Mira's POV -
" Mira, do it properly. I should be able to see my face in each of them. They should be shining. "I rolled my eyes . She should have all her mirrors replaced with these pots. She was obsessed with her utensils. She was the latest inclusion in my woe list. This was my fifth day, working in that corner motel. The pay wasn't that good but I wanted to work because only that way would I be able to be somewhere till my school got over. I couldn't kill my mother by telling her that I had made up my mind to not go to that school anymore. Not after the humiliation that Braze made me suffer. I had no idea how I would react if I saw him again. Would I break down crying again or would I kick his balls? I had to make up very spicy excuses to satiate my mother. Luckily, she was out of town when I was knocked out in that handsome boy's house. The offer was very tempting but somehow, I managed to trigger my stupid morality and ended up not taking the money. Let me correct myself. I was just being stupid, there was no morality involved. That was compensation money, you idiot Mira. That lad wanted to cover his crime up. But my main regret was not rejecting the money, it was, not even knowing his name. I kept looking at the clock, waiting for my shift to get over and finally when it did, I ran straight inside the restroom, to change back into my school uniform. I did that everyday, for five days straight. I left home with my school bag , dress and shoe on. And I came back home the same way. What I did in between, I was successfully able to hide for the time being. But being successful consecutively was suspicious for someone as unlucky as me. The thunder clouds clapped right above me as soon as I tried getting out of the place. I had seen people cowering here and there when they saw a lighting or heard a loud clap. For me, however, it was like a romantic ballet. I loved the scent of the rain and the electric charge in the air when it thundered. It felt like they talked to me , on a personal level. It felt like they knew me very well, to the level of my goosebumps. So I just spared a glance at the sky and darted out, soaking once more. There was another thing. It always rained when I cried or maybe, I cried when it rained. I was walking straight up ahead, my bag tucked between my hands, pressed tightly over my chest. I was walking straight ahead when I heard loud honking. At first I didn't pay much attention. But then they came closer. Their bikes splashed muddy water all over my dress. As I looked at them from the corner of my eyes, I realized the mess that I was in. It was a gang. I could see the one-eyed symbol on all their jackets. They reeked of alcohol and their laughs were sending a shiver down my spine. The gangs were basically individual groups that belonged to the underworld. But unlike the mafia system, they had no principals or morals. They were so savage that even the police kept themselves aloof. They usually didn't bother the local population. They raced, they drank, they kept themselves high on weed most of the time. However, they sometimes went hunting. It was like a game to them. They did it when they were bored. Nobody wanted to be hunted by them. We had all heard stories about the bodies that were retrieved , after they were done. I tried keeping my head low and kept walking straight up ahead as if I didn't even know that I was being watched. My legs were unsteady but I kept pushing. I, even, broke into a full run. That might have been a mistake. One of the engines roared as the bike came right in front of me, blocking my walk. I fell a couple of steps back, but I bumped right into some of them. I was surrounded. This time, I looked up. I looked around. There were half a dozen of them. The road was completely empty. There was no hope for help. I was like a timid, helpless calf, surrounded by wild wolves, who were drooling with lust, their fangs bared, ready to attack.Mira's POV***Intense whistling***They were circling me. Their eyes looked me up and down. Their whistling matched the rhythm of their shoes tapping. Their hands moved just above my shoulder as my spine stiffened at their move. With a sharp move, one of them grabbed my pony tail and pulled my head back. I had my eyes closed. I couldn't show them the fear in them . " What is this specimen doing here, in a school uniform? "His mouth spit drool all over my face and neck and his breath reeked of alcohol. The others found his remarks very amusing and broke into a laugh. I was trying to hold my breath back. My body was as rigid as possible. I was bracing myself for what was about to happen next. There was no time for me to reach for my bag or dial that emergency number. Not that it would be of any help at the moment. Even if I did manage to call for help, I would be a dead ant before they arrived. The one grabbing my hair , started pulling me backwards. My steps faltered as I trie
*** in the other world *** The waves of the Southern Seas were unusually loud and high. They had turned crimson in the sky, mimicking the hue of a triple moon. But they could not overshadow the shine of the rare beauty, the Southern Star. It was up there in the sky, just as was prophesied. It was a breathtaking view, but all that the onlookers could feel was fear. They were not timid creatures. They were mages. Human-like creatures with unimaginable supernatural powers. Their powers varied according to their clan and the techniques that they developed after birth. The rise of the Southern Star in the sky, along with the triple moons, was the beacon for the drumroll. It was an indication that the never-ending war between the tribes was finally coming to an end. A supposed happy affair. Alas! That was not the case. The end of the war would mean that some would gain superiority over others. That was a concept alien for the power-crazy mages. They had gained immortality a very long time a
