What would it take for you to face the darkest parts of yourself? Set just before the events of Hands of Time, Cole finds himself in a long fight against a mysterious and dangerous enemy--one that threatens to tear apart not just his team, but his o...
Cole's heart pounded in his chest as he pushed his way through the crowd, ignoring the citizens' curious stares. As he raced down the sidewalks, around corners, and across busy streets, he remembered... Running away from school. Traveling through the mountains. A mysterious stranger. Bandits. Travelers. A journey. Friends.
The crowd flashed by his vision. His thoughts tumbled clumsily over each other. Where am I going...? Oh, right, Cherry Blossom Bridge. At the park.
He ran through Main Street, dodging honking traffic. He remembered faces. It was so long ago, years past, the images were now faint and blurry. The emotion was still there, though, still the same. He remembered their names, but somehow it hurt to think of them.
Abruptly he stopped. He was there already. Beautiful trees adorned in thick green leaves lined a cobblestone walkway that led into the city park. A soft, cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead and played with his hair.
His legs were trembling from running so hard, and he was gasping for breath. Why was his heart racing? Because he hadn't seen these people for years, and hadn't thought about them until now. Guilt clawed at him. Why haven't I stayed in touch? I've known them even longer than Jay, Kai, and Zane...!
Taking a deep breath, he started down the path. Streetlights glowing orange lined his way like an alien entourage. Moths fluttered at lights. Stone crunched softly beneath Cole's feet as he treaded quietly down the road.
He turned a corner and stopped.
The bridge was just up ahead, with a lovely stream trickling beneath it. On the bridge stood a single figure, leaning on the stone rail. Light from a nearby streetlamp reflected off her silver-blond hair.
Cole was sure he had been quiet as a mouse, but the girl lifted her head and cocked it warily in his direction. Sunglasses covered her eyes. "Cole?" Her voice was soft and uncertain. "Is that you?"
He hesitated, then slowly stepped into the light. "It's me," he murmured.
The girl looked to be at a lost for words. She gripped the rail of the bridge tightly, as if she needed support.
Head swimming, he forced himself to step onto the bridge. Before he knew it, he was standing right next to her. The girl didn't move from her spot.
Gently, he took the shades in his hands and pulled them away from her face... just to be sure it was her—to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
He wasn't dreaming.
"Liana."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
(Artwork by me :P)
Anyone else would have recoiled at the sight of her face. Hideous scars stretched vertically across her eyes, from above the eyebrows to a little above her cheeks. The scars were wide and white, a terrible wound from long ago.
