An explosion of fire engulfed the scenery in front of a little girl as she cried out in her heart.
"So even the gods of this world reject me..."
Stream of bloody tears dripped down her face as she held a demonic dagger in her hand.
"O cursed blade of sacrifice, please lend me strength one last time..."
She took the blade and stabbed herself in the guts as she screamed in unbearable agony.
A series of images flashed in and out as the paintings of the girl holding a little child burned away in flames.
"Anna..." a faint voice cried out loud, "Anna...!" A girl reached her hands out from the bed as tears dripped down the side of her cheeks. She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling, shaken up by the terrible dream.
The bright moonlight reflected off the window as she covered her eyes with her arm. "Ugh..." turned away from the window and sighed as she wiped her tears.
She closed her eyes and emptied her mind, but the cries of the little girl echoed in her head as she desperately tried to fall back asleep. Unable to stop the voices in her head, the distressed girl jumped out of bed and looked out the window as the gentle breeze of the night carried comfort to her heart.
The girl gazed up at the starry sky as the moonlight glittered down onto her dreamy blue eyes. As she leaned forward into the window frame, another wave of gentle breeze showered her in the warm wind of the summer, dancing with the red hair of the mysterious little girl. She used her tiny fingers to guide her hair behind the ear as she turned around. She sat down on her bed and leaned forward, grabbing a worn pair of boots. She squeezed her feet down the thick leather and stood up from the bed.
The wooden door squeaked open as a little teenage girl made her way out of the room. She quietly descended the stairs into the tavern as the muffled chatters got louder and louder. A few wandering eyes of the late-night adventurers glimpsed over as she walked past several wooden empty stools.
"Can't sleep?" the tavern keeper looked at the little girl as he wiped the glass mug in his hand.
"Something like that..." she let out a sigh and clamped down next to the bartender. She slipped a coin forward, "can I get a glass?"
The bartender freed his hand and grabbed a glass from aside. He twisted the faucet attached to a barrel and poured a fresh drink into the glass. He gently slammed the glass mug in front of the customer and dropped the coin into his pocket.
"Thanks," she said as she took a big gulp. The sweetness of the ale washed her bitter memories away as she chugged half of the giant mug.
The instant the girl put the glass back down on the table, the tiny flames of the candle swayed away in sync as the front door of the tavern swung open. Behind the door revealed a young boy in his teens in a total dark get-up: black tops, black hair, and dark brown eyes.
The red-haired girl glimpsed over as the new guest stormed inside. Her eyes traced the iris of his eyes as he sat down two seats away from her. No light bounced off of his eyes but his misery. She saw the reflection of her past self within his eyes that had lost their vibrancy.
