Blood . Pain . Sacrifice .
Some would consider them horrifying, some not. Though most do.
No one would fully embrace those three things...no one until Alerema Sinclair was introduced to the world of gods, magic and a grueling journey ahead of her...
The sky started to sob, and rain fell down my face. I panted heavily as I ran from my living hell, my legs starting to go numb.
I looked back in fear, and I saw a flash of white darting through the forest, making a beeline towards me. My mind went to its-time-to-panic mode, and I pushed myself to go faster. Just pass the border, Jazzy, I told myself.
I kept running for what felt like hours when I knew it was only a few minutes. Trees flashed by me with extreme speed. Wind blew past me with a strong gush to my back, pushing me forward. The ground rumbled softly with comfort. The water in the air soothed my wounds on my arms and legs. Blood dripped down my body to the ground, and the ground rumbled even more.
My whole body ached with exhaustion, but I kept running, running from my slaver, running from the only thing I knew, running from my nightmare.
I jumped with fright when Gabriel's voice echoed around me. "You can run but you can't hide~!" His deep and slimy voice sent shivers down my spine. I pumped my legs to go faster. Faster, faster, faster.
The trees started to thin out and I cried out in relief. The glowing white border came into view and when I heard the whooshing sound become louder, my body threw itself over the glowing line in desperation.
Seconds felt like years as I reached out at the border, and hope bloomed for the first time in 12 years. My fingers reached the grass, and I dug in my nails into the soil to pull myself over the line. My nails cracked and came off my fingers. Blood mixed in with the rain, but compared to what I've been through, this was nothing.
With a final pull, my body flew over the line, right as the white flash reached me. A spine-chilling roar shook me to my core, and I scrambled back a few feet. Another furious roar, and a BOOM sounded when Gabriel tried to break the barrier that was separating him and I.
I didn't stick around to find out if he could break it and ran for my life. Before I ran out of earshot, his disgusting voice reached my sensitive ears, "I own you, Stone. Just wait and see. You.are.mine!!!" 'Mine' echoed all around me and I shivered.
Shit
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I ran for hours and hours until my body couldn't take it anymore and collapsed from under me.
I lay there panting in shock, my eyes wide as I stared at the moon. Rain dripped into my eyes, and I blinked. Finally, after what feels like hours of just lying there, I finally processed that I was free from Gabriel's clutches.
I'm free.
A hysterical laugh tore itself out of my throat and suddenly, I was laughing uncontrollably.
I'm FREE!
I lay there for several moments, panting in exhaustion and shock, before a rumble startled me and I yelped, flinching away on instinct. My hands shook as I ran them over my pure white hair, stained with dirt and now blood.
The adrenaline had faded away and I rocked back on my heels, wrapping my arms around my knees and buried my head in my arms. He won't come for you; he won't come for you, I chanted furiously.
My breathing accelerated and I cursed Gabriel in my head. No matter how hard I tried, he would always find a way to get to my head, and now apparently, he earned himself a permanent resident plus a luxurious combo as well.
With a deep breath and a slap in the face, I got up with a heave and shook out my hands. You don't control me; I control myself.
With another slap to the face for courage, I took a small step towards my new life and for the first time in my life, I made a decision out of my own free will. A smile bloomed across my face, and I giggled maniacally.
I twirled around in happiness before crashing back to Earth. I had to leave this place; only bad things will happen if I stay in this realm.
Where could I go though?
My brain woke up to the question and answered with a distant memory. I sorted through the fogginess, snapped my fingers and blinked down at my non-existent nails when it throbbed. Oh well.
My brain suddenly brought up the image of Kai.Kai was a less frequent visitor at Gabriel's nightclub, but when he did come, he would secretly sneak in some food and water for me in my hiding spot in a hole under the pole dancing stage.
Sure, he may have spilled some blood before in the past, and made deals with Gabriel, but he was a kinder man than Gabriel, that's for sure.
I panted tiredly, a little wobbly on my feet. My vision blurred and I blinked. My breathing became heavier, and I tried to remember where Kai lived. Then I remembered he taught at an academy in...Navor? Navor was it? I grinned.
I always sneaked around Gabriel, trying to gather information to escape, and it paid off. Gabriel once said he had a portal that goes to the places you desire if you know its name.
Well, it's time to pay him a visit. With a last look at the darkness behind me...and maybe a little inappropriate hand gesture as well, I turned my back to the man who broke me and stepped into my new life.
