Chapter 1
A sigh of relief passed my lip as I sank into the hot, relaxing water of the bath. I closed my eyes for a moment, only to open them once more when my memories of the past twenty-four hours began to resurface. I frowned as my grief flowed over me again, a single tear flowed down my cheek. Slowly I reached up and caught the drop on the tip of my finger and stared deep into its depths, allowing the events of the day to replay in my mind.
***FLASHBACK***
Bolting upright, I wrapped my fingers loosely around my throat, panting heavily, my body slick with sweat, my eyes darted around the room making certain that what I had just witnessed was in fact a dream and not a memory. Removing my hand from my neck, I slowly rolled out of bed and quietly made my way to the balcony that overlooked the city and beyond to the ocean. I smiled as I watched the first rays of dawn pass the horizon.
"(y/n)?" My mother's voice startles me and I whip around to face her. "Are you alright?"
"Good morning, mother. To be honest, I'm not sure. I had one of those realistic dreams," I began, "but this time the war took place here. I remember blood, pain, fire, and screams. There was so much death. It was so much more brutal than any of my previous dreams. I awoke to their leader's hand wrapped around my throat, choking the life from my broken body. All I remember of him was his cold, uncaring eyes and purple flesh. I also remember the words he spoke to me before I awoke. He told me that he was being merciful and that the universe will no longer have need of us once he fulfills his purpose." During the retelling of my dream, my mother had walked up next to me, and as I finished she wrapped her arms around me in a comforting motherly embrace.
"Mother, I fear it will be like my other dreams and come to pass before the day is done." I told her as I wrapped my arms around her as well.
"If it does, we will deal with it. This is a world of well-trained warriors. Men, women, and youth alike know how to brandish a sword. With your warning, we can begin making preparations."
"I also fear this fact to be the very reason for us to become the target."
"It very well might be."
***END OF FLASHBACK***
My tears flowed down my cheeks as my heart overflowed with grief. Out of everyone I lost, my siblings, my friends, our leaders, I grieved for my mother the most. With a shaky breath, I finished bathing and proceeded to dry and dress. My new clothes were simple yet elegant while still being appropriate for mourning, just as I'd requested. My outfit consisted of a black tank top that was almost long enough to be called a dress as it reached midway down my hips, paired with midnight blue leggings with faint traces of various colors swirling in the fabric so it reminded me of the night sky, and topped off with black leather boots that reached mid-calf. I now leaned against where the wall met the window gazing out at the odd yet beautiful city below. With a sigh, I leaned my head against the window letting my (h/l) (h/c) tresses fall around my face. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander, taking me back to my homeworld once more.
***FLASHBACK***
My pulse raced and my ears rang as I raced through the streets of the city. The stench of fire and smoke carried through the ruined city. Joined by the echoing screams of the people being slaughtered. For the first time in our history, we were on the losing team. I ran through the city checking every building for survivors, as that was the task given to me by our leaders. However, everywhere I looked all I found was blood, fire, and death. Death was everywhere, just like in my dream. Just as I had predicted.
"Leave this world now, or you will pay for the lives you've stolen with your own!" I heard my mother shout as I neared the center of the city.
A deep chuckle sounded from the same location, followed by the voice I'd heard in my dreams. "That is where you are mistaken." His voice froze me. Standing frozen in the shadows watching the scene unfold. Unable to move and unable to scream, my fear had taken control of me. "The universe will thank me when this is all over. I have done only what no one else had the will to do. I am fighting to bring balance back into the universe. I have only shown mercy." The monster continued as he picked up my mother and threw her across the plaza and on to the stone altar. The distinctive sound of bones braking made my blood boil with rage, overpowering my fear, but only for a brief moment. I wanted nothing more than to help my mother and defeat this monster, but my terror won out and kept me rooted to the spot, watching in horror as he picked up my mother's broken body, dangling her by her throat, and choked the life from her. As She died he told her how the universe would no longer need warriors when he was done, how everything would be peaceful in the end. It was in that moment that I realized, I didn't dream of my death, no, I had witnessed my mother's murder through her eyes. I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming and alerting him to my presence. However, as I stepped foreword ready to make my move, now that I was free of my fear-induced trance, the building directly beside me exploded in a shower of stone, brick, wood, and flame. I was sent hurtling through the air and crash-landed through the roof of another building. All I remember is a lot of intense pain before my world went dark and silent.
***END OF FLASHBACK***
A new wave of rage washed over me, shaking me free of my thoughts. I pounded my fist on the wall as I cried out in a mix of emotions. Rage, anguish, grief, fear, and hate. Together they fueled my cry and my lust for revenge. As rage gave way to anguish, I slid down the wall, sinking to my knees, allowing my tears to flow freely once again. It was here that I slept, huddled against the wall.