The Light of Roria

Chapter Three

The night was darker than usual. Clouds blacked out the moon, but a dim street light lit up the sidewalk enough for me to see down the road. It wasn't something out of the ordinary. I always took late-night walks in my subdivision. Kind of my way of relaxing all on my own. But somehow this night was different. Perhaps it was the atmosphere or an undeniable instinct but the eerie feeling in my stomach couldn't be ignored, intensifying the further I traveled away from my home.

My arms were wrapped around my own waist before my hand instinctively reached up for the stone around my neck. Closing my eyes, I shook my head and forced a laugh.

"Calm yourself, Adi! You go on walks all the time."

My attempts to tell myself all was well were falling flat, and I just had to look behind me to be sure. At first the figure was so far down the street that it took a second glance to truly see anything at all. Squinting, I focused on whoever was there, before their figures finally took shape.

The two men were almost unnaturally tall and broad in size, sporting long black cloaks that dragged across the cement as they walked. As they passed the first streetlight, I jumped back, drawing in a fearful breath when it blew; a rain of sparks descending to the ground.

A shudder escaped my lips and my insides turned cold. I should have run. I should have sprinted toward the nearest home and banged on their door until they let me in. Dr Ramirez didn't love far. I knew she would let me in. If I turned right then there was still a chance I could make it. But I was motionless. Downright unnaturally still. Like my body had forgotten how to respond to my brain's signals. All I could do was watch them as they closed the gap between us..

Their faces, finally coming into view, were paler than snow. The whites of their eyes were nonexistent, the shade of blue iris had overtaken their entire eyes. Their razor sharp teeth were that of a lion's,.with large ears that came to a sharp point several inches above their heads.

Both of them sneered, their eyes murderous, and when I finally took a step back, my wobbly knees caused me to stumble and forcing me to the ground. Quickly rising, I twirled around and readied myself to run, but the unexpected sight of someone else had caused me to scream, almost falling to the ground once more.

His face was hidden behind the blade of a sword and when he began to speak, the words were too muffled to comprehend. Logically, I should have been just as petrified of this stranger as the two creatures behind me, but not a drop of trepidation resided in my heart, but rather trust. He wasn't there to hurt me. He was there to keep me safe.

I turned to glance back at the creatures, whose pale hands now emitted black smoke that quickly began to take shape, forming two swords; the smoke encircling the dark steel like it owned whatever it created, Moving toward me, the creatures raised their blades but with a blink of an eye, the man took a defensive stance between us. The two suddenly paused, threatened by this stranger but it was clear they wouldn't relent; their hateful eyes fixed on me. I was the goal. I was the mission. They would bring me down no matter who chose to stand in their way.

When the stranger spoke again, I still could not make out a word, but something within me seemed to register the significance of his dulled words. Like he was awakening a part of me that had been dormant for years. A silent calling in my chest that now whispered destiny was on the horizon.

I watched as his sword immediately began to glow; the white light so vibrant that I was forced to look away. With all his might, and a hearty bellow, he swung his sword at one of the men before I turned my gaze, too afraid to see what might happen next....

My eyes jolted open as I sat up in my bed. My hands gripped the sheets as sweat dripped down my face. My breathing was heavy and broken, and I half-expected to find the creatures lurking over me. "It was a dream?" I couldn't believe it. It felt so real. Sure, I lived in my own personal fantasy at times, but this went beyond any creative idea. The entire dream had been shockingly vivid, activating every sense within me and I could still envision every part. I bit my lip, almost unconvinced it had been nothing more than a nightmare. Maybe it hadn't been real but could it have been a warning? Was it some sort of vision of a day to come? Perhaps I was overreacting but I couldn't shake it, continuously envisioning razor sharp teeth and menacing all-blue eyes until sleep finally claimed me, but not peacefully. For when my mind drifted away, I was pulled right back into the same dream once more.