Remnya

The soothing song of crickets faded in the distance, and moonlight seeped into Remnya's room through a small window, drawing exotic shadows over the blanket covering her body. She lay still in the darkness, assimilating her surroundings, her eyes sweeping the unknown, wondering where Ellyn and that man had gone.

Aided by the tenuous glow of the moon, Remnya discerned the shapes of her bed, a different one from the hospital, cozier and softer. But when had she left the hospital? Her last memory was the face of Debrin Kavram, his penetrating eyes digging into her soul.

The rest was a cloudy void.

Under the covers, she felt warm and comfortable, but crazy ideas raced in her head, trying to connect the dots of her past and figure out where fate had taken her. As Remnya squirmed and stretched her arms and legs, she realized her broken bones had healed.

A wisp of peace eased the anxiety oppressing her chest.

He hadn't hurt her.

The silhouettes of trees danced outside, shaken violently by the wind that whistled through the cracks of her window.

However, when the night fell still, she overheard quiet snores coming from a corner.

Her blood froze.

Someone else was there with her, but Remnya couldn't see it. Her heart began pumping adrenaline throughout her body again, and cold sweat prickled on her back.

Yanking the blanket off her, Remnya jumped from the bed and, holding the mattress, staggered awkwardly until her legs balanced her body. But as she tried to take the first step, she fell to her knees.

Remnya held back a grunt of pain and rubbed her bruised skin. How long had it been since she walked for the last time?

Unable to use her legs, she crawled toward the source of that sound.

From the corner of her eyes, Remnya sighted the reflection of the moon on a metallic doorknob, revealing a half-open door, and as she got closer, a familiar face emerged amid the gloom.

Debrin Kavram.

He was motionless, sitting on the cold floor and snoring.

Remnya stifled a gasp and scowled at the sight.

She remained still like a statue and took a moment to understand her new reality. An avalanche of questions filled her mind, and opposite ideas battled in her head, yet the tempest in her heart seemed to calm down.

Even though that man's intentions remained unknown, her gut told her she shouldn't fear him.

His snores resounded across the room while Remnya forced herself to stand up and walk. As a toddler, it took her several tries to take her first step.

On the tenth attempt, Remnya succeeded, and without thinking, she rushed to leave the room.

There was a short corridor sunken in darkness and, in the end, a room illuminated by a weak glow. Remnya tiptoed toward it, keeping her senses alert for any slight change, sound, or movement.

On the other side, an old lamp hanging from a wooden ceiling revealed a cramped room.

Mountains of boxes and tools rested over a table and scattered across the floor. Scanning the place, Remnya saw a gas stove and a large cupboard that looked hundreds of years old. On the opposite side, two ancient bookshelves completed the chaos.

The entire room looked stuck fifty years into the past.

As Remnya explored the place, the smell of fried food reached her nose, making her mouth water.

She noticed a pan covered by a plate on the stove and rushed to it.

Lifting the cover, Remnya saw an unfinished omelet with a fork stuck in it with a steak. She had forgotten the last time she saw such a nice-looking meal and the last time she ate solid food.

Remnya swept her surroundings with a quick glance and grabbed the fork, wondering if she had gone crazy. But rushed by hunger, she began eating.

Remnya didn't notice when she finished it, but the pan was clean within a few seconds. Licking her lips and fingers, she thought that meal was one of the best she had had since her time in the mansion.

Yet her stomach kept growling.

"There must be more food somewhere in here," Remnya whispered, scanning her surroundings. She crouched to look into the cupboard's doors and drawers. She searched everywhere, but most were crammed with pans, plates, and other tableware. However, Remnya found a bag of chips in a corner, and faster than she could think, she devoured it too.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

The front door resounded like an earthquake across the room, shaking the walls and ground.

Kicking a chair out of her way, Remnya rushed to hide under the table. Like a scared animal, she peeked at the door from behind a pile of boxes.

The blows against the door intensified for a while, but then they stopped.

Remnya let out a brief sigh of relief, but then a loud bang smashed the door, almost shattering the wood in half.

It opened and slammed against another pile of boxes, sending tools and devices flying everywhere.

