Hearts and Shadows

Chapter 1

Now

A deep, sickening crunch rang out into the darkness before me as I fell from the rooftop and onto the ground below. Crimson spread across my arm as I lay on the ground for a long moment, wondering how it all got to this point. A long, bone-chilling howl behind me pushed me to my feet and sent me off running with no time to think. The only thing left to do was run for my life and hope the image of the ones I left behind didn't drag my feet down.

The streets were different at night. The moon and stars were gone, behind thick clouds that no one predicted, but the one who brought them here, and the streetlights that should have lit up my path were broken. The bricks in the sidewalk stretched out, tripping me with each step. Flowers between the cracks appeared wilted the farther I ran, but maybe I hadn't paid attention enough before. The last time I was here was this afternoon, walking home from school. It seemed like so long ago...

How did we all end up here?

I turned the corner, not realizing where it was taking me until it was too late to turn back. In front of me was a solid brick wall, something that I would never be able to jump although I could do many unbelievable things these days. My arm had bled too much and I was too off balance for a jump like that. But behind me were the things that awaited to deliver my fate, the same fate that was given to my friends that I left behind. The disgusting hellhounds that came from the shadows of despair to collect my soul for their master.

I shakily turned around and lifted my hand, the small charms hanging from my glove glowing in the pattern all too familiar. A long staff appeared in my hand, extending out before me and steadying my breaths all on its own. I knew this weapon, it was my own, and it had been through everything with me. From the moment I had gotten my powers until now, this weapon had fought hard for me. Now it would fight hard for me once again.

The shadows crowd around the edges of the alley. They resembled dogs, but it wasn't like any sort of friendly Labrador or Dachshund. Without any eyes, they simply sniffed the air for my blood to follow me directly. Their jaws could open so wide that I would have seen myself swallowed whole every time they opened them, if it weren't for their rows of sharp teeth lining all the way to the beginning of their throat. The only thing that kept all of them at bay now was the bright glow surrounding me and that was fading fast. I didn't have long before it would be completely gone and they could come after me with teeth and claws and whatever else those monsters had hidden away. Moving backwards against the brick wall behind me I glanced up, seeing more of the shadows crawling down the walls towards me. I was completely surrounded now, with any small hope of even climbing the wall now fading.

Holding my injured arm close, I held out my staff and let the light fade around me. Darkness engulfed, leaving only snarls and the snapping of teeth.

"Let's do this," I whispered to myself before lashing the staff out in front of me.