The Dark Wind

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Light and sounds drowned me as I screamed, trying to hang on to the last of the reality I once knew, trying to keep myself hanging on the identity of myself. Somewhere in the back of my fragmented mind told me that I was half-crying, half-screaming, still trying to hang on to the body of myself as I fell away from the world.

“Dad? Mum?” The voice was premature, but still familiar as I gave an internal cry-out. The darkness seeped away to reveal a small cottage, with a familiar Italian feel to the air. There was little surprise that Xavier’s origin was from the Italian side; his surname gave it all away.

The panic that rose through my throat wasn’t mine now, as Xavier’s fear ploughed through his veins, tasting a bitter taste on his tongue. His –our –heart was racing as he burst through the door of his home; a green door with a small bell hanging at the top corner, the doorknob decorated with bright paints that were the work of a kid.

He –we –stepped on the doormat, a faded brown doormat with a cursive ‘welcome’ written upon it. He stepped into the living room, watching a torn mess of his living room. Papers were strewn all over the place; the coffee table was in splinters and the television was overturned upon the floor, the screen cracked with its wires hanging loosely. Sparks were coming from the exposed wire from the television, but he didn’t care.

“Dad! Mum!” He cried out, eyes scanning the area. The sound of a girl crying filled the silent house they were in, and a lightning of thoughts raced through his head in a flash.

He –we –looked down to the little kid that he was holding hands with. Then he knelt down to her eye level, looking straight into her scared, brown eyes. She was beautiful kid, with hair as black as his, as she trembled.

“Brother… I’m scared! Where are Dad and Mum?” The girl cried, wiping the tears from her eyes, before another waterfall came again. Her hands were trembling, and though he felt the same fear as her, he kept strong.

“Christine, I want you to go out in the yard, and lookout for yourself, okay? Brother’s going to check it out. It’s going to be alright.” His voice was toned perfectly, even and strong even though he was as scared of the situation as she was. Yet, the only difference was that she had no idea what was going on, and he had a suspicion of what happened.

“B-But I-I’m scared! Christy d-doesn’t dare to go o-out!” The girl cried, holding his hand tight.

He didn’t want her to go out alone either, but he had a suspicion on what had wrecked through their house, and he didn’t want his sister around. If they were here to get him, there was no need for them to get his sister too.

“Christy, listen to me. If those bad people have our parents, they want me. We don’t want you to be caught for no reason, right? Be a good girl, Christy and listen to your brother, alright? Go out and wait for us.” His voice was smooth and strong, but his hand was trembling as he held on to her hand.

The girl seemed very reluctant, and his heart broke. From young, he had loved his sister very dearly, and his family never wanted Christine to grow up with tears. They cared for her and gave way to her. But this was for Christine’s sake. But determination built up in her eyes as she wiped the tears away again.

“Yes, Christy is a good girl. I will listen to you, Brother. I will wait outside… Just keep safe, Brother.” She said, her eyes begging him what her little mind couldn’t yet form into words. He understood what she wanted, and though he wasn’t about to guarantee his survival, he had to nod.

He watched as she tottered back the way they came, opening the door softly and running out into the yard.

Carefully, like how his parents had taught him, he felt out with his power, paying attention to the shifts in the air. He could sense Christine’s power, potent and rich, but still locked within her body, for it wasn’t yet awakened. And he realized, in much fear, that he could feel his parents’ power, but theirs… their power were tinged with the stench of death.