In the town of Willow Creek, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush green trees, Ellie Marrow watched in unease as the sky above her home transformed into a canvas of colors. A blanket of fear had descended upon their peaceful town, shattering the peace that had always been her safe haven.

Ellie clung to her mother's waist, her wide eyes reflecting the fires that now danced in the distance.

The town square, usually bustling with the laughter of her old friends, was now a scene of frenzied preparations. Men and women with the militia rushed back and forth, some forming makeshift barricades, others carrying large, terrifying guns used specifically to fight Chaos Beasts.

Ellie had never seen these specific weapons up close; she always knew her dad kept them hidden in the cellar, but it was another thing entirely to see them brought out into the open.

Her father, a strong and stoic figure in Ellie's young eyes, knelt beside her, brushing a lock of blue hair away from Ellie's face.

"Listen to me, sweetheart," her father's voice trembled slightly, betraying the fear he tried to hide. "I need you to be brave now for me. Go with your mother and the other children to the shelter near the river. Stay hidden, stay quiet. Do you understand?"

Ellie felt a lump form in her throat as she looked into her father's eyes, seeing his love and fear mingled within them. She shook her head vigorously, gripping her father's warm, rough palms.

"I don't want to leave you, Papa," Ellie whispered, her voice barely above a breath as tears welled up in her eyes. "I want to stay with you and help fight. You've taught me how to shoot and set traps. I can help!" Ellie pleaded.

Her father's gaze softened, a bittersweet smile touching his lips. He gently touched her cheek, his touch warm and reassuring. "Come on. You'll always be my brave little hunter, Ellie. But this is a battle for the grown-ups. Your job is to stay safe and look after your mom and your friends. Make sure that Liz doesn't cry too much, okay?"

Ellie nodded, her heart heavy with worry but understanding she had to do as her father asked. It was unfair.

She was eleven years old, far from the baby her parents always treated her like. Ellie longed to prove herself, to show her father that she could be strong and brave like him. But as the distant howls of the Chaos Beasts grew louder, she knew she would only slow down her father and the militia if she stayed.

She clung to his hand for a moment longer before reluctantly letting go and turning to follow her mother, who was already joining a group of other elderly adults and children. Ellie's hands trembled as she clutched her mother's hand tightly, her eyes darting back to catch a final glimpse of her father, standing tall and joining a group of men and women arming themselves for the looming battle.

Auntie Margaret had taken command of the group of non-fighters, her silver hair catching the light from the cracks as she directed the group down Main Street. Ellie stole one last look at her father, who had a stony look etched on his face as he sprinted up some stone stairs to look over the high walls of Willow Creek, his oversized rifle at the ready. Swallowing her fear, Ellie followed her mother and the others, her heart heavy with worry.

Ellie quickly found herself among familiar faces—friends from school and around town. About a hundred people were gathered along the streets, some more scared than others. Her eyes quickly landed on her best friend — Liz, who was trying not to cry, just like her dad had guessed. She was standing alone, her small frame trembling with fear. Liz's mom greeted Ellie's mother with a worried look, and Ellie knew she had to be strong for herself and for Liz, too. Taking a deep breath, Ellie rushed to her side, taking Liz's hand in both hands and offering a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey there," Ellie said softly, smiling for her teary-eyed friend. Liz sniffled, her lower lip quivering as she looked up at Ellie with wide, watery golden eyes.

"I-I don't want to be here, Ellie," Liz whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

Ellie squeezed Liz's hand reassuringly, offering a small but genuine smile. "It's going to be okay, Liz. We just need to stay strong and stick together. Okay?"

Ellie and Liz shared the same name, Elizabeth, which always made Ellie feel like they were almost sisters. They were also born just three days apart, adding to their strong bond. Since they first met in Kindergarten, they had been inseparable best friends. As their eyes met during a moment of fear, Ellie could see her own fear reflected in Liz's eyes, but she knew she had to stay strong for both of them.

She flashed Liz an uneasy smile and briefly turned to look at the sky, her eyes landing on a pillar of swirling energy several miles south. It looked angry, glowing with colors that should not be there. It scared her, and she forcibly tore her eyes away while squeezing Liz's hands.

