Death: The Awakening

Chapter 2: She who came from the other world

Someone's Point of View

I had been staring at the sky for hours, but I still couldn't understand how the moon had changed into something so strange. It was a rare sight. The full moon formed a perfect circle, glowing in a deep red that spread softly across the sky. What made it even more unusual was that it appeared during the daytime, turning the bright blue sky into the color of blood.

"Is it bad?" I asked quietly, hearing the sharp sound of heels clicking against the stone floor as she walked toward me.

Penelope stopped beside me. Even though she was born blind, she could sense the presence of anything—living or not—as long as it carried an aura. She tilted her head toward the sky, her face calm but thoughtful.

"This is new," she said slowly. "The moon is holy, but this one carries a strong aura. A dark aura. It feels like it's trying to show us something... or warn us—Ah!"

Her sudden cry made me turn to her in alarm. She covered her ears, whispering through the pain. Behind the cloth tied over her eyes, a faint glow began to shine. I knew what that meant. Whenever her eyes glowed like that, a vision came. Sometimes it showed what was happening now, and sometimes it showed what was still to come.

"What is it, Penny? What did you see?" I asked, my voice shaking. She kept mumbling, words spilling out like broken pieces.

"Clock... a door... laughter, cries... blood... death... AH! I—I couldn't see clearly! Just voices, disturbing voices."

Her hair began to change, turning pale white strand by strand. She coughed hard, blood staining her lips, but she didn't seem to care. Instead, she lifted her face toward the sky again. I followed her gaze, and at that moment, a sharp roar echoed across the castle walls.

The guards rushed to surround us, weapons drawn, but it was already too late. Swarms of creatures filled the sky, scattering in every direction. Some flew straight toward the village below. My heart pounded as explosions erupted, shaking the ground and throwing everything into chaos.

"Let's go, Penny. We need to tell the Pillars about this." I grabbed her arm, ready to run, but she pulled me back.

"No, Vi. We need to help them. The Pillars can't protect us right now—they're scattered everywhere. Look below! The villagers are crying out for help. Some are already dying. I can hear them. My vision isn't guiding me, but I know this much: as Royal Advisors, we cannot abandon them."

I bit my lip, torn between fear and duty. Below the balcony, the village burned.

"If you hesitate, then I'll do it alone."

Before I could stop her, Penelope leapt from the balcony. In midair, her body shimmered and shifted into a white falcon, wings spreading wide as she soared toward the village. I froze, remembering the vision she once told me about myself. She had promised to reverse it, but our mother had warned us never to interfere with fate. To touch what was written was to invite consequences.

With a deep breath, I jumped after her, my form unraveling into feathers and shadow. I became a raven, following close behind.

Whatever awaited us, I would remain by her side—loyal, protective, unyielding.

When I opened my eyes again, the world was different. I lay on the ground, surrounded by cats curled up in sleep, their soft breathing strangely peaceful. For a moment, I couldn't recognize where I was. Then the memories returned—smoke, fire, screams.

Pain surged through me as I groaned and tried to rise. My body ached, every muscle sore. Thick smoke hung in the air, and flames devoured the buildings around me. "Katherine..." Her name was the first thought that came to mind. I looked toward where she had been thrown, but her body was nowhere to be found. The van we had seen earlier was destroyed, twisted metal scattered as though it had exploded.

"The kids," I whispered, panic jolting me upright. I ran inside the burning orphanage, weaving through collapsing beams and walls consumed by fire.

At last, I reached our room. The door was nearly swallowed by flames, but I kicked it open. Inside, huddled in the corner, the children clung to one another, crying. My heart clenched. "Matt! You should have run!" I shouted at the boy standing in front, trying to act brave. But he was still just a child, trembling beneath the weight of fear.

"We were waiting for Katherine," he said, voice shaking. "She told us to stay here."

She had been here. Where was she now? Anger flared inside me, but there was no time for questions.

"Are you blind? Look around you—the fire is spreading, it's coming into this room!" My voice rose, harsh with desperation. Matt's eyes filled with tears, but I grabbed him and shoved the children toward the door. "Go! Now!"

