The Parallel Paths

True Colors

In the depths of darkness, a light lies hidden, its eternal glow concealed from the world. Once free to shine, its brilliance was a spectacle unmatched.

"You hear that, right?" Elara quivered, her widened eyes darting over to Zack's tense figure. He wouldn't take his eyes off that door.

He didn't answer immediately, an intense stare locked onto the door as his hand hovered near the hilt of his blade, his silence was louder than any reassurance.

"Yeah, I hear it," He muttered, gently pushing her aside to step closer to the door.

The grumbling grew louder and soon, an anonymous crescendo that once used to be so faint. This was followed by a cacophony of crushed wood and spilled medical supplies, the smell seeped the air, mingling with the stillness of the room.

His head peaked out the doorway, his breath hitched at the sight of horror was running straight towards him: people— no, monsters— rushing towards them. Their weary bodies cramped, eyes nothing but a purple glow as they moved in a disturbing crawl, locked onto their room. He yanked his head back and slammed the door shut, swiftly twisting the lock.

"What is it? What's out there?" Elara asked, her voice sharp curiosity though an etched look of worried blended into her expression.

"People, tons of them rushing down the hallway  like— like some fucking brain washed zombies." The words trembled out in ragged nervous breaths, his anxiety failing to project the anger he tried to project.

It didn't take long for the hoard to reach their room, the banging causing the whole room to shake. The smell of rotting flesh and sweat lingered in the air, the foul smell growing stronger the harder they clawed at the door.

"That door won't hold." Mumbled Zack, his quivering body trembling backward away from it.

Meanwhile, Elara anxiously looked around the room in search for an exit, her breath shallow and heart racing as her time grew more limited. Her eyes soon landed on the window, a light flutter of relief warmed her chest.

"The window would be our best bet, we can use the trees branches that make up this building for support." She nudged him, gently grabbing his wrist and tugging him to the window.

"My fire won't work and your star's aren't something I want to rely on."  He grumbled, narrowing his eyes down at her with a slight frown.

She stayed silent for a moment, she knew he was right aswell. Her stars were weak, barely able to hold a pound of rice since she was always relying on him. A slight sting in her chest poked at her, making her lips curve nervously.

"I know, but what choice do we even have?" She muttered back, though her words seemed to echo. Confused, she looked back up into his eyes.

He was looking down at her, his sharp, red eyes meeting hers. For a moment, the fire in his gaze softened, flickering with something unspoken. She held his stare, her pulse quickening. Somehow, even now, there was a quiet strength in him that grounded her.

"Let's go then." He then grumbled after a few seconds, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the window, stepping in the pool of blood in the process.

They pulled the thin glass window open only to be met with a strong gust of wind followed by little dots of cold rain, pushing them both back slightly. The dark, wet roof was treacherous, but they passed on.

"Go!" Elara urged, Zack pushing her aside to climb quickly from the window.

The banging grew louder and soon the horde crashed through the door, their fingertips just grazing along her skin. Zack yanked her outside by her wrist, tossing her aside onto the roof then blasting a tremendous fire blast into the room, frying them.