Ellie's focus shifted back to Liz, but she couldn't help noticing a group of their classmates huddled together nearby. Fear and uncertainty seemed to hang over them as they whispered amongst themselves. Their close friend Oliver was among the group, with his tousled green locks and mischievous hazel eyes. He caught Ellie's gaze and gave her a reassuring nod.

If Ellie had to be perfectly honest, Oliver was… not just a friend but a boy she really admired. More than admired, even.

He was an apprentice woodworker with a knack for making beautiful wooden carvings that always took Ellie's breath away. She knew he spent countless hours perfecting his craft in his grandfather's workshop, even as a kid, the scent of pine and sawdust always clinging to him. A warmth in his smile made Ellie's heart flutter, and in moments of quiet, she would catch herself daydreaming about what it would be like to hold his hand or hear him say her name with that softness. But just reserved for her.

Ellie felt a ripple pass through the air, a shiver that made her skin crawl. She looked up to see the negentropy barriers pulsating like the heartbeat of some giant, unseen animal. It scared her, sending a cold streak down her spine.

It was weird how the sky seemed to pulse and tremble like it was alive. Ellie tried not to look at it, focusing instead on Liz, who was squeezing her hand so tight it almost hurt.

"We'll be safe soon," Ellie whispered to Liz, trying to believe it herself. She picked up her pace, dragging Liz along behind their mothers.

The district shelter was a building she'd never seen from the inside, a thick, imposing, wide building made of heavy metal, with sparse windows on the upper levels that looked out onto the rushing river. It was on the other side of the square, probably a good twenty-minute walk away from where they were. Ellie's family passed it by a few times while heading to the market, and the school took field trips to drill for the higher magnitude Chaos Events every couple of months. Still, Ellie had never experienced a big Chaos Event to put those drills to use.

Until now.

She felt the ground beneath her boots vibrate with the rumble, her small heart pounding against her chest like a drum. It was like a bad dream, where shadows morphed into monsters under her bed, except this wasn't sleep—this was real, and it was terrifying.

"Hey, Elle…do you think it will really be safe in there?" Liz asked, her voice hoarse as she looked up at Ellie with those same watery golden eyes. "What if it's not enough to protect us?"

Ellie took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "It'll be okay," she said, squeezing her friend's hand again. That thing was built to take things much worse. That's what my dad always told me, anyways."

As they moved in a group down the streets, Oliver suddenly stopped in his tracks and gazed up at the sky, his eyes widening in sheer terror.

"O-Oliver? What is it?" Ellie nearly yelled.

Oliver pointed at the sky, his hand shaking slightly as he tried to find the words. "L-look!" he exclaimed.

Ellie's heart skipped a beat as she gazed towards the skies above. For a moment, everything else fell away—the sounds of hurried footsteps, the murmur of voices, the clang of metal gates being shut around them.

Floating there, amidst the roiling clouds, was a massive creature that looked like it crawled out of a nightmare.

It looked like something ripped from the pages of her father's old storybooks about dragons and demons, but it was far scarier than anything Ellie had ever read about. The creature's bat-like wings were enormous, veined shadows against the pulsating sky, thrashing wildly as if trying to tear through some invisible barrier.

As it flew closer, its maw opened, revealing rows of jagged, blue ice-like teeth that seemed to drip with black shadows of the void and 'eyes' that seemed just as wrong.

Its flesh, if it could be called that, was nightmarish. It was some kind of otherworldly orange and black matter that defied earthly logic, shifting in and out of Ellie's visibility.

Massive bat-like wings unfurled from its back, dark and translucent. They caught the light of the flickering barriers and cast eerie shadows on the ground.

Ellie heard Liz gasp, her grip tightening. "What is that?" Liz breathed her voice barely a whisper.

"I-I don't know," Ellie replied, her voice trembling. "A Chaos Beast, maybe?"

They watched, frozen, as the creature circled above.

Without warning, the creature let out a screech that split the air, a sound so harsh and loud that Ellie clapped her hands over her ears. The scream seemed to vibrate through her, shaking her bones and making her teeth clatter. It was a sound of pain and death, a sound that made her want to curl up and hide.

Panic broke out among the crowd, and Ellie felt herself being pulled along as everyone surged forward, even as she struggled to regain her equilibrium. The world around her blurred into a frenzy of motion as people shoved and pushed, desperate to find safety. Liz's hand was ripped from hers in the commotion, and Ellie spun around, her heart pounding in terror.