They hesitated, clinging to me like frightened puppies. I scooped up the youngest and led the way, forcing myself to stay calm. My mind raced, blank with fear, but somehow we reached the back of the orphanage, near the forest. Smoke billowed behind us. Where could I hide them? Katherine, I need you. Where are you?

A roar tore through the night. At first, I thought it was a wild animal, but when I turned, my blood ran cold. It wasn't an animal—it was a monster. The same kind Katherine and I had faced earlier.

I handed the child to Matt, gripping his shoulders firmly. "Listen, Matt. I can't go with you. I need you to lead everyone to the main street and find help. Don't look back. Just run. I'll follow if I can."

His eyes widened, but I forced a smile, even as dread coiled in my chest. "Go. Protect them."

I pushed them forward, watching as the children stumbled into the night. My heart ached, but I knew this was the only way. I prayed this wouldn't be the last time I saw them—that I could still protect these innocent lives from the darkness closing in.

When I was certain they had vanished from my sight, I turned back. "Over here, you fool!" I shouted, raising both hands high in the air to draw its attention.

Almost instantly, regret struck me. I cursed under my breath as the creature charged toward me, its mouth wide open, revealing jagged, blood‑stained teeth and a tongue that slithered like a snake. Panic surged through me. I ran, whispering desperate pleas for help, clutching the necklace around my neck. For reasons I couldn't explain, that small object gave me a strange sense of calm.

My escape didn't last long. I stumbled and fell hard to the ground, a scream tearing from my throat—louder than any I had ever made. Pain exploded in my right leg, forcing another cry from me. When I looked back, I saw its claws buried deep into my flesh. Cold sweat drenched me, my body trembling as I clenched my jaw to endure the agony. I tried to crawl away, but the monster refused to release me. Its nails remained hooked into my leg, holding me down.

At that moment, I felt utterly powerless. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the thought that this was where I would die. My chest heaved, my heartbeat raced, and my body burned as if fever had taken hold of me. My head throbbed sharply, and when I opened my eyes again, something inside me had changed. My hands moved on their own, digging deep into the creature. I didn't understand why, but the pain in my leg no longer mattered. My emotions had vanished—I felt nothing.

When I pulled my hands back, they were drenched in blood. In my grip was its heart, still beating, though the monster's body already lay lifeless on the ground. Horrified, I threw it aside and stared at my hands. They were no longer the same. My nails had grown longer, sharper, and from the tips down to my wrists, my skin was covered in a black, charcoal‑like substance. Yet I felt no pain, no fear—only numbness.

I turned toward the orphanage, now engulfed in flames. "Burn with it," I whispered, thinking of the nuns who had treated us as nothing more than objects. I hoped they were still inside, trapped, slowly turning to ash, finally facing the punishment they deserved.

Lowering my gaze, I noticed my wounds. I tilted my head, watching in disbelief as the torn flesh of my leg began to close, healing before my eyes. What was happening to me? What kind of power was this? I hadn't done anything, yet the pain and injuries across my body were fading away.

Questions swirled in my mind. Was this the work of the nuns? Did they do something to me? Or was it tied to my parents—my true identity? I had no answers. All I knew was that everything I thought I understood about myself had become uncertain, and the mystery of who I really was.

..

I turned my back and began to walk away. My steps carried me into the middle of the street, where the silence felt heavy and the air was cold. The night was dark and eerie, yet I didn't care. My mind was empty, too numb to understand what was happening. I lifted my eyes to the sky, and only then did I notice the faint glow of dawn. The sun was rising, and morning had already arrived without me realizing it.

I kept walking, slow and aimless, like a lost girl drifting through a dream. My bare feet touched the rough pavement, and I was still wearing my white nightdress, now stained with blood and dirt. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I moved forward, not knowing where I was going.

Suddenly, I felt something brush against my foot. I looked down and saw a cat. Its smooth fur grazed my skin, and when it noticed me staring, it walked beside me, its eyes fixed on mine. A soft meow echoed in the quiet street. I turned my head and saw three more cats trailing behind me. They meowed again, as if trying to speak, their gaze never leaving me. What's their business from me? They kept meowing and looked like they were talking to me but I couldn't even understand them.

