You blow out the candles as your dad and brother sing happy birthday. You look around for your mom, but she's gone. Your dad and brother gently push you to the living room to open presents. Your mom has re-appeared with a small box. You open it and its a blood red gem wrapped in thick twine.
It's a [[necklace]] or a [[braclete]]."Thanks, mom," you say. It glows as you fasten it around your neck, but you don't notice. You're too excited to hear the story of your dad's adventures while backpacking across different countries in Africa.
Your mom smiles, but there are tears in her eyes. "Happy tears," you think, but no, she is sad. She is undoubtably in a state of grieving for what is to come.
[[Ask what's wrong]] or [[Listen to your dad's story]], instead.Thanking her, you fasten it around your wrist. It glows, but you don't notice. You're too excited to hear the story of your dad's adventures while backpacking across different countries in Africa.
Your mom smiles, but there are tears in her eyes. "Happy tears," you think, but no, she is sad. She is undoubtably in a state of grief for what is to come.
[[Ask what's wrong]] or [[Listen to your dad's story]], instead."I just can't believe my baby is all grown up," she says. Your mom smiles big and admires your growth and beauty.
You smile, "You still got Adam. Yeah, he lives with dad, but he's your baby too."
"Oh yes, but it's nothing like a mother's love for her first. You are what made me a parent and now you're getting ready to leave for college."
You look to Adam, not understanding your mom's tears but trying to.
"Let me have this moment. I'll be doing the same thing with him when he is your age and leaving us forever." Your mom can't hold back the tears anymore and excuses herself to her room. Your father smiles and goes to comfort her. You and Adam joke around and talk about [[girls]] or [[boys]].Your mom watches y'alls interactions intently. She hangs on every word. You turn to her and smile.
She can't hold back the tears anymore and excuses herself to her room. Your father smiles and goes to comfort her. You and your brother, Adam, joke around and talk about [[girls]] or [[boys]].Dad comes back in, his face pale and sweaty. He tries to hide his expression with a smile. He looks at his watch and says, "I'm sorry Echo, but Adam and I have to go. We got an early flight in the morning."
You both begin to protest, but your dad puts up his hand, "We'll be back in a few weeks to see you off to school."
You give your father and brother a hug as they walk out the door, closing it behind themselves.
You look at the clock. It's 10:30 PM. You decided to [[go to bed]]Dad comes back in, face pale and sweaty. He tries to hide his expression with a smile. He looks at his watch and says, "I'm sorry Echo, but Adam and I have to go. We got an early flight in the morning."
You both begin to protest, but your dad puts up his hand, "We'll be back in a few weeks to see you off to school."
You give your father and brother a hug as they walk out the door, closing it behind themselves.
You look at the clock. It's 10:30 PM. You decided to [[go to bed]]//It's her, Samantha... They want her, they all do... I have no choice!//
Awakened by whispering from down the hall. You look at your bedside clock, it reads 2:40 AM.
You get out of bed and head towards the living room. A light is on in your mom's room and the whispering has gotten louder. You stop and put your ear to the door.
[[Go inside]] or [[Stay put and listen]]It's a male voice and he's angry. You don't recognize it.
Fearful for your mother's well-being you barge in the door to see a man transforming. He snarles and groans as his bones break and rip through his skin to reform into a monsterious 8 foot creature that can barely crouch down in your mom's small room. His hair grows quickly as you stand there frozen. Its pitch black with a few grey strains shining through. The claws are as black as his fur and nearly 7 inches long. His snout is the last to form. Hearing the bones of his jawl break, seeing the skin ripping off to form the snout of The Beast sickens you.
"Echo, what are you doing?" asks your mom. You bend over, falling to your knees, trying not to throw up. "Run, Echo. Get out of here, now!"
You've heard about this creature before, but thought it was only a fairy tale.
The Beast pulls back on his hind legs and pounces at your mom. She and The Beast break down the wall. She screams and blood splatters back into the room.
You scream out for her when the The Beast turns his attention back to you. You run to the door but he slaps you with his paw, sending you hurtling through the wall. Your body dents the wall to the next room before you fall to the floor.
You spatter blood and take a few hollow breaths. The last thing you see before you [[BLACKOUT]] are the red glowing eyes of The Beast.You don't recognize the voice but it sounds like a male and he's angry.