"Liz!" she screamed, her eyes scanning the panicked crowd. A few feet away, Liz stumbled, her small frame nearly trampled in the stampede. Ellie lunged forward, her fear lending her strength as she grabbed Liz's arm and pulled her back to her side.

Ellie grunted as a sudden force slammed into them from behind, knocking them both off their feet. Ellie's heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled back up to her knees, pulling Liz along with her. The ground shook violently beneath them as the creature unleashed another deafening screech, sending shockwaves through the air.

"Mom? Mrs. Marrow?" Liz cried out, her voice barely audible over the chaos surrounding them. Ellie felt her heart clench with fear as she scanned the crowd for their parents, but they were nowhere to be seen.

"Ellie! Liz! We have to move," a boy's voice cut through the mayhem as Ellie turned to see a tuft of green hair darting through the crowd. It was Oliver, his eyes wide with fear as he reached out a hand to help them up. "Come on, we need to get to the shelter now!" he shouted above the noise, his voice strained with urgency.

Ellie nodded, her mind racing as she clung to Liz's hand, her heart pounding in her chest. The stampede of people surged around them, but Ellie held on tight, not letting go of Liz for a second. With Oliver leading the way, they desperately weaved through the chaos, staying close to the walls.

"This way!" Oliver shouted, his voice echoing over the crowd's clamor. "We can hunker down up ahead and wait for the crowd to clear up a bit." He darted around a corner, leading them down a narrow alley that offered a brief respite from the overwhelming noise and panic.

The alley was dimly lit, casting long shadows that danced eerily as they moved. Ellie's breath came in short gasps, her hand gripping Liz's for dear life.

"No, no, no," Liz muttered, looking up at the sky. She began to gasp for air as tears streaked down her face, hyperventilating in pure panic.

"Get a hold of yourself, Liz," Oliver commanded, a sense of urgency in his voice as he leaned over, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Come on. I'm here with you."

Liz choked, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled to compose herself. "I-I can't," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I can't do this, Ollie. It's too much."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Oliver's expression softened as he squeezed her shoulders reassuringly. "Yes, you can, Liz," he said firmly. "Come on."

Ellie felt a surge of gratitude towards Oliver for his words of encouragement. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she stepped closer to Liz and wrapped her in a hug.

"We're in this together, Liz," Ellie said, keeping her voice steady despite the mayhem around them. Oliver flashed a quiet smile, his green hair glowing in the dim light of the alley.

But just as Oliver began to calm them down, a deafening roar echoed through the alleyway, causing the ground to rumble. The shadows seemed to stretch and contort, taking on a life of their own as the monstrous creature descended from above, passing through the layers of magic protecting the town.

Its wings spanned wider than any building in the town, casting a looming shadow that enveloped everything in darkness. The air around them grew thick with the stench of ozone and sulfur, making Ellie's stomach churn.

To her horror, she saw tendrils of darkness extending from the creature, reaching down towards the town below. Buildings as the tendrils lashed out, leaving destruction in their path. The ground quaked beneath their feet, sending tremors through the streets as people screamed and scattered everywhere.

"Run!" Oliver shouted, his voice urgent. He gestured frantically at Ellie, beckoning them along as they sprinted down the alley. The towering creature cast a shadow over them, its presence overwhelming as debris rained down from the buildings it destroyed.

As they ran, Ellie could feel the ground beneath her trembling violently, cracks forming in the asphalt as if the earth was being torn apart by the monster.

The sky had broken, tearing at the seams with angry, pulsing light, like the glow of a storm but so much worse. Ellie clutched Liz's hand tighter, the fear making their palms sweaty as they stumbled through the streets of their town-turned-battlefield.

People shouted and ran, a blur of faces twisted in terror. Ellie could barely keep her legs moving, each step heavier than the last.

The screeching sound filled the air again, louder this time, more desperate. Ellie glanced back, her breath catching in her throat. The creature was closer now, its massive form toppling buildings as gunshots began to resonate from the walls all around town.

