Questions boiled up inside Serra's mind making her head felt like cracked in pain. Why did the Reapers run? Are they afraid of the light? Of Maria's power? It doesn't make sense since fire can only scare them. The Reapers will not just leave without killing everyone.
But the greater question that really bothers her was her blood. She stared at her wounded wrist and golden blood poured out from it, dripping into her fingers and to the ground. It's smell was the same: metallic and pungent.
Why is her blood gold? Was it her blood? Of course it is hers. Reapers don't bleed on any weapons forged in the earth. It must be hers. But why it is golden and not scarlet? She had countless cuts and wound in all her life, all over her body and she bleed scarlet red blood, not until now.The thoughts were painfu
She dashed toward her mother. Her heart heavy as her feet. But she was only a few steps when she heard a buzzing sound past her ear. She stopped and saw an arrow landed just beside her. Another arrow flew and landed near her feet. Then another and it was coming at her, Serra took a step back and the arrow hit the ground where she was standing earlier. Several arrows now flying in the air like deadly birds. Serra turned and ran. She picked up the torch, match and the canister, then dashed towards the woods, leaving her mother behind with a heavy heart. She ran deep into the woods. Tears running on her cheeks and the image of her mother - kneeling on the ground with an arrow on its back - floats in her mind that continuously sends a kick of excruciating pain in her heart. She don't know if it's pain anymore, it's painful than pain itself. It's like she's being killed inside, drowning and
Serra flinched as she saw the Reaper below. It's tail wiggled on its back, its bone-like fingers extends to razor sharp claws, and the shadows that comes out of it's body sent shivers to Serra's spine, making her tremble.The monster was right below her, on the tree where she was. It was hissing, moving her head sideways as if like searching for a prey to devour.She silently reached for the match on her pocket and reached on her back for her torch but it's not there. She then remembered putting it on the flat part of the branch but it's not there too. She looked down and saw it lying dead cold near the Reaper's tail.She gasped and put her hand on her mouth. Her heart racing, fluttering inside her chest. She held her breath, afraid to make a sound. Her head blew up with thoughts.
The Reaper slowly slithered toward her as if like teasing her, hissing and baring it's teeth. Serra shakily lit the torch but it doesn't burn. The cold must have dampen the tip. She quickly opened the oil canister and poured the contents generously on the tip of the torch, sending a strong smell of gasoline in the air. She lit the torch again and it burns brightly and violently, devouring the tip with red hot flame.She tucked the canister into her hips and pocketed the match. She then stood up, bringing the torch forward. The Reaper stopped in the distance, wiggling it's tail and body. It's red eyes locked on Serra and it's claws glints in the sun. The Reaper hissed looking at the fire. The smoke that's coming out of its body looked like the smoke in her torch. She felt a lump in her throat and swallowed.I think this is how I die, she thought. The torch won't burn forever and prot
Serra woke up on the familiar touch on her skin. A touch that felt like home, sending sparks and fire to her nerves. Her head hurts and her face burning in pain.She groaned."She's awake!" a familiar voice exclaimed.Her heart felt like twisted. Am I dead? Why am I hearing her voice?Her eyes still closed. She don't have the energy to open it and welcome the world, but she was conscious on the hubbub of soft noises, of murmurs and breathing.She felt a hand gently caressing her skin, clearing her face. The hand was familiarly rough and calloused but the touch was gentle. She grew up touching that hand; she used to held it as she run.She groaned then gently opened her eyes and
Mira sat on the ground just below the opening above the cave where a ray of light pierced through the room. She pulled out something from her pocket that looked like a seed, oblong and dark. "They taught me how to control my ability" Mira started.She dug a shallow depression on the ground and put the seed then covered it with dirt.Serra just stood there and followed Mira by her eyes as she stood up and headed to the water reservoir and came back with a handful of water, her two hands cupped together. Mira brought the water down where she buried the seed and sat back down."Now watch" she said excitedly.Mira touched the ground, her eyes focused.Serra couched and stared on the wet dirt. She didn't blink, afraid to miss whatever is about to happen.For a moment, there's nothing happened and then the dirt started to shook and broke at the surface. Serra gasped as a little green leaf rose up to the surface. A sprout.Serra's eyes widen in
Niko came closer to her and held his hand out. She took it willingly and stood up.Niko touched the wall where she was leaning earlier and the wall shook, like there was an earthquake. Dust filled the cold air.Huge rocks protruded on the wall and formed into a stair, ascending towards the top of the cave."Ladies first" Niko said.She realized she's still holding he's hand and released it in shame. She was blushing.She took the steps first and Niko was behind her.Serra carefully took one step at a time while leaning on the wall to avoid herself from falling. The top of the cave was quite high and it took them a couple of minutes with careful steps to reach the top.Serra felt her heart fallen on the beauty of the view above. The woods stretched below her eyes, dark and gray under the moonlight. The river snaked below her and looked like a white line that stretched form north to south, it's angry water still audible up above. The moon s
Village of DamaccSisi bent down and fueled the hot coals with cut dried branches of tress. She blew, releasing air into the red embers and the twigs was immediately consumed by fire. She then put the pot of water above the flame. Their cabin smelled like smoke and dust.She stepped back and tied her long brown hair in a ponytail, tendrils escaping and hanged on her side. She prepared the cup and the coffee grounds on the table.Sisi was preparing her father's coffee. He will be out today for trade on the north. Her father Aiu was on the carriages, loading the goods to be traded. Her mother Fayiena was early on her laundry at the well. She's the only daughter of her parents.While waiting for the water to boil, she sweeped the dirt an
They all stopped, scanning the surroundings. In the distance, Serra saw something moved.Reaper.They all dropped to the ground and rolled towards a huge tree. Their bodies stiffened and tensed. Serra swallowed her panic and stilled herself. She could feel Mira beside her shaking.Mira haven't seen a Reaper before and the terror of looking at the monster for the first time was painted on her face: wide eyes, shaking lips, and pale face like the blood has been drained out from her. She took Mira's hand and looked at her. Mira seemed to calm a little at that.Niko lifted his head a little to have a sight of the monster but the tall grasses hindered his sight and he can't risk to look up more, the Reaper will see him.Mira took her