STELLA
I lay back, the scent of disinfectant piercing my nose.
I survived.
Again.
Mama is by my side, and when she saw that I had woken up, she immediately rushed out. I glanced at her through the doorway. Her eyes were filled with tears as she shouted at the doctors. I don’t know why, but it felt like I wasn’t fully there. I turned my gaze back to the ceiling. Something isn’t right with me. Maybe it’s the anesthesia. But I don’t know. It felt like I was trapped in a long dream. I feel... empty. I feel like crying.
Oh, right.
Anesthesia.
I turned my head slightly when someone grabbed my hand. “Child... Oh God, how do you feel?”
I nodded slowly. But... there’s something playing in my head. A melody. However, I ignored it. I remembered how chaotic the world is right now and why I’m lying here. I remember now. Explosion. Something blew up above me before I passed out. When I looked up, the building beside me collapsed, and the last thing I recall is a chunk of debris falling on me. And yet... I’m still alive. Soon, doctors entered the room. Since I wasn’t fully present, I didn’t pay attention to what they were doing. Once they left, I immediately faced Mama.
“Where are we, Mama?” I asked. “What hospital is this?”
She kissed the back of my hand. “Far from home, Ella,” she said with a sob. “Our house is gone; we evacuated after hearing the news.”
I let out a breath of relief. