Beginning of Act I: Destruction and Rebirth.

The white light from the atomic bomb scorched the ground and all life around it. Heat burned away even the strongest of material, exposing weak flesh and structures beneath. The heat scorched all, not having mercy for anything that stood in its way. A low rumble could be heard, then from above a mushroom-shaped cloud rising above the skyscrapers that once stood beneath. It was a beautiful city, despite all the chaos of war that went on in the country. A city where people could wander the streets without a worry, carrying shopping bags from fine stores full of clothing that were worth fortunes. People drank wine from fine crystal glasses and gazed upon the city from high balconies on silver skyscrapers. The city was as large as the eye could see. It stretched for miles, and the light was seen from beyond mountains. Everything was beautiful, from the marble statues in museums to the lush gardens of parks. It could be considered a utopia, where everyone lived happily and peacefully. Everyone had food to eat, a place to sleep, and warm clothes to wear. However, the city was plagued with corrupt politicians. Politics dominated the peace in the shadows, hidden by the veils of propaganda. Overweight men in tight fancy suits ordered airstrikes on other cities across shining seas while they sat back in reclining chairs. They commanded armies of men and women who were afraid of death, forcing them to slaughter enemies and innocents alike. All while they bathed in crystal pools with women that could be considered the most beautiful in the world. They began massacres only because they lived with the enemies and were less fortunate. The atrocities the politicians committed only gradually became worse. Their sins outweighed the good. They were funded by radical gun groups so they could stay in office, made laws against people so they could not be themselves. Anyone that wasn't rich suffered. No one protested. They were quickly eliminated before the public could see them. Girls were taken from the streets, used as slaves to the politicians, children were taken from their mothers at the country borders, the poor lived among garbage in shanty towns made of scrap. Until finally, another Superpower far across the sea snapped. The horrors caused by the city were enough to fuel the rage that would even make the strongest of men turn to destruction. They sent a plane far mightier than any other. A super-fortress, which would end the war and the city itself. Even if they killed the city, the nightmare would be over.

Anika had been laying on the dusty earth, unable to walk any longer. With a bullet lodged in her leg and exhaustion taking over, she could only do one thing. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate. A fate where she would die a fiery death and never see the world again, ever. One where she would feel her entire body on fire and her skin melt. It was one that no one ever wished to have. Anything else could be better than being burnt to nothing. Many faced this fate, and some didn't even know it was coming. People hid behind walls, hugging their families and waiting for the time to come out from hiding. Men and women wandered the streets to find shelter if another airstrike were to come. Despite the earlier airstrikes earlier, a bomb of such magnitude was not expected. So many lives could be saved if only someone alerted the city. But no, life is cruel. Life will not tell people when to hide or when their time is up. Only the strongest and the smartest could make it out alive. Yet, even in this situation, no one would make it out alive.

She could see her sister's image within her mind. The smiling face of a young girl with brown hair and blue eyes like her. She would not see her anymore after this. She would just become a number. A number on a television screen counting the casualties from the bomb. She could already see it and hear it.

"An atomic bomb was dropped in the early morning. The Capital has been destroyed. There were almost five million casualties. There were no survivors that we know of, or none at all."

The television showed the destruction that would follow the bomb. Leveled buildings and piles of dust from trees or.. Even people. It was even hard to tell if anyone had survived. But no one had. Not a single soul survived the blast. Among the dust and rubble, there was a single wall standing. The wall was the remains of a once luxurious cathedral. A place of worship where every person was accepted no matter who they were. It was a place of safety. Now, it was nothing. It was just a memory. A memory that would die off after many years.

Deep in her mind, a nostalgic tune began to play from a dying orchestra. The players were ablaze, along with their instruments and equipment. But even they played despite knowing their fate. The grand concert hall broke apart, curtains falling and papers fluttering like dying moths. The faceless audience watched the fire, not moving or speaking once. Glued onto the melodies the orchestra played, they didn't see that their fate was becoming sealed. They burned like candles, melting away from the flames. The melody became twisted as the orchestra slowly burned away. It couldn't even be considered a song anymore. It was frantic notes being played at once. They were chaotic and wanted to escape the flames, but alas nothing could stop them. Everything turned to fire and smoke.

Then came a light from the fire, and soft wind.

Anika had her back against the incoming blast, but in the reflection of shattered glass on the ground, she could see a tall figure. It wasn't like anything else she had seen before. While it was difficult to see it right, she knew it couldn't be human. It had curled horns and a boney tail. A cape of metal unfurled, forming metallic angel wings. Where did it come from? What was it, really? She tried to move but the pain from her wounds stung, causing her to wince. She had to know. Was it going to kill her? She wanted answers. Yet, she then saw the unbelievable.

