A heavy downpour could be seen on the newly tarred roads and streets of the city. The air was thick as raindrops were falling from the sky in torrents. A small child took one step at a time trying not to slip and fall as she sprinted in hopes she would make it home before the storm got worse, but she knew he wouldn't make it in time, not like this.

Her small body could only carry her so far as she was soaked to the bone. Her clothes stuck tightly to her body causing her to shiver every time a gust of wind blew through the street. The rain continued to pour, but the child was determined not to stop. The cold was slowly sapping her energy and the rain only increased that determination. Tears streamed down her face as she kept walking.

"Where am I?" She cried.

The whole place looked unfamiliar as she tried to find her way. The streets were lined with buildings and tall houses made of mud, bricks, stones, metal and wood. The rain pelted down on her. Her shoes squished against the wet pavement as she struggled to move further along. Her teeth chattered loudly, but she kept going.

"Mom! Mom! Daddy? Where is everyone?" She wailed.

An electric static sound in the air made her look up find a large golden being staring back down at her. The creature smiled and nodded to show he understood everything she was saying. She gasped as she recognized the figure from her picture books. She stopped, frozen, afraid to move.

"Go! Go!" He urged.

"Who are you?!" She shouted.

"Go! Please before you get hurt!" He yelled.

A man from the side waved his arm for her to run, he had to distract the creature. She did as she was told. But just before she reached him the creature lunged at her, knocking her back down. She struggled to stand up. The man was in front of her with his arms outstretched waiting for her to reach him.

She ran towards him grabbing his hands as he helped her stand back up. She hugged him tight as he stroked her hair comfortingly. She then looked at the beast and screamed with terror at the sight.

"Run," He whispered.

It charged her before pausing as the little girl had no strength to keep running. The creature stopped dead in its tracks as the little girl stood there in awe. Her eyes filled with wonder at what she saw. This creature had two large yellow eyes, which were glowing brightly. Two long horns extended from its head, each with a red tip. On the side of its right cheek was a bright purple scar. She could see tiny scales growing beneath those eyes, as well as under the nose and lips.

"Huh…?" The man thought.

It had been paralyzed from her touch. Its heart raced rapidly. It wanted to move, to destroy her. It couldn't, however, due to the fear coursing through its veins. Suddenly she moved. With a flash of gold she was gone leaving the man staring after her as the creature ran towards another direction.

The tiny girl wondered what in the world had happened to her and why she could stop the scariest monster. The tiny girl wondered what in the world had happened to her and why she could stop the scariest monster known to humankind. Why could she take on something so powerful and deadly and defeat it without losing a single bit of strength? What had changed?

"Where is Mommy and Daddy?" She asked.

The man happily swept her in his arms before he dashed off. She giggled in his arms as she gazed up into his dark eyes with her own purple ones.

"I think I know someone you will have to meet," He answered.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Will it be Mama and Papa?" She whined.

He held her close as tears formed in his eyes. His smile quickly faded as memories flooded into his mind. Memories of an innocent childhood that ended before he could even have a chance to meet her. Memories of a father he had never met, who was never there to hold him when he was scared, who never loved him, who left him to fend for himself.

"If you are who I think you are…I will be your new papa…" He choked.

"Elsie? Elsie are you there?" Freeland asked.

She snapped back to reality as Freeland's voice pierced her consciousness. She wiped away a stray tear from her face before smiling up at the man she deemed annoying as his hands cupped her cheeks. She looked down at the ground as her smile faded. The rain started to die down as their conversation was interrupted by loud thunder. Freeland watched her smile.

"Any news if Pilot had awoken yet?" Elsie questioned.

"Last I heard he was still resting…" Freeland noted.

"Oh…Cardinal and Fawn sure have been in there a long time," Elsie laughed.

The door slammed open with Cardinal angry walking out holding his sword aloft. He immediately caught her eye as the smile left her face. He stared daggers at Freeland.

"What was that?!" Cardinal yelled.

Fawn peeked around the corner as she watched him stomp out the door with another loud bang the other two gawked at Fawn.

"I can only guess what happened…" Elsie sighed.

"I never seen you down before," Freeland noted.

She was silent, staring down at her tea. Getting up from the table to follow Cardinal when she caught sight of an aviator hat on the floor when she knew right away it was meant for Pilot only to giggle.

Walking into the room she watched as Cardinal stood there with his head bent staring down at the sleeping Pilot clearly upset at Fawn.

"We've got to talk," she said.

Cardinal turned to look at her. "And we're gonna do that now? Fawn already knows we need to go north…"

Elsie walked closer until she could see him better. Her eyes flickered over his features, taking in every feature as they reflected in his eyes.

"I feel like we're all pawns of this world just till it gets bored of us," Elsie noted.

"But then there are three others like Pilot in this world we must find now too," Cardinal responded.

She paused as her hair antennae moved to and fro. Her hands were clasped together as she nervously played with the strands of her hair and looked away from him as if she was hiding something.

"There is others?" She replied.

"Fawn I don't think ever intended to tell us, but because of Kot she had no choice," He growled.

"How will we even find them? I am pretty sure this continent is pretty vast," She responded.

Elsie thought back how she was unknowingly asleep right on top of Cardinal in the closet slowly turning red and covering her mouth embarrassingly while he watched. She quickly ducked behind the bed, hoping she wouldn't get noticed. Cardinal chuckled slightly and shook his head.

"What's wrong Elsie?" He asked.

Her pink antennae popped up before the rest of her did. Elsie groaned, burying her face into her hand in embarrassment.

"Nothing!" She squeaked.

"I wonder if that is why Pilot became sick the first time?" Freeland chimed.

They both looked back. They both looked back at Pilot as he snored softly in his sleep. They looked back at Elsie as she looked up at the ceiling in silence. After a moment, she quietly mumbled to herself.

"He had been sick prior to this?" Cardinal asked.

"We had a run in with Caym where he had opened Pilot's third eye," Freeland explained.

Cardinal thought back to the presence he felt different in the house. The feeling was so powerful and so overpowering that he couldn't believe it had not occurred to him before. He looked back at Elsie.

"That may explain things…" He muttered.

"We literally will die if we keep messing with this stuff!" Elsie yelled.

"Pilot healed quicker than the first time, but he sleeps like a damn bear!" Freeland laughed.

Elsie looked away embarrassed, 'This guy is too much!'

Pilot silently sat up in the cot as he rubbed his eyes, blinking his tired eyes. He looked around trying to figure out why he was here. His body ached and he could tell he'd been here awhile. He looked towards the door before he noticed the new face smiling at him.

"Pilot, you are still Pilot right?" Freeland panicked.

The third eye opened fully causing Pilot to lean downward as his head hurt like hell. He winced at the pain.

"Why are you here?" Pilot questioned.

Freeland sat beside the messy haired brunette. Elsie remained standing behind them.

"Are you feeling ashamed? Is that why you are hiding your face?" Cardinal spoke.

"Shut up…" Pilot muttered.

He faced down gawking into the darkness of the blankets. As he lay on the cot he closed his eyes and tried to relax but was unable to get comfortable. The cot was a little scratchy. There wasn't a good enough mattress for him to sleep on. He didn't exactly want to stay in this small cottage either as everything seemed so cramped.

"You will be okay man!" Freeland laughed.

"I am not even gifted…I am a haunted house…" Pilot thought.