Hidden Oasis

Chapter 1

Slipping through the dark of the night came easy for me, even when I was younger. Strict parents tend to give you that ability, moving through creaky rooms in pitch blank, completely silent. The air conditioning hummed, and the owls hooted? Called? Whatever you wanted to call it. I tightened the blanket around me, slipped into the kitchen, grabbed a glass from the table, opened the fridge, filling the glass with the cool, fresh water. I drank it all in one gulp, savoring the soothing cold on the back of my throat.
“Amity?”
I didn't hear my name as I giggled softly at the cool water.
“Amity!?”
I turned around in surprise, almost dropping the empty glass.
“Amity….?” She was tall, with her purple hair braided down her back, in the most weird outfit I had ever seen for her, as she wasn't the type to wear a thin cotton shirt and knee length
shorts. Komugi Mitto, the school’s pride and joy, and one of my dorm mates.
“Hello.” I spoke softly, crackley, and deep, the sleep in my voice obvious. She looked at me, a small frown on her face.
“What are you doing up this late, it's 2 in the morning,” Komugi exclaimed, in a whisper, “especially walking around like a spider. You scared me…”
I blinked slowly, examining her more carefully. She was really pretty, with her waist length braid, the purple hair, the slightly pointed, freckled ears, and even in her outfit, she had a nice figure. I shook my head, now was not the time.
“Getting water, I couldn't sleep. I could ask the same for you. What would people think if students and teachers saw their precious Princess Komugi outside of uniform, not wearing a
dress, up at night, stalking other students at 2 in the morning?” My eyebrow twitched. I realize I came off really rude, but no going back now.
“I…” She trailed off, not answering, a soft blush of embarrassment creeping onto her face.
“Good night to you. Sleep well.” I turned on my feet, moving through the halls again, where I belonged. I heard her behind me, her breath catching, in surprise. It wasn’t my issue now.
When I made it back upstairs to the rooms we slept in, I threw my blanket back onto the bed, slipping on long fluffy socks. I glanced at the other two beds, Komugi’s the farthest from mine, the closest to the door, empty and perfectly made. Kiara’s the one in the middle, with the flowery bed sheets. Kiara was there, curled up and dead asleep, unaware of mine and Komugi’s creeping around. Then mine, the farthest from the door, right next to the window, where the moonlight streamed onto my bed. Unmade, and messy, with paper and other clutter on it. I cleared the clutter, dumping it on the floor, and I slipped under the cool sheets, inhaling the scent of laundry soap. Staring out the window, onto the kingdom of Cryvali.
                           ***
I stood on the window’s edge, back at the orphanage I had stayed at for 3 years. Wasn’t exactly an orphan. Looking down at the grass, 3 floors below. I used to stand up here all the time. The wind blew in my face, making my knees weak.
Then the rush of creatures came at me. I don't know what they are, but they’re terrifying. Large, oval bodies with long spindly legs, taller than a human. They came at me, scaling the wall. I turned, slamming my shoulder into the window. It was stuck, and I was screwed. I felt the legs wrap around me, the glowing red eyes staring at me in the reflection of the dirty window.
I opened my eyes. I was on my knees, my palms and knees scraped like I had been dragged across pavement. Looking up, in front of me, a man wrapped in glowing green chains, the same shade as those creature’s eyes. The chains were tight against the man’s skin. He was completely naked, covered in injuries. The chains held him like he was going to be crucified. He had a large gash across his chest, several smaller scratches, and he had a knife stabbed into his shoulder. I didn’t recognise him, and he didn’t acknowledge me, yet he was clearly alive, I could see his shoulders moving with his harsh breath, which would occasionally echo around us.
“Hello, Amity.” His voice startled me, deep, with a sinister note to it. And he knew my name. I didn’t respond, and he looked at me, and I backed away, startled. His eye was icy blue, the other, an empty, bloody socket. His shoulder-length black hair fell over his face again, and it was really matted.
“Amity. Don’t be alarmed. I won’t hurt you.”
“How do I know that?” I snapped, staring him down. He chuckled, a cold maniacal laugh that sounded awfully evil, yet kind of hopeless.
“Because I said so, and truth is power.” He growled, staring back at me. “Help me, will you?” He grinned, showing pointed, blood teeth. My stare turned into a glare.
“Why? Clearly you’re here for a reason.” Muttering under my voice.
“Ahh, my sweet girl. Not a real reason. They’re scared of me, because they know I’m right” As he said that, his voice grew more powerful, and it began to echo back to me. After a short pause, I tried to respond, but my vision shattered like glass in front of me, turning to black.