(A/N: This was originally meant for a writing contest, but I'm submitting something else in that. That's why it starts with "the storm outside was monstrous," and also why it's so sparse and short.)
The storm outside was monstrous. A mass of grey-black cloud blotted out any light from the sun. Ice-studded wind snapped at my skin, and I trembled against the gust like a tall reed.
"They're here." I jumped at the harsh whisper, and didn't breathe out until I recognised Alyn's voice. I turned to face her and saw her green eyes glinting in the dark.
I nodded, rubbing my forearms. Gooseflesh pricked my skin. "It shouldn't be so cold." My own words came out in a rasping hiss.
"Come on." Alyn's eyes grazed mine, and I flinched. Didn't want her in my thoughts. "We have to go!"
I shook my head. "I'm waiting for Tik."
Her green gaze locked into mine. "Kaeme." I tried to look away, but her eyes were so bright, so angry. "We need to leave. They'll take us."
"I can't!" I wailed to the wind. "He's going to come."
Alyn's tone was low and ice-furious. "Tik. Is. Long. Dead. You have to live for now, Kaeme!" She grabbed for my hand. Her fingers I flinched away. "Please. I can't leave without you."
In wild pain, my foot met her side. I swung for her face with my free hand. Alyn darted backwards, stared at me.
"Kaeme!" she whispered in anguish, but I could hear every word. "You promised you'd never touch me." I could feel her cold hands, fleeing through my mind. Freezing me in place. I could feel her fear. Of Them. Of me.
I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Tried to beg her to stop. No, it's just me, why are you scared of me?!
but she ran
and I couldn't move so I watched her as she vanished into the cold darkness. The memories surged and I couldn't choke them back -
"Kaeme." Tik's back was to me as I ran to him.
"You're alive!"
He turned, black robes caught like a sail in the wind. My momentum carried me into his embrace and I relished it. Shivered as I touched him. His skin was ice but I ignored it.
"Kaeme, come with me."
I pulled away, my eyes sweeping his whole, breathing body. "Where? Why?"
He lowered his gaze to mine. My breath caught.
"What happened to you? What have you done?"
His pupils were soulless black pits, his orange irises flat and blank. Where there was startling amber light, now there was only cold, pale void.
It wasn't just in my head. Anyone could see it.
"We can be safe, just trust me!"
"There is nowhere safe."
Fear began prickling through my toes. It rose like a tide through my body. My gift was vague. But when I felt fear like this, something was wrong.
"What have you done, Tik? What's happened to you?"
"Kaeme, it's me!"
I stepped backwards. "I don't believe you."
His dead gaze pricked mine as I started to run. He watched me for an... eternity, it seemed like.
Then disappeared blank from my vision.
Later I was told what happened to him. "It's not the first time," my grandfather whispered, eyes darting to the closed door. "The stormriders got him. He's one of them now. There's no way back."
"Stormriders? What are –"
He cut me off. "Kaeme. I'll tell you when you're older."
I was twelve when Tik... left. When I was thirteen, my grandfather slept long. So I was never going to really know. But there were legends, songs. Black-robed demons who brought the storm. Ensnaring the mortal to ride with them. Dead eyes.
I crumpled to the ground, hitting the sodden earth with a thud. My body smarted with pain and a torrent of immobilising, taunting fear. "Alyn!" I screamed into the storm, vocal cords barely releasing the guttural cry.
I could move again, I noticed, but all I could feel was the fear. I lay on my back, eyes darting. The sky. It was so dark.
Thunder, like hooves on a hollow path. I turned my head. It was the greatest movement I could make with every nerve in my body shrieking.
Tik's black robes whispered in the violent wind. His blank eyes fixed on mine.
"Kaeme, please come with me!"
"You aren't Tik," I rasped. Pushed myself up into a sitting position. He squatted, lowering himself to my level. "Get away from me!"
As I stood, my limbs thrumming with fear as though it was a physical sensation, he rose with me. "Kaeme," he begged.
I let our eyes meet. There was no spark of humanity in his. "You aren't Tik," I hissed at him, turned away.
He snarled, an inhuman sound I'd never heard before. Then he vanished for the last time.
I ran after my sister into the storm. "Alyn! Wait for me!" The wind ripped my words from my mouth. No way of knowing if she heard me.
There was a moment of silence in which everything shivered...
Kaeme!
I felt her touch among my thoughts. Wished for a second that I was born with a gift like hers.
But mine saved me just then.
Alyn ran out of the night, stared at me. "Kaeme," she whispered again.
"They won't come again," I told her.
She cocked her head to one side. "How do you know?"
"I refused." A flood of pride warmed my body. "I wouldn't go. Because Tik is dead, and what matters is now."
