Elizabeth Arrow finds herself facing the destruction of her entire world. To add to this, her angel little sister is missing. She is devastated, but then one day, a mysterious golden butterfly flutters past her dwelling, signaling hope. It leads her...
A single teardrop escaped my eye. I knew in my heart that it could not be her. I wiped the tear and continued running after the insect.
I thought back to a few days before the zombies. We had been inside our kitchen, and Hope was drawing yet another picture. It was her usual butterfly, but with some scribbles drawn around it.
"What's this?" I asked her, pointing at the scribbles.
"Oh," she answered, "That's magic."
I started to realize that the golden butterfly I was chasing was slowing down, and the cave was narrowing. The butterfly turned a corner and completely disappeared. My light was vanquished.
I turned the corner and came upon a large opening. It was like a dome, with a sturdy-looking stone set in the centre. From the stone glowed an earthen, fiery light. The butterfly was resting on top of it.
It seemed to see me come in with my bewilderment, for it fluttered towards a writing on the wall. I couldn't see it clearly, so I brushed my hand against its surface. I half-expected a genie to show up. No genie, so I read the words engraved;
"Open only in times of great need"
I looked over my shoulder at the rock. Looking back, I should have wondered how the writing had even gotten there in the first place. I should have studied the area more intensely.
But I was hungry and insane.
I simply went straight over to it and placed my hand tenderly yet firmly on the surface. If there was ever a time of great need, it was now.
Then everything went black.
The butterfly entered my imagination, fluttering around and speaking in the voice of my sister. "The Sword of Flames was created for a purpose such as this. Take it, but use it wisely. The kijo inside it will feed and protect you. You must defeat the zherti and find your sister. I will guide you, but do not ask questions. I will tell you all in my own time. Now go!"
It did one huge flap and colors swirled like the scribbles from Hope's drawing. I regained consciousness, lying on the ground in front of the stone.
I blinked rapidly for a moment, then dragged myself up. I looked over at the stone. It was split open, with a sword whose blade was engulfed in flames laying in the centre. Remembering what the butterfly had said, I reached out and took the bejeweled wooden handle.
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