𝚩𝐄𝚴𝐄𝚨𝐓𝚮 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝚸𝐓 𝐒𝚱𝐈𝐄𝐒

Chapter 02

Every night, mom used to tell me the same story, but it never got old. "Once, a group of guardians stood watch over the world," she'd begin, her voice dipping into that storyteller's rhythm. "They were powerful, fierce, and utterly unstoppable. Together, they kept the corruptors at bay, protecting humanity from their endless schemes."

Her tales painted the guardians as the ultimate dream team, kind of like a superhero squad, but with swords and magical powers instead of capes. Some say they're angelic with unique abilities. They were humanity's shield, and we adored them.

But then mom's tone would shift, and the room's energy would drop with it. "And then came the betrayal," she'd whisper, her voice so low we'd lean in, hanging onto every word. "The very people they swore to protect turned on them. Specifically on Azure. They ripped him and his soulmate apart and killed her. After they killed his soulmate, they sealed Azure away somewhere no one knows."

"But rumours have it that the rest of the guardians are still alive and roam around us," she'd add, a spark of defiance in her eyes. "Some say they're waiting for the return of their leader Azure to come back in order to band together and save the land from The Corruptors."

My little sister and I would shiver, clutching each other like that would ward off the imaginary corruptors creeping in the shadows. "And what if they don't come back? What if Azure doesn't show up?" I'd ask, my voice small.

Mom would pause, her gaze distant. "Then we're screwed."

Death didn't feel as quiet or dramatic as I thought it would. Nope, it was loud, chaotic, and accompanied by the symphony of seagulls screeching in my ears like they were auditioning for a metal band.

"For the love of everything, shut up!" I groaned, smacking at the air.

Between the obnoxious bird chorus and the icy waves slapping me in the face, I was not feeling the peaceful afterlife vibes.

But then I had a horrifying realization: dead people don't feel cold or wet. Then again, how would I know how it feels to be dead?

I cracked my eyes open, squinting against the sunlight that seemed to be actively trying to kill my eye sight.

"I'm alive?"

As I sat up, sand clinging to every part of me like an annoying second skin, I did a quick once-over. My shoulder, where I distinctly remembered getting shot, was perfectly fine.

No wound, no scar. My ribs, which had been stomped on like a cheap rug, didn't even ache.

"I'm either losing my mind or I died and came back to life." I muttered, brushing sand off my arms and standing up, only to realize my socks were soaked.

"How many times am I going to have to walk with soggy socks on! Give me a break damn."

The beach stretched endlessly, bordered by trees so green they looked fake and flowers in colors that couldn't possibly exist in nature. It was beautiful, sure, but in that unsettling too perfect kind of way.

"Okay, let's see, now where the fuck am I?" I muttered, scanning my surroundings.

Judging from the untouched flowers, trees and grass, I'm guessing I'm nowhere near my home. Matter of fact, I don't think I'm anywhere near my land at all.

"Oh God... Just how far did I drift into sea...". There's literally no way of making it back home before sunsets. Do I have to even worry about that here? I don't think the Corruptors have ever reached this land. Or another living human being for that matter.

But that still did little to ease my worries. Just because the Corruptors weren't here doesn't mean there weren't any wild animals lurking on the island.