*this chapter has been edited*

A few years ago

After reading a section through my dad's journal. I found something that spoke of how the hunters communicated with them. I was intrigued as to who them was, and I wanted to ask why my father hated them so much.

It wasn't fair for my father to trap them in their world.

I've chickened out a few times, but today I was going to do it. I was going to talk with one of them.

Determined, I took a deep breath and placed my hand onto the wall, "Escrade gate open, show me what I seek. Escrade Anoixe!" I called upon the opening that would lead me to some answers.

A shock of energy passed through my hand, and I recoiled back just as the wall became transparent.

On the other side stood a boy with black hair, and eyes that looked like an ocean of colors. They swirled and constantly changed color.

He was on the verge of practicing an attack but his eyes locked on mine, stopping his movements he cautiously strode towards me, "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"My name is Cecile and I want answers," I said straight to the point.

He scoffed, "What type of questions could an 8 year old ask?" He asked quizzically, crossing his arms.

"I'm 11!" I shouted, cheeks red with anger and embarrassment.

He studied me curiously, "You're awfully tiny for an 11 year old," he quipped.

"I am average sized! What about you huh? I'm sure you're actually 10," he gritted his teeth angrily.

"I'll have you know I'm 13," his eyes swirled and red dominated his iris, while the other colors simply traveled in small quantities.

"Well you act like a 10 year old," I muttered.

"Tell me what you want, or I'll leave."

"Why does my father hate you?" I asked.

His demeanor changed instantly, hands clenched, teeth gritted and eyes brighter, "Don't tell me you're one of them?"

"One of who?" I asked confused.

"The hunters," he seethed.

"I don't know, I'm trying to find answers. I don't understand what's happening or why it's happening but I feel my daddy will do something he'll regret."

His eyes changed to a dull grey, but the red was still visible, he gave a slow shake of his head, "You're right about your daddy biting more than he can chew," he spoke, observing me, it's clear he still didn't trust me.

"Will you give me the answers to my questions?"

He stepped back and the wall started to close up, "In due time."

"Wait, I don't even know your name!" I yelled.

"Redain," came the short reply.

Present day

After crying for a good 35 minutes, I still felt hollow. I stared blankly at the wall, lifeless and emotionless. As soon as the rays of sunshine penetrated my bedroom window I was on my feet and pacing back and forth in my room. My frustration bubbled up and I felt the tears pour out yet again.

Whatever happened to Sylvia, Rachael and the others was going to happen to me, and I didn't want that.

My heart sank, and a sob escaped me as I slowly sank to the floor and cradled my shaking body.

I heard the door creak open, but I paid it no mind as I was too engrossed in my thoughts to care.

"Cecile, are you okay?" I heard the voice of my brother say, as his fast footsteps approached me.

I lifted my head towards him, shook my head and laid back down on the floor. He slowly lifted me off the floor, no matter how much I protested and rocked me back and forth while rubbing my back.

"I hope these tears aren't because you've somehow gotten pregnant? Because then I'd have to break some bones," He spoke lightly.

I snorted and wiped my teary eyes, punching him weakly in the chest, "You're such a dork, and no," I said with a low laugh, he managed to lighten my mood only in a matter of seconds.

I heard him take a sigh of relief, wiping some imaginary sweat from his temple. "Thank goodness, I'm too young and handsome to be an uncle," he stated placing a hand towards his heart.

I rolled my eyes at this, momentarily forgetting my dilemma. Only thing is he didn't, "What's wrong Cecile? I've never seen you cry like this, not even when Dad left us," concern was lacing his voice.

I didn't speak, instead I showed him the problem.

His eyes stayed glued to the black bow and arrow, an emotion I can decipher as fear and understanding passed through him.

"I'm so sorry Cecile, I know this is hard," he said in a low voice, confused I looked at him.

"What do you know? What are you hiding Josh, You seem to know something I don't?" He only shook his head.

"Mom and I are going out of town for the day, but I think I'll stay here with you."

I shook my head, "No, I don't need you to stay and babysit me. Go with Mom, I'll be fine."

"But Cecile-" I stood up, wobbling a bit as the dizziness hit me, "Go Josh, I'll be fine," I spoke with finality, sitting on the bed, away from him.

He was refusing to tell me why he acts so strange about this issue, and I felt like he knew something.

He nodded his head gravely, "Okay Cecile, I'll come back and check up on you when I get back. Stay strong, be safe and learn to listen and learn both sides of a story before concluding anything. Your reality might not be as truthful as you think," he said, closing the door behind him.

It sounded like a warning, he did know something, but why didn't I?

I waited until they left and immediately went to the bathroom. I scrubbed my hand until it was red all over, the pain on my skin was nothing compared to the pain this single engravement would bring into my life.

