Chapter 41: Nightmares
Terrified screams rang out in the Dune palace on planet Tetrid as hundreds of Mornans ran for their lives.
Several worn-out soldiers who had survived the initial onslaught from the Second Chance group's ground units hurriedly ushered the Dune branch family into the throne room.
To the side of the room was the throne, perched atop a set of stairs meant to symbolize nobility and power. But now, it felt small—like a paper tiger finally touching water.
Behind it, a little white Mornan girl with short almond-shaded hair and ocean-bright eyes hid as she watched the crowd rush in.
A female white Mornan protected by the guards noticed her and ran over. She looked similar to the girl, only older.
"Thank the emperor! You're still safe, my heart!" The beautiful white Mornan cried joyfully as she pulled the little girl into a tight embrace.
Behind them, a middle-aged male white Mornan sighed in relief as well before turning to his soldiers with a grim expression.
"What are you waiting for? Get ready! Use anything you can as cover. Tear the room apart if needed!" he barked as his men scrambled to follow orders.
He hid his trembling hand beneath his flowing red cape as he stared at the doors with forced determination.
"If it's just the system users, then we can hold out until the Renegades arrive."
"If it's the Witches' Coven… then maybe we can—"
His expression crumbled like a lie a few seconds later when a bright blue light appeared in the sky.
"No... It can't be."
Terror gripped the hearts of everyone in the room—everyone except the little girl, who didn't understand.
"They… came here themselves."
Several hopeless thoughts later, the head of the Dune branch family turned to his wife, dread hollowing out his features.
"Get her out of here! Now!"
He looked up again as he heard the sounds of battle outside.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!" he commanded. "Shoot on sight! Don't stop firing!"
The blue and white Mornan guards aimed their weapons at the massive doors of the chamber, jaws clenched. They knew this was their enemy's final destination.
Their hands trembled around their weapons. They could hear screams coming from around the castle.
Screams of their fellow soldiers dying outside.
Against all odds, they could also hear the sound of footsteps. Slow, deliberate footsteps that reverberated across the entire palace. The king recognized them immediately.
The queen bit her lip as she knelt before her daughter, whose wide eyes were filled with confusion and fear.
"Mom, what's going on? Why does Dad look so scared? What is everyone doing?
The Mornan caressed her daughter's cheeks softly in regret.
"Rin. You need to leave the palace now."
"What? Why? What are you talking abo—"
"No arguments."
Her hands slid down to her daughter's shoulders. "Go into the city. Leave the planet for now. Your father and I... will find you when this is over."
"What's happening? Why aren't you coming with me? Why do I have to leave? I don't understand!" Rin cried as tears spilled down her cheeks.
Instead of answering, the queen pulled her daughter into one last crushing embrace. Then she pushed Rin toward a blue Mornan servant as the sounds of fighting suddenly stopped.
Which could only mean everyone was dead.
"Go, now!" she ordered the servant, turning back toward the hall and reaching for a weapon.
The servant grabbed Rin's hand and ran toward a hidden exit leading into the town
Rin cried loudly for her parents as she struggled against the hold.
Through her blurry vision, she noticed that her mom was crying as she turned away.
Everyone in the room seemed to be doing the same as well, in varying degrees. Even the gruff battle-forged soldiers that had often played with her whenever she'd asked couldn't seem to hold in their tears.
Their expressions were filled with fear, acceptance, and indignation.
She couldn't comprehend what was happening. It felt like the world was coming to an end.
Minutes later, she emerged from a dark, damp passageway, the servant still gripping her hand like a lifeline.
Her eyes went wide at the chaos in the city streets.
Citizens ran in every direction—some carrying children or belongings, others fleeing empty-handed.
The servant tightened her hold and pulled her toward the travel station, where evacuation ships launched as fast as they could.
"This way, young miss. We need to get you on a transport."
After several moments of running, the servant's face brightened as she spotted a transport preparing to depart.
But then, she stopped abruptly.
Rin's face scrunched up as the blue Mornan's grip on her hand tightened painfully.
"Olia, you're hurting me! Let go, I want to get back to my paren–"
Rin's expression suddenly froze in horror as she glanced up and saw the strange expression on the servant's face.
She was smiling widely. A smile that did not seem to be of her own volition.
