Rising Power (#1 of the Canton Chronicles Series)

The First Night

The darkness was overwhelming. A tiny sliver of light was visible in the distance, allowing Val to witness her surroundings. The corridor was in a progressed state of decay, vines dead and long rotten decorating the black, mucky stones. She felt a cooling sensation on her feet and realised they were wet. An abandoned water-pipe? That would explain the decay and the bit of sunshine at the end of the tunnel. What it didn't explain was how the hell she had gotten from the JD to this disgusting, dirty place.

Or why she was being followed.

There was no way to verify this suspicion, as she forbade herself from turning around and look at the threatening darkness. She could hear their feet though, the menacing sound of their slow approach, as well as their inhuman chuckles.

I must get to the light, no matter what.

She hastened her pace, trying to avoid wall contact. She was getting close to the exit and her heart fluttered at the possibility of an escape. The stones were now visible, maggots crawling all over their surface, feasting on the dead flora. A wave of nausea threatened to overtake her, but Val didn't let it. Her pursuers were getting closer, their nails producing a screeching sound while scratching the pipeline.

Fuck bravery.

She started running, but so did her enemies, much to her dismay. It was just a stamina contest now. But Val was very close to the escape point, and she was sure that the monsters wouldn't follow her outside. Running was for cowards, but what good had fighting back brought her so far?

She was right next to the warm sun rays when the girl materialised in front of her eyes, blocking the way.

Not you again.

The same slick black hair, same white dirty dress. The bench girl was interrupting her for the second time on this awfully stressful day. This time, however, it was a crucial life or death situation. Val opened her mouth to scream for the kid to step aside, already feeling the monsters' breaths on her neck. The girl turned her head and looked at Val, eyes burning bright.

"It's time."

She raised her arm, and black, thick smoke burst through the pipe's walls, followed by the screams of her tormentors. Val covered her head with her hands but remained unaffected by the kid's attack. She turned around to permit herself one single look and saw the monsters, whose faces were inexplicably familiar ones, being engulfed by darkness, kicking and writhing uncontrollably.

In a matter of seconds, they were gone, swallowed by the black mist. Val faced the girl with a gaping mouth.

"How? How did you-"

"Next time, you're on your own."

Val could have responded. She could have shouted, demanding answers. But her mouth was numb, and so were her arms and legs. The fainting feeling took over her muscles and nerves. The last thing she saw was the little girl's eyes looking at her with pity and dismay.

***

The new Academy -02:00 AM, 21st July, 250 A.D

Val opened her eyes and tried to get up. She could move her legs and arms again, and for that she was grateful. But every movement felt floaty...like she had been sleeping for a very long time, even though that was impossible.

The club... That crazy John... The men... The dream... Oh Deities, this dream...

All haziness went away at once. She sprung up, found her balance and felt relief, being able to stand on her own two feet once again and not being hunted down like prey.