*MADE IT TO THE FINALS OF ONC's SHORT LIST*
One makes, one nurtures and one extinguishes - thus, a balance is maintained on Tellus.
But what happens when the scales topple?
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Whilst Ati was searching for a place to park her vehicle, Ryker and Arkah went ahead to meet the store owner without wanting to intimidate her. The unexpected thing for the three was that Mary had been awaiting Ryker's arrival but not of the other man's. Her jaw was on the floor on seeing the forensic technician.
"Hello again," Ryker greeted her, oblivious to the frenzied thoughts of Mary's mind.
"Bless me, oh rearer. The cultivator of all that's living, bless me, your servant, for I have been fortunate to see both of your glory," she cried, getting down on her knees she folded her hands in prayer.
Both the men looked at each other, sharing a look of skepticism. Before either of them could let a word out, Ati sauntered inside the shop.
"I could be apologetic for the delay, but there was hardly any space for me to park," she explained to Arkah, then scanned her surroundings with an indifferent expression.
Mary sprawled on the floor then, convulsing, with her eyeballs rolled all the way back in her sockets. Having mistrusted Ryker on his experience about the woman's telling, Ati and Arkah were left shocked when the same transpired in their presence.
Nevertheless, unlike the previous occurrence, the words which left Mary's mouth seemed unabridged. What had embarked on as a soft breeze at first, as the gypsy began to speak, veered into a whole gale.
"They will come in tens and hundreds and thousands, but with her and her alone, would anyone find true peace. Her bravery would know no bounds, saving numbers. Albeit her weakness would lie in him, but formidable together, they will bring down unparalleled wrath. She - the savior; He - the strength."
Despite the entire prediction being almost unambiguous, Ati is left to ponder upon the endless strings of questions whirring in her head.
Is the prophecy about one of us? Or are we supposed to find the people with whom the words relate to? Who are the woman and the man that the lady speaks of? How and why was this prophesied? Who foresaw it? Is this the key to stop these creatures or is it even remotely related to it? She tried to subdue her thoughts but to no avail.
She was brought to the present when the woman in front of her lost consciousness.
"Not another fainter," Ryker sighed, exasperated, as he bent down to resuscitate her. Arkah shadowed his actions. The lack of concern in both of their efforts was disconcerting.
Out of nowhere, a cry pierced the air and then another was followed by many more. It was coming from outside the shop. Ryker ran outside to see what the commotion was about while Ati replaced him in the revival process. A moment later, he came back, face deathly pale.
"There are about ten of those tar-like creatures crawling towards this direction. This time, they're not stopping to harm only the animals but are wreaking havoc on the humans too." He looked at Ati, face pinched in concern, "we merely have two minutes to run."
