Born to be Queen

2. Cursed stormy night.

“It’s not the end it’s the beginning towards shiny luminous future.”

Thomas Artino seems distressed from the past few days. His wife Angle asked “what’s the matter. Why you always look tensed nowadays” every time whenever she saw him worried. Because of Thomas behaviour, she’s also not feeling well. But console herself to what he always answer to her “ Everything is fine. Just work pressure".

She believes his words as he was the well-known businessman of the Oea city of Ellipso. His husband’s family was the oldest here. And some believes that they hold deep secrets in their family root since eternity. She also feels the same but never asked her husband about that.

Even after being stalk by a creepy shadow man Mr Thomas Artino keeps one more secret within him and he also files complaint to Sheriff Joe who is always a good friend to him. Artino’s are rich and always keeps their life restricted to themselves. And this is not the right time to pass the secrets to their next generation as his son Milson Artino is only 10 and his daughter Akira Artino is only 6. He needs to keep his family secrets with him until his children will turn the age of maturity which is 18 on the land of ELLIPSO.

Little Akira who calls her brother Milson “Mibo” loves to dress up like her brother. She has Jet black coloured hairs which are trimmed perfectly in boy cut, same as her brother’s hairstyle and her eyes are big and bright like the eyes of a doe. Her face is slightly round which makes her cuter than other children’s of her age.

In winter vacation, Both come back to Artino’s mansion from there boarding school (in Fotos city of Ellipso) and spend holidays with their cousin Riko. People who are not special to them think that Artino’s have two sons, as Akira is a pretty little girl but prefers to live as her elder brother. She loves to wear shirt and trousers like her brother rather than dresses.

Everyone else is inside the dining room having breakfast while chit-chatting with each other. Artino siblings and their cousin were playing outside in the garden area. They want to go to the hill area outside the mansion but Mr Artino restricted them to play only within the home, as he was afraid that the man who is stalking him will also harm children. So it is better to be careful than sorry.

All three were playing queen and knights outside. In which Akira was Queen and Milson was her Knight, As Riko was unable to remember his role as a knight he was just sitting there at supporting his cousins while clapping for them.

Whenever three of them play together they always choose the story of queen and knight or superpowers and magic.

As both siblings were calmly arguing on what not to call in-between play. Riko went inside to tell his aunty that his cousins again arguing on the same thing as always. After hearing their mother’s call, Milson runs towards his mother and embrace her followed by Akira who told them to wait for her to join in there for a group hug.

“Mother we were not fighting,” both said in unison to Mother.

“hmmmmm... I know, I know. My sweet little bubbles. Common get in and have breakfast first.” She said to them feeling proud for having such adorable children, who always take care of each other.

Angel Artino still remembers when Akira was born and even after breastfeeding, the baby could not stop crying. Then her elder brother who was only four at that time held her close to his heart and gave her name Akira. And baby Akira who was only one day old all of sudden lightly smiles. That day as a big brother he made a promise to her sister to always protect her in every condition. Akira smiles again after listening to what’s her brother promise to her. After watching this Angle was proud to have a son like Milson and she was shocked too, as it looks like an infant baby who is only one day old understands everything which her older brother said. This scene made her cry as well as smile.

That day they played the whole day. Angle was delighted as She has such a loving and caring family. She prepared everyone’s favourite dishes. Everyone was happy and enjoying their favourite meal in the dining room. After dinner as children refuse to sleep and wants to play more, Angle went to her room where Thomas was waiting for her talking to someone on the cell phone.

“ Did you find anything about him?? “ he Said to Sheriff Joe anxiously.

“No as per your description we unable to catch anyone. Does he look like what you said...??? Maybe there is some misunderstanding.” on the other side, Joe said in hesitation.

" What I have seen with my own eyes it cannot be a hallucination. He is following me like a Shadow. Please do something” his face look pale as he was recalling everything which had happened to him.

“Don’t worry, I am trying my best., Joe said assuring him that he and his family are safe.

Angle listened to the whole conversation. She was apprehensive and trembling in fear, but first, she decides to put children in their beds. As she entered her room Mr Artino ask her to sit next to him and told her every single detail of unfortunate things which was happening to him and about the man who was following him like a shadow. He can sense that something terrible is going to happen and she can also relate to it. But it was too late for them to discuss all it. 

As they hear Riko’s scream. Mr Artino runs outside of the room and told his wife to stay in the room but it was their fate who sends a predator to demolish their race.

Little Akira was hiding inside the wooden cabinet which was carved in such a manner that she can see clearly what is happening inside her room. As her Mibo told her to hide and stay quite in it. She was holding her mouth with her small hands to prevent her sobbing and voice to come out from her mouth. She was trembling in horror after listening endless screams and it seems like a cursed horror night which was too long for a little girl like her to survive.

Her eyes were wide ready to come out of its socket as her heart was filled with consternation. It was now too much for her to process. What she saw through wooden holes It was beyond everything. Murderer pulled her Mibo through his hairs from under the bed. He was screaming with full pressure in his lungs and his voice was echoing in her room. She wants to do something to help her Mibo but she can’t she was frozen at the same place her body was cold as her soul left her body. He was begging and pleading to let him go but with one blow Man slit his throat. She tries to come out, but when her mother indicated her not to come outside, she remained their quiet lifeless same as her brother.