You wait with your hand on the door nob. You hear screaming from the man and bones breaking. The scream fades into a groan and then snarling. Your eyes widen but you can't bring yourself to move.
The dieing screams of your mother echo in your ear as The Beast, a creature you though was only the thing of myth and legend, busts through the wall with the side of his body. Wood and plaster go flying everywhere. The creature slows itself down by digging its 7inch claws into the new flooring your mom just finsihed installing. Splitters fly infront of The Beasts face. He's eight feet tall, barely able to crouch in your small home, fur as black as night with some grey patches, yellow stand teeth, and red beady eyes.
You fall onto the floor and slowly meet his gaze with your own. He raises his paw and cuts your back as you stand up to run. The force throws you into the wall, nearly breaking the support beam completely in two.
You fall onto the floow and spatter blood, take a few hollow breaths, then [[BLACKOUT]].The support beam breaks under the pressure and part of the room caves in, revealing a clear night sky. A man approaches the house and runs in as the roof caves. He jumps up on to the room from the street and looks down. Your hand is the only visible body part. He jumps down and begins digging you out.
The cool night breeze wakes you up. You eyes flutter open to see the night sky. A man with icy blue skin and yellow cat like eyes stairs down at you. He picks you up and places you back down in a clearer spot in the livivng room.
His voice is muffled. You can just barely make out his words, "Don't worry Echo. I'm a friend of your mom's. I'm here to help. You're going to be alright."
"My mom?" you think. You turn your head towards the kitchen to see your mom's lifeless body stairing at you, covered in blood. "Mom!" you scream and scramble to get up. The man holds you down, "Don't move, you're not ready. You're not ready!"
You fight to get up untill the weakness of the attack over comes you, again. You fall back to the floor. The low growl of The Beast invades your subconscous as [[You blackout, again.]]The moon is still high above when you awaken, but the sky seems to be getting lighter. Your eyes hurt and body aches. You sit up and look around; colors look more vivid, you can focus on far objects better almost like your eyes have a zoom in and out feature. You grab your head and squint your eyes. You inhale deeply to help with the sensory overload, but you're bombarded with the sent of iron and decay. You cough and weeze while on your hands and knees, trying to get a handle of the intensity of your senses. Breathing through your mouth helps to mask the smells and you keep your eyes closed a few seconds longer when blinking to help with the change in vision.
Glancing to where your mother layes, you get to your feet and walk over to her.
Tears blur your vision as you relive the events of the night. How did this happen? What where they talking about and why did The Beast target your family? You inhale through your nose and are thrown back with the stinch of decay. Your eyes sting as your frantically whipe them and your nose.
You take a few deep breaths threw your mouth again and keep your eyes closed. The mystery surrounding what happened tonight helps you to mask your grief. It gives a false sense of control that you desperatly desire.
The mangled body and spattered blood on the walls isn't something the cops would be able to explain. You look towards the hallway where you were when you got attacked. Your blood is splattered all over there and had leaked into a wide puddle before the roof caved in. Who would they blame? How long would it be before they would allow your father and brother to give your mother a proper burial? Flooded with all the possible ways your mom's body would be mistreated just for the case to go cold,you decide to [[Bury your mother]].The brightening sky quickly fades into darkness, again. Accompanied by the roar of thunder and the crackle of lightning, briefly brightening the world around you. It's still too early for anyone to be heading to school or work in your neighborhood. You stand in the middle of the street and look around. You inhale through your nose and pin point where the trail leads, the forest.
As you enter the woods, the sky lets loose its down poor.
You pick up in speed, unaffected by the heavy dropps bouncing off your body. The trees around you blur as the smell fades from the pouring rain. It's faster than you can run.
You [[Stop and scream]] or [[Keep running]]You head to the backyard and grab a shovel near the white weeping willow. five years before your where born, your mom planted this tree as a sapling. It grew quickly and without regard to the structures around it, but seemed to protect your home.
It seems only fitting, she be buried here. You create an outline by digging up the top patches of grass a few inches taller than your mother and two feet wider. Once done with that, you begin digging. Pilling the dirt in one spot.
When you're done, the sun is beginning to peak over the horizon. You go back inside and carefully pick up your mom's body. She is lighter than you expected and starting to stink. You've adjusted to your new found vision, but the smells are still too strong.
