Roy became pale. The creature pulled its hand back, ripping Roy’s heart. His breathing stopped as his body fell to the ground. The creature kicked Roy, sending his body crashing back. It waved its hand in the air and suddenly a star shaped trigram appeared in the air. A box appeared in the creature’s hand. It kept the ripped heart into the box, while its body emitted a gray miasma. When the miasma covered its body, the creature vanished, while the miasma faded into the air. Suddenly the ring on Roy’s finger emitted a fiery glow, which enveloped his body. The glow brightened, as an image of Roy began to form inside the gemstone, embedded into the ring.

…

The morning sun greeted the horizon with his gentle rays, while Ryan woke up from his slumber. He opened his eyes feeling weary. After rubbing them for a bit, he smacked his head. Ryan did that to punish himself for his carelessness. He quickly checked on Ruby and saw her sleeping soundly. Ryan decided not to wake her up and went to his room. He grabbed his mobile phone and dialed the hospital, after getting their number from the net.

“Hello, Holy Trinity Hospital reception” a sweet female voice was heard through the speaker.

“Yes, can you please call my uncle. I am the son of Mrs. McAlester who was brought to your hospital for emergency last night”

“Please wait sir, let me check” after checking the information, the receptionist told him to wait while they call his uncle.

“Ryan, where are you? I was waiting for you to come. Did you check on my pumpkin? Hurry up and come here with her.” Ryan frowned when he heard his uncle referring his sister as pumpkin.

“I will be there, wait for me. Ruby is sleeping right now. Uncle, please wait near mom”

“Alright, come fast and where is your father? Did you not tell him? I don’t think you did or he would have been here. I am also trying to reach him but he is not picking up” Ryan did not reply and disconnected the call. His mind was still in turmoil regarding his father. He wanted to think that that… monster wasn’t his father. Ryan’s head began to ache. He held his head tightly for a moment, until the pain stopped.

Ryan then went to the washroom and freshened himself up. He decided to wake his sister up. He went down the stairs, towards the living room as an ominous feeling lingered in his heart. Ryan entered Ruby’s room. He went near her bed.

Suddenly, a robed figure appeared beside him. He punched Ryan in his face and he crashed into the wall, while cracking it slightly. He became light headed as one side of his face was swollen violet and the other was bleeding. The loud noise woke Ruby up. She looked around and saw Ryan and the robed figure. When she saw her brother, she felt immense worry. “Brother” she loudly shouted. The robed figure grabbed Ruby, while Ryan was trying to stand up. Just when she was about to shout again, he held her mouth. Ryan stood up with the support of the wall.

His vision was spinning rapidly. Ryan heard Ruby’s muffled screams, furiously he said, “Wai… wait. Don’t you dare...” before Ryan could complete his sentence, the figure dashed forward and kicked him in the chest. The impact broke his ribs. Ryan spat out blood and dropped to the ground. Ruby was struggling to free herself to help her brother. She tried to kick and bite. But she couldn’t as the figure did not flinch. Whenever she tried shouting, his hands would grab her mouth. After giving the bloodied Ryan another look, the figure flashed and disappeared with Ruby.

…

Ryan opened his eyes slowly, waking up from the sudden collapse. He was laying on his back, uninjured. Surprised, Ryan quickly got up, to look for his sister. His blood ran cold as he inspected the surroundings. There was nothing, nothing at all, not even a ray of light. He was surrounded by darkness, just darkness. Ryan carefully stepped forward into the void. He was worried about his sister. He ran in a random direction as fast he could, while muttering, “Where the hell am I? Have I finally lost it? Is this what madness feels like?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Ryan frantically ran in all directions, while calling out Ruby. He was scared at the thought of her losing her. He loved his sister a lot. His heart became heavy and tears flowed from his eyes. But Ryan did not stop running.

He was suddenly pulled by an unknown force from behind. Ryan instinctively resisted it, using all of his strength. As he pushed against the pull, he suddenly felt the area around him becoming hotter and hotter. The force became stronger,while the heat intensified. But he persisted, while sweating profusely. Ryan felt his legs and arms snapping. A muffled scream echoed throughout the void, his limbs became numb and he lost control. Unable to resist any longer, Ryan was pulled back into nothingness. He felt his skin burning from the heat. The pain consumed his mind, making him unable to think. He screamed loudly, the pain became intolerable. But against the thought of losing his sister, this was nothing. Even when he could no longer bare the agony, he didn’t give in, he tightly closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. The moment his eyes closed, the torment ended.