When I looked ahead, another cat stood in front of me. It stopped, stared, and let out a single meow before turning to walk forward. It felt almost like a signal, as if it wanted me to follow. I sighed, too tired to question it, and simply obeyed. My feet carried me after them, down a narrow alleyway where the world grew quieter.

That was the last thing I remembered. The cats led me through the silence, my body weakening with every step, until finally it gave up. And now, I just woke up here with them. Suddenly a memory appeared in my mind. I wonder where Katherine and the other kids are? I hope they are safe.

..

Lou's Point of View

I looked down at my hands. The blood had already dried, but the smell clung to my skin, sharp and fishy. The alley was quiet, yet something felt wrong. I turned my head to the left, and at the same time the cats beside me shifted their gaze in the same direction. A faint explosion echoed in the distance. It wasn't deafening, but it was close enough to make the ground tremble slightly beneath my feet.

I grunted, forcing myself to stand. My body felt heavy, but I walked calmly toward the sound. When I glanced back, I noticed the cats hadn't followed. They only stared, their eyes fixed on me, as if they understood something I didn't. For a moment, I hesitated, but then I shook my head. They were just animals. They couldn't think or speak.

My thoughts were interrupted when a monster lunged at me from the shadows. My eyes widened, and I stumbled aside, barely avoiding its claws. Aren't they supposed to be gone? How many are left? I cursed under my breath as it swung again, its sharp nails slicing through the air toward my face. Reflex took over—I ducked, and to my shock, my hand shifted once more, changing into something sharp and unnatural. Without hesitation, I slashed at the creature, cutting deep into its belly. It roared in pain, staggering back, but I didn't stop. Just like before, I drove my hand into its chest and ripped out its heart.

Breathing hard, I stared at the lifeless body. If this one was here, there had to be more. I ran toward the direction it had come from, my steps echoing against the walls of the alley. When I arrived, I froze. A man was fighting against a group of monsters. His movements were strong but slowing, his body already wounded. What caught my attention wasn't just the monsters—it was him. Light poured from one of his hands, bright and powerful, while in the other he held a massive silver blade. With a single swing, he could cut a monster down. It was incredible. I wanted a weapon like that.

I stayed hidden, watching. He fought bravely, but the longer the battle dragged on, the weaker he became. Blood stained his clothes, and his breathing grew heavy. My eyes shifted when another monster appeared. It was different from the others. Its skin was gray, veins glowing neon green, and its growl was deeper, hungrier. It stared at the man, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I glanced at my hands, still transformed, and clutched the necklace around my neck. "Give me strength to fight," I whispered. My breath came heavy as I locked my eyes on the creature. Then I ran.

Time seemed to slow. I leapt, stepping against the wall, flipping through the air before landing behind the monster. "That... was cool," I muttered, almost in disbelief. Without hesitation, I slashed at it with my long nails. But instead of falling, the creature darted away and lunged straight at the man. Its teeth sank into him, claws tearing into his chest. He didn't scream. Instead, he drove his silver blade into the monster, piercing it with sheer willpower.

I bit my lip hard and rushed forward. Grabbing the creature, I hurled it away with all my strength. The man staggered, blood spilling from his mouth, and collapsed. I caught him before he hit the ground. Around us, the other monsters froze. Their eyes met mine, and suddenly, they turned and fled as if terrified of something.

"T-Take me home..." he whispered weakly. His voice trembled, fading. He was dying.

I looked down at his hand, where a faint glow shimmered. A brilliant light burst forth, forming a massive mirror-like object in the air. My mouth fell open in shock. He pointed toward it, and somehow, I lifted him with ease, guiding him toward the glowing surface. He wasn't heavy at all, as if the light itself carried him. I didn't know what would happen if I stepped through, but instinct told me I had to.

The light swallowed me whole. For a moment, I thought I would vanish. My vision blurred, and my body felt weightless. But when the brightness faded, I found myself standing in the middle of a forest. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of earth and leaves. Sunlight filtered through the trees, painting the ground with shifting patterns. The silence was deep, almost sacred, as if I had crossed into another world.