Once she's in the grave, you push the pill of dirt over her body. Evening it out where needed. You walk into the shed and grab a few large stones. Your mom was planning to use these to add to the back patio. You carefully place them on the loose dirt in hopes to keep animals from digging up the body.
You stand back to look at the grave as the sun rises and dark clouds begin to roll in. Thunder rowars and lightning stricks. "I'm going to find who did this to you," you say. "I'm going to find out why and I'm going to kill them." You inhale through your nose and the smell of decay makes you dry heave and cough. Your eyes pick up on the trail. It looks to be coming from your mom but leads out into the street. You stand up straight, taking in deep breaths and see a neighbor looking at your from over the fence.
Y'all stair at each other for a few seconds. He glances at your house. The caved in roof is visable. His face drains of color and eyes widen. "The Beast?" He asks. You nod to confirm. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks, Mr. Jones," you say.
He disappears from your sight, leaving you to be alone, again.
You close your eyes and inhale the fowl smell. You run to [[Follow the smell]].You punch a tree and it colapses from the force.
"I see you're discovering your new gifts at an exceptional rate," said a man.
You whip around to see the man from before. "Please, don't be alarmed. I'm the Elder. A friend of your--"
"My mother's, I remember. Why are you here?"
"I'm here to escort you to my home," he says. You back away from him. "Please, it's what your mother would have wanted. Not this." He gestures to the path you were taking.
"If you were such good friends with my mom then where were you when we were attacked by that beast?"
You don't wait for an answer, you continue running on your path until you reach an [[abandoned barn]] where the smell invades your nose. You smile as you tumble and gage.A figure meets you at your side. It's the man from before, who saved you.
"Echo," he says, "I'm the Elder, a friend of your mothers. Please, she'd want you to come with me."
You ignore him and continue running until you reach an [[abandoned barn]] where the smell invades your nose causing you to tumble and gage.You take a few seconds to compose your self and look around. The Elder seems to have vanished.
Up in the thickness of the trees, far from the abandoned barn but close enough for the Elder to watch the events unfold, he waits.
You walk around the barn. Most of the widows are boarded up except one on the back that was almost a foot above one of the doors. Stacks of crates and boxes are carelessly placed infront of the door. High enough to reach the widow. You [[climb the boxes to the widow]] or [[pull the door slightly oppen]] to see inside.The boxes and crates shake as you climb. You take your time, moving slowly and with purpose. You reach the widow and pull yourself up onto your tip toes to see inside.
There are boxes and crates scattered all around. With a few farming equipment near the door your at. There is an upper section of the barn covered in hay bales except where your at. The scalfulding is narrow and clear of anything you could use to hide behind. As clearly as you can see the people down below, they too could see you, if they where to look up.
Two men in black suits and black sunglasses stand before a creature. The path of the smell flashed before you leading straight to the creature, it's The Beast. You [[jump down]] from the widow or [[sneak in]], staying out of sight.The door squeaks, but doesn't seem to be noticed by the people inside. There are two men in black suits and black sunglasses and one creature. The path of the smell flashed before you, leading straight to the creature. It's the Beast.
Your view is obscured by the rest of the door, but can see a few boxes and crates scattered all around the barn, including near the door, and old rusted tractors just a few feet from you. You [[sneak threw the door]] or [[stay put]] A hand grabs you by the shoulder before you jump into the barn. You jump to turn around causing the crates and boxes to crash to the ground. You feel your body falling and close your eyes, awaiting the impact, but it never comes.
You open your eyes and see the Elder. He has wings that spand 16 feet wide. they remind you of hawk wings in color. The amazment quickly fades. Your eyes widen as you frantically look around. You're floating. "What the hell," you think. You look to the side and see that you too have wings. Yours are an unnatural but beautiful purple blue. They shimmer in the barn light with sliver of silver eched in.
"Hmm," said the Elder.
"What?"
"Your wings are bigger than mine."
Your head burns, "What do you want?"
"I can't convience you to trust me so maybe letting you fall is the best way to see things my way. Follow the song when you hear its call." The Elder flew up into the sky, past the trees and disappeared into the night.
Confused and frustrated you lower yourself to the grown and begin climbing back up. Your wings tuck themselves away. When you get back to the window, The Beast is already there the great you. You stumble and [[fall]] to the forest floor.A hand grabs you by the shoulder as you start to climb into the barn. You turn around to see the Elder. He has wings that spand 16 feet wide. They remind you of hawk wings in color. The amazment quickly fades and you ask, "What do you want?"
