23 Nightmare

People's Park,

"Allyria..."

It was a perfect day. The sun was up, children were running and chasing in the pavement, the birds swooped over the clouds and she was hanging out with her friends.

Wait, did she even have any friends?

She didn't know. But she did, and they were talking, laughing and dancing out in the open. She couldn't remember the last time she's been out of the castle. It felt liberating. These days have been nothing but stressful for her.

Freedom never felt this good.

"Allyria..."

A voice came from above.

She gazed into the sky and searched for the voice. Nothing. That's odd. She was sure she heard someone. But maybe it was all in her mind. She just threw a shrug and dismissed the thought.

"Allyria..."

Again. The voice was no longer from the clouds. It was here and there, her name called over and over. She tilted her head, hoping to see the person behind that voice but still, nothing.

The sound came back—now, louder and clearer. It kept repeating the same word that it was already too deafening to hear, like cymbals being played in a marching band. She couldn't think so she buried her hears and broke from the crowd.

The evergreen forest was the first place she saw and so she dashed towards it.

The path at her feet faded as it led into the darkness of the woods. A while ago, everything seemed normal, but now that she's here, she couldn't help but wonder how there are too many trees. The light could barely pass through the naked branches, no green leaves to cover them up. The sky was completely blacked out.

The wind howled and swept a bitter breeze through the dying trees; it spun with the leaves, drawing them down from the autumn field. The floor was damp and the smell of decomposing wood filled the atmosphere.

The eerie woods appeared to never end; large silhouettes blocking the ground, ravens flying overhead, and cries echoed across the sky.

Chills ran through her spine as she holed up in a tree. The forest was as disturbing as it could get, scaring anyone in their wake but on the brighter side, the sound stopped.

She stayed there for several minutes, keeping her breath steady. She couldn't understand how that short run already tired her. Everything seemed to be peculiar, weird things happening in a day. How could that be possible?

Suddenly, the ground shuddered.

Earthquake.

She stood up, her eyes flared as soon as she realized what was happening. The quake wasn't a gentle warning. Trees started to tumble like domino and branches were coming down in chunks. Her knees quivered with every step she took. She placed her hand over her head and hurried towards the open area.

Allyria went back to the park, screaming for help only to recognize no one there. Everyone completely disappeared, no trace, just buildings collapsing, ground breaking; her world going unsteady.

She looked around; the forest was set ablaze as a flash of lightning struck the trees like a person from the clouds threw a bolt of electricity from where she is…

Forest burning, ground shaking—only a Voloki could do this.

But no! Most of them are already dead. They don't exist anymore. No one has ever seen an Ikigai in Vervali for years.

'They couldn't be—'

The ground beneath her trembled.

Allyria broke into a sweat. Her heart pounded, and her hand felt clammy against her bouncing knee. She paced back and forth, terrified, not knowing what to do.

A crack.

She dropped her eyes to her feet but before she could escape, the road already split in two. The next thing she knew, she was already drowning. The water closed in around her, filling her with a deep dread. She held her breath as long as she could, too long in fact.

Allyria opened her mouth, gasping for air.

She woke up with a splitting headache, panting; she sat up and covered her eyes from the blinding light.

What just happened?

She couldn't remember anything. She placed her hands on the temple of her forehead.

"Allyria!"

She almost bounced from her seat.

"Kaius?" her eyes widened the moment she saw him, "What are you doing here?"

She pored over the surroundings; this isn't the castle at all. What's more, they were moving, "Where are they taking us?"

They were in an enclosed space. She couldn't see clearly, but she was sure they were in the carriage. The last thing she remembered, they were in a run, escaping from the rebels in Cesparian guards' uniforms.

Safe. They successfully escaped. But why were they here? What brought them here?

And then she recalled. Someone grabbed her, and that was it.

"We were almost on our way out," he explained in a hushed tone, "and they took you. I tried to stop them, but it was impossible. So they brought me in with you."

She couldn't believe what she just heard. Her eyelids drooped. It was already exhausting, all the fighting. Useless. They tried so hard and this is where it led.

"I'm sorry," she was too tired to even say something other than an apology.

"I will get you out," he reassured, taking her hand in his, "I promise."