* Just to clarify, the girl's name is Klea :)*
I don't know how long it takes me, but eventually my tears won't come out. Instead, my sadness is stuck inside. Seeing no other option I heave myself up and stumble farther into the city. It's as though my "blackout" came true, everything here is destroyed. The only difference is the bodies or rather the lack of them. My mind seems frozen, I can't think. I'm afraid that if I allow myself one thought I'll break down. Despite my feelings, now is not the time to do that. Although my brain is shut down, one question remains; where is everyone? I wonder if they left to another city, if they did, how can I get to them? Especially now, my ankle is sprained and I have no supplies. While I'm pondering this sad thought, I wander up to a tall building. Surprisingly, most of it seems untouched and the only real damage is some wreckage strewn across the yard and a few shingles missing from the roof. While peeking through the small black gate lining the property, I can see that the yard is overgrown. When I see this, my hopes of someone living here drop. This place looks like it was well-kept before the...incident, whatever that was. I debate with myself for a few seconds before pushing open the rusty gate and stepping through. As I do I feel myself start to get dizzy and the edge of my vision start to blur.
"No," I mumble to myself, "You can't do this, not now." I push the feeling down and continue to walk up to the big double doors. I grasp the doorknocker in my hand. After hesitating for a split second, I knock three times and wait. There is no reply but by now I can't say I'm surprised. I'm just about to turn back around and walk out but then I realize that the door might be open. Shaking, my hands reach out and slowly turn the knob. Click. My heart stops and I let out the breath I was holding. I won't be sleeping in the streets tonight. Pushing the door open further, I see that the inside was taken care of just like the outside had been. The door opens into, what looks like, a foyer. Dark, hardwood floors cover the entire room and comfy chairs are placed around a fireplace, which is surrounded with dark, red walls. Despite the fact that there is no fire burning, the room still manages to feel cozy. At the far side of the room is a desk with a small stack of papers, a pencil holder (with pencils), and a small file. Curios, I walk across the smooth floor and pick up the file. When I look inside, I see that there are names written on each section. I thumb through them. Stopping randomly, I pull out a sheet of paper. Oddly enough, the whole entire page has been crossed out with a black marker. I glance at the name on the section and can't believe my eyes when it reads: Unknown, Klea. My heart stops.
"It's just a coincidence, there are other Klea's," I mutter under my breath. "Yah, just like there's a lot of Klea's who don't have a last name," my mind sarcastically whispers back. Dropping the file, I back away and push my thoughts further down. Before I realize it, I've walked right outside and I'm standing alone in the dark. Again. I don't know if I want to go back inside but my only other option is to wander the streets trying to find another suitable building for shelter.
What's happened to me? My life has been turned completely around. I used to be content, even happy and never alone or cold. Now I'm standing here, debating whether to spend my evening inside a building alone or wander through an abandoned city. How could I get so far from what I thought was fact? Suddenly the weight of my life the past few days hits me hard and I stagger backwards.
Right now, I don't think I could walk far even if I wanted to, so I stumble back towards the building. Surprisingly, my dazed mind notices the sign in front of the door. It reads: ROYAL HOUSE OF ORPHANED CHILDREN in big bold letters. Something in my mind clicks but I'm too tired to figure it out now. I push open the door once again and slip inside. Silently my feet slide along the floors, past the desk and into a small hallway. Taking a left turn, I end up standing in front of a tall staircase. One step after another brings me to another hallway filled with closed doors. Assuming they are rooms, I walk up to the first one and turn the handle. Thankfully, the room is unlocked and soon I find the switch and turn on the glow-ball. The room instantly lights up and I can see that there is a bed, which is what I need right now. Flopping down, I close my eyes and drift into a welcomed sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am standing in a dark room. Crackling thunder booms in the background and I can hear the pitter patter of water-drops hitting the window. Suddenly, a flash of light reveals the small figure lying on a bed at the opposite end of the room. After a moment, I realize it must me younger me. I watch as she tosses and turns. A sudden wave of pity and empathy rushes over me and I walk over to her. Reaching out, I rest my hand on her forehead. Suddenly, I can feel her terror; I know what she's seeing.
Gleaming red eyes stare at me menacingly through the deep shadows of an ally way. As I back away, they follow me, coming closer and closer. I barely have time to suppress my screams as suddenly the lurking shape leaps from the shadows and the glowing eyes become closer in my vision. Quickly, I turn around and race to the light of the illuminated streets only a few meters in front of me. I can almost feel the breath of the creature behind me and the hairs on my neck stand on end while I sprint. Just as the monster takes its final pounce, I break free from the darkness and I hear the disappointed shriek of the animal as my eyes adjust. Although it is late in the evening, the street In front of me is full of bustling people and charismatic store clerks, who are trying to persuade those around them that the items in their shops are "only the best!" Something at the corner of my vision moves so I turn and look upwards. Staring past me are the same gleaming red eyes but this time it has a pack. The strange animals line the tops of all the buildings. Gasping, I watch in horror as one of them leaps, almost gracefully, from the top of the building and aims its devilish claws at an unsuspecting victim below. Before I can think about it, I raise my hand and...
Stumbling, I pull my hand back. My breath is still uneven as I let my eyes adjust to the darkness once again. Although my eyes are no use, my ears pick up the sound of an almost non-existent whisper. I can't pick out any words in the soft murmurs, but soon my eyes adjust and I can see the dim outline of a slim person kneeling beside "my" bed. Abruptly, the person stands up and glides out the door. Whoever it is, they made a very timely exit, because almost immediately after, younger me sits up and raises her hand just like in the dream.... Suddenly, blue electric-light seems to shoot out of her hand! Ducking, I can hear the sizzle of the bolt as it passes just above me.
"Hey!" I scream. "Wake up! You're...you're..." I stutter. What is she doing?! How is she doing that? I continue to stare in horror as I realize that my shouts were in vain because she can't hear or see me. While I stand there in shock, she gets up and heads toward me. I'm frozen. I can't move.
At the last moment, I quickly slide away from her determined path. Watching her pass, I realize her eyes are still closed. She must be sleep-walking. Hesitantly, I decide to follow her. Although she's small, she moves surprisingly fast and I have to sprint to catch up with her. Then it happens, she stops, raises her hand and BAM! Next thing I know there's a hole in the wall and the person responsible is screaming "RUN!" at the top of her lungs. Before I have time to think, she's sprinting again so I follow her. Down a corridor, through a hall, down some stairs, turning left, turning right; I follow. Finally, she stops. By now I can hear the pounding footsteps above us and the shouts and screams of the people involved. The world is in slow motion. I see her raise her hand again, I see the electric-light come shooting out, and I see the door get shot off its hinges. Greeted by cool night air, I watch as she rushes outside onto the grass uncontrollably shooting everything in sight.
The funny thing is, all I can think about is the broken sign lying on the debris-covered ground. It reads: ROYAL HOUSE OF ORPHANED CHILEDREN. My heart stops and then...I'm awake.