When Ryan opened his eyes again. He was laying on the bed of black soot and ashes. He realized that he was no longer in Ruby’s room. The room he was in had rich furnishing, except for the area around him. Ryan noticed a person standing in the corner, staring at him in astonishment.

The person had brown hair with a very handsome and gentle looking face. He had a well-shaped body and he did not seem like a year pass 20. He wore a black jacket with a metal zip, jeans and black gloves.

Whew!

“Man, the bed cost me 560 dollars. Don’t do this again, please” his voice had a subtle southern accent.

Ryan was startled. Was he the one who attacked him? Ryan got furious at the thought and he angrily asked, “Who are you and Where is Ruby? Why did you take her?”

“Ohh! Calm down, calm down will ya.” the person raised his hands in front of him. “I am Fred and I did not take your sister, the Fallen’s did.” he added.

Ryan was confused, Fallens who are they? Where was Ruby? “I am asking you again, tell me where my sister is?” Ryan starred at Fred menacingly, while he closed his fists. Fred moved towards a table beside him, he swiftly picked up a jar and a glass, while Ryan’s cold stare followed him. He poured some water in the glass and spoke, “I told ya, didn’t I? Your sister, I did not take her. But I know where she is. It will take a while to explain it to ya. Here drink some water mate.”

Fred’s voice somehow made Ryan calm. He obediently took the glass of water and began drinking it. “There, there.” Fred uttered. Ryan realized that something was amiss. He threw the glass away, breaking it. “What did you do?” Ryan spoke bitterly. Fred’s heart ached, when he saw the glass break.

“That glass cost me 50 dollars. You should not throw people’s property around.” Fred became furious. “I told you didn’t I?” he waved his hands and a chair flew over. By flicking his fingers, he made Ryan sit on it firmly. Fred waved his hands again and wrapped a cloth around Ryan’s mouth. Ryan wanted to move, but he couldn’t, not even after using all his strength. “You wanna listen right then stay silent. Ya know that I could kill ya, if I wanted to. It would be very easy.” he removed the cloth by waving his hands again.

“Listen, I am here to help you. Your father has done a lot for me. It’s my turn to repay him. Here take this. Ya won’t believe the trouble I went through to get you this.” Fred made a zipper bag fly over to Ryan. He flicked his fingers and enabled Ryan to move his hands.

The bag contained a mobile phone, 2 rings and an id card. On the bag the words Roy McAlester were written in capital by hand. Ryan understood what they were. Was his father dead? He felt heartbroken. “Is, is he… really” Ryan was interrupted mid-sentence as Fred spoke, “Ohh! No, no, no, he is not dead. Why are ya always so negative. The police just found his body” He raised his finger and one of Roy’s rings flew towards him, while holding it he said, “Do ya know what this ring is?” he said, while pointing the ring’s gemstone towards Ryan, “See your father’s face is here, inside this gemstone”

“Yes I do see it.” Ryan was confused about what Fred was talking about. They found my father's body. What is he trying to say? Fred smiled and gave him back the ring. He explained him about the ring.

“The ring is called Soul’s Lament. It preserves the wearer’s soul inside it. Your father’s soul is inside this ring.” Ryan did not know what to say and think. He just stared at Fred blankly. Fred gave Ryan a serious look and said in a grave tone, “Your mother is also taken by them.”

“Why did they…” Ryan was interrupted by Fred, as he spoke, “I don’t know what their goal is but I am certain that your mother and sister are still alive.” He let Ryan think for a bit then added, “A lot has happened for the 2 days you were asleep. Ya uncle surely pulled the short straw. He is in custody. For murdering Roy, abducting you, your mother and sister. They suspect that he has killed ya guys.” Fred laughs, “Don’t worry, I will make sure he is safe. And that he is not convicted.”

Ryan was in deep thought, he looked at his father’s ring. Was his father really in this ring?. What happened to him? Did the Fallen do something to his father? What are the Fallens? Why did they take Ruby and Mom? He became exasperated as his heart raged.

The rage for the Fallens boiled Ryan’s blood and suddenly the area around him became hotter. “Hey, hey stop Ryan. You will burn my chair.” Fred, with a wave of his hands made Ryan stand up and located the chair elsewhere. Confused, Ryan asks, “What is happening with me?” Fred quickly replies, “I don’t know but it is what healed ya injuries so quickly. Otherwise 4 broken ribs take some time to heal, even for me. I know it’s a lot to take in. I will try to explain you everything from the start.” He took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, “First let me tell ya the place where Fallens took your family. It is called Eden.”