This thing had to come off, it just had to! I scrubbed with more determination, wiping the tears that kept spilling when it wouldn't come off. I didn't want this fate.

Everything I knew was becoming distorted, my life was a mess and turning upside down by a permanent marking.

I ran back into my room and started dialing Aria's numbers, but to my dismay it went straight to voicemail again.

It was now midday and she never left her phone unattended once she was awake. I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I grabbed the mysterious book and opened the next page to find the words still forming.

They started to appear one by one, a blank slate of white suddenly became encrypted and invaded by a dark swarm of neatly written words.

The game is in full motion

No one is left with an option

everyone has had their fair share of peace

Now it's time for chaos to take way

Now all Sarions are marked

A small group was taken

Now the rest shall be gone

Gather your troops and train to eliminate

The Bandid comes to take you

before the day is done

All but one remains

The Bandid comes for you

only one remains

and soon it will be none

I closed the book and immediately started dialing Aria again. My heart was going in an un-rhythmic pace.

Voicemail.

I groaned knowing something was seriously wrong.

My attention was slowly turned towards my wall which seemed to have a small hole. I frowned standing up to observe it, but I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the hole growing larger in size, becoming transparent until I could see the other side.

And from that hole emerged a tall black creature that was about the height of my ceiling with midnight black skin that shined like the night sky. It had no mouth or nose and its eyes were completely white.

The Bandid comes to take you, kept ringing over and over in my head as I gazed at this tall creature.

One thing I knew was that I won't be going willingly or without a fight. I watched as it moved its hand, beckoning me to enter the hole with it. I grabbed the book and tightened it around my chest, shaking my head and stepping back from it.

I wouldn't be going anywhere with it.

It narrowed its eyes and stepped forward, causing me to step back. I could feel my hands becoming clammy as fear was taking over. This fear has been happening a bit too often for my liking.

The Bandid started approaching me, and I took more steps trying to create more distance between us, but I felt my back hit the wall. It grabbed my hand and started leading me towards the hole.

I struggled and pulled, not allowing myself to go anywhere near that hole. I couldn't let this thing take me to a foreign place where I knew would be a place of no peace.

I raised my free hand and punched the Bandid in stomach, it was stunned but it didn't go down, before it could react I raised my book and hit it until it fell on its knees.

I kept hitting it, over and over again. My frustrations from the entire week, fuelling my anger and energy.

I didn't stop until I felt it still. I ran out of my room trying to get out of the house, never once looking back.

My heart nearly somersaulted in joy seeing the staircase, but the Bandid grabbed my arm before I could make it down the first step. Disappointment hit me like a tidal wave.

How can it still be standing?

I grabbed onto the stair railing, and pulled with all my might, watching with satisfaction as the Bandid lost its footing and started falling down the stairs.

I cringed as I heard every sickening crack the body made on its descent.

The Bandid's body landed with its limbs and neck bent in an unnatural way, definitely dislocated.

Definitely dead.

It couldn't survive in that state, I smiled relieved but to my utter shock I watched as it started getting up. Its bones cracking and going into place.

I watched, praying desperately that this was just a dream.

I made a break for my room seeing as I'd be captured if I tried getting out of the house now. I sprinted to my room and locked the door leaning against it, I sighed from relief.

My victory as short lived as the door was thrown off its hinges. The door propelled my body forward and I crashed into the nearby mirror.

The mirror broke into shards and large fragments, some pieces of glass even managed to cut me. All over the floor were scattered pieces of glass along with my blood.

My vision was blurring in and out and my eyes were trained on the crimson liquid on the floor, trying to regain my sight.

The Bandid's steps were getting closer, but I still had some fight left in me. I waited until it was right behind me before I could attack.

Once it was within range I grabbed the nearest broken glass and stabbed it in the leg.

It stumbled back but quickly recovered, grabbing me and throwing me towards the nearest wall.

I made impact with the wall and felt all the breath escape from my body, falling limply to the floor, I gasped loudly trying to get as much needed oxygen back into my system.

The book was just a few inches away from me.

I needed to take it before I was captured.

I weakly crawled towards it, but it was hard as black dots were invading my vision, my body nearly collapsed but I kept going until I reached the book and held it tightly in my hands.

I felt my drained and bruised body being thrown over a shoulder, and slowly reaching the wall.

I was too weak to fight, I was in too much pain, but I had to hold on tightly to the book.

The creature finally reached the hole and it was then that I succumbed to the darkness, and everything turned black.

Not knowing the fate that awaited me on the other side.

×××××××××××××××××

Another edited chapter is done. I hope you enjoyed it. Share, vote and comment if you liked my book.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this! Love you and until the next chapter.

Mercy💜