A giant-looking man stomped in, carrying a leather sack over his shoulder. A gust of chilly wind broke in after his steps, making Remnya shiver. She clenched her fists and remained still while her heart echoed in her brain.

The man kicked the door shut and sauntered toward the table, dropping the sack on the floor. He glanced at the stove and scowled, noticing the mess Remnya had made. The ground shook as he stomped toward the cupboard to put everything back in place.

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Remnya held her breath while a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead.

Silence.

"Why are you hiding?" the man asked, his deep voice resounding in Remnya's brain and chest like an explosion while he lifted the tablecloth and looked at her.

When had he moved so fast and next to her?

Remnya let out a high-pitched scream and grabbed a spoon from a box. Without thinking, she slammed it against his head.

Unimpressed, the man snatched the spoon away from her and narrowed his fiery gray eyes, scolding her with a deadly expression. "Don't do that."

An icy shiver ran down Remnya's back, her eyes locked on that unknown monster.

"Hey, don't scare the kid!" Debrin's voice came booming from the corridor, and his sleepy face peeked out from behind the wall.

He took a quick look at them, glared, and then turned around, returning to his room as if nothing had happened.

The big man guffawed and stood, inviting Remnya with his hand to come out. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. . . Remnya, right?"

Remnya took a long moment to breathe and allowed her heart to quieten. She leaned onward and scrutinized his massive figure, noticing a long thick tail sneaking from under his black coat. "Yes," she murmured, scowling at him.

Finally, Remnya gathered the courage to come out from under the table and stand before him.

"Nice to meet you, Remnya." He smiled, displaying perfect teeth, and stretched his hand at her. "I am Merle."

Remnya scanned him from head to toe. His short silver hair looked like snow under the pale lamp, and the multiple scars on his wrinkled face told many war stories.

Reluctantly, she took his massive hand.

He nodded at her, and then Remnya saw something that froze her blood.

Nephilim horns.

Merle noticed her reaction and chuckled. "Yes, I am like you." He scratched his right horn. "I know you've only had bad experiences with people of your race, but know that not all of us are like that. The Hunters are the true monsters here, not us, Nephilims."

Remnya averted her eyes and tightened her lips. "It doesn't matter," she murmured.

Merle patted her head. His heavy hand seemed to crush her skull. "You've gone through too much, young girl. Give yourself some time to relax."

Remnya flinched away from his touch and glared at him.

He smiled and walked toward the stove, leaning over it. "It seems like you're feeling better, though. You ate my food."

"Sorry," Remnya mumbled, pursing her lips.

"Take a seat. I'll prepare more food." He grabbed a pot and filled it with water.

Remnya stood still. She clenched her teeth and locked her gaze on the cracked floor, trying to process the events unfolding around her. Part of her refused to believe those people weren't trying to hurt her.

It couldn't be real.

Merle glanced at her while he took a bag full of eggs from a box. "Let me help you order your ideas, young girl," he said, cracking the eggs over a pan and turning on the stove. "Debrin, the fool sleeping right now, and I, are part of the Silver Army of Karx. I am the second in command, or as my people like to call me, Captain Merle." He mixed spices and salt in the pan, the smell reaching Remnya's nose. "You might be wondering why we are living in such a pigsty. It's unlike Karx, isn't it?" He chuckled.

"I honestly know nothing about Karx." Remnya pushed the words out of her throat and sat on the chair next to the table.

"Well, let me tell you something interesting. None of us share the ideals of either Karx or The Hunters. They're equally pathetic, in our eyes." Merle locked his gaze on her and made a long silence. "We're part of Karx, yes, but we follow our own rules."

"You're a Nephilim," Remnya said, narrowing her eyes at him. "I thought all Nephilims were supposed to be part of The Hunters."

He giggled and shook his head, "I'd rather die before joining those fellas. I believe you've already had a taste of the kind of people they are."

Remnya lowered her head and clenched her fists. "They have my friend Zeo."

"I know." Merle's expression darkened. "He's alive, though."

"Really?" Remnya jumped off the chair, and her eyes widened, shining with hope. "How do you know that?"