Ellie's heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst. She wanted to scream, stop, and do anything but keep running. But she couldn't; she had to protect Liz, had to keep moving. Had to make sure Oliver would be okay, too. She wondered if her mother was alright if she was safe somewhere. Even with her fear, her imagination ran wild with visions of her father torn apart by monsters in the night.

Her heart began to race as a new terror gripped her even as the terrified Oliver took the lead, leading them beneath a steel grate that offered a small hiding spot. Ellie crouched down, pulling Liz with her as they huddled together in the shadows. Oliver's eyes darted around, scanning the area for any sign of danger as he pressed a finger to his lips, urging them to stay quiet.

The ground trembled beneath them, and the creature's roars grew louder as it drew nearer. Ellie could hear the frantic footsteps of panicked townspeople echoing through the streets, mingling with gunshots and distant flames.

What if they didn't make it out of this alive?

The adults had always seemed so big, so capable of keeping the monsters away. To keep them safe. But now, as the barriers shook and the ground trembled beneath her feet, she felt a terrifying smallness. She and Liz were just kids, lost in a nightmare they didn't understand.

As the reality of their situation sank in, the air seemed to thin, and Ellie found it hard to breathe. Tears blurred her vision, not just from fear but from the deep, aching realization that she might never see tomorrow. That her family was just as screwed as she was. The adults had plans, had weapons and training, but as she looked around, all she saw were people like her, Liz, and Oliver. Worse, even. Not the guaranteed safety and protection she had always believed in.

She imagined the monster descending upon them, its massive jaws ready to swallow her whole. She saw her home burning, and the places she had played as a child turned to ash. The thought of never seeing her father again, of never being able to tell her mother how much she loved her, clawed at her heart painfully.

"Elle, I know this is an awkward time, but," Oliver suddenly spoke calmly by her side. "But I need to tell you something."

Ellie turned to look at him, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. At that moment, she clung to any semblance of normalcy, any shred of familiarity amid the unknown. The tremors of the ground beneath them seemed to fade into the background as she focused on Oliver's words.

"I've always admired your spunk, you know? You may not realize it, but your bravery makes other people strong too, Elle," Oliver said, his voice filled with sincerity. Ellie's cheeks blushed a deep shade of pink as she listened to Oliver's words.

She had always seen Oliver as the brave one, the leader in their group of friends, and to hear him speak so openly touched her in a way she couldn't quite explain. She wasn't anything special — the daughter of a hunter and a nurse, just an ordinary girl at the end of the day.

But Oliver's words made her heart flutter with hope. As she searched his eyes, she saw a flicker of something more than admiration, something that made her heart skip a beat.

Could it be that Oliver felt the same way she did? The thought sent a surge of hope through her veins, pushing aside the fear and despair that had threatened to completely consume her moments before.

"I… I… I don't know what to say, Oliver," Ellie stammered. The chaos around them seemed to melt away as she locked eyes with him, her heart pounding.

Before she could respond further, a deafening roar pierced through the air, drowning out any other sounds. The ground shuddered violently beneath them, and Ellie felt the steel grate vibrating violently.

"That's enough of a breather. We've gotta get to the shelter before they break through the walls," Oliver yelled over the screaming.

Without a moment of hesitation, he grabbed Ellie's hand and pulled her towards the end of the alley. Liz followed close behind, her breaths coming in short gasps as they ran for their lives.

The trio emerged back onto the street, their footsteps echoing loudly as they sprinted towards the shelter. The streets were still filled with panicking townspeople, their faces contorted with fear as they fled in every direction.

Ellie's heart pounded in her chest, each beat like a drum heralding the impending doom. Smoke billowed into the sky from buildings set ablaze, casting a dark shadow that enveloped the town. The acrid scent of burning wood and fear choked the air, making it hard to breathe.

Another screech ripped through the air, setting Ellie's nerves on edge. The creature loomed closer, hovering over the town like a demon out of the old books. It was close — too close for comfort. It was between their group and the shelter entrance, and there was no way around it. Oliver skidded to a halt, his eyes scanning the area frantically for an alternate route.

Suddenly, the creature turned towards the frantic townspeople below, its glowing blue eyes filled with malice.

The creature let out a deafening roar that shook the town's foundations. Ellie felt a surge of pure terror grip her heart, paralyzing her on the spot.

