Twin Birds

Chapter 1

Destruction

"Edwin! Wake up! It's almost 12!" A hushed voice came from the darkness. A small boy with dark brown hair spoke with his hands cupped around his mouth. He was standing next to a bed with a lump within the blankets. "What is it Ruhe? Ugh... It's not even 12, the clock is broken remember..." A deeper voice came from within the blankets. The apparently boy named Ruhe, pouted and put his hands to his sides. He spoke with slight anger in his voice, "it is fixed! I fixed it while you were asleep! Look!"

"God... Fine Ruhe I'll get up and look!" Edwin nearly yelled, tossing the blankets off himself. He was wearing a large t-shirt and sweat pants. Edwin's orange eyes pierced the shadows, that were in the corner where his bed was settled. His black hair was nearly invisible within the darkness. Edwin pulled himself out of bed, almost hitting his head on the bottom of the top bunk. Edwin thought of why him and Ruhe needed to bunk, while Ruhe could get his own room. But then the thought of Ruhe's abandonment anxiety being a factor, and himself being Ruhe's only family now, after the accident...

Edwin walked to the wall next to the large closet, that was located on the other side of their bedroom. The old dinosaur clock was now ticking. The smallest of the hands moved around the clock with a beat, never faltering from this beat. The hand was the tail of the pterodactyl on the clock. Edwin sighed, picking up the clock and setting it up on top of the closet's doorframe. "Seems like you did fix it... Come on, let's go see if Ms. Hannagan made breakfast- lunch, not breakfast." Edwin smiled after speaking. Ruhe gave a small nod, so the boys ventured out of their room.

The brothers made their way towards the stairs, their room being at the end of a hall. The room being the furthest to the right. Once at the stairs, the boys could hear the rest of the children downstairs, playing and being a ruckus. Edwin sighed, going down first to let Ruhe know it was fine. Going down the spiral of steps, Edwin saw into the living room, seeing the kids playing with toys, hide and seek, or tag. Then on the last turn of the spiral, he was met with the sight of Ms. Hannagan at the front door with someone from the outside. The outside, which Ms. Hannagan feared.

Ms. Hannagan hadn't let anyone leave, unless they were adopted or old enough to leave. The lady had terror for anywhere that wasn't the orphanage. Once in the past, a kid asked to go outside to play, and she yelled in fear, "NO! That place is terrible!" Which caused the entire orphanage to go quiet. This was when Edwin and Ruhe were only at the location for a couple of weeks.

Edwin shook his head away from this thought. The young adult peered up at the outsider. He was always cautious with outsiders, especially that he was currently the oldest boy in the orphanage. All the rest from when Ruhe and Edwin's arrival, had either grown too old and left, or got adopted. So, he was Ms. Hannagan's only possible defense. But Edwin's attention caught the man again. This guy seemed to have been in some battles.

The man had an old gas mask upon his face. A large pipe like object came from the mask, going around and over his shoulder to a tank on his back. The man was in an old brown trench coat and jeans. The jeans had rips and tears. All of his clothing was dusted and old. They seemed to be ready to break. He had loose plating tied to his left shoulder, elbows, and knees. There was a wielded together plate for a chest plate. The chest armor was tightly attached to the shirt. The armor was dented in random locations of the chest. Some dents seemed to be hits from the side.

Edwin scoffed at the man's unclean attire. The man took mental note of this, but kept speaking to Ms. Hannagan, "could I have supplies, or a place to stay? I would be greatly thankful." The man had a strong accent. The man was Norwegian, but in this world, a Celto. It was a region in the northern provinces of Aethlia. Soon, the small steps of a boy came from the steps. Ruhe had come down and peaked around the spiral staircase, seeing the man.

"Ruhe! I told you to wait for me to see if everything was fine." Edwin nearly yelled but kept himself calm. But Edwin's attention changed from the young boy, to a loud beeping from the man. The man had a small device on his hip, attached to a hidden belt. He quickly unattached it from the belt, holding it towards Ruhe. All the children of the orphanage stopped and payed close attention.

"What is that?" Edwin asked, pulling Ruhe behind him. Ideas and thoughts flew through Edwin's head as he watched the man get closer. Each step to Ruhe, the beeping got louder. "Just let me see the boy. You don't know what he can do." The man spoke through the gas mask.

"What do you mean!? He is my brother!" Edwin yelled. This was his only family left; he wasn't going to lose Ruhe. This man was acting as if Ruhe was a threat... His own brother a threat. Edwin's anger bubbled up like steam leaving a pot of hot water. Edwin charged and threw a right fist, nearly hitting the man. The man side stepped to his own left, turning towards the fist. He set his left hand on top Edwin's wrist. The right hand grabbed below the elbow, and the man stood up, placing Edwin's armpit on his shoulder, allowing the man to toss Edwin.

The man did so, tossing him to the feet of Ms. Hannagan. "EDWIN!" The lady screamed, kneeling down. The man stared for a good few seconds, as the older boy held his stomach from the throw. Ruhe stood in fear, watching the man turn towards him. Edwin saw the man beginning to walk towards Ruhe. The fear of losing his family came through his mind... "No... No... NO! I will not, let him destroy my family!" Edwin screamed in his mind, reaching out with his right hand. Upon this thought, this fear, this terror he had, his power awakened. His veins pulsed a crimson red, flowing through his body, to his palm. The fear of destruction, turned to torrents of rage piling through his body.

A loud bang echoed from the side of the man, as he launched into the kitchen and through the side door. The sound of glass shattering and wood creaking and groaning came from the side door's remnants. The area of the small explosion had a black mist flowing in the air. All attention turned to Edwin, who was still on the ground. His veins pulsing red and purple. His eyes were glowing their red-orange.

The man grunted, weakly standing. His armor now had a larger dent on the chest. Ruhe ran to the hole of where the doors used to be. His eyes filled with amazement and wonder. The world was gray, and cold. But there was still life, plants had taken back over. A highway, which was unseen by the windows, was overgrown with plant life. Vines and moss hanged from an overpass.

"RUHE! Get back inside now!" Ms. Hannagan yelled, running and grabbing the boy by the arm, dragging him inside. Edwin was by now slowly getting up from his knees. Ruhe ran to hug Edwin, giving him a tight embrace. Edwin chuckled and put an arm around his brother, speaking, "I'm fine. I'm fine. Are you ok?" Which, Ruhe gave a small nod in response.

"I'm not done yet." The Celto voice came from the fault in the wall. The man was standing in the outlet, and began to speak, "I'm Gift. I do not wish to harm you, but if I have to I will." The man, supposedly named Gift, reached out with his left hand. A black and purple mist began to flow from his trench coat. Hundreds of chirps came from the mist, giving it a long hiss as it floated. The mist moved leisurely, then zipped towards the boys.

"No, everything is changing. I don't want it to change. I already changed when we had to come here... I don't want to create another life..." The young boy's thoughts raced. Ruhe closed his eyes, expecting an impact against him. Edwin reached out; another loud bang appeared by in Gift's hand. The man yelled as he pulled his hand away from the small blast. The mist stopped near Ruhe and dissipated.

"Leave!" Ms. Hannagan yelled at Gift. She didn't want this to go on any longer. Her fear for the children being hurt grew and grew. Gift grunted again, holding his hand. "I'll be back kid. For you." Gift spoke to Edwin. Gift knew he wouldn't win right now, so he began backing out of the opening. He walked off as wind kicked up, revealing the gray environment to be covered in dust. The dust flew around Gift as he slowly disappeared into the smog.