, following him. I was running willingly into a trap. I knew it now. My mind told me to run the other way, but my body wouldn't listen. I had to follow him. There was no turning back. It was like I had made an unconscious choice and could not turn from that, no matter the outcome.
Suddenly, the man was gone. I stopped short, glancing wildly around. He had been in front of me two seconds ago. He couldn't have just disappeared.
I knew where I was. There was no where to hide even a small leaf in this part of the city, let alone a man. I took two steps forward. Maybe he had slipped into a new hole in the ground.
Suddenly he was in front of me again, inches from my face, appearing literally out of thin air.
My heart stopped. I stared into his cold eyes, fear freezing the blood in my veins. What have you done? I thought, What fate have you brought on yourself by following this man? My mind screamed the words, but the rest of me didn't move. The man was, as I had originally suspected, a phantom. He was one of the creatures that had created the horror I was now living in. His kind had turned my once beautiful city into the crumbling heap that existed now.
"What do you want?" I whispered, knowing it was futile to run.
"I told you," He said. "You."