The Echo of Wing Beats

Reminders

My dreams are haunted by the past. Every night, memories of the celestial war unfolding like  a horror movie on repeat.

In my dreams, the battlefield stretches endlessly, a chaotic expanse of clashing swords and raging fires. My wings, once radiant, now bearing the scars of countless battles. as I fight with unrelenting fury, every swing of my sword fueled by the desire to protect my sister, Seraphina.

"Seraphina!" I shout, my voice barely audible over the roar of battle.

Through the haze of smoke and the throng of combatants, I see her—an angelic figure surrounded by a swarm of hell spawn. Her eyes, wide with fear, lock onto mine, begging me for help.

I ignore the orders of my commanders, surging forward, my wings beating furiously as I carve a path through the daemonic horde. Each strike of my blade is accompanied by the agonizing cries of the fallen. The ground beneath my feet is slick with viscera, both angelic and demonic.

"Hold on, Sera!" I cry, fury lending strength to my limbs.

Finally, I reach her, ripping through the last daemon that stands between us. I wrap my wings around her, shielding her from the surrounding chaos. But as I do, a blinding light engulfs us, and I feel a searing pain in my wings. The battlefield falls silent, and a cold voice echoes in my mind.

"Shane, you have defied our orders for the last time."

A blinding light engulfing me. My wings burning with a searing pain as feathers char and fall away. As the ground disappears beneath me plunging me into darkness again..

In the dream, I hear Seraphina's scream—piercing, terrified, desperate.

"SHANE HELP!"

Her scream jolts me awake. My heart is pounding, my breath ragged. I lie in my bed, drenched in sweat, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to me. The dark, cramped dorm room offers no comfort. I sit up, trying to shake off the terror that still grips me.

The echoes of wing beats and her scream still lingering in my mind, a constant reminder of the past I can't escape. I run a hand through my hair, breathing deeply to steady myself.

"It's just a dream, just a fucking dream," I mutter, but the words feel hollow. The pain of losing hurt stings just as much as it did then. I'm alone in this world, a fallen angel struggling to find a place among mortals.

I glance at the clock on my nightstand. It's early, but I know I won't be able to fall back asleep. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand, stretching my stiff muscles. The small dorm room is silent, save for the faint hum of the school's heating system.

I walk over to the window and look out at the school grounds, still shrouded in pre-dawn darkness. Arcadia High, a sanctuary for the magically gifted and otherworldly, has become my refuge. Yet, even here, I stick out like a sore thumb.

I sigh and turn away from the window. I need to get ready for the day, to focus on the present. But as I move through my morning routine, the echoes of my nightmare linger, a shadow constantly hiding behind every corner.