Times of change

Life is a fragile thing. Some try to preserve it while others try to get rid of it. The balance between life and death is as thin as a piece of string. One small misstep and you lose your precious gift. We live in a world where those in power decide who gets to live a happy life… a peaceful life. Some are just destined that way, but what happens when that balance is disrupted? When fate finally releases you from its grasp, what will happen? Even our daily life could be viewed as pointless in most eyes. It only takes one moment for everything to change… for fate to finally break its hold and shake up the fragile balance of our realities. There is a defining moment in everyone's lives that makes up who we are and who we are destined to become. These moments may make up who some are but also carry with them great burdens as we all seek out peace.

There are many things that everyone thinks to do when they have all the time they could ever dream of but for me, this time was nothing but a curse. Some may say school was a challenge, others may say that it was their family, and the rest never have time to themselves. I always had too much time to myself. Sometimes the silence grew deafening and the noise grew irritating. I never felt like I belonged anywhere because there was never really a challenge to overcome. My family and I just moved to Georgia after years of living in South Carolina. I could already tell by the move my life was about to have a change but I could have never guessed how. The first few days seemed normal enough, just some boring days of unpacking and getting rooms addressed. However, over those few days I always heard some noise on the roof or in the attic around night time. Around the middle of the day, the noise started again. I quickly ran over to the door and opened it. Through the screen door I saw a girl in the yard. Her clothes seemed old and dirty and they were ripped in several areas. Her hair was a shade of very light red with orange tips at the ends, only coming as far as her shoulder. The noise the door had made caught her attention causing her to turn around. Her eyes were a bright crimson color and looked surprised that she was caught. Quickly, she took off, running across the entire yard to the barn which was not only fenced off but filled with trees. This however, didn't stop her. She climbed over the fence and jumped through the trees as if they weren't even there. I didn't bother to chase after her and just closed the door back before heading back into my room. I ended up with the largest room due to it being part of the garage that we walled off. Later that day I started to hear the noises again, this time in the attic. The attic access was in my room so I grabbed a ladder because the door's ladder would probably fall apart if I stood on it. Climbing up, I turned on my flashlight and started to wander around.

"It would do you best if you stayed away from me." A voice suggested from the darkness.

I shone the flashlight all over the attic but never saw anything from where I was standing. Against my better judgment, I walked further in the direction I heard the voice from. I quieted my steps and stopped my breathing for a moment and listened for movement. Once I finally figured out where the steps were coming from I chased after them. I got close when I saw the light reflect off her eye for just a moment before I felt an arm around my neck.

"I thought I told you to just leave!" She yelled.

Her grip was not tight enough to strangle but definitely firm enough to prevent escape.

"Well, I have a few questions. And you are living in my attic so you have cause enough to answer them." I demanded, while starting to sit.

"I don't know what you're trying to find but trust me, I'm nothing but straight bad luck. If you decide to stay by me, you very well could end up dead." She said, slowly releasing me from the hold.

"I still want my answers." I called out while laying back and pointing the light at her.

She was starting to walk into the darkness for a moment when I lit the attic up with the light. "She's nearby. It would be best for you to leave and pretend like you never knew of my existence." She said, walking out of the light.

"I don't care who's nearby. I want my answers. First question, what is your name?" I demanded while shining the light back on her.

"It probably won't matter in a moment or two." She said, while turning to me.

"Just tell me your name." I demanded.

"It's Natsuki. Not that it will matter in a moment." She said, turning back around.

"And why do you hide, why is someone after you?" I asked, causing her to stop.

"I'm a titan so I'm stronger than a normal person, that also includes my soul. Someone tried to wield me and died from the pressure it put on their body. Ever since I've been seen as a danger and have been on the run trying to survive." She explained.

Before I could ask another question she started to walk away again. Quickly, I stood up and chased after her. It took a moment to find where she had gone when I heard a noise from outside. I moved as fast as I could back to the entrance of the attic and climbed down the ladder.

Once I was on the floor again, I rushed to the garage door and pulled it open. Through the opening I saw Natsuki, pulling herself to her feet using a tree. Quickly, I ran to her in an attempt to get her to her feet.

"I told you to just forget about me!" She yelled angrily while blood slowly dripped down the side of her face from her mouth.

She had taken several hits all across her body. She was barely breathing and her body was shaking from pain.

"To think she actually warned this one. This is an interesting development. Kid, I will still give you a chance to walk away and just let me complete my mission." A woman offered, standing from the roof of the garage.

