The Chronicles of Exodus 3 The Rapture

Chapter 8 Lovers from the Past

As the water dispersed and lowered, I felt myself constantly thinking about Mischa. It was something about Jiron and his story of his Jira that made me think about her again. It just didn't make sense, it's been decades, maybe even a century since Mischa's death, I rarely thought about her much, especially not when around Astrid. The thing about Mischa was, I was younger, foolish, and stupid. I was a lover boy, a guy who desperately wanted to feel love from someone outside my friend group. This was likely because I was naturally more mature than everyone else, but maybe also because I had a bit more respect than the rest of the guys. When I was growing up, I was taught that your partner is not a toy, tool, mere object or having one makes you more popular. When you have a partner, it's because you actually love them, because you both want to have a future together and to find warmth in each other. Unfortunately, some people just can't understand that. I was close friends with Mischa in high school. She was my study partner for science and would seek me out for help in art class. For whatever reason, she was the only girl I had my eyes on. That's not to say I didn't find other women attractive; it was just that to me, she was special. Not a day went by when I wouldn't think about her, not a moment passed when I didn't worry about her, and there wasn't a single night I didn't pray to The One for her safety. But unlike an honourable warrior, I was foolish, obsessive and desperate. I clung onto hope that things could work out for months, months that soon became years. I still remember the afternoon she discovered I was a god. I peered back at the photograph, and with a small smile, I remembered one of my favourite days.

I opened my eyes back in the mid to late 1900's. It was a Friday afternoon and there was ten minutes till school hours would end. I was in the peak of learning how to use my valdira abilities, and it just so happened that it was on that very day I had to combat a malicious threat. A rogue kaiju had lumbered ashore and had torn through the landscape, ending up near my school.

I sighed and placed down my book. A cold shiver crept up my spine as I felt the presence of a powerful being, a threat, not just to me, but to all the innocent people here. As I sharply inhaled, I locked eyes with Mischa across the classroom from me. A small blush grew on my face as she twirled a few strands of her around her finger. Gosh she's so pretty, I thought, scratching the back of my neck. I nervously kept my eyes locked on hers. The light of the ceiling illuminated her round, pretty face. Her forehead was red with irritation from teenage acne, her cheeks were pink, her golden, dirty blonde hair was tied up into a high ponytail and her sky-blue eyes met my crimson, brown ones. I gave an awkward smile and tried correcting my messy black hair. But all while my heart raced as I knew that there was something coming. A monster, a beast, a kaiju, something so large they were compared to storms, unstoppable and unpredictable. That is, until I learned how to access my powers. After a couple deep breaths, I swiftly raised my hand, my arm straight but shaking. The teacher raised an eyebrow at me and tilted her head. "M-may I go to the bathroom?" I stuttered. She nodded, and I embarrassingly pushed my chair back, making it screech against the floor as I swung my legs over and bolted for the door. My arms swung by my sides as I sprinted to the far side of the school, where no one could see me. In the distance, I could see the dark looming shape of the inbound kaiju. I sighed and stretched out my arms and legs before leaping high into the air and far over the fence, landing maybe a hundred metres away from the school.

With a sharp exhale, I clenched my fists, digging my nails into the palms of my hands. I grinded my teeth as dark, circular scales popped up over my body. Claws painfully burst from my fingertips, small grey spikes ripped out my spine and a stubby tail grew from my behind. A high pitched but still powerful roar escaped my jaws as I grew and transformed into my valdira form, at fifty meters tall. In the near distance, I spotted the dark shape of the kaiju nearing closer. The kaiju's head was like a hammerhead sharks, but the jaw was split through the middle of its head. It had four arms and two thick and strong legs, as well as a ridged, plated tail. The monster's scaly hide glinted the bright sun's rays as it bellowed a deep menacing roar and charged. The ground shook and quaked with each thundering step the beast took. I reared my head back and unleashed a heavy growl. My eyes narrowed as I threw my hands forwards and dashed. The both of us clashed mid punch. Smoke hissed out between my teeth as we locked eyes. Something I instantly noticed was the lack of pupils in the creature's eyes. I exhaled and threw another punch, staggering the beast enough to make it dazed. I twirled and slammed my tail into its leg, making it cry out in pain before I tore into the flesh on its chest. My sharp claws ripped deep into the beast's scales, blood pulsing out the wound. Just as I thought I had the upper hand; a devastating kick knocked me off balance. I crashed to one knee and grabbed my gut. My eyes were watery, and my body trembled in pain. I swallowed hard and looked up at the kaiju as it lumbered closer. Its four arms swung slowly by its sides. A low, grumbly hiss left its slobbery maw as I craned my neck up to get a better look. I couldn't die here, I thought.