Generation Freaks✔️

Prologue

The brisk wind air smelt like nothing she had ever smelt before. It was of a scent that didn't exist even in the furthest corners of her memory. It also tasted sweet, like the rarity of chocolate given on testing days. It made her mouth water and she knew if she were to ever leave this place, it would never leave her mind. She would never be able to let it go. How she knew, she wasn't exactly sure. It was just one of those things that came naturally, a piece of knowledge she seemed to have yet, never knew anything about.

The world around her bristled with life. The soothing run of water ran at the edge of her hearing range, a gentle rumble that if she listened long enough to, could probably put her to sleep. But she couldn't let that happen, no matter how badly she wanted to soak in the wonders of this world. She had been warned and knew well enough to keep on guard.

It'll trick you. Your deepest secrets are already known the instant you step into It. It will hold them against you. You mustn't let it.

The grass whispered as she moved forward through it, tickling at her calves with how far up the blades could reach. The trees stood proud and tall on one side of her, reaching towards the blue skies above. On her other side lay the field in which she walked, a vast emptiness of swaying yellow grass. The low rumble of water never left the edge of her hearing range, still beckoning to her the trap that it had set. The fluttered of wings batted in her ears, but the owners were invisible to the eyes. They lay beyond the trees, trying to pull her towards their sound, into the waiting trees. They wanted her off her path, to join whatever lay within the darkness that lined the edge of the forest and beyond. She kept her eyes forward though, fingers twitching in the strain it took to look forward, to keep in that solid direction.

Even one glance and It'll take you. Don't look away. Don't look down. Don't look up. If you do, in any direction whatsoever, you lose.

Losing was not her thing, though she knew sometimes it was inevitable. Losing was part of life, part of the game that everyone played. Still, she despised it. It's what fueled her determination now, it what kept her eyes forward and her feet moving. She wasn't going to give in, she wasn't going to lose. She couldn't. If she lost, she could lost everything.

Don't stop. Don't turn back. It's a very tricky place. One wrong turn and you can kiss your life goodbye.

Not for the first time, she wondered how he had known so much about this place. How had he known what could happen even at the slightest falter of a footstep or even the littlest flicker of an eye? She hadn't thought about asking then. But then wasn't now. Now, she regretted not speaking up. Because it just didn't make any sense as to why he knew so much. Or even how. To know every detail of something, you had to have experience. But having experience with this place and the consequences meant being stuck for at least eternity. He'd made that all too clear. So, how on Kalandron did he know?

Once you lose, you're stuck forever.

Forever. The word echoed in her mind, repeated as it bounced in all corners and ricocheted around. Forever was a long time and the idea of staying didn't seem all that appealing to her.

Don't look anywhere but in front of you. Don't turn back, whatever you do. And don't fall for anything. Once you lose, you're stuck forever.

All she had to do was keep staring straight ahead and let nothing bother her whatsoever. Well, it was easier said than done that was for sure. The yellow of the sun was perfect and cast a warm blanket over her flesh that reached through to her veins. It was so soothing, so relaxing. It made her feel drowsy, complete with a desperate need to just lie down and take a long deserving nap.

Whatever you do, don't stop. You mustn't stop.

The voice was beginning to fade the further she walked. It was becoming a distant memory, one that would be foggy when she got too far. Like the memories from when she'd been a Youngling. Sweet to know they existed, but too long gone to reach where they hid inside the doors of her mind, locked against entry. And it would be okay for that to happen. The fading voice could become nothing, but a sweet memory locked up that she'd be happy to live with.

What was she doing again? The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, pushing her to keep putting one foot in front of the other. A white puffy marshmallow slowly drifted across the vast blue of the sky. It was headed towards the sun, but in the laziest drifted she had ever seen. Her feet came to a halt, eyes on that puffy cloud. It began to swell, puffing up in size. A swipe of grey washed over the white and slowly, patches of grey began to splotch over the cloud as if it had suddenly become angry. The gentle trees snapped, swaying their branches in every which direction. They began to howl as if suddenly in pain and a road of thunder clapped across the sky, shaking the ground violently beneath her feet. She stumbled back, goosebumps spreading up her arms. A shiver crept down her spine, making her body tremble. Another rumble once again shook the ground and her body swayed, locking her knees to push her to the ground. What sounded like some kind of shot in the air split the ground in half just feet in front of her. The crack raced towards her and fell to her knees, frozen as she watched the ground open beneath her.

Whatever you do, don't stop. You mustn't stop. Once you lose, you're stuck forever.

Forever was a long time. Forever was eternity.

Blackness swirled around, covering what was once a beautiful scene, one full of serenity. Blackened fingers clasped over the jagged edges of the open ground, crawling over towards her, grappling at the ground for a holding spot. Fear pounded in her heart and throbbed in her throat, making it ache. She couldn't breathe.

Welcome to the Shadow Realms. I told you not to stop.

The skies began to cry.

***
New Prologue. For those who had read the old one before, if you can let me know your thoughts! If this is your first time reading, I hope this beginning suits well! Enjoy!