Shadow of the Night

Chapter 1- Darkness

She is gone.
She is gone.
She is gone.
Why is she gone?

Tears race down my face as memories flash within my mind.

"Do you think today will be the day?" her voice echo.
"I can't believe we will be parents!" her tone soundly lively and excited.

She is gone.
She is gone.
She is....

A knock on my door broke my thoughts as I said in a stern voice, "Come in."
A man walked in wearing a torn uniform.
"They are ready for you, sir." He said showing signs of uneasiness.

I lifted myself off the bed and moved toward the solider. I put my hand on his shoulder as I walked passed, my torn dark brown cape flowing behind. I open both doors as the room got quiet. Walked past the pews of people, some there to give her respect and straight to her casket. I placed one hand on the lid and began to speak.

"She didn't deserve this. She was a brave solider and should have been treated as much. She was a loyal and...and..."

"Be careful, Jaden. I will be waiting for your return...dear." her voiced echoed in my mind.

"Not now." I whisper to myself.
"She was...was...."

"Jaden, are you sure about this?"
"Why, wouldn't I be sure, love?"
"What if someone were to see, we would...."
"Let them see...Let them see that I want to ask the woman of my dreams to marry me!" the memory came thru my mind like a wrecking ball, destroying my composure. I could feel those damn tears running down my face. I turned my back toward the crowd as I continued my speech.

"She was an amazing person. Karin will be remember for the person she was. Her death...her death..."

"Jaden, when do you think this war will be over?"
"I don't know...why?"
"Because, once this war is over. We could be a happy family, right?" Her warmed smiled flashed again.

I fell to my knees crying next to her. Gasping echoed in the chapel when two guards helped me to my feet.

"I can't do this. But I will for her." Whispering to myself.

Standing to my feet I released a breath of air calming myself down.

"Karin...."
clenching my fist tight.
"She....she...."
I could feel myself getting angry.
"Leave her alone, until further noticed! Touch one hair on her body and I will make sure, everyone in here leaves in a body bag!"

I stormed out of the chapel watching people gasp and talk among themselves.
Didn't faze me, I am true to my word.
Threw my door open going straight for my papers.

"I know there is something in here that can...that can..."

"Jaden, you have to take better care of yourself."
"I can handle myself just fine. I don't need some woman telling me how to run my life."
"Ok, but here is a little reminder." She reached over to the fresh stitches and applied pressure, sending pain to my brain in record breaking speed, causing a loud scream to escape my mouth. A smile came over me making my mission even more critical.

The night raged on, going thru papers after papers.

"There has to be something, right?" as doubt enter my brain.

"JADEN!!!" she screamed jumping in front of me being impaled by a lonely soldier's sword.
"KARIN!!" catching her.
"NO! NO!" screaming wrapping my arms around her.
"Jaden....I...love..."her hand touched the ground releasing her final breath.
Tears flooded my eyes while holding her closely to me. Fighting, yelling, the rain, the wind, everything stopped for me in that moment.