"Run... Miss," the servant whispered softly for the last time as veins began protruding across her face and neck.
Rin quickly stepped back in shock as the servant's body began to distort grotesquely.
Her skin stretched like a balloon as her eyes expanded in their sockets.
POP!
A moment later, the Mornan exploded into a mist of blood and gore.
"AHHHHH!!!!"
Rin screamed. She screamed louder than she had ever screamed before after watching her nanny burst right in front of her.
Her gaze darted about as she noticed similar scenes happening around her to the Mornans who hadn't boarded a transport yet.
But that wasn't all.
Through the windows of the fleeing transport, she could see the figures of those that had been lucky enough to get one.
Their bodies were going still. one by one.
Until every person on every ship still within the planet's vicinity was like that. As if their souls had suddenly been snuffed out, leaving behind empty shells.
And moments later, the ships began falling from the sky like meteors.
Rin sobbed as she ran into a nearby alleyway.
Her entire body shivered in terror as she hid herself between two waste containers, trying to make herself seem as small as possible.
She did her best to stay quiet.
Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she thought about her parents and friends.
From where she hid, she could still hear the sounds of bodies popping and the ships falling.
She cried even more at the thought of her body popping soon, as well.
After about 10 minutes passed, everything just stopped.
There were no more sounds, no more crashes, and no more screams.
Rin wondered if it was safe to stop hiding now. Deep down, she already knew the answer to that, but wouldn't admit it to herself.
But then, she heard a new sound.
The sound of gentle footsteps.
Her mind immediately went to the footsteps she had heard coming from beyond the great hall's doors. Her breathing quickened as she pressed herself harder against the wall.
After a few seconds, she realized that these footsteps sounded slightly different from before. They sounded far softer.
The footsteps grew closer and closer until finally, they came to a stop at the entrance to the alleyway.
Rin could see the shadow of the figure stretch through the alley toward her.
She didn't even realize when she began holding her breath as she did her best not to cry anymore.
Then suddenly, another sound reached her ears.
A strange melody she had never heard before.
🎶 Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are! 🎶
🎶 Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky. 🎶
🎶 Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are! 🎶
"Nursery rhymes are popular with kids, right? Yeah, that's what Rory always says."
"Or was that for babies? Shit. How annoying."
Rin's lips quivered as she heard the voice of a woman at the entrance.
Slowly, she saw the shadow of the woman get closer and closer as she entered the dimly lit alley.
The strange music still echoed through the silent area.
🎶 Twinkle, twinkle, little star, 🎶
The woman got close enough that Rin now saw a faint orange light illuminating her form.
🎶 How I wonder what you are! 🎶
Rin stared at the black leather boots of the woman in horror as she arrived right in front of her hiding spot.
She shut her eyes tightly, hugging her knees to her chest as if that would suddenly make her invisible.
🎶 Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky. 🎶
Then, the gentle and soothing voice of the woman came again slowly.
"Oh, you poor thing."
Rin wasn't sure why, but it was as if something in that voice compelled her to look up.
"It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help."
Soon enough, Rin could no longer ignore the compulsion and slowly raised her head.
Before her stood an unnaturally tall woman in a long, otherworldly black dress, like the mourning clothes Mornan widows wore.
The woman held an ornate umbrella, designed with what could only be described as witch hats, despite the clear sky.
Something emitting a blinding light was hovering beside her. From what Rin could discern, it was a bright orange musical note. It seemed to be the source of the strange music.
Several long moments passed between them as the woman simply watched her through a translucent veil.
"W-who are you?" Rin whispered.
The woman knelt, bringing herself to Rin's level. Despite the veil, her silver eyes shone unmistakably.
A bright smile spread across her face as she extended a pale hand.
"I'm… a friend of your parents."
"Or former friend, I suppose."
Rin stared at the woman's hand in terror as realization struck her.
The being before her was not a Mornan from the Renegades, like she had hoped.
She was a Human.
The creatures her parents had always warned her about. The single most dangerous species in the universe.
"They did something very, very naughty," the woman said softly. "That's what caused all this."
"But don't you worry. You won't have to pay for their sins."
"…Now come with me, dear," the Human murmured, her smile widening. "I'll keep you safe. I promise."
🎶 Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are! 🎶