The figure raised its hands, and from the air appeared an elegant silver scale. It glittered in the light, almost glowing. The figure shouted something in what could be Latin, a dead language that no one used in decades. Milliseconds later, a large half dome appeared in front of the figure. It had the shape of the scale in the figure's hand in the middle, while the rest of the dome was full of sigils. It was bright blue and radiated tiny particles.

Anika felt the hot wind of the blast as it hit. But she wasn't burned to death. Nothing happened. She wasn't melting, she didn't feel her organs become scorched. She watched her home city become leveled like kids knocking over sandcastles at the beach. The cathedral, the bank with friendly clerks, the high school where she became the Prom Queen, even her favorite ice cream parlor. All gone in an instant. Everything was reduced to grey rubble and black dust. Tears welled in her eyes, then she could feel her body weaken further. Her life was over. She had no home to return to. She was alive, but at what cost? At some point, the world began to fade in and out. Her nostrils were filled with dust and the spicy scent of ash. Everything turned black and she passed out.

The figure turned around, lowering its hands. It approached Anika cautiously. It stared down at her, taking in every little detail about her. The ballet dress which she wore, now tattered and soiled, her hair which was once kept in a pristine bun. Her figure was frail, yet contained so much hidden strength. It shook its head, kneeling down and picking her up with utmost care. It turned once more and walked, watching the remains of the city. There was barely anything left. Nothing could be made out except for the wall of the cathedral. One single statue of The Son stood. It was burnt but mostly untouched. The delicate paint it had was gone on one side but was still visible on the other. The figure looked ahead. It said something in Latin again, and the air ripped apart. A portal appeared, with an endless starry landscape ahead. The stars swirled, creating shapes like the ripples of water. Above the portal was the symbol of a deer-like creature. It had three heads and many antlers. The figure slipped into the portal and was gone. The portal closed behind as if it wasn't there, to begin with. No one would know about the sole survivor of the bomb. No one would know about the anomaly that saved her life.

A light shined in her face. She could hear voices but couldn't open her eyes. She couldn't move either. Her body was too exhausted. All of the running took a toll on her. Especially running in ballet slippers. The light shined in Anika's face again. Then she was shaken a little. The shake was enough to get her eyes open.

Everything was pretty dark. A glowing orb was the light she saw while her eyes had been closed. The second thing she saw was a woman clad in green and white robes resembling medical scrubs. But they were covered in blood. Possibly her own, and possibly the blood of others. It was like she was in some sort of hospital or a morgue. Anika immediately panicked at the thought. She wondered if she was dead and had woken up in the morgue. Or if it was Hell, and she was stuck in it. She mustered up enough energy to jolt upright and try to move away from the weird woman. But the woman only grabbed her and pulled her back down into the bed she laid on.

"It's okay. You're okay now." The woman whispered to Anika, slowly letting go of her. She stepped back, trying to give Anika some space. Anika breathed heavily, unsure about her surroundings. The walls were made of dark stone and had blood stains on them, there was a candle structure made from... Someone's spine. The tiny candle at the top burned brightly, illuminating most of the room. There was a table full of bloodied medical equipment, and a single bullet on cotton. The one that was taken out from her leg.

"What is this place? Where am I?" Anika demanded, feeling panic rise within her again. The woman seemed to be smiling but Anika couldn't see her face. It was covered by a veil of shadows. It had to be Hell. There was no way this was the afterlife. There were no angels, no clouds, not even the smiling face of God himself.

" You aren't in the regular Earth world anymore. You are in the Church of Decay now." The woman explained, still whispering. Anika raised a brow in confusion. She had no idea what this woman meant. Not in regular Earth? The Church of Decay? Was it even Hell?

"What do you mean about that second part? Is this Hell? Am I dead?! What is the Church?! What are you talking about!?" Anika panicked again. She couldn't be dead. No way. She swore someone saved her but she could barely remember it. The image of the horned creature was hazy now. In fact, she couldn't make out any details of it either. Only the horns and tail, nothing else. She could see the blast from the bomb yet nothing else. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"No. This is the Outerlands, which is the name of this land, is simply a secluded part of the world. It is hard to find. Human War will not reach you here. The Church though is a place of prosperity. It may not seem like it, but here, many come to develop their skills. We serve our God, Meirkien." While the woman carefully informed Anika, she began to clean off her medical supplies. She went quiet after finishing, now organizing everything. It dawned onto Anika that the Church wasn't any Church. It was a following. A cult, even. It was against her religion. Being in a cult could be punished by death. Cults were dangerous in her beliefs. But why did one save her life? She had too many questions that she wanted answers to. But she wanted to discover most of them for herself. She just didn't have the energy to do it.