"I can't convience you to trust me so maybe letting you fall is the best way to see things my way," says the Elder. "Follow the song when you hear its call." the Elder flies up into the sky, above the trees and disappears.
Confused and frustrated you turn back around, but The Beast is already there. His appearance startles you, causing you to misstep and [[fall]] to the forest floor.You crouch down and open the door wide enough to squeeze your body through, careful to muffle the sound of the door, as best you can.
"//Echo, wait,//" said a voice. You turn around, to see the Elder.
"//What do you want?//" you ask.
"//I know I can't convience you to come with me. Failure may be the only way for you to see the truth."//
You scoff at his words.
//"When you hear the songs call, follow it. Trust me, you'll be safe there."//
You shake your head and roll your eyes, as you turn back around. The two men and The Beast are gone. The foul smell has gotten stronger and a low growl comes from behind you. You slowly stand up and turn around.
The Beast stands before you, towering over you.
"Finsh it! Now," said one of the two men. They stood up in the scaffolding watching the scene below.
The Beast rears back and pounces but you [[jump back]], douging his attack.You wait outside, turning your ear towards the open door.
A hand grabs your shoulder and turns you around. You jump and guard yourself. It's the Elder.
"If you don't get yourself killed then when you hear the call of the song, follow it. It'll taking to a safe place."
You scrunch your face and lower your arms. The Elder jumps and wings rip through the back of his shirt. Watching him fly away, a low growl greets you from the barn door with the intensity of the foul smell surrounding you.
"Finish her," says one of the men, muffled by the door. The Beast busts through [[the doors]], rolling a few feet away. He grabs you on the shoulder with his claws and throws you deeper into the forest. You skid on the forest floor, causing a dust path for form.Wings fully expand from your back to keep you from hitting your head on the ground. The Beast jumps out the window down onto you. You fly away seconds before he lands on your head.
You [[attack]] or [[fly away]]Rolling on the ground, you stop halfway to the other side of the barn. The Beast pounces again and grabs on your shoulder, digging his claws in. He throws your towards the barn doors.
Blood dripps down your body and your vision gets blurry. The Beast head butts you in the chest sending you through [[the doors]]. Your back breaks through a tree and skids on the forest floor. A dust trail sends The Beast and two men right to you.You float above The Beast and look for an advantage point. The Beast rears back on his hign legs, crouching down and then jumps into the air. He grabs you by the ankle and slams you to the ground. Dust is kicked up, making it hard to see. You weeze and couch a few times before trying to get up. The Beast pounces on you, grabbing your torso with his mouth and throwing you into a tree. Blood pours from your wounds, but your adrenaline keeps you going.
The Beast runs up on you with a claw at the ready. His mouth opened wide, ready to rip your head off.
Time slows, you look aroud and see the two men watching the fight from the safety of the barn roof. You look to The Beast and sense his next attack. He looks to be leaving his left side open with this move so you roll under his paw as he slices the tree you where at and [[palm]] his ribs. Two break on impact.You fly higher in the sky, looking for a way out. The Beast rears back on his hign legs, crouching down and then jumps into the air. He grabs you by the ankle and slams you to the ground. Dust is kicked up, making it hard to see. You weeze and cough a few times before trying to get up. The Beast pounces on you, grabbing your torso with his mouth and throwing you into a tree. Blood pours from your wounds, but your adrenaline keeps you going.
The Beast runs up on you with a claw at the ready. His mouth opened wide, ready to rip your head off.
Time slows, you look aroud and see the two men watching the fight from the safety of the barn roof. You look to The Beast and sense his next attack. He looks to be leaving his left side open with this move so you roll under his paw as he slices the tree you where at and [[palm]] his ribs. Two break on impact.A stabing pain starts to form near your shoulder blades. One that is far more painful than the wounds on your shoulders. You scream and roll onto your knees. Sweat dripps down your face as 20 foot wings rip through your skin and clothes. They are purple and blue in color with a silver eched in caused by the casting of light from the moon.