Dark tendrils erupted from the creature, spreading out in all directions like twisted vines. The shadows reached out for the fleeing townspeople, ensnaring them with unearthly speed. Helpless victims were dragged back towards the creature by the merciless grip of the shadows, and Ellie could only watch in horror. A cloud of gnashing shadowy teeth and razor-sharp claws seemed to materialize around the creature, creating a deadly aura that sent shivers down Ellie's spine.

She was going to die.

They were all going to die.

The tendrils snaked toward her group faster than they could possibly run from the impending doom. Panic surged through Ellie as she realized there was no escape, no way to outrun the creature's tendrils.

Oliver's features tightened with a spark of defiance as he pushed back Ellie and Liz, using his own body to shield them. Ellie couldn't help but be amazed by the boy's courage and sacrifice in that moment, even though she knew it was ultimately futile. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself for the inevitable agony that awaited them as the dark tendrils closed in around them.

The cold, suffocating grip of the shadows wrapped around Ellie, Liz, and Oliver, dragging her by the feet and pulling them closer to the monstrous being. Ellie screamed as she awaited the inevitable end, her mind filled with memories of her family and the short life she had known. It was unfair and cruel, the way their lives were about to be snuffed out in an instant. She'd wanted to be a doctor or a hunter like her dad, but now all those dreams were crushed beneath this nightmarish monster's weight. The darkness enveloped them like a shroud, muffling their cries and sealing their fate in its icy embrace.

Just as Ellie braced herself for the final strike. Just as the nightmarish gnashing noises drew close enough for Ellie to feel them on the air, a gorgeous melody began to weave through the air, the sound of foreign strings that Ellie had never heard before. A deep, resonant humming that seemed to speak directly to her soul.

And then, a sudden burst of blinding light pierced through the shadows, causing the tendrils to recoil in agony. Ellie's eyes widened as she watched, bewildered and dazed, as the shadows dissipated around them and retreated to the monstrous form looming over the town. A warm, golden light enveloped Ellie and her friends, shielding them from the dark tendrils that had nearly claimed their lives.

"Siu ngo zoi ngo dik sin… sam sap mun dik yan wai kau lei," a gentle voice sang in some kind of foreign language.

The melody was backed by the gentle, plucking sounds of a stringed instrument that Ellie had never heard before.

The menacing creature howled in pain and confusion, its tendrils retracting as the light grew stronger, bathing the whole area in a calming, warm glow.

Ellie felt her fear wash away as the singing continued, the mysterious language weaving around her like a protective spell. The music felt like a soft, comforting blanket wrapped around her trembling shoulders. Tears welled in her eyes, not from fear but from the sheer beauty of the song that filled the air, mingling with the light to create a sanctuary.

Ellie looked up to see a girl standing on a nearby rooftop, her dress flowing around her like flames dancing in a gentle breeze. The dress was a vibrant silken orange and red, shimmering with a light that seemed to pulse with the music. It was adorned with intricate golden patterns that mimicked the flickering of fire, and as the girl moved, the fabric seemed to ripple like heat waves on a hot day.

She was petite — and couldn't have been more than a few years older than Ellie with long, flowing, fire-like hair that sparkled with the same fiery hues as her dress. As she plucked the strings of the strange instrument, a calming flame seemed to radiate from her, enveloping the town in its warm embrace. The magical aura soothed the chaos around them, dulling the monster's roars and the screams of the townspeople.

Ellie felt the tears stream down her cheeks, not out of sorrow but from relief and awe. The song was unfamiliar, the words strange, but its effect was undeniable. It calmed her heart and steadied her shaking hands. The newcomer's voice was angelic, soft yet powerful, resonating with Ellie's soul in a way nothing else ever had.

"Lei zung yi gung nei siu, hoi sam ji je nei," the girl continued to sing. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, each note on the instrument's strings echoing through the town, reaching every corner and every frightened heart.

"A Magical Girl…" Liz breathed out in a hushed tone, her eyes wide with disbelief as they watched the scene unfold before them. "An actual Magical Girl in the flesh!"

The Magical Girl twirled on the rooftop, weaving a lasso of golden fire around her with each graceful movement. The flame pulsed rhythmically with her song, casting a protective glow that spread over the townspeople, flooding through the streets.

