ACT ONE: THE UPRISING
You know life is really messed up. And I mean really bad. I could start anywhere in my miserable life to prove my point, but I'll just say this:
I never wanted to be the Sage.
Being the sage is hard, cruel and emotionally depressing. What's worse is that in most cases you could be killed in brutal and horrible ways unfathomable to the mind.
So, if you're the kind of person with little mental fortitude my advice to you is: Stop, Drop and Run. Because it is going to be one scary hell of a ride.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Because I did.
My name is Z. When most people hear that they usually ask, "Is that short for something?" Before I can reply they start listing out names that start with Z; "Zack? Zuni? Zane? Zulu? Zincky? Zion? I know, Zebra!" At that point, depending on who I'm talking too, I usually just walk away. I am about 6'4 and I'm 16. Due to the black specs I have on, people usually ask me if I'm blind. Well, you can say that because for as long as I can remember my eyes have never been opened, literally. I know it sounds pretty far-fetched. However, I do see. It's actually weird to me because, as far as I know, when you close your eyes, you're not supposed to see a thing. My vision is just like anybody else's — at least, I think. I decided to keep my abnormality to myself and not tell anyone. Some things are just better kept secret.
I live in upstate New York with Amy, my cousin and only family. She's the epitome of a typical California girl—tanned, blonde, and has a smile that can light up the darkest void. Amy had also lost her parents who had gone on an ocean voyage to the Caribbean for some kind of research purpose, leaving their 11-year-old girl at home to fend for herself. Eventually, rent and other bills forced her out of her house and she was forced into the streets, thus in order to survive, she worked odd jobs. Fortunately, she met a wealthy benefactor who took her under his wing and sponsored her through school.
On a certain day – A fateful day, if you ask me– She (Amy) wondered past an Alleyway where she saw a 2-year-old boy sitting by a dumpster, shivering from cold, his eyes were unable to open due to some kind of birth complication. She picked him and read the name on his tattered shirt tag: 'Z'
As I grew up, I got used to calling her Amy and I mentally assumed her to be my distant cousin. Amy provided the funds and cooked. Being 'blind', Amy decided to home-school me, and I learned to read using touch, which isn't very hard when you can actually see. Once, I asked Amy what she actually does for a living. She looked away and said, 'I'm a lot of things Z', then she smiled liked that cleared things up. So, she obviously had her own secrets, so what? I had mine.
Sometimes Amy worked night jobs and other times she worked odd jobs during the day. As soon as she leaves, I go on her laptop which has no password and watch movies, anime, the likes or played games while listening to British rap or drills with her ear pods.
You see life was nice for me. From all that has been said, I lacked nothing and needed nothing. I had no friends at all – unless you want to include the annoying 2nd floor Lady's daughter – who by the way is a four-year-old – but I read a lot about the painful experiences of the distrust and betrayal of acquaintances. It does not sound pleasing. Anyways, I could have continued my perfect life safe from the antagonizing and aggravating problems of a floating fortress and fallen Angels and a vicious Man-eaters. Unfortunately, I was thrust on a life-changing encounter which began on a dull, cold wintery morning – One I would never forget as long as I live.
***
Wintry sunlight filled my room, another winter morning started. I got up and looked around. Then I remembered, I had a dream, but I couldn't remember what it was about.
A woman….
My thought process was interrupted by the sound of Amy and another person having a conversation downstairs.
Amy usually took me around the house so I couldn't let her see me outside my room. I opened my door ajar and downstairs the conversation stopped.
Then a gruff voice asked, 'Does someone live here or was that….'
From nowhere a blast of thick, cold air hit me from nowhere. It was hard to breathe and I couldn't move at all. A low canine growl came from downstairs. The overpowering cold was creeping into my clothes, reaching for my neck, when a voice cut the silence.
'Relax. It's my cousin's door', Amy said.
The cold air vanished at once releasing me from its icy grasp. Fresh air streamed into my lungs; only then did I realize the way I was gasping for air like a mad dog. My windpipe was nearly crushed.
'You mean that wretched thing you saw on the road.'
'That would be you.'
'How unfitting of the calamity princess.'
'Call me that again you'll regret it.'
The gruff-voiced man chuckled, then he said, 'Whatever, see to it that you complete this mission. Failure is not an option,' then the door closed and he was gone. Amy sighed and made for the stairs. I stood at the top, barely recovered from anything that had just happened. I wondered if I was the only one who felt that air or whatever it was. She saw my face and she asked, 'Are you all right?'
Ignoring her I asked, 'Didn't you feel that?'
She looked confused, 'Feel what exactly?'
'The cold air.'
'Of course I felt cold air,' she said blankly. 'We're in the middle of winter and I left the downstairs window open. Was yours open too?'
'Not that. Really thick cold air, so cold I couldn't move. Who was that downstairs? What was that about failure?'
'That was um… my boss'; she said with unease, 'A new assignment was given to me so I can't fail.'
I wanted to question further, but she patted my head and went to her room. Our discussion was finished.