On your knees, you look around for your assailants. Still shacking from the pain, The Beast runs toward you. He snarles and druels with his left claw at the ready, as time slows. You begin to sense his next attack, a claw to the face. You roll under his arm and [[hit]] his side with your two feet, breaking two ribs in the process. The Beast lets out a yelp and is sent flying into the woods. Two trees are taken down with him. The two men, still spectating, look towards eachother and then morph into two small pixies. Their bones break, some completely falling off and turning to dust. The dust of the fallen bones hide the full transformation into the two hidoues green creatures they become. Their teeth are sharppened to a point and their skin is a greyish green color. They don't have any hair and their eyes bulge out of their body. They are much smaller in this form than their human form. They have four wings which are invisable to the naked eye when in flight.
The two [[charge]] at you. One spews fire from his mouth while the other blasts you with a powerful wind.The Beast lets out a yelp and is sent flying into the woods. The two men, still spectating, look at eachother and then morph into two small pixies. Their dones break and some fall right off their body, turning to dust. The dust of the fallen bones hide the full transformation into the two hidoues green creatures they become. Their teeth are sharppened to a point and their skin is a greyish green color. They don't have any hair and their eyes bulge out of their body. They are much smaller in this form than their human form. They have four wings which are invisable to the naked eye when in flight.
You laugh at the absurdity, but quickly stop as the two [[charge]] at you. One spews fire from his mouth while the other blasts you with a powerful wind.You prepare yourself to fight when it hits you. Your puples dialate, body stiffens, and your wings fully expand, shaking from the wind blast. As the blast of fire gets closer to you, the song takes over your body. Its melody is slow, high pitched, and soothing.
You fly up into the sky as the heat of the fire burns your skin. The men follow you. Still not in control of your body, you spin around and let out an ear bleeding scretch, blasting the two out of the sky and several hundred feet away. While in flight, your wounds start to heal.
You continue to [[follow the song]].As the song gets louder your connect begins to break and you gain control of your body again. Your wounds have healed, leaving only minor scars behind. Allowing your wings to guide you in the direction of the song, you take time to conserve your energy from the fight.
You glide to the forest ground, landing before a stone gate entry way. It looks as if the forest continues undisturbed behind it.
The gate ripples and the Elder appears before you. "Echo, come inside. All your questions and desires will be answered in here," said the Elder. He extends his hand.
"What's the point of this?" you ask.
"Many others came to their power in much the same way as you. A horrible tragedy followed by the desire to find the killer. You are safe here, you are with family."
He extends his hand to you. You take it and [[enter the doorway]] with him or you [[Push his hand away]].Shaken by his words and stucken by pure curiousity, you take the Elder's hand and enter through the doorway. As you enter, the gateway ripples and the scene of the forste disappates and reappears as a moss garden. Green and white willow trees cover the land and a water flows down into a hotsprings. The steam off the water warms your chilled body from the rainpouring down from the other side. The sun shines down on you and the flowers beam up brightly to greet the rays. Mountains can be see in the distance with home struckers just barely visable from where she stood. A castle stood tall near the top of one of the snowy peaks, nearly camoflashed by the white stone it was built from.
"This, my dear, is our home," stated the Elder. "For millinias we have carved and cultivated this land, bringing forth the new and caring for the old."
Creatures with wings and greyish blue, purple, and green skin come together to form multiple circles around the largest white willow in the area. It stood nearly 50 ft tall and its branches covered a vast majority of the land you currently could see. In the middle was a tall woman who looked to be human but her nose was narrow and long with yellow cat eyes visible even from where you stood. She looked to be 7 feet tall, at least and wore a silk white robe.
"We don't birth out young, we create them," said the Elder, "Such is the gift give to our Lady. Called into being near the beginning of human existence to protect the world from the creatures that wished to destory it. She, alone, has the ability to call more Siren's into being, but she can also hand that gift off to a chosen few for a short period of time."
Filled with fear and disbelief, you back away from the Elder.
"It's alright, my dear. You are safe here."
"How am I safe?" you ask, "My mother was killed by a monster that I thought was a thing of myth and now you are telling me that all these... that they are safe?"
"You don't look it now, but you too will assume your armour and learn to control it."
"What does that even mean."
"Elder, not trying that god awful pitch on this more creature are you?" said a woman. She looked human but flew from her group, towards you.
"I'm Amanda, please to me you, sister," said Amanda.
"Child, please. We do not go by our human names," said the Elder.