The monster roared in frustration, its dark tendrils whipping back and recoiling from the flames, But even its monstrous screeching and howls were muffled by the singer's voice. Her music weaved a barrier of sound and light that seemed to buffer the town completely from its horrible presence.

Ellie's eyes were fixated on the epic battle unfolding before her. The Magical Girl stood tall and fearless, a beacon of hope in despair. Her fiery aura burned bright, radiating with each powerful note she played on her instrument. But the monstrous creature showed no signs of backing down, its massive wings beating furiously as it relentlessly attacked.

The Magical Girl braced herself as the Chaos Beast charged toward her, its horrifying tentacles reaching out to engulf her in darkness. With a determined look in her eye, she plucked a single string on her instrument, unleashing a blinding beam of light that tore through the night and struck the creature head-on.

But the beast barely flinched, its grotesque form seemingly impervious to all attacks from the Magical Girl. It lunged forward, its razor-sharp claws slicing a path through the blinding light as it closed in on the Magical Girl. She leaped into the air in one swift motion and unleashed a torrent of scorching fire upon the beast from the palm of her hand.

Despite the effort, her desperate attacks seemed to have no real effect on the creature. The golden flames may have slowed it down, but the monstrous beast was still gaining ground, closing in on its prey. With each step in their dance, its immense power and speed became more apparent, dwarfing the Magical Girl's impressive attempts to defend herself.

"Daughter of Willow Creek," a voice suddenly seemed to speak into Ellie's heart. "You must continue moving towards the shelter! Please"

The voice was soothing, almost ethereal. Ellie looked around in confusion but saw no one. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, its calming influence spreading a sense of tranquility throughout the town.

Ellie felt a gentle tug on her clothes, a nudge telling her it was okay to move, to escape from the looming danger. Sharing a look with Liz and Oliver, she led them forward, ducking behind buildings and debris, guided by a sudden trail of light that filled her vision.

Ellie glanced backward briefly, watching the battle continue in the distance. The town square became a battleground, engulfed in the deafening clash of fire and darkness. The Magical Girl refused to falter, her fingers flying over her instrument as she fought to maintain the shimmering shield that protected the town.

The air crackled with raw power, the golden flames surrounding her blazing brighter as she poured every ounce of energy into creating a dense orb around her. But it was evident her defense was no match for the colossal creature looming before her. The monstrous creature towered over her, its massive form tearing through her barrier with ease as it closed in for the kill.

"HELL NO YOU DON'T!" a powerful voice resounded through the streets, rattling the windows. A purple flash of light erupted from the distance as another figure shot up into the sky, her body coiled like a spring.

The newcomer collided with the creature, her momentum propelling her straight into its monstrous chest. The impact sent both of them spiraling into the air, disappearing from sight in a chaotic swirl of smoke and flame.

A distant crash echoed through the town a moment later, causing the ground to rumble.

"C-come on, let's keep moving!" Oliver urged, pulling Ellie and Liz along. The fear and panic around them seemed to slow for a moment, the sounds of battle replaced by the melody that continued to echo through the streets.

The voice that had guided them seemed to linger in the air, a soothing presence that promised safety amidst the terror. Trails of light continued to appear around the townspeople, who began to move in an uneasy but orderly pattern, following the safety of the lights.

The Magical Girls' display infused them with a surge of adrenaline, pushing them forward with a second wind.

"Do you think they'll win?" Liz's voice was small, tinged with hope and fear as she tightened her grip on Ellie's hand.

"They have to," Ellie replied, her voice far stronger than she felt. "We just need to make it to the shelter. They'll save us. You'll see."

"Ellie," Liz's voice quivered, barely audible over the distant roars and crackling flames, "do you think my mom is okay?"

Ellie glanced at Oliver, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, his jaw set in grim determination. He met her gaze with a solemn nod.

"They're going to be fine, Liz," Ellie responded with more conviction than she felt. "Our parents have been drilling this into us for years. They've got this." She squeezed Liz's hand, trying to pour every ounce of belief into her words.

As they neared the shadow of the shelter, mingling with the crowds, Ellie spared a final glance at the streaks of purple, red, and blue light dancing across the skies.

"Mom... Dad, please be safe," she whispered into the wind, a prayer for the heroes of her heart and those fighting to protect them. "We'll all be together soon."