"Uhm... Do you know who saved me? Or who brought me here?" Anika started off, hoping that the woman would have an answer. The woman stopped. She lowered the medical supplies she held and slowly turned to Anika. There was a surprised look on her face, almost in awe.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"The Mother of Obscure." She told her but didn't say anything else. The name sounded as mysterious as the Church itself. The Obscure sounded like a group, not a person. Anika wondered if it was true and there were groups out there. But the thing that stood out was the Mother. That creature had to have been a Goddess. Then, it struck her. Gods were real. Only the Gods and the supernatural possessed abilities that could save lives like her own. The Bibles weren't lying for the most part. Even if the Bibles said that there was only one true God, it never said that there were many others. She relaxed her body, looking up at the stone ceiling.

"... Gods are real." She mumbled.

"Please rest, you are still panicked... You need to calm down more and regain energy." The woman turned away. Anika closed her eyes again, trying to get some rest as the woman had said. It took a moment, but once again she slipped into unconsciousness. This time, it was a peaceful sleep. No more chaos, no more bombs. She survived the blast and made it into a new world. One far from the planes that brought death and far from the politicians that corrupted the world. She didn't become a number after all. While the other humans would see her as a number, she knew she was more than one. She was a survivor, a miracle. Never again would this happen. From now on, she knew she would be in the Church walls, protected from dangers, and reunited with her sister if she was here in this world. It was a relief. No fiery death, or sad memories as death came upon her. Only peace, and the quietness of the world around her.

Anika lost all track of time. She could've been asleep for hours, even days. Her eyes fluttered open. The room was silent. The woman had probably left while she was asleep. She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes. The room was darker than before, with the candle in the corner now put out. The only light came from the moonlight flooding into the room through a small glass window. She looked to the door, which was left open just a little. She felt intrigued by what may lay behind the door. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, preparing to get off. Her once wounded leg felt funny. Yet it wasn't bothering her at all. She shivered a little, soon realizing that she didn't have any other clothes on. Just her undergarments, but even they were covered by bandages. No wonder why she felt chilly. She noticed a pair of clothes neatly folded on a stool by a table. They were black robes with silver-white lines and marks. They came in pants and a shirt as well. Slipping onto the floor, Anika got off the bed and silently went over to the stool. She took the robes, curiously staring at them. The cloth was soft to the touch but felt slightly heavy to keep the wearer warm. They had to have been for her. She began putting them on but took a moment to take in the vague scent of candles the cloth had. While the robes were a little big on her, they were comfortable. She put on the hood which cast a dark shadow onto her pale face. With her identity concealed, she quietly exited the room.

The outside world was much larger than she expected. There were doors and winding hallways in all directions. Massive chandeliers made from bones hung above, their large candles casting shadows on the dark grey stone walls. Tapestries the size of entire cars hung from the walls, woven with fine red threads and gold threads. They each had the face of a deer-like creature on them. Anika looked down, noticing a carpet that stretched for what seemed like miles. It was kept in pristine condition, with no footprints on it at all. It was as if no one walked through the halls at all. Here and there, people in different colored and styled robes wandered the halls. They wore armor, carried large swords and maces. Some were guarded by others too. Everyone had their face concealed by either shadows, helmets, or... Even skulls. Deer skulls to be exact. The people were the same. No one seemed to be of high status, or like the politicians back at home. Some of them had more detailed robes than her own, and they seemed important. Yet, they were like everyone else. As Anika walked down the massive hallway, she could see everyone talking to each other. They whispered, but their words were hard to decipher. It was like a whole new language. A language that was never documented in the history of humanity, ever. People of all shapes and sizes were all here in unison. But slowly, anxiety rose within her. Anika didn't know how to communicate with anyone, only that woman from earlier.

