Clans: beginning of the end

Unreal death

Sunny spent the past hour explaining everything that was happening to Hazel. Hazel tried to take in and understand as much as she could. "So, basically, you're some type of destined heroine?" Hazel asked. "By force, yes." Sunny replied comically. They were lying on Hazel's bed in silence for a moment before Hazel sat up. "What are you gonna do, then?" She asked, looking down at Sunny. "Beats me, but I don't know when this whole tragedy thing is gonna come kick my ass, so I better start working this out soon." Sunny replied. "Does anyone, besides me, know about this?" Hazel asked. Sunny sat up, stretching her arms. "Nope. Just you." She answered, her gaze finding Hazel's, with a soft smile on her lips. Hazel's cheeks turned a light pink as she returned Sunny's smile. "I'm glad you trust me." She said softly, lying back down.

Eventually, the two girls ended up falling asleep. Sunny's mind felt loud, but that loud sound began to sound like someone was coughing or gasping for air. Sunny opened her eyes and glanced around. She was in an alleyway. At the end of the alley, was Mia. She had a stab wound in her stomach and she was choking on the blood in her mouth. "Mia!" Sunny screams, running towards her. She got down on her knees in front of Mia, trying to make sense of what happened. "What happened?" She asked frantically.

Sunny tried to suppress the wound, but her hand just phased through her sister, as if she were a hologram. "What?" Sunny murmured. "You can't physically touch anyone." Philip answered from behind her, making Sunny jump. "Philip? What's happening? What happened to Mia?" Sunny asked, her hands shaking slightly. "Do not worry. This isn't real yet." Philip answered. "Yet? What do you mean?" Sunny inquired. "Do you recall me telling you that you could see fragments of the future?" Philip asked. Sunny's brows furrowed and she waved her hand through Mia once more, watching as it phased through her.

"What happened?" She asked again. "I am unsure." Philip responded. Sunny whirled around to look at him. "Don't give me that bullshit excuse! You're some all-knowing being, right?" Sunny accused. "I don't know what happens to build up your major tragedy. I only know that you were the one who caused it and you have to stop it." Philip explained. "Moreover, you only have limited time to see these visions, so use your time wisely." Philip warned. "Okay, okay." Sunny said so herself, shaking her head and trying to focus. She forced herself to look at Mia. Her eyes were dull and she had stopped struggling. Though she knew this hadn't happened yet, it still felt like it was happening. Sunny waited, silently begging Mia to breathe, but her chest remained still. She was dead. It's not real Sunny had to remind herself. Sunny looked around the alley for any clues, then it hit her. "I know this alleyway." She muttered. Philip tilted his head, intrigued by what she might mean. Sunny only then noticed the blood marks on the wall, leading up to a window. She climbed onto a dumpster and looked into the window.

"This is next to Cleo's house." She murmured. "Either Cleo or someone else stabbed Mia and she must've escaped into the alley." She detailed aloud. "But why would Cleo kill Mia if she needs Mia to up her status?" She questioned. She glanced around for other hints to what happened. She noticed there was no snow anymore, so it was probably no longer winter when this happened. Her mind was racing with questions and probabilities. In fact, her mind was getting loud again. "Sunny, wake up!" Hazel shook her as she jolted up. "Huh? Where...?" She looked around in confusion. She was back in Hazel's room. "You kept shifting in your sleep then you started hyperventilating." Hazel explained. "What time is it?" Sunny asked, her chest heaving. Sunny looked out the window. It was the middle of the night. "What time is it?" Sunny asked. "Somewhere around 12:30, why? Are you leaving?" Hazel asked.

