DIFFERENT-WINGED ANGEL

FEATHER #6

Wandering leisurely through already familiar landscapes crafted by her subconscious, Olivia came to an abrupt stop and gazed intently at the inky void sky looming over the left side of the spellbinding woodland. Its darkness seemed to hold greater intensity this time around. For the rest, she found no changes.

She froze, her ears tuned in to the faintest sounds around her. Everything was mired in silence. Only the raspy, labored breaths escaping her lips disturbed this serene illusion of peace and quiet.

Olivia impulsively shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind even just a bit. It was at that very moment that she sensed the presence of another being. There was no doubt in her mind that someone was standing right behind her, causing her to hold her breath.

"So we meet again," a deep, honeyed voice sounded.

Olivia was utterly paralyzed by the sheer horror, feeling an intense numbness that seemed to seep into every fiber of her being. She clenched her fists tightly, almost as if trying to physically contain her escalating fear. She let out a loud exhale, clearly struggling to uphold a façade of confidence, but still avoiding the nerve-wracking prospect of turning around to face the stranger.

"Who are you?"

The stranger hesitated to answer. Suddenly, a weighty hand landed on her left shoulder. He squeezed it with force, digging his claws into her flesh. Olivia immediately experienced a searing, throbbing pain shooting through her, causing her to emit a feeble, pitiful groan before shutting her eyes tightly.

"That's not what you want to know. Am I right?" the guy murmured, his breath tickling Olivia's ear and sending shivers down her spine. "The more important question is... who you are?"

The white T-shirt Olivia was wearing gradually became tainted by black blood—her own blood. She was teetering on the edge of letting out a gut-wrenching howl of horror, her efforts to suppress the overwhelming urge proving to be a Herculean task. Her heart swelled to such an extent that it felt like it was about to explode. However, the girl made a firm decision not to show her fear to the stranger. She reassured herself that it was simply a dream she was experiencing. Or is it not?

"What do you want from me?" Olivia squeezed out angrily.

"I want you... to make a choice."

"What choice?"

"In favor of the dark side, silly," a slight grin could be heard.

"I still don't understand," Olivia muttered in frustration.

She heard a prolonged sigh from behind her. "You may not understand it now... but soon your family will fill you in on everything. And I'll wait for now. I have been waiting for you for many years, so waiting a bit longer is no problem."

The girl was taken aback by his words. "You're wrong," she said in a hoarse voice, her emotions raw. "I don't have a family."

"Oh no, my little one..." he said in a gentle tone. "You do have it."

The girl gulped loudly, wanting to turn around and face the enigmatic stranger. However, her fear was stronger than her desire. "What happens if I refuse?" she inquired with a voice tinged with timidity. "What if I decide against embracing the dark side?"

The guy's laughter right next to Olivia's ear made her tense up even further. "You can't escape it! That's your destiny!" he declared. "Though if you suddenly make the bold choice to outsmart the universe and refuse to succumb to the darkness..." he took a long pause, deliberately adding drama to their conversation. "I will eliminate all those you hold dear and make you the instrument of their demise. You've already seen how easily I can manipulate your consciousness."