I am crying, I think. Tears blur my vision as I look around, and all I see is a sea of flame surrounding me. Above, the night sky stretches endlessly, dotted with countless stars, while below, the ground is consumed by fire. Panic grips me, urging me to escape the inferno that engulfs my father's car. With trembling hands, I push open the door and leap out, my heart pounding in my chest. I stumble away from the wreckage, desperate to put as much distance between myself and the flames as possible.

As I run, the sounds of gunfire echo in the distance, mingling with the growls of unseen beasts and the snapping of wood. I steal a glance behind me and catch sight of shadowy figures firing at the creatures that lurk in the darkness. I strain my eyes, trying to make out their faces, but they remain indistinct, mere silhouettes against the backdrop of chaos. Yet, strangely, I can see the beasts with startling clarity, their forms illuminated by the flickering flames.

Suddenly, I hear a low growl behind me, and I whirl around to find myself face-to-face with four piercing amber eyes. Fear grips me, but as I meet the gaze of the creature, I sense no hostility, only a strange sense of being watched over. Before I can react, the beast lunges past me, its sleek form moving with fluid grace. It's a panther, its fur like moss clinging to the forest floor, yet also like ferns unfurling after a harsh winter.

As the panther engages in a fierce battle with one of the shadowy figures, a surreal sensation washes over me. The world around me begins to fade, the sounds of the flames and gunfire growing distant. In their place, I become acutely aware of the natural world: the rustle of leaves in the wind, the patter of raindrops on the ground, the frantic thud of beasts' hearts, and the sickening scent of blood and burnt flesh.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I feel a strange tingling sensation enveloping me as if the very air is charged with energy. Then, with a deafening crack, lightning strikes nearby, illuminating the chaos in stark relief. At that moment, a sudden realization grips me like a vice: my twin sister, Amila. I had almost forgotten about her in the chaos, but now her memory floods back, driving me forward with renewed urgency.

With every ounce of strength in my young body, I sprint towards the car, the flames now quenched by the rain that pours from the sky. Just as I reach out to touch the cold metal, something grabs hold of me, yanking me back with unexpected force. I collide with something soft and yielding, and as I look up, I find myself staring into the eyes of the panther once more.

Confusion swirls in my mind as I struggle to comprehend what is happening. Why is the beast protecting me? And who—or what—is speaking to me through the wind? The voice, like a whisper carried on the breeze, speaks, " Oh! The child of us, I am sorry we came so late, we could not save the other from that abyssal aberrant man.

We came to save you yet we find you have also been defiled, but as this was a failing of ours, I give you the Mark of us so you may not be shunned by our kind. We cannot take you with us anymore so be well. But remember a time will come when you may be free from these humans I give you my word. But to survive up to that AWAKEN."

As the world spins around me, I feel a surge of energy coursing through my veins. And then, just as suddenly as it began, everything goes black.

In the darkness, I hear the voice once more, a faint whisper guiding me towards an uncertain future. "The time is nigh," it says, "walk the way away, and you may know the time." And with those cryptic words ringing in my ears, I slip into unconsciousness. I jolt awake on my bed.