I grunted as the man's weight suddenly pressed down harder against me, forcing my knees to buckle. His body felt heavier than before, as though life itself was slipping away from him. Alarmed, I tilted his face toward the faint light breaking through the forest canopy. His skin had grown paler, almost ghostly, and his lips trembled with shallow breaths.

How am I supposed to ask for help here? The forest stretched endlessly around me, silent except for the rustle of leaves and the distant cries of unseen creatures. No villages, no people—only me and this stranger. He was conscious, but weak, and I couldn't lift him properly. My arms strained as I dragged him across the uneven ground, each step a battle against roots and stones.

Why was I in this situation? It felt like punishment, as if fate had chosen me to carry a burden I never asked for. This wasn't my responsibility, yet I couldn't abandon him. Something about him compelled me to stay. His face was striking—beautiful and handsome at once, with skin smooth like pearl and hair styled neatly, untouched by the chaos of the forest. His clothes were unusual, too fine and unique for a wanderer. Regal, almost. Princey—was that even a word? It seemed fitting, though I wasn't sure why.

"F-Find... a v-village," he whispered suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. The words startled me, weak but clear enough to carry meaning.

I blinked down at him. "So you're not dead after all," I muttered, rolling my eyes. He managed a faint chuckle, but the effort made his breathing harsher, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

A village? Is he serious? The world was vast, and this forest seemed endless. How was I supposed to find a village here? By the time I stumbled upon one, he might already be beyond saving. Dragging him wasn't working. My arms ached, my back screamed, and my patience thinned. Finally, I laid him gently on the ground, brushing dirt from his clothes, and ran off, following the faint trail in search of help.

Minutes stretched into eternity as I ran. My lungs burned, my legs trembled, but I pressed on. All I saw were towering trees with roots twisting like serpents, moss clinging to their bark, and tall grass brushing against my knees. Small flowers bloomed quietly at the edges of the path, their colors bright but lonely in the sea of green. The forest felt alive, watching me, whispering through the wind. Panic clouded my thoughts, and exhaustion dragged me down until I nearly collapsed.

That was when I almost collided with a horse.

"Woah!" A deep voice rang out. A man, perhaps in his fifties, stepped from a small carriage with wheels. His eyes widened in shock. "Lady, are you lost? You came out of nowhere—I almost ran you over with my carriage."

Carriage? I didn't care what it was called. Relief flooded me. I hurriedly stood, grabbed his hand, and pleaded, "Please, I need your help. My friend is injured, and you're the only person I've seen."

He studied me carefully, his gaze sharp, as if weighing whether I could be trusted. Then he gently removed my hand and signaled to the driver. The younger man climbed down, helped me onto the seat beside him, while the older one entered the carriage.

"Just lead me to him, dear. Tell me where you left him," he said calmly. I quickly gave directions, though unease lingered. That man earlier..His manner was distant, untouchable, as though he carried authority. Was he a noble? A king? Why did he act as if being touched was beneath him?

When we neared the spot, I jumped down before the carriage fully stopped and ran ahead. "Mister, help is here!" I called out, breathless.

The man's eyes widened in horror. "By the gods of Vellona... it is Prince Lucian! Your Highness!" His voice trembled as he turned to his companion. "Eric, hurry! Help the Crown Prince!"

Prince Lucian? Crown Prince? My head spun. Was this some kind of film set? I glanced around, half-expecting cameras hidden among the trees, but there were none.

They lifted him carefully and placed him inside the carriage. Just then, a stunning young woman stepped out. She carried a long, gleaming blade—the same kind I had seen him wield against monsters. Her beauty was breathtaking, but her eyes burned with fury as she glared at me.

I froze, stunned by her presence. Before I could react, she vanished from sight. In an instant, I was forced onto my knees. She had kicked the back of my legs, making me collapse, and now her blade was pressed against my neck.

I let out a bitter laugh, though fear twisted inside me. Is this how they say thank you? If so, I hated it. Anger flared in my chest, dark and sharp. A thought crossed my mind—I wanted to tear them apart, piece by piece.

To be Continued..