A QUEST OF DEATH : Dawning Darkness

14 | Amulet • Part 1(edited)

Ada sat on the bathroom floor, the cold, wet tiles pressing against her skin. Water cascaded from the overhead faucet, pouring over her and flowing steadily towards the drain, creating a rhythmic sound that echoed in the small space.

Her hair, soaked and heavy, clung to her face in tangled strands. Her wet clothes stuck to her body, accentuating the chill that seemed to seep into her very bones.

Salty tears mixed with the cold water, tracing paths down her cheeks as she sat there, enveloped in a cocoon of hopelessness. She had no idea how long she had been there.

The recent events had unfolded like a nightmare, leaving her grappling with the aftermath. Despite him claiming to be a protector the amber eyed intruder had brought more destruction than solace–the wreckage around her mirrored the turmoil within Ada's heart.

Seated in the midst of the disarray, Ada couldn't hold back the tears that welled in her eyes–caught in a storm of emotions—perplexity, terror, guilt.

Her brother, Auden , taken by a demon, and now this unexpected visitor claiming to be a saviour. Ada's instincts screamed at her, warning against trust. Demons were cunning, manipulative beings, and her past experiences had taught her not to take anything at face value.

The moment the stranger with amber eyes disappeared, she had broken down, her sobs echoing through the debris until she passed out.

When she woke to the sun's rays the next morning, at an hour she couldn't discern, she had staggered to the bathroom with a dry throat. Instead of drinking from the tap, she had simply sat under the shower, letting the water pour over her and wash away all her sorrows.

Her thoughts spiralled into a whirlwind of confusion. Auden , her own brother, had unwittingly become a pawn in a perilous game. He had lured her, perhaps unintentionally, into a deadly trap. The memory of teetering on the edge of death, both she and Auden facing the abyss, lingered vividly in her mind.

Despite the betrayal, despite the nearness of their shared demise, a resilient flame of determination burned within her. Ada refused to surrender Auden to the clutches of darkness. She would not abandon him even if it meant she would do that one thing she held herself from committing in the name of the purity and truthfulness of her feelings.

The bond of blood propelled her beyond the realms of bitterness. She was almost drowning in her own agony when a loud bang came from her front door. Someone was ringing her bell frantically, as if they were about to lose their mind. She didn't bother to respond.

Then she heard a snap and a bang, followed by loud footsteps running through her apartment—door to door, room to room, calling her name until they finally came to a halt by the bathroom door.

"Oh, Ada, what's this?" a masculine voice sighed, sympathy dripping from his words as the faucet stopped.

Lifting her head, Ada recognized those hazel eyes even through her hazy gaze and fogged-up mind. "Kaya," she whispered.

"Let's get you out of here first," he said gently. His arms went under her shoulders, carefully wrapping around her as he lifted her up and balanced her on the solid ground.

A new round of sobs broke through Ada. "Kaya, Gan–"

"I know. I heard. That's why I came," he said, his voice steady as he helped her out of the bathroom.

Kaya guided her back to her bedroom with a sense of urgency, his arm around her shoulders, trying to offer her some stability. As soon as they reached her room, he gently lowered her to the floor, propping her up against her bed. Ada's breath came in rapid, shallow gasps, her sobs uncontrollable. Her entire body trembled violently, shivering from the unrelenting cold.