Peace In Desperation's Hour

Chapter 1

The warmth of the sunlight beamed through my open window. The sky was crystal clear and blue like aquamarine. I inhaled the fresh morning air and smiled. Today was a new day, and you never know what could happen.

I walked into my closet and put on my favorite mid-thigh denim skirt, green tank top and black silk vest, with my matching black sandals. I then pulled my shoulder-blade length auburn hair into a ponytail, and let my bangs fall behind of my right ear. I took a look at myself in the mirror before I leave and smile. I turn towards my front door and leave my house, but not without slinging my tan satchel over my head and letting the strap sit on my shoulder.

I am immediately greeted with the warmth of the sun on my skin. It feels unlike any other day. I smile and leave to go meet up with my best friend, Tamiko. Tamiko has short green hair with two short braids resting in front of her small ears, as well as loose braids. She has light brown hazel eyes, black glasses, and light tan skin. She always has a book with her, because she loves to read.

As I made my way to the central fountain, I greeted all of the townsfolk of Pencalia. Once I had arrived, I sat on the edge of the fountain and looked towards Ophania Castle. One may ask, but Pencalia is the capitol of the kingdom of Ophania. We currently live under the rule of the good king Jarrell and his queen Lusania. They have a daughter named Saphra, who will become a great ruler one day. I sure would like to meet her one day, I heard she is one of the nicest people in the kingdom.

"Jewel!" I heard my name being called out. I turn my head and see Tamiko run towards me. "Hey Tamiko!" I yell back. Once she was finally next to me, she smiled and I saw her holding a new book. "New book, as usual." I laughed at her.

Tamiko puffed her cheeks and gave me a glare. "It isn't my fault I like books so much." She said.

"Technically it is." I said, with a smile. "So what do we have planned for today?" I asked.

"Today we were going to help with the animals over at the Cotton's farm." She said.

"Oh right." I said. "Let's go!"

As the two of us walked towards the outside of Pencalia, Tamiko kept blabbing on and on about her new book. I, being a good friend, well, her best friend, pretended to be listening to her. I just looked forward towards the gate.

Suddenly, before we could pass through the gate, we heard screams coming from the square. "What's going on?" Tamiko asked.

"I am not sure." I said. We then looked at each other.

"Should we go see what's going on?" she asked, taking a few steps forward.

I quickly put my hand in front of her, causing her to collide with it. "Hold on." I said. I started to hear gunfire and explosions. The two of us gasped and turned around to leave, only to come across with soldiers who were wearing Hakai uniforms.

The Hakai kingdom was one of the most feared kingdoms of all time, because of its terrible rulers, and harsh conditions towards its enemies.

"You two will come with us." One, who had a deep voice spoke to us. Tamiko and I started to shake in fear. We couldn't leave town. These guards were going to probably take us captive. What could've happened that made the Hakai Empire want to invade a powerful kingdom like Ophania?

I looked around and noticed a passageway that I would hide in when I was younger from the night guards. If we are ever caught trying to leave town without permission at night, the guards would take us and make us spend one day in jail. The reason is because of the predators that lurked in the night outside of Pencalia. I remember coming back inside from working at the Cotton's farm late at night and sneaking in. I would have to sneak into and hide in an abandoned underground passage until morning.

I quickly grab Tamiko's arm and bolted into the alleyway. The alleyway had different twists and turns through it and the entrance was hidden behind a stone block that only someone as big as a teenager could get through. "Jewel, what are you doing?!" Tamiko asked me.

"Saving our lives I think!" I said, still running with her wrist in my hand. I knew those guards would follow us, so I hit a few boxes and trash bins over so they could be held off for a few minutes.

When we reached the stone block, I quickly moved it out of the way and looked at Tamiko. "Get in." I said.

"Are you crazy?!" She yelled at me.

I quickly covered her mouth and told her to be quiet. "Listen, before we became friends, I would help outside of town and it would end up being after dark. Now, these are abandoned tunnels that will lead outside of Pencalia. They are our only hope for escaping those guards." I said. "Now, get in. Before those guards catch us."

Tamiko looked at me like I was still crazy, but she crawled in and soon after I heard loud footsteps. The guards were catching up, there would be no time for me to get in and close the opening. "Tamiko, get outside and go find some help." I said.

"What are you gonna do?" she asked. "Get in here."

I started pushing the stone closed. "There's no time, I'll find another way out. Then we can meet up and find somewhere safe. But in the meantime, you need to follow this path and go find help from other Ophanians who might have an idea of what's happening." I said, pushing the stone closed, and pushing another stone in front of it.

I looked around the alley and looked for another way out. Sadly, I was cornered. The footsteps had finally stopped and I looked and saw the two guards. I backed away into the wall behind me. "Where's the other one?" I was questioned, by the second guard.

"She..." I said, but my voice was caught on something, and I started coughing. That's when I realized that the city was sloely starting to burn into flames.

"Your satchel..." the first guard asked me. "What's in it?" he asked.

"Nothing important to you." I said, placing my hands on top of the flap protectively.

"Hand it over and come with us." He said. I couldn't let him get my satchel. I only held my money pouch, a capped pen, and a small pad of paper for a few drawings in it, and I also held my deceased mother's pendant in there. That pendant was important to me, it was all I had left of my mother. Then I thought of something. It was crazy, but I might as well give it a try. I slowly removed my satchel from my shoulder and held it by the strap.

I slowly walked over to them, and what made it look like I was about to give it to them. I swung it quickly to the side and hit one of them in the face. Then I kicked the other one in the knee as hard as I could. They weren't wearing armor, so I had an advantage. They both fell to the ground and I ran out of the alley.

Once back in the main streets, I knew I had to find another way out of town, but there were explosions from all over. A few buildings were on fire and the smoke darkened the blue sky. I had to get to the west gate and circle to the south, where the tunnel Tamiko was in, was heading. I quickly threw my satchel back on and the strap laid across my chest. I ran and ran the smoke and fire was spreading fast. I was inhaling too much of the ashes and embers, as well as the smoke, and it had a bad taste.

It felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, when I noticed that I was slowing down. My vision slowly blurred and I heard footsteps of Hakai soldiers. Then I slowly fell to the ground, breathing weakly. I was going to die. Pencalia was going to burn to the ground and my corpse will be buried under the ashes.

I saw someone looking down at me. It wasn't a soldier; it was a boy about my age. He had gray eyes and blue hair. "Hold on..." his voice was foggy, or was that my hearing? I couldn't tell.

I felt myself being lifted up with two strong, but not buff, arms and my vision had gone black. What was going to happen to me? Was I going to die? It didn't take long for my consciousness to fade away.