Mother's love***present day world***Mira's POVI came back home in rags, running for my dear life for several long minutes, though there was no immediate threat. Good old reflex, I guess. I turned my keys and the door flung open. I was about to jump right in, pulling my disheveled hair behind when I heard my mother speak, " Mira, you are not coming back straight from school! "She had her back towards me and she had something in her hand. As she slowly turned, I noticed that she had a letter between her palms, which she was reading. Did my school write a complaint already? It wasn't that long. And what was my mother doing, coming home at this time, without informing me? I held my breath as I kicked my shoes open and slowly locked the door after walking in. I was cooking up excuses in my head. A possible thing that could convince my mother that leaving school for the time being, was the best thing. But then she smiled and her right hand landed on my shoulder with a pat. What
Xen's POVI found myself standing in a narrow, desolate alley, trapped in the clutches of my subconscious. The darkness engulfed me, suffocating and overwhelming. The air was heavy with an unspoken threat, sending shivers down my spine.With every step that I took, the sense of foreboding intensified. I could feel the unseen eyes peering at me, lurking in the shadows. The silence was broken only by the distant echoes of my footsteps, echoing like a haunting requiem.Suddenly, a flickering streetlight came into view, casting macabre shapes on the cracked pavement. It illuminated an object, nestled on the ground. A blade. Its steel glimmered malevolently, reflecting my mounting fear.Driven by an inexplicable compulsion, I reached out to touch it. As my trembling fingers made contact with the cold metal, a surge of electricity coursed through my veins. The room was shrouded in darkness, save for the faint glow of the moonlight slipping through the blinds. I gasped for breath, my heart
***in the other world***" Where is our son, my love? "The woman asking the question was dressed in such a beautiful manner that her presence screamed royalty from every angle. The person in front of her looked equally elegant. A tall man on the throne. A king, with no mistakes. " He is where he ought to be. You need not worry about him, sweetheart. Your body is still recovering. You should go back to your chamber. "The woman's hair turned slowly red as she stepped towards the throne with calculated steps. " Ought to be my king? And where is that? "Her hair strands were slowly standing up as her voice intensified. " I carried him for nine months. I couldn't even hold him in my arms and feed him my milk... "" I can't believe you, of all people, could be bothered by frivolous things like these... " The king made a sharp turn towards her and it made her even more angry. Her head was now adorned with a gigantic crimson crown, made of supercharged, standing hair. " Frivolous? You t
***present day world***Mira's POV -" This is it then... Mamma, take care of yourself and don't worry. I will give you a call when I land. "I hugged her so tight that I could have crushed her frail frame. What was more amazing was the force with which she hugged back. It was ten times rougher and tighter than mine. She was fighting to hold back her tears. And so was I. It was my first time staying away from her. It was my first time going away so far. After the last round of announcements for boarding, I had no option but to hurry my way towards the entry point. They let me in after checking my documents. I was shown inside the craft with a smile. I settled down at the window. And stared out of it, watching the big wings which were about to carry us all. I looked around. It was a crowded space. People were trying to get to their seats, arrange their luggage, and tuck in their babies as the air hostesses went about helping everybody. It was a long and exhausting flight but we final
Mira's POVThis new hostel was no joke, I must insist. I honestly felt, I was at a hotel when I tried getting my room number at the reception. I mean, what hostel even has a reception? They have warden rooms and the main office, right? Or am I just being a low class naive? Anyways, I learnt that I was going to share a room with a roommate.I patiently carried my baggage up and knocked on the door, even though I had the keys. If there was someone already residing in that space, I was only intruding. I was trying to be as less hostile as possible. After all, I had come to the place for a little peace. " Did they not give you those damn keys? "A half awake voice, flung the door open. She was wearing a t-shirt and matching shorts. Her hair was silver and tied up in a messy bun. She was at least a few inches taller than me and she stood there, staring me up and down, from behind a half rimmed glass that she was wearing. " Ummm, Hi, I'm Mira. Ummm, well I do have the keys but I didn
It was going to take Mira a lot of time to adjust to her new place. It was very clear to her. What was not clear was the fact that a world beyond her imagination was already awaiting her. She had no idea that people, who were not human, like her, had already started surrounding her presence. She hurried towards her first class for the day, A Brief Introduction to Historical Architectures. She burst inside the classroom, which was more like an auditorium, a movie theater with a gigantic 3-D screen. They were being shown some documentary and the room was pitch black except for the light from the screen. As soon as she entered, the light from the outside corridor entered like a flood, forcing the entire class to turn in her direction. " I... I am looking for the final year History class... Am I... Am I at the right place? "A very husky voice from amidst the dark replied, " Indeed, this is the History class for the final year students. Are you by chance an exchange student? "Mir