She wants to cry, scream and fight but she can’t that man is too powerful to stop. She listens to every single word which her mother said to that man while smiling starting in his dead dark eyes. And those words are like fire in chilly winter night which was filling her blank emotionless heart with anger, sadness and revenge. She saw the pool of blood around her brother. She sat there for god knows how many hours even after that man left.

Emotions in her heart are like awaking storm which is ready to destroy everything that comes in between its path. She comes out crawling like a weak animal and Sat down near Mibo's lifeless body. She touches his face the same as if she trying to wake him up from his sleep. But he didn't wake up.

She was stained in her brother’s blood sobbing heavily angry and depressed. As she goes outside the room she saw her mother covered in blood, her father with several cut as he tried his best to stop that man but he failed, his face was pale blue as whole blood drained out from his body. Then she went to her cousin’s room praying silent but he was also lying dead in his bed. Still, his face shows how much scared he was of that man who killed that little boy without mercy.

She was all alone left behind to suffer. Her whole family died to save her. No tear left in her eyes as, tears unable to do justice for what agony she has to face I’m this cursed night. She was too little to understand what she exactly feeling right now, she was a mess and the girl who doesn’t even know what exactly anger is, Is now boiling. With every passing minute, her rages were imitating from her body creating a red-orange aura.

Outside mansion black clouds start thickening and cover the entire mansion in its darkness, thunder lightning with a loud sound start striking at several places. Slowly the whole Oea got covered in blank horrible darkness. the only light that can be seen is from lightning. 

Inside the Mansion she was unable to control her self her eyes were changing its colour from jet black to Grey. She was burning like fire ready to burn whole ELLIPSO. At no wonder, her pain is killing her from inside and nature itself responding to her pain. For the first time, there is a Thunderstorm which is now spreading in whole ELLIPSO that is ready to destroy everything. She was in the air and her eyes were turning red as her soul now wants revenge. Red fire radiating from her turns thunder and lightning louder and louder imitating red colour with each lighting.

For the first time with her emotions, her powers awaken in her. it's also started raining as whole ELLIPSO is crying in her sorrow. It’s almost midnight she fell on the floor covered with blood. Her power explode in her body made her weak she start shivering and due to heavy fall, she was injured and covered with her own as well as her family’s blood. She faints soon but her emotions were far strong to make Strom worse. Heavy rain causing the flood.

She was lying lifeless on the floor. When someone struggles to enter in Mansion. Both of them were trying to cross every obstacle whether a storm or a flood or a cyclone.

Once Artino’s mansion was a place where the loving family of Akira lived but now turned into the altar (a place which is used for sacrifice). As they cross stare case they saw blood and dead Mr Artino and Mrs Artino. They check Riko’s room he was also dead. They went in Akiras Room, where Milson lying dead on the floor. They thought Akira is also dead as she was covered in but she was alive. The lady was crying and she pukes again and again her stomach is crunching and her head is throbbing, her heart is sinking. She was not ready to accept that everyone is dead. It was too much for her. Man who was with her try to console her but he is also feeling the same sorrow in his heart.

They both held the girl close to them. the man called Sheriff Joe. They both lost something precious today but they still have Akira with them. They were holding her tightly in pa possessive manner as If someone going to take her away from them.

There life’s turn upside down in one night. Which gave them unbearable loss and lament. the man holds Akira in his arms and guides his wife to go downstairs As they need to take her to the doctor. She was shivering, sobbing in her unconscious state and her body is burning from high fever.

As soon as Sheriff arrive he saw Akira covered in blood. He was shocked as he talks to her father this evening, how can such a thing happen so fast.

Before he can say anything. the man said in angry cold tone “Check upstairs everyone else is dead. Catch that cold blood murderer who is responsible for this. And nobody should know that Akira is alive.”

“ I failed them. My friend is gone, Akira is still alive why you want it to be a secret, She can help us in catching the murderer” Sheriff said in sadness and frustration.

“Whoever the killer wants to kill Artino’s only, by mistaken my son got killed at the place of Akira they are of the same age. The killer didn't know that who is the second child” Man said while clenching his fist. Veins popping out from his forehead.

“Everything makes sense Thomas told me about a man who was following him everywhere It is possible that that man killed everyone,” Sheriff said thinking about the man was and what was the motive behind it. He knew his friend since childhood. He was a good man who always helps others. But he also knew that after 18 he gets to know his family secrets which changed a lot. But he was always same for those whom he considered as his friend.

“We need to take her to our family doctor and we are staying only for tonight in Oea than we will live this place to keep Akira safe. We need a safe place to stay.” the man said in his low distressed voice.

“Okay, I have a farmhouse nearby. Let me take you to the doctor You are safe with me.” He said indicating them to follow him to his car. They all settle in car, And then he called his fellow officer to start working on Artino’s case. And he informed that the whole family is dead. Now Joe understands clearly why his friend Thomas never keeps any family photo or photos of his kid in the house, Perhaps he already knew that something like this could happen. And he wants to save his children.

There was silence throughout the drive. First, they visit the doctor so he can examine Akira Properly at his home as they can’t risk her life by taking her hospital. What if a murderer gets to know about her.