'What will they say to me when they realize I can't understand them?'  She thought, rubbing her arm. She was deep in her thoughts to the point where she didn't realize where she was walking now. She mindlessly turned corners, passing through more hallways and big rooms. It wasn't until she heard a shout that she snapped out of her thoughts. She looked up, seeing where she was now. Ahead were two massive wooden doors as large as school buses. The person that shouted was a man in silver and blue armor. Behind them stood another man. The man had his face covered by a shadow, but he wore no hood. His robes were blue like sapphires, and so was his hair. Anika stared at him, almost mesmerized by his looks. A pair of ghostly dragon-like wings were folded by his sides. A single blue flame hovered over his head. Then someone else came by his side. A shorter woman in a red, white, and navy blue kimono wearing a Kitsune mask. She seemed more gentle than the scary man in blue. Her white hair draped over her shoulders, and her pale skin made her seem like a divine being. Anika noticed many robed people immediately come to them and kneel. They whispered things and the strange pair responded. One by one they stood up when acknowledged. A guard looked her way, and the other that now came up from behind the woman did as well. She was the only one that did not kneel. Anika's heart raced. She quickly ran over, kneeling onto the ground. She bowed her head, nervously staring at the floor. She didn't know what to say. Her lips quivered but no words came out. Everyone's eyes were on her.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Address the Oracles!" One guard snapped. He prepared to raise his sword up as if readying to strike Anika.

No response. Anika froze in place, making soft terrifying sounds.

'What do I say?! What am I supposed to say?!'  Anika wondered, shutting her eyes closed tight. Her body shook in fear. Then, she heard the guard's sword lower. She opened one eye, seeing that the Kitsune masked woman made her guard lower the blue man's sword.

"Cease. She must be new and unfamiliar." She stepped forward and spoke in a gentle tone.

"Stand, girl."

"But The Oracle of Retribution, she has our robes!"

"Silence."

Anika slowly stood up, averting her gaze from the woman. She felt her gently touch her chin, bringing her head up to face her. Anika looked straight at the woman, and straight into her eyes.

"You must be the one she told me about, no? The girl from the city destroyed by a bomb?"

Anika nodded, but she began to feel choked up. The memories flooded in.

She could remember dancing to classical music being played at the local university. She twirled in the large pavilion while many people watched her. The air was warm and the stars were shining fearlessly. Fireflies danced in the air, illuminating the sky with bright yellow glowing dots. Young boys and girls began dancing around her, laughing like there was no tomorrow.

She remembered another fond memory. Where she was with her sister as young girls, walking through the streets looking through shop windows. They passed by high-end fashion shops where the handrails of staircases were made of gold. Women in suits and silk gloves presented pieces of clothing to other women. Every piece of clothing was perfect, with not a single wrinkle in sight. They were luxuries not even a lower upper-class person could afford. Yet they were beautiful to look at. Anika watched an elegant ballerina outfit in one shop, it spun, showing the sparkles in the dress itself. She longed to have it, even if it took years for her to have it.

More memories flooded in. She looked at the crowd as a crown was placed on her head and a Prom Queen sash was hung over her. Then the day she graduated, she sat in the crowd of women in white gowns, weeping when she knew that her days of high school were over. She heard a voice, then everything began to feel warm and... Wet?

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Anika began to weep. Everything was gone. Everyone she loved was dead. She suddenly collapsed, breaking down into a mournful sob. The robed people around her panicked. The warmth of the love she felt back home was gone. It was replaced by an unfamiliar cold. There was no love, no sympathy. It was like the feelings she felt weren't known here in the odd world. Despair overcame her. There wasn't a way home anymore. No home to return to either. She felt trapped in this dark cult world that would be her forever home. There wasn't any music, no electricity, no cheerful people dancing. Nothing from home. Only strange people and strange things. Men and women clad in robes and armor, guarded by others in armor. They had ranks and hollow personalities. What were their desires? Their intentions? Why were they stripped of their individuality? Back home she could recall everyone as being different. No one was the same. Everyone had their talents, their own outfits, everything. Now, she had to fit in with these strangers. It was too much to think about. Too much to take in.

Blood seeped through the bandages. It dripped onto the cold stone floor. Sealed wounds tore open once more. Pain shot through her body.

Her body screamed.

RUN.

RUN.

RUN.

She got onto her feet, suddenly bolting away from the so-called Oracles and the strange people in robes. They shouted after her, quickly scrambling to chase her down. She ran blindly, not knowing where to go or where she was. People dove out of the way, screaming at her. She became deaf to the world around her, surrounded by her inner thoughts.

Her mind screamed.

HIDE.

HIDE.

HIDE.

RUN.

RUN.

RUN.

Anika kept running, even if her body ached and bled. Her head felt light and her body heavy. It was like she was tied down by heavyweights. There had to be a way out, or someplace to hide. She turned a corner, bolting into whatever room she saw first. It was a small open bedroom. Sitting on the bed was a young boy in red and black robes. He was writing in a book when Anika came crashing in. He paused to speak, but it was far too late.

The world spun around in an endless tornado.

Then blackness.