She had an odd looking katana in hand and the eyes of a killer. Her hair was a little below her shoulders and was a dark blond.

"That incident was an accident! She's not a danger to anyone unless you make her one!" I shouted.

"And of course there has to be another casualty of this mission." She said to herself before jumping down from the garage.

"If you want to throw your life away then so be it." She scowed while slowly advancing.

"I'm not kidding, just forget about me. This isn't your fight to die for!" Natsuki cried out.

"I choose my fights and I refuse to let you die because you just hold more power than a normal person. I don't care what others think, you are not a danger and can live a normal, happy life if others would just let it be." I said, putting my hand in front of her.

The woman grew siglent when she heard this. Slowly, the woman learned forward and brought her blade to her side before darting at me. I quickly shoved Natsuki out of the way and leaned backwards, dodging the attack if only by a hair. I scoured back to my feet and rushed towards the woman. She swung sideways to stop my advance but I ducked below it and grabbed her arm.

"Now's the only chance I'm giving you. Leave and don't ever come back!" I demanded as I struggled to keep her arm in hand.

In the blink of an eye, the woman kicked me off of her and forced the sword across me. A sharp pain came across my chest from the strike and blood came through the wound.

"Alright, I have to give you that one. That wasn't a bad strike at all." I chuckled while trying to hide the pain.

The woman didn't say a thing before moving her blade for her next strike.

"Well, if you aren't going to back down then I guess there's no since in not trying." Natsuki claimed as she ran over and grabbed my hand.

"What are you-" I stopped when I saw her change from a person to a blade.

"And just like that, you'd seal his fate. I knew it wouldn't take too long for you to change your mind and drag him in." The woman claimed.

"You're wrong actually. She never dragged me into this. I did!" I corrected angrily while bringing the blade to my side.

Quickly, I went on the offense, attempting to land a slice in the shape of an X. The first strike she saw coming and was able to block it but didn't notice when I brought the blade back down. My blade had sliced her down the chest and onto her arm. She quickly jumped back out of my reach before evaluating the hit. I stood up straight and flicked her blood off the blade.

"I underestimated you. I won't make that same mistake twice." She claimed before raising her blade.

I gripped my blade tightly and got ready for whatever attack she was about to try but before I could blink a pain came across my back and her blade was through my side. I quickly ripped her blade out, and swung behind me. The woman had jumped backwards and was again out of my reach. I redirected my blade to my side and charged at her. She dodged to the side avoiding my first attack and then ducked under my second while slicing me in the chest again. She then turned back around and sliced my completely across my back. Before I could recover, she thrusted her blade through my shoulder, pining me to a tree. I stabbed at her causing her to jump backwards, ripping her blade out of me again. My body was now soaked in blood and the sky was starting to weep.

"You are tough, but your skills however need polishing." The woman complimented before charging at me again.

My body was heavy from the blood loss and my reactions were no longer with me. The woman landed another full slash going across my torso. The hit sent me flying backwards and to the ground. I tried to force myself up but couldn't find the strength.

"You fought admirably but, this is as far as we both get to go I'm afraid." Natsuki said, changing back into a person.

Slowly, she turned to face the woman before raising her arms as if surrendering. Without hesitation, the woman darted forwards, slicing deep into Natsuki, sending her flying in the opposite direction. As the woman was walking by, I grabbed her ankle and finally forced myself back to my feet.

"It's over. You can still survive tonight." She said, pulling away from me.

"Did you really think I would just stand by and watch you kill her? No! I won't stop. It doesn't matter how much you cut me up or knock me down, I will still get back up!" I yelled with what little breath I could muster.

Blood was spilling from all my wounds and from my mouth. My body felt heavy and almost immovable and my sight was so black and red that I was nearly blind. The woman took a breath in before releasing it. She flicked the blood from her blade and put it in the sheath.

"I do hope this won't be your final night." She said before walking away.

With the woman gone, I stumbled my way over to Natsuki. I picked her up with every ounce of my strength and carried her to the garage. I could barely hear her breathing but it was present. Once I had finally made it through the open door, I collapsed onto the floor.

Later the next day, I woke up in a hospital bed. My wounds were stitched shut and an IV needle was in my arm. My body was still quite worn out from the battle and to top it off I was more sore now then I ever was. I slowly climbed out of the bed, trying not to overdo anything. Looking over, I saw an outfit sitting on the side table. One of my pairs of sweatpants and a gray T-shirt. My shoes were just beneath the outfit with socks in them. I carefully removed the needle from my arm and changed into the outfit. Once I managed to get the outfit on I walked over to the window and opened the blinds. The day was slightly overcast while the sun was around its apex. Looking around I noticed the woman standing on top of a building parallel to the hospital. I slowly closed the blinds back before making my way to the door. Upon opening the door I was greeted by a doctor.

