San Jose Children's Home
Philippines
1845H

"Okay! Make way! Give room to the princess!" twenty-one-year-old Ana Romualdez said as she slumped on a space the children left for her in the middle of the couch. She handed the bowl of popcorn to the girl seated on her right and grabbed a fistful of popcorn then popped some in her mouth.

Children ranging from ages five to twelve were sitting on the floor, facing the T.V. with Phineas and Ferb show. Anastasia was an orphan herself, and she grew up her entire life in San Jose Children's Home. She also enjoyed watching Phineas and Ferb with the kids. To her, these kids were her family and this shelter for homeless children was her home.

"Ana, it's a good thing you decided to visit us," said the thirteen-year-old girl sitting beside her.

"I wouldn't miss watching Phin and Ferb on TV with you guys," she explained. "But I'll head home early tonight. I need to be up early for my work."

Ana knew she was left at the front door of the orphanage when she was still a month old. She, at one time, like most of the orphans, believed that one day her parents would show up at the doorsteps of the orphanage to claim that she was their long-lost daughter. Like most of the orphans, her heart shattered when she came to realize no one would ever come to claim her as their child. Nevertheless, she had orchestrated many incidences to prevent other families from adopting her; thus, resulting in her remaining in the orphanage until she was seventeen.

After she left San Jose Children's Home, she started juggling two jobs to support her. Despite her busy schedule, she still managed to find some time to visit the orphanage where she grew up.

"Ana," a middle-aged woman said, her head popped from the doorway. "Someone's outside looking for you."

"Okay," she answered. She hopped off the couch and said, "Don't change the channel kiddos," before she sauntered out of the room. "Where are they?" she asked Mrs. Reyes, one of the workers in the Children's Home.

"Outside right at the porch," Mrs. Reyes answered.

Ana moved past the door and went outside. Three tall men in a black leather jacket (really, who would wear a leather jacket in a tropical country such as the Philippines during summer?) greeted her grimly.

"Are you Anastasia Romualdez?" one of the men asked.

"Yes," she answered. "Is there anything I can do for you gentlemen?"

To Ana's horror, the man who spoke held a pistol crossbow in front of her and declared, "You need to die tonight."

That was how Ana ended up running for her dear life in the darkened woods that evening. When Mrs. Reyes let out a shriek when she saw the armed men and momentarily distracted them, Ana took the opportunity to escape. She ran as fast as her feet could, deeper into the woods.

What the hell was wrong with those creeps! she frantically thought. She stumbled down when her foot got caught by a root. She hastily scrambled to her feet and continued to run. She looked over her shoulders and saw the outlines of her pursuers still hot on her trail. "Damn those guys! Why are they even running after me?" she muttered underneath her breath.

Of all the places she decided to go through for her escape, why did she choose the woods? Seriously, of all places? The woods? Why hadn't she chosen the highway that leads to the police station just a few blocks away? Or any place with lots of people. She so dumbly chose the woods to hide from her pursuers.

You're just plain stupid, Ana, she told herself as she swatted a small branch with the back of her hand out of her way. She stumbled once more causing her to twist her ankle. "Shit!" she cursed underneath her breath. The moon was full, giving her enough light to spy a clearing ahead; but the light was not enough to help her see the trail she was running through.

She heard the men were nearing her. "Annoying and pesky!" she said between gritted teeth. Why were they after her anyway? What were her crimes—watching Phineas and Ferb?! And who the hell were those guys?

She kept on running, though her twisted ankle was aching much, her black hair flying behind her. Up ahead, she spied a light from the clearing. "Thank God! Civilization!" She clung to the hope that the light meant there were people on the clearing—people who can help her.

She made the mistake of looking back. As she neared the clearing, she saw one of the men directing a gun towards her as he ordered her "Halt!"

"Not on your life," she muttered as she made it to the clearing. She felt a sharp pain in her ankle as she stumbled down on the entrance of the clearing. Face flat on the ground, she pushed herself up and a blaring light greeted her. She shielded her eyes and what she saw astounded her.

"What the—" her sentence faltered as she surveyed her surroundings. The high noon sun shone over an expanse of a green meadow. Beyond the meadow, giant mountains stood, its tip pierced the clouds above it. It was like she stepped through a door and found herself in a different place.

"Where the hell am I? How did I even get here?" she asked herself.

She forced herself to stand but the pain in her ankle caused her to drop her weight on the ground. Small drops of blood trickled from a gash on her ankle. "The bullet," she surmised.

Suddenly, she felt the earth tremble beneath her palm. The loud booming thunder-like sound echoed, and shrill cries followed. She craned her neck and what she saw made her eyes open wide with fear.

Herds of white horses were running towards her. And to make matters worse, other herds of black horses were galloping towards her as well from the opposite direction. From afar she saw several golden and black knights atop the horses, with swords on their hands, waving it as they shouted their battle cries at the top of their lungs. She was in the middle of a freaking war!

"Ah shit!" And even though her ankle was killing her, Ana scrambled to her feet and limped her way out before she'd be caught in the middle of the impending battle. But it was too late. She heard the clang of swords as steel met steel. Arrows were raining from the sky. Horses raised their hooves, shaking the ground.

She tried to escape the battle, but her way was blocked by two knights fighting, a horse galloping, and a dead man falling from his horse. Everywhere she looked, blood was being spilled, swords were being driven in their enemies' flesh, and blows were delivered on the heads.

She needed to get out of there and fast. "No shit." She was able to duck before colliding spears between two horsemen pierce her. In the process, she stumbled backward, hitting hard on the ground. Another horseman came into view, looming over her as the massive white horse raised its front hooves. Ana raised her arms over her head just in time to see the rider pull the rein to control the horse before it could squash her.

The rider gazed down on her, a scowl smearing his handsome face. As if by a trick of the light, his hair glimmered like silky silver past his broad shoulders. His form-fitting golden armor could not hide his muscular physique. His intriguing, amber-colored eyes stared back at her, eyeing her curiously as well. He looked like a beautiful angel amidst a war—a beautiful angry angel, to be exact, as Ana noticed the angel's clenched jaw and piercing gaze directed at her.

The rider raised his sword as if to strike her when suddenly, she felt sharp pain bore into her right shoulder. She managed to glance at her shoulder and saw an arrow had pierced her flesh. "Crap," she managed to say before darkness veiled her eyes.

***

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