× Master of My Soul × [ Dynasty Warriors ] [ Slowly Updating ]

× 13 - Omen of Crisis ×

My eyes scanned the scenery before me. The endless grey sky stretched along with the ground and merged into an indistinguishable line somewhere in the distance, the horizon but a fuzzy line painted far, far away. A sudden wind picked up and I saw the familiar flurry of white swirl around me, but when I lifted a hand to hold the snow, it only dissipated into millions of snow-colored specks before disappearing.

Ash.

I turned around to face the wind, but the gust of air was not the only thing I faced. Somehow, I was not surprised to find myself staring at an enormous cloud of grey and black just above the ground. It appeared vile and angry, and gust after harsh gust of wind blew into my face and past my thin, frail body, but my stare remained unwavering. My long, white robe fluttered around me violently, as if in fear of the storm, but I stood still and determined. 

"What do you want of me?" I found myself speaking out and into the silence, which I had just realized. My words came out as whispers of thin air, pushed away by the intense wind. I could barely hear myself, but I was more interested in the cloud than in my own question.

Slowly, the dark and puffy mass spawned long and thick tendrils, approaching my feet ever so slightly. I only stared as it did so, not moving a muscle.

I will not run away from you again. 

"About time we ended the fun and games, no?" It was as if it was speaking to me as the cloud breathed out more tendrils, wrapping themselves around my ankles. I could no longer see the hem of my nightgown, my feet now bathing in the darkness. Almost invitingly, the area of the cloud right in front of me spread out and created a cavity of sorts. "Come now, child..." It whispered, and I stared.

Then, holding my chin high, I took my steps towards it, into the darkness...

A loud, crackling noise shook me out of my unconscious and I jumped up into a sitting position on the bed. I gasped for air, gripping my Bone Dagger in a defensive pose before me, while my other hand pressed itself against my chest as I tried to calm down my pounding heart. A sudden flash of light outside made me jerk my head in the direction of the door, the rumble of thunder shaking the house. I pulled up the sheets and hugged my knees, suddenly feeling a chill as I listened to the heavy drops tapping against the shingles and the wind howling in the night.

Another lightning struck somewhere and as I stared at the door, I saw the shadow again. I jumped in the bed, the silhouette drawing an image of a demon as it was plastered against the thin film on the door. It was gone as soon as the flash was.

I slipped off of my bed quietly and pulled on my shoes, which felt a little damp from the constant high humidity. Somewhat uncomfortable, but I could cope with it. I drew my claws from the neat package I had made of my belongings, equipping them quickly and with ease. Without a sound, I shuffled to the doors and opened them.

The wind greeted me and unlike in my dream, I stumbled backwards slightly, but held on to the doors for support as I recovered from the initial impact. As raindrops flew with the wind and onto my face and clothes, which was my simple nightgown, I felt the pang of the cold. It chilled me to the bone, and I found my hands shaking as they tried to hold on to the doors, which were now blown wide open. With a glance towards the direction where the shadow was heading, I clenched my jaws and chased. There was no time for concerns over myself.

I knew exactly where this shadow was going, and while it seemed impossible for me to get there ahead and obstruct its path, I was certainly fast enough to catch up in time to stop it from escaping. I dashed for the kitchen area with silent steps, and by the time I arrived at the courtyard, the silhouette was already heading for the kitchen doors, something large and heavy in the person's hand as his back was turned to me. I raised one clawed hand in an offensive position and kept the other behind me, staring at his back intently. My heart pounded against my ribcage in anticipation, and I struck from the dark.