The rest of the day went pretty well, for breakfast we had bread, eggs and hot chocolate, which, if you ask me, is a pretty decent combination. I read more books while Amy supervised and taught me some simple arithmetical functions and stuff.
At noon Amy stepped out for an "Afternoon rendezvous with a client" and didn't return for a long while. I played games on her laptop and watched movies to while away the time.
At a point I got tired and decided to just browse the other stuff on her laptop. I usually don't check her files but today just seemed boring and I felt like trying something new. I came across a file titled "PRIVATE". Like anyone else, I let my curiosity get the better of me. I clicked on it and a bunch of pdf and word files rolled out. Amongst the files, two pictures were kept as hidden files. Clicking on the first picture, Photos opened a clear-cut picture of a tall, dark-clothed individual with a handsome look and void, deep eyes. He wore a grim look and looked very young, like a 20-year-old. At the top of the picture was boldly typed: GREY. CURSED ABILITY: MAN-EATER. I thought she was crushing on some movie actor and was so intimate about it she placed it in a hidden file. That was what I thought, of course, before I saw the next picture.
The other picture was a total shock because the person looked exactly like Amy. She was posed while running and blood was splattered on her face. Like the previous, a bold print read: AMY. CURSED ABILITY: CHAOS PRINCESS.
I shut down the laptop and went to my room to sleep, with heavy thoughts forming in my head: Who is that man? Man-Eater? Why is Amy there? Was that really Amy? Then I drifted to sleep.
*******
My dream started as usual; weird possibilities, inverted worlds, Lemon rats etc, etc.
Then it strayed from the usual.
I stood at the middle of nowhere. Below me was a white floor that stretched beyond sight, never ending. Somehow, I knew that if I should walk, I would probably be moving on the same spot. The sky was dark and void, no stars, nothing. Then a gentle voice brushed my cheek, freezing me on the spot, 'So you've come, young one.'
I tried to speak but my voice was clogged in my throat.
The voice continued, 'Hmm, you cannot yet speak. Then it is too early for you to come here. But before you go know this: You're most beloved one will soon become you're enemy. It will happen quickly, Z.'
I woke with a start.
Outside a storm was brewing and thunder flashes lit up my room at intervals. I looked at my mini clock on my bedside drawer and it read: 00:01.
I recounted the voice's words; 'You're most beloved one…'
I had only one friend, relative, ally; that was Amy.
A Loud bang jolted me from bed; I stood bracing myself for what was to come.
An uncomfortable silence passed.
I kicked off the sheets and crept to the door and reached for the knob. Just as I was about to grab it, Amy flung the door barely missing my face with a couple of millimeters. She was panting heavily, like she was being chased.
'Z! We're leaving now' she said in a low but stern tone.
I was bemused, 'What's going –'
'Shhhh. Don't talk. Listen, grit your teeth.'
Before I could speak, she carried me on her back. Although I didn't want to, I couldn't keep my face from burning. Luckily the dark concealed much facial detail.
Then, I heard boots. Dozens of them clomping up the apartment stairs, rushing, most likely looking for us.
She hesitated and then ran toward my window carrying me. I don't know what happened next but when I finally fixed my vision on something, we were hanging on the window balcony with Amy bracing for a jump eight stories down.
Impossible. My room window was too small for even I to pass through, yet, somehow in an instant we had arrived on the other side.
'Amy, wait please. What the hell is happening' I looked down, my sweat falling freely on the concrete pavement 'W-What are you doing? That's—'
She jumped.
A gust of winter air hit my face, ripping the air out of my lungs and then BOOM!
A crater webbed out from our landing, chunks of concrete spraying everywhere. Dust exploded into the air, irritating my eyes. Somehow we were alive.
Amy looked around and listened cautiously. 'Z, listen to me. You have to run.'
Run? To where? Why?
'Amy,' I began, 'Why is… where—' I had so many questions, and I didn't know where to start from.
'Take this.' She handed me something that looked like a dollar bill But the paper was heavier. Warmer. The symbols weren't normal. 'Use it to get as far as possible away from here. Don't look back. Don't come back. Be strong and don't let them get you, promise me,' she begged.
'But—'
'Promise me Z!' she almost screamed.
There was desperation in her voice.
'I-I-I P-promise,' I said, basically forcing the words out of my mouth.
'Good now go, run. Let your instincts guide you. Z, people are after your life. Learn the truth and we will meet again. Goodbye Z,' she said holding back tears.
Reluctantly, I stood up and ran to the street, a cab was parked by the road waiting for me. I got in and the driver drove off. As the cab began to pick speed, there was a blinding flash, despite being in a car, my hair rose on the back of my neck, then a jaw-rattling BOOM!
My ears buzzed for a second or two.
I turned around. The apartment was demolished, the building shredded by lighting. Fires burst along the remaining floors, flames licking upward, hungrily devouring what was left. People lived in that building. People I knew. I was speechless, panic closing around in my throat. It was the realization of what really happened that allowed me to squeeze a word out, 'AMY!!!'