Heather Granger and the Bladebreakers

Prologue

1994

"Tyson, wait up," I yelled running after my twin brother. We were playing tag in the woods behind our school, "you're going too fast."

"You're just too slow," he yelled back laughing, "you'll never catch me!"

I dropped to the ground panting. As I rested, I looked up. The sky was turning dark, and the stars were beginning to shine.

"Tyson, it's getting dark. Maybe we should go ho...," I looked where I last saw Tyson, but he wasn't there, "Tyson? TYSON?!"

I got up and slowly walked around, "Tyson? If you're playing, please stop. It's not funny. Please come out," I heard a snap making me jump, "okay, Tyson. You win. I'm scared. Can we please go home now?"

Suddenly the ground beneath my feet opened up and swallowed me whole. I screamed then yelped as I landed on the hard ground. I tried to stand, but my ankle gave way causing me to fall again. It was sprained. There was no way I could climb out.

I looked around only to find myself surrounded by darkness. The only light I had was from the hole above me, but I knew it wouldn't last once the sun disappeared. My eyes began to water.

"Tyson," I sniffed, "help me. Please, Tyson. I'm scared. I'm scared, big brother."

"HEATHER!"

I looked up, "Tyson..."

"WHERE ARE YOU, HEATHER?"

"I'm here," I called out, "I'm down here. In the hole."

Tyson's worried face appeared above me, "Are you okay, Heather?"

"My ankle hurts."

"I'm going to get an adult."

"Wait, don't leave me."

He smiled, "it's going to be okay. I'll be right back. I promise."

He disappeared from my sight just as the last gleam of sunlight faded away.

I brought my knees up to my chin, "he'll be back. He promised. That what he said," my heart raced as the wind howled through the woods. I shut my eyes, "I'm scared. I'm scared. Tyson, please hurry. I don't...I don't want to be scared anymore."

"There's no need to be afraid, child," a deep, male voice said.

I opened my eyes and looked around, "who said that? Who's there?"

Suddenly a radiant light shined the darkness. Within the light stood a mystical white wolf with gold eyes and huge white, angel-like wings.

"My name is Hikaru. I am the Sacred Beast of Light, and I have been waiting for you, Heather Granger."

"Me? Why?"

His mouth curved up showing off his long fangs, "all will be revealed in time, but for now, I will stay by your side protecting you."

"Wait!"

Hikaru began to shine so bright I had to cover my eyes. When I opened them, the light and Hikaru were gone.

I looked around, "Hikaru?"

"Heather?" I looked up to see Tyson. He smiled, "look who I brought."

I smiled at the sight of dad, Hiro and grandpa, "you brought everyone."

Dad jumped down in the hole and picked me up, "alright, let's get you out of here."

I nodded. He handed me up to grandpa.

"You okay, homegirl?"

"I'm okay, grandpa. But my ankle hurts."

Hiro took a bandage out of his pocket, "I'll wrap it."

"Thank you, Hiro-nii."

"I'm so sorry, Heather," Tyson cried. His face was covered in tears and snot, "I'm really sorry!"

I smiled at him, "it's okay, Tyson. I'm okay now. You kept your promise. Thank you, big brother."

"I vow to never leave your side ever again," he said wiping his face, "I will always be there to protect you. I promise."

I grinned, "sounds good to me."

We fist bumped.

I never heard from Hikaru since that day seven years ago, but somehow I could feel him there protecting me, just like Tyson.