"Why?" asked Amanda, "Because the old bitch said so? She had something horrible happen to her. Don't undermine her humand experience by stripping away her name." Amanda looks at you and smiles. "Do you really want to be here or is there something else you'd like to do?"
[["I want to find my mom's killer"]]
[["I'm fine, thanks."]]The Elder walks towards you with his hand extended and a smile on his face. You push it away. "I'm good, thanks," you say.
The gateway ripples and a woman appears by flight. "Not trying to convience her to take the rightous path, are you Elder?"
"Child, leave. This doesn't concer you," said the Elder.
She lands beside the Elder and infront of you. "Really? Because the old hag would beg to differ."
"Do not speak about our Lady in such a way."
"The only person with a problem with a little name calling is you. our Lady seems to think it funny when I try to insult her." The woman looks to you and leans in, "I always fail miserably."
"If she knew how you really felt, you'd ban-"
"Banished? No. She discovered me. I'm more intitled to how I feel than you are about me." The woman extends her hand. "Names Amanda."
You take her hand, "Echo."
"Nice to meet you, Echo. Elder, why don't you go inside. I got it from here."
The Elder releases his wings and flies into the gate, fuming. The gate ripples and you get a little glimpse of the world beyound it's point.
"What's beyond that door," you ask.
"Paradise, if you believe in such a thing." Amanda finds a rock and sits. It's now that you realize she's doesn't appear to be wearing clothes. Your eyes widen and you turn away quickly. "Calm down sweet cheaks," sais Amanda, "This is a mear rezimblance of my human form. We con't reproduce so their is no need for a vagina or penise. That also means we can't breast feed so no nipples." You turn back slowly. "Don't ask me why I still appear to have breasts. Our Lady couldn't even tell you that."
"Sorry, this is all just too new for me. I shouldn't be here." You turn towards the forest and start to head south.
"And yet you feel drawn to this place," said Amanda.
You stop and turn back around.
"All of us do but I understand what you are feeling, what you must do." Amanda stands up and walks towards you, she takes your hands and looks in your eyes. "So, tell me. What is it you want to do?"
[["I want to find The Beast."]]
[["I don't know."]]"I want to find The Beast," you say.
"Revenge will get you no where, Echo," said the Elder.
"I beg to differ," said Amanda, "Everyone here has had their chance at revenge in on eway or another, including you. Don't undermine her feelings. It's what drives us."
The Elder huffs and flies away to the inner circle.
"Now that the buzz kill is gone, I'm willing to help you get your revenge, but there are secrets about this world that could get you killed," says Amanda, "You barely even know how to fly."
"I don't want anyone else to die. This is my fight-"
"No! This, whether you like it or not, is our fight. We were created specifically to kill monsters like those damn Pixie brothers and The Beast."
You hesitate. On one hand, this could all be a trap, but on the other, they could actually be able to help. Not only help, but teach you about The Beast and his secrets.
"You don't have to stay here, if you don't want to," says Amanda. "We can go out there." Amanda turns you around and points towards the stone doorway.
[[You decide to walk through the door way.]]
[[You turn around and answer the song's call]] that's been buzzing in your ear by joining the outer circle.You walk towards the outter most circle, but stop half way.
"Echo, join us and we will teach you everything you need to know," said the Elder still behind you. "We will protect you."
"She doesn't need protecting, she needs to know we will let her do her job," says Amanda. She approaches you and leans down, putting a hand on your shoulder. "We don't have to stay here." you and Amanda turn around towards the gate, "We can do this out there."
[[You turn around and answer the song's call]] by joining the outtermost cicrle.
[[You decide to walk through the door way.]]"I want to find the creature that killed my mother and rip off it's head."
Amanda smiles and puts her forehead on yours. "Then lets do it," she says.
You pull away. It wasn't your plan to do this with company especially not with someone you've never met.
"No, this is my journey," you say. You pull your hands out of her grip and back up. "And besides, I don't know you."
"Echo, this isn't about who or what you know, it's about what you don't and if you go after him and those Pixie brothers, you'll end up dead. Why? Because lack of knowledge is a deadly disease."
You hesitate. On one hand, there is the possiblity that she does have a way to teach you to master this gift you haven't even lost the fear of yet but on the other, it could just be a trap. You don't know her or the Elder and no one has truly proven themselves trust worth in your eyes.
[["Okay, but I say what goes."]]
