The Darksield Chronicles

Chapter 7: Rooftop Chase

Wraith POV

When Wraith woke up, it was dawn. He stretched, then scanned his surroundings. The alley was still as dark and desolate as it had been when he had passed out. Just then, the memories of what had happened last night crashed over him, and he groaned. Why does everyone keep on thinking I'm an ape? Wraith thought. So far, Cynder is the only one who didn't call me an ape. The thought amused him.

He glanced up at the gradually brightening sky and realized that he probably should get on higher ground. He concentrated, reaching out with his mind and connecting to the shadows around him. He teleported to the roof of a building across the street. He leaned against the chimney for support as a wave of weariness washed over him. He would not be trying that again anytime soon.

Wraith glanced around him at the neighboring rooftops lit up by the sunrise. He grinned, remembering the parkour he used to do back home. He leaned against the chimney and took in the sky above. He breathed in and out. Instead of smelling the usual city smell that he was used to, he smelled the scent of a forest nearby. Curious, he started running across the rooftops toward the source.

After about 30 minutes, Wraith stopped on a roof just about twenty feet below the roof of another building. He took several steps backward before running forward and jumping. His hands grabbed hold of a windowsill, and he heaved himself up. He stood on the windowsill and jumped, repeating the process again and again until he reached the roof.

Wraith heaved himself on top of the roof and collapsed, panting. As soon as he caught his breath, he stood and looked over the edge. He was looking down at a park where several dragon families were roaming about. He sat down on the edge of the roof and watched in amusement as two little dragonets about as tall as his waist ran around playing tag. He smiled. Everywhere he looked, he saw dragon families having fun. He sighed. What he wouldn't give to have that again. Wraith cut off his train of thought as soon as it started. Back to the task at hand, he told himself. Figure out how to get the guardians to trust you.

He went through several scenarios in his head of how he could do that. None of them went well. He sighed. He wished sometimes that life was easy but caught himself. Life rarely was, and that was the beauty of it. He tilted his head back and sighed. For some reason, a song popped into his head. He started singing.

I remember black skies
The lightning all around me
I remember each flash
As time began to blur
Like a startling sign
That fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect this space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide

There was nothing inside
The memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide
The ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in
Between where we were standing
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Across this new divide

In every loss in every lie
In every truth that you deny
And each regret and each goodbye
Was a mistake too great to hide
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect this space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide
Across this new divide
Across this new divide