"Oh, You're back on your feet? I was wondering why your vitals suddenly dropped. I guess you're one to bounce back from death rather than stay waiting for your turn." He said very confusedly.

"Yeah well, I never liked staying asleep. I was with another, she is around my age with light red hair and orange tips. Bright crimson eyes and about as tall as my neck. Have you seen her?" I questioned, worried that the woman was on her way to finish the job.

"Yes, your parents brought her in as well. She's in the next room actually." The doctor explained, opening the door.

"Now remember, she woke up a few hours ago and you just woke up. Neither of you really should even be moving so try not to hurt yourselves further." He explained as I walked into the room. Once I was past the doorway, the doctor closed the door.

"So you managed to survive too? That's good to know. I know you saw her too." Natsuki said, staring out the window.

"Yeah, I know she's coming to finish the job and I'm not going to let that happen. In other words, we need to get the hell out of here." I said, grabbing her wrist.

"You've suffered enough. You're lucky to even still be breathing. Just go home, live your life, and forget about me. That's what's best for you." She ordered, forcing her arm out of mine.

"And who's to say that's the best thing for me. If I was to just let you die without giving my all then I would never be able to live with myself. Now, let's go!" I ordered, grabbing her again. Reluctantly, She came along and we made our way to the door. Coming out, we saw the woman in the hallway walking towards us.

"Natsuki, if you could do that thing you did last night it would be very helpful now!" I exclaimed, getting ready to run in the opposite direction.

Quickly, she changed back into a blade and I bolted with her in hand. Every muscle in my body ached and bled as I forced my body to move as fast as possible. As I ran I pushed several other doctors and nurses to the side but nothing could stop the woman's advance.

"A door! We can get out of here!" I yelled out before Natsuki stopped me.

"If you use the door we'll be caught and killed." Taking a moment I could see what she meant. The woman was so close that there was no time to stop. The window was the only way out. I started to sprint as fast as I could before jumping into the window, using my arms to shield my face. Just below the window was a tree that broke the fall but the landing was hard enough to knock Natsuki from my grasp. Once I hit the ground I quickly forced myself back up and grabbed her before sprinting away from the hospital. Thankfully she had been around long enough to not only know the area but get us back to the house. We walked for what felt like an eternity when the road was finally in view. Fortunately, we met no opposition on the way to the house making the journey not so horrible.

Once we were at the garage door, I lifted it open again and we traveled inside. The house was quiet so everyone must have been out. Opening the door to my room, I immediately noticed Natsuki's stomach growling.

"The kitchen is through that door. I have to let my dad know what's going on, in the meantime, go make yourself something to eat." I suggested while pointing at the door.

She hesitated for a moment before going through. I quickly scanned my room for my phone, finding it on the entertainment stand next to my controller. I quickly forged a text before heading out of the room to close the garage door. In the other room, I heard a crash. Opening the door, I discovered that Natsuki was having trouble with the pots. I entered the kitchen and opened a cabinet full of plates and bowls. Pulling two down, I set them on the breakfast bar and grabbed out the milk and a bag of cereal. We sat down and ate for a few moments when I finally decided to address the elephant in the room.

"So who exactly is that woman?" I asked, causing Natsuki to pause her food fest.

"The woman's name is Alce. She's the grandmaster of witches and is currently aligned with the reaper. Right now, I'm the only reason there is some semblance of peace between the two factions." She explained before continuing with her fifth bowl.

"Working with the reaper? Talk about death knocking at your door." I joked, losing the rest of my appetite.

"You know, I gave you my name, what's yours?" She asked, finishing off the bowl.

"It's Derek." I replied.

"Well, I hope that you make it through this nightmare." She replied.

"We'll make it through. Even if we have to march through Hell." I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Carefull, Lucifer is one to take that as a challenge." Natsuki chuckled.

"Wait. I'm sorry, he what now?" I replied, confused.

"He would take you up on that as a challenge to come back. Of course no one has ever managed to come back but you know, it's still a challenge." She explained.

"Right, ok, so demons do very much exist." I said to myself before standing up.

"You know, I could use somewhere to actually sleep. Do you mind if we use your bed?" Natsuki asked.

"Just don't make it weird and we won't have any problems, ok?" I said while trying to make it as clear as I could. After the rules were loosely set, we headed back to my room and went to sleep.