Strangely Familiar - The Stolen Fate | On Hold

Chapter 3 (I)

"What I am trying to cultivate is not blind optimism... but radical hope." - Junot Diaz

***

A year ago:

The magical explosion echoed throughout the room and beyond, drumming into his ears, he witnessed the light leaving her body in several forms like thousands of fireflies dispersing across at night. Out of reflex, Samraat shielded his crouched form even though he wasn't the one suffering anymore. The glass window of the Mansion shattered sending its bits flying everywhere, and the earth underneath their feet shook at the energy radiating from her.

It was only when the explosion subdued, sirens echoed inside his head as his mind registered the horrendous scene. For an excruciating moment, they stared at each other in consternation. It took every ounce of will in Samraat to drag his feet to where his sister lay, his heart throbbing, he somehow managed to take heavy breaths forcing his mind to battle against soaring anxiety at her sight.

There was a commotion somewhere outside that his befuddled state couldn't fathom, but low voices echoed inside the premises of the Mansion. Too stunned to realize the possible danger still lurking around them, he bend on his knees to turn her face.

Her body was enduring a second-degree burn, marks appearing in its wake in shades of red and green, tracing an irregular pattern all across her body. Shreds of skin burnt and swollen with blood cutting its way through it. She lay there with her eyes closed in the pool of blood.

With shivering hands, Samraat managed to shake her, he did not realize he was crying until drops of tears fell on her cheeks as he held her against him.

Rahil Kazmi felt his legs wobble as he covered the path, shock etched all over his face. He managed to fall to his knees as well beside her, his hands quivering as he checked her pulse, acutely aware of the younger man who was watching his action like a hawk.

To add misery to their collective despair, Naina wasn't breathing at all. Her heart stopped beating, and her hands were just as cold as ice. He dropped her hands skillfully avoiding Samraat's hopeful look. It killed him from within, and for the first time in his life, Rahil Kazmi felt he truly failed to save someone. She had barely seen life leave this early. His heart squeezed painfully as he clutched her hand, bringing his fears back to life.

"She is not breathing." He whispered, unable to look into his eyes. He couldn't bear to see hope fading and despair charging back to life.

"H-her magic, healing, right?" Samraat couldn't speak properly, his hand was shaking badly as he grabbed her hand in his. "She-she be okay."

He shuddered, speaking in a blind haze, too intoxicated in his panic that was flaring on a high tide, and he failed to see anything beyond.

Rahil Kazmi shook his shoulder if only to bring some sense back into him.

Before Samraat could turn his head and scream out, there was a loud thud, followed by another bright light. The light was coming from the Median. It was then Rahil Kazmi noted that Cian was nowhere to be found. He must have left them in between the power display. He walked up to the window to sneakily peep through the window to find different magical beings now standing surrounding the entrance of the Mansion.

"The power is phenomenal. I need the evidence." One of them said.

"We need to see the mage." The other agreed.

They talked among themselves before marching forward. Rahil Kazmi quietly and carefully closed the window before getting back to Naina's convulsing body.