The Fallen Valkyrie

Jeremy.

Jeremy sat by the hearth on the comfy couch, soaking in the warmth of the trivial flames flickering in the fireplace of Sabrina's living room. He sipped from his mug. Jeremy flinched when the hot chocolate slightly panged on his tongue.

“I told you it is too hot,” Sabrina said.

“It is okay for the October chill.” Jeremy nodded.

The weather this time had dropped to freezing cold in October, which was absurd for the town of Lakefall. This tiny town wouldn’t even pass for ‘town’, the only rational reason why it was called a town because it had its own supermarket and a mall. People in this town were born here and buried here – just a few blocks from Saint Joseph’s hospital. And that’s what Jeremy Candence hoped would happen to him, he had accepted his life without any adventure – if only exploring the at least a century-old deserted villa of the ‘Blarsons' is an adventure.

“What are you dressing up as?” Sabrina asked.

Of course, Halloween. Jeremy thought. “I have not given it a thought…” He paused to enjoy the grim on Sabrina’s face. “… yet.” Jeremy chuckled lightly.

With a graceful frown Sabrina said,“I don’t know. Why do I even bother with you?”

Jeremy could see the shadows of her frown sprawling upon her face against the flame. Her other side of her face was illuminated in orange.

“I will figure it out, I swear. I will come with you.” Jeremy promised.

Sabrina had put all of her efforts into convincing Jeremy to come with her to the Halloween party. Jeremy would have dropped dead before doing that but he needed to be there for his friend. Sabrina needed him the most now. Although, he had been there for her plenty. It had been two months since she broke up with Derek, when she caught him and Hilary, Sabrina’s BFF, making out at Lily’s house party.

Jeremy, like a good friend, would always listen to Sabrina ranting about Derek. Sometimes she would break down in tears and cry the hell out. He could have sworn that one of these times she might have flooded the whole town in her tears. But because of this exceptional cold weather, her tears stopped, or froze. He didn’t want to dwell on Sabrina’s tears anymore.

“What are you dressing up as?” Jeremy asked.

“I am thinking…,” Sabrina tried to build suspense, but Jeremy was never excited about Halloween.

“What…! Come on, don’t do that.” He feigned excitement.

“How about the fallen Valkyrie?” Sabrina wiggled her brows with a smirk spread wide on her lips.

“You really have issues getting over things, or people – ”

“ – Or the stories,” Sabrina added.

“You should not take Nana’s stories so seriously. Plus, no one would know who Amaela is,” Jeremy said.

“ Everybody knows.” Sabrina giggled.

“In Lakefall, everybody knows everything.” Jeremy nodded affirmatively.

“But I disagree with what Odin had done to her, it is unjust to lock someone in that kind of prison just because they loved some mortal.” Sabrina said.

“That is not what the story says…”

“Yeah, I know…,” Sabrina waved her hand off, “… it is all about duty, and selflessness and blah blah.”

“Yeah, all right, I am not going to give you the big talk again” Jeremy got up from the couch, “… I should get going.” He said.

“What?” Sabrina pursed her lips to show her anger, “… you just came.”

“It has been three hours, Sabrina.” Jeremy shoved his phone at her face to show her the time.

“But the chocolate?”

“Sipped it to the last drop.” Jeremy smacked his lips.

“I have burritos…,” she said, pointing towards the kitchen, “… I can microwave them. Stay for dinner.”

“I need to complete the report on that Scandinavian invasion,” Jeremy said.

“Okay.” Sabrina resigned.

Jeremy sighed, letting his hand fall down against his thighs. “You need to learn to stay alone,” he said.

“I know. I know,” Sabrina mumbled, “all right see you in school then.”

“Yes, sure.” Jeremy went in for a hug.

They hugged and Sabrina went to see him off to the door. They greeted good night and Sabrina stood there and watched Jeremy drive off from her curb. The cold wind whistled and the chills prickled her skin through the shawl she covered herself with. Her body began to shiver, she quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Snow fell from above, sure to blanket the streets and her lawn. The thought of waking up next morning and finding herself ankle deep in the snow dreaded her more than the shadows of the branches threatening to smother her in her sleep.

The way back home was half covered with snow, which made it difficult for Jeremy to drive. His home was hardly three miles away from Sabrina’s and usually it would just take five or roughly ten minutes if he lit one cigarette.

The tires of his car slipped from the road and just screeched against it.

“Oh, for god’s sake.” He grumbled.

He didn’t want to stop for a cigarette at this moment. He had to get home early and complete his report. It was already quarter to eight. The more Jeremy tried to push the gas, the more the car tires slipped.

First thing after school tomorrow is getting new tires. He decided.

The street lamp flickered for briefly and Jeremy pressed the break, when he saw something on the street lamp. It was huge, almost like a man. He heard the sound of wings flapping.

Maybe just a bat. He thought.

The street light pole crumbled on the bonnet of his car before he could move away.

A bat won’t make a pole crumble. He wondered.

Jeremy’s heart began to race, it hammered violently against his chest. Even in the freezing cold he could feel the beads of sweat spurting on his forehead. Jeremy stepped out of his car hastily and jumped on the side of the road.

A set of greyish black wings and a silhouette of a girl emerged from behind a tree next to where the pole was. Jeremy began to walk back, stumbling upon his own steps. His mouth was wide open, gasping breath, enough to produce a loud scream to get the neighbourhoods out of their houses.

The figure approached him slowly, like a predator sauntering towards its prey.

This can’t be my end. This is not how I want to die. His thoughts screamed out loud.

He prepared himself for trying to outrun this creature, whatever it was. He just hoped it to not be the creature he thought it was. The Fallen Valkyrie.