[["I'm sorry, but I can't."]]"I don't know why I'm here," you say while backing away from her, "I was so close to killing him but then this stupid song-"
"Our song is the most powerful tool we have. You won't even get close to killing The Beast without knowing how to use it."
"How do you know it was The Beast?"
"He's our oldest enemy, or, at least, his masters are. The Pixie brothers."
"Your kidding, right?" you ask.
"No, Echo. Pixies are horrible creatures not just things of mischief, but masters of death, famon, and disease. Let me come with you and I'll ensure you have the knowledge you need to kill them all."
"Not that I want you to take my right to avenge my mom away, but why haven't you don't it if all it takes is a song."
Amanda walks closer to you and whispers in your ear, //"Our Lady won't allow it and you haven't pledged yourself to her yet."//
"I can't trust anyone," you say.
"Let me help you."
You're hesitante to answer. On one hand, there is the possiblity that she does have a way to teach you to master this gift you haven't even lost the fear of yet but on the other, it could just be a trap. You don't know her or the Elder and no one has truly proven themselves trust worth in your eyes.
[["Okay, but I say what goes."]]
[["I'm sorry, but I can't."]]You run into the forest heading south, Amanda right behind you. You jump up off the ground, almost on instict, and your wings appear, lifting you into the air, high above the trees.
Amanda catches up and flies beside you. The rain is gone, by this point and the sun is out. You see the peaks of buildings just over the forst edge and fly down before anyone can see you.
"Where are you planning on going?" asked Amanda.
"To my dad's."
[[Back to beginning ->CHAPTER 1]] You run into the forest heading south. You jump up off the ground, almost on instict, and your wings appear, lifting you into the air, high above the trees.
You fly a few feet before noticing Amanda a few distance behind you.
"You need to leave," you say.
"I can't," she says, "The last time I let a sister go on this path alone, she died and so did her Elder."
"Well, I'm not her."
"I know, that's why I'm coming whether you want me to or not. I can't ignore my duty to protect you."
"Just don't get in my way."
"I promise, I'll only interviene if your life is at risk."
You sigh and put your arms by your side, flying faster. Amanda catches up and flies beside you. The rain is gone, by this point and the sun is out. You see the peaks of buildings just over the forst edge and fly down before anyone can see you.
"Where are you planning on going?" asked Amanda.
"To my dad's."
[[Back to beginning ->CHAPTER 1]] You walk out of the oasis through the stone doorway and into the forest, heading south. Amanda follows right behind you. You jump up off the ground, almost on instict, and your wings appear, lifting you into the air, high above the trees.
Amanda catches up and flies beside you. The rain is gone, by this point and the sun is out. You breath in the fresh air. The rain washed away the sent of the Beast, but it won't be long until they come for you.
You see the peaks of buildings just over the forst edge and fly down before anyone can see you.
"Where are you planning on going?" asks Amanda.
"To my dad's."
[[Back to beginning ->CHAPTER 1]] The Elder flies ahead to join the inner most circle. The lady in the middle, stands tall with her wings and arms stretched out. The song drowns out all other noises as you join the circle. Amanda grabs your left hand. You extend your hand to a woman on your right. She takes it and your wings appear, expanding to touch the tips of Amanda and the other's wings.
A white light comes from the middle of the circle and expands over every circle. Inside, the land glows and every one changes from physical beings to spirits. Some as tall as the light barrer, some look to be sleeping, and a few take on a darker form with grey smoke surrounding them.
"Wait," you say, "I need to go to my dad. I need to make sure he is okay." You try to break away but Amanda and the other keep your hands firmly in their grasp. You can feel your hands slipping from their grasp when the Lady from the middle rushes you and grabs you by the shoulders.
She is the essence of the white light, but something feels off. "Thank you, my child," she says, "for choosing your true family." She goes to kiss you on the forehead and you look down to see black smoke escaping from under her robe. You scream as her lips meet your head and blackout.
When you wake, Amanda is hovering over your body, showering you in red roses. "Welcome back to the land of the living," she says. "Ready to get out of here?"
You sit up to look at your body. It's taken on a blue and purple color with a hint of silver to match your wings. You stand up and look towards Amanda and back towards the path of the door way. She takes your hand and the two of you fly through the gateway.
"So, where are we going?" asks Amanda.
"To my dad's."
[[Back to beginning ->CHAPTER 1]]