Every nightmare has its origins, whether it comes from prophecy, misconceptions, engineering, or by accident. Which nightmare am I? As Emilia lay there, her cheek pressed against the cold, gritty cement floor, the sharp chill seeped into her skin. The thundering of rushed steps and the jostling of clothes reached her ears. She slowly opened her eyes as multiple heavy puffs joined the sounds.
A horde of voices echoed, bouncing off the narrow cement hallways. "There she is!" Soldiers waved each other into the room with weapons drawn. "Don't touch her!" Sounds of agreeing murmurs floated in the room.
Emilia glanced at the gray cement before turning her attention to the armed men in uniform. "Why are you here?" Emilia asked as she stood.
The quivering men parted for a tall, intimidating elder, who had his red jacket hanging off his shoulders. His chin lifted, displaying his white, powdery beard. "Treason," said General Tod.
"Liar," said Emilia.
General Tod smirked. "The Rosalyn family is accused of espionage, and your elder sister's swordsmen championship is revoked because of illicit substances."
Emilia's heart thudded with a sudden, jarring coldness. Her stomach twisted as if a trap had been cruelly sprung, leaving her breathless with disbelief and anger. The words felt like shards cutting into her chest. Her vision blurred slightly with a heat that rose almost instantaneously. "What, are you scared of her talent? Terrified of what she is capable of?"
General Tod laughed. A thick bellow from deep in his chest unnerved Emilia. "Do you think her skills are a joke? Do you have someone better than her?" She turned away slightly, a visible frown on her face.
"What is a little girl like that able to do?" General Tod's sizable hands reached out to wipe a single tear from his eye. "I haven't laughed this hard in ages." When he finished speaking, screams and groans pushed from down the hallway. The clang of blades long and short, bursting, blaring, buzzing, and zzt's echoed, followed by the sound of bodies roughly hitting the ground. The men who stood behind General Tod turned their attention to the doorway, jaws slack and eyes wide. Sweat trickled down their faces as the sound of a fierce, one-sided battle reached the doorframe.
There was a sudden thud, and one of the men who had been standing outside the room was hurled forcefully, colliding with another soldier in a heap. A heart-stopping pause echoed as a soldier was kicked, crashing brutally into the room. Then, with calculated elegance, a petite woman with long raven hair and wearing a striking red dress stepped over him. The sharp click of her heels punctuated the silence, filling the air with tangible tension. General Tod spun. His hand twitched over his blade handle.
"Victoria, run," cried Emilia. Victoria did not respond to her sister; instead, her posture changed. A tight stance with two blades drawn. On her tiptoes. Before General Tod or Victoria could make a move, an unsettling, heartbeat-like hum filled the air, throbbing against the walls of the cold cement room. Emilia squinted as a sharp, acrid scent reached her nostrils, curling smoke drifting in from seemingly nowhere. A grinding sound erupted, followed by a concussive explosion that rocked the passively tense atmosphere into chaos. Debris scattered, fog thickened the air, and, as if emerging from the storm itself, a teen with white spiky hair rolled in. He then darted for Emilia, his movements quick and deliberate. His hand clasped around her wrist, and he was pulling her away.
Emilia felt the touch and the yanking. She stumbled a bit. "Who are you? She jerked away against his rough palms. "Please wait."
The teen turned around. "I am Nal." He pulled her again.
"Wait."
"No time." He held out his hand. "Come with me."
She pulled away, pressing her arms against her chest. She placed her hands beneath her chin. He stepped toward her. Emilia stepped back.
Nal reached for her wrist.
She shook her head and turned to run.
Nal spun and trailed beside her.
Emilia huffed. "What are you doing?!"
"Following you." Nal shrugged.
"Why!?" Emilia shrieked.
"Hey, who are you, and what are you doing with my sister!?" Victoria shouted and pointed her blade.
"I am Nal, and I am, like her, born of the destructive gene," Nal responded blandly. "I am here to take her with me."
"The hell you are…" Victoria shrieked. She stomped a foot, cracking a heel. The soldiers backed away.
General Todd blinked. "Men, we should capture…" He glanced at his men, who shook their heads, and most clung to each other in groups. "It is just one woman!" he shouted.
"Just one woman!? Were you there when she beat Prince Zakai into the ground?" One soldier spoke out.
"No, I was with my wife, Bertha, dining on a blimp," said General Todd.
His men all backed away, muttering about the traumatizing event, something about an evil laugh, cracked heels, and legs.
"Are you soldiers or dogs? We obey the crown, and if one woman spooks you this bad, maybe you should…" Before General Todd finished, Nal spoke up.
"Darrian said it was fine. In fact, he insisted. He said to tell Victoria I am the one who sent you."
Victoria's face flushed. "My darling sent you." Her eyes seemed to have a shine to them. "Well then, take care of my sister."
Emilia stopped running. She huffed, hunching over. "Wait, are you handing me over just like that?" "WHAA," she screamed as a pair of arms lifted her.
Nal gave her a bland look. "You are not heavy; I should feed you." He then started running with her in his arms, slightly jostling her around.
"Victoriiiiia," Emilia screamed as she wrapped her arms around Nal's neck. Her scream lasted until she became a distant echo.
General Tod started after Nal and Emilia, but a blade held out by Victoria blocked him. "If my Darling has her, then there is no reason for me to hold back, hehhehahahahamuhaha." Victoria threw her head back as she laughed.
"That laugh," some of the soldiers shivered and darted from the room.k