Merle scratched his head. "We have undercover warriors in The Hunters, of course. We also know their top priority right now is Debrin's head."

"Is it because of me?" Remnya bit her lower lip as a fire burned her chest.

"No." He crossed his arms. "This was supposed to happen sooner or later. We're a big pebble in their shoes. They had wanted to eliminate us for years. Yet here we are." Merle smirked.

Remnya took one step forward and gathered the strength to speak through the knot in her throat. "Is there a chance to save my friend, mister?"

"There is, but. . ." He took a moment to scrutinize her malnourished figure. "That's beyond your reach right now, Remnya."

His words felt like knives through the skin. "I don't care!" She raised her voice. "I need to rescue my friend no matter what!"

"Then go out there, get kidnapped, and turn your friend's sacrifice into a futile endeavor." Merle's voice was calm, but his eyes pierced through her soul.

Remnya stammered; words had left her mouth.

"Nobody will force you to stay here. You're free to go whenever you want." He turned his back to her and continued cooking.

A long silence.

"However. . ." Merle glanced at her, "if you decide to stay, you'll be very welcome."

Remnya lowered her head as tears welled up in her eyes. At that moment, she felt stupid and pathetic.

Crimson sparks shot from her fingers as she buried her nails into her skin.

A heavy hand landed on her shoulder. "Please, always raise your head when you cry," Merle said firmly. "There's no shame in it."

Remnya lifted her eyes at him and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "I don't know what to do anymore. . ."

Merle handed Remnya a paper towel and then spoke softly, "You know, Debrin found you over one month ago. After that, you remained unconscious in the hospital for weeks, and during that time, he and I guarded that place 24/7." Merle leaned closer, gazing into her pupils. "You have a second chance in life now, Remnya. Very few in your position can say the same. Don't let it go to waste, please."

Remnya pursed her lips, rubbed her tears angrily, and let out a deep sigh of frustration. "Why did he help me that night? Why me?"

"Didn't he tell you already?"

"He said people wanted to protect me, but that's not enough of a reason to go so far for me. . ."

"He's a weird guy, I must say." Merle patted her back and returned to the stove. "Perhaps, he wanted to make up for his past mistakes. . . who knows?"

Silence.

Remnya nodded and sniffled, blowing her nose with the paper towel. "I won't abandon my friend. . . No way! No matter what you say! I need to help him."

"If our research is correct, your powers have an immense potential." Merle turned off the oven. "You managed to take down powerful opponents, like that Doman's guy. What was his name? Skado?"

"How do you know about that?" The memories of that night returned like a hurricane into Remnya's mind, even the pain, the last time she was awake to hug Brisa.

He ignored her question. "Your powers are still immature and untrained, yet your abilities are impressive. With proper training, you could become the hope for not only your friend but also for the weak out there, who fight to survive in this fucked up world."

Remnya lifted her gaze at him, her eyes sparkling with a hint of hope. "Would you train me?" she requested, her words recklessly leaving her mouth.

Merle guffawed and then strolled toward Remnya with a smile on his face. "Do I look like a warrior to you?" He lifted his right hand, and a ball of blinding white fire emerged in his palm, sparking and hissing. "I'm not good at teaching, but. . ." The flame first turned pink and then gained a deep crimson color. "I can try."

Remnya fell on her knees and bowed to him, her head touching the floor. "Please, teach me how to control my fire! I want to grow stronger and save my friend. Please, Mister Merle, teach me!" Tears trailed down her cheeks and fell on the ground, and the blaze in her chest burned hotter with an avalanche of emotions.

Merle kneeled in front of her and grabbed her chin, lifting her face to look into her eyes. "Don't do that, please. You're not a beggar." He beamed at her. "You're a warrior, Remnya. I-No, we will do everything we can to help you."

"You can count on it."

His words filled Remnya's soul like a sea of magma, the heat running through her veins. She smiled and nodded, feeling how the crimson flame of hope burned in her chest again.

A crimson path of fire awaited her, and Remnya was willing to embark on that long journey. Once and forever, she wanted to accept her Nephilim nature and fulfill her last destiny.

To live and die by the fire.

*°*°*

Next Chapter: November 9