"I should be." Sunny replied, getting up. "Alright. Will you visit again soon?" Hazel asked, watching as Sunny opened the window. "Probably." Sunny smiled softly, climbing out the window. "Bye." She whispered, before making her way down. "Bye." Hazel whispered into the quiet of her room. Sunny ran back home, knowing she's definitely in trouble. Once she finally made it to the castle gates, Amelia, who was on guard with another warrior, furrowed her brows. "Where were you? Me and your mother were worried sick." She scolded. "I'm sorry." Sunny mumbled without meeting Amelia's gaze. Amelia sighed and looked back ahead. "Your mom said to send you up to her study once you return." Amelia informed. "Okay. Thank you, Amelia." Sunny replied, going inside. Amelia glanced back, watching Sunny go inside, with a concerned gaze.

Sunny made her way to her mom's study, steeling herself for the conversation that was about to happen. She stopped in front of the door, staring at it for what felt like centuries. She took a deep breath and, finally, knocked on the door. "Come in." Anetha responded steadily. Sunny opened the door and took a step inside, the tension almost suffocating her. "Do you know what time it is?" Anetha asked, her voice cold and sharp. "What in Light's name has gotten into you? I have warriors looking for you for hours!" She scolded, glaring at her daughter. "Please, Sunny. Tell me, what was so important that you had to sneak off like that?" Anetha implored. Sunny eyes went anywhere except her mother's gaze and she couldn't find the words to explain why she left. "Aren't you gonna talk?" Anetha asked. "Because you love to be cheeky with the warriors but now, all of a sudden, you can't speak." She added. Sunny stayed silent, unable to tell her mother about how she went to see someone from a different clan. Anetha sighed , rubbing her temples. "From now on, you're not allowed outside this castle without my or Amelia's permission and a warrior with you." Anetha dictated.

Sunny's head shot up to look her mother in the eye. "What? I'm not a baby, mom! I can take care of myself!" Sunny protested. "If you really don't want to be treated like a baby, then show me that you can be responsible and mature enough to follow this rule without breaking it." Anetha replied. Sunny fists clenched, her nails digging into her skin, but she didn't argue. Instead, she just nodded, biting her tongue. "Good." Anetha said, internally letting out a sigh. "Goodnight, Sunny." She added, her tone softening slightly, but not enough to dull the sharpness of it. "Goodnight." Sunny responded in an undertone, exiting Anetha's study. As she walked to her room, she mind began to get loud again. How was she supposed to stop this tragedy from happening with an annoying warrior on her back? While on her way to her room, she passed Matthew's room. The door was open by a crack. Curiosity got the best of her and she slowly and carefully opened the door, peeking her head inside.

His room was filled with stacks of notes and pictures that looked older than him. Above his desk was a carpet pin board, which seemed to grab Sunny's attention the best. She carefully tiptoed towards it. It was filled with notes and pictures, most of which stuck to one topic. Dragons. She took notice of an open book, filled with the history of dragons, on his desk and read what it said.

Light, the oldest known dragon, led millions of other dragons to earth over five million years ago. He negotiated with the humans to let the dragons live on earth, right at its core, and in return, he will grant humans elements. Light created six dragons; Fire, Water, Ice, Earth, Lightning and Shadow, to be the symbols and keepers of each element.

Before Sunny could continue reading, she was startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Sunny spun around and saw Matthew leaning against the doorframe, watching her. "I think it's quite cheeky of you to snoop around my room without permission." He stated calmly with his arms crossed. "I was just—" "Get out." Matthew cut Sunny off. Sunny bit her tongue, and scurried out of the room. She hurried to her room, shutting the door behind her. "Philip? Are you here?" She called. She listened for his voice and looked at the shadows on the wall, waiting for him to appear.

"I want to talk." Sunny spoke into the dark, quiet of her room. After a moment of silence, Philip's silhouette formed on the wall. "How may I help you?" He said in his usual calm tone. "I want to train my elements." Sunny stated with a nervous, yet determined, expression. "I don't know what I'm gonna do, or if it'll work, but what I do know, is that, somehow, Mia dies." Sunny muttered, the words feeling bitter in her mouth. "And, out of all people, she deserves a chance to live a full life. Please, Philip. Help me." Sunny pleaded, a bit of desperation slipping into her tone. Philip gave a slow, understanding nod. "Very well." He conceded. "I'll help you."