You're a normal kid, at a normal university. You're not the most popular kid, but you're not a nerd or a loser either. Your family is pretty average, and, to be honest, your life is pretty average.
But you want more. You want to make something of yourself. Help people. You don't want to just be a blip on the radar and then gone, forever. You want to make a difference.
And then one day, something strange happens. You've been feeling a little weird all day. In fact, the weather has been pretty weird too. It has been pouring all day, and thunder is rolling. You're at school, and the lights are flickering. Then suddenly, they go out, and your class squeals. You roll your eyes at the girls; they are always so dramatic. But your eyes feel weird. They don't hurt, exactly, but it's certainly not comfortable. The lights come back on and you realise you're crying. You bring your hand up to your cheek in surprise, to wipe away the tears you didn't realise were rolling down your cheeks. You look at your hand, and then blink and look at it again.
It's blood.
Your classmates start to notice, and begin to scream. One or two rush over to you, but now you can't hear what they're saying. Through the blood you can see their mouths move, but you can't hear them. Your eyes begin to fill with blood, and eventually, you can't see a thing, and your body shuts down...
...Darkness...
...Falling...
...Crying...
...Crying? Someone is crying. You struggle out of the hazy twilight of sleep that you feel has claimed you for an age, and open your eyes. There is a young girl, about the same age as you, bent over a prone figure on a chais. You sit up, and look around. There are a few others lying on the floor, unconscious.
You move over to the girl, and squat down beside her. You take a closer look, and your eyes widen. This girl is wearing almost nothing! Just a pale pink slip, to match her pale skin. In fact, she was almost translucent. Her almost white hair floated down to her waist, and her large eyes were such a light blue they were practically colourless. She looks very fragile, and you wonder how she even has the strength to clasp at the hand she is weeping over.
The woman on the chais is clothed more modestly, and her clothes are obviously of good quality. Her dress reaches her ankles, and her feet are covered with small ballet slippers. The dress itself reminds you of a medieval style dress; cinched bodice, and long, flowing sleeves. Her hair is black, and, like the girl's, reaches to her waist. Her eyes are closed, and she is pale; so pale. You have never seen two people that look more like ghosts.
The girl looks at you, tears burning in her eyes. "It's your fault that she is like this. She brought you here. Now she is in a Forever Sleep, never to wake."
You're confused. You have no idea what's going on, and you state as such. The girl takes your hand, and you watch as colour returns to her skin for a moment. She gasps and lets go. Her skin returns to the palest of hues.
She reaches out more deliberately this time to touch your cheek. You can barely feel it, it's so soft and delicate a touch. As you watch wide eyed with wonder, colour returns to her cheeks, and she suddenly looks more real. Colour drips into her eyes, making them a bright turquoise, and her hair turns to a honey blonde. You suddenly feel a little weak, and need to sit down. As you do, her hand falls away from your cheek.
But the colour doesn't leave her. Her eyes sparkle as she looks at you, the tears forgotten. You're still confused, and you have no idea why you feel so tired. She seems to realise this, and sits down beside you. She tells you their story.
The Kachirim have been around for millions of years. We've been told that our planet was once beautiful, vibrant, and all our people lived in peace. We were ruled by an empress, Kachir, the most beautiful woman in all their world. When she grew old, her daughter took her place. And so on. The Kachirim have always been a matriarchical society, and the line of the empress was blessed with the gift of Medaan- or magic.
But then, one day around twenty years ago, the world began to inexplicably fade. It was incomprehensible, but colour and vibrance became a thing of memories. And soon, the people began to fade. The elderly went first, and then the rest. Some died, but most just lost their strength and vitality. The empress tried everything, but nothing worked. Her world continued to fade. While the men had wings, they could no longer fly. The women could no longer bear children. Their civilisation was deteriorating, and monsters were beginning to appear of those who had died before. They became moving shadows of their former selves, and killed anyone they found. They also made the fading faster and faster. They could be killed, but it broke the Kachirim's hearts. After all, they knew the shadows, and sometimes they chose to die rather than to kill their loved ones. Hope was dwindling fast.
But the empress had a vision of you. You, and the others that you see lying here. She dreamt that you could save us, although she had not an inkling how. She used the last of her Medaan to bring you here. Now she lays in a Forever Sleep, unless you can reverse the slow death. There may be a place, high in the mountains, where life is said to still exist.
And then the words...
Can you help us?
It was a plea, barely heard. A whisper, just like the rest of the world. Now that she's told you, you notice that the air is still. Birds sit silently in the listless, faded trees. The sky is dull. It's really depressing. You just want to leave. And yet, her plea echoes in your mind. Isn't this what you've always wanted? A chance to help people?
Now that you have the opportunity though, it doesn't seem so glorious. You have no idea what to do. All you know is that you have given this girl her colour back, although she says it's probably only temporary.
There's really only one choice you can make. After all, you have no idea how to get back, and you do want to help these people. You open your mouth to say you want to help, when a young man enters the courtyard. His wings are folded against his back, and for some reason you know he hasn't used them in a long time. A scowl mars his otherwise beautiful, yet pale, face, and you instantly feel small and insignificant. He glances at the empress, and then his eyes narrow as he takes in the girl you have been talking to. He pulls her aside and speaks to her, his voice angry. You think they're siblings, and from the way he's gesturing at you, you're pretty sure he's angry about you and the others, who are just beginning to wake up.
She argues with him, and eventually he seems to give in. He doesn't seem happy about it though. She returns to you, a little paler than before. The effect you seem to have on her must be beginning to wear off.
"My brother says that we will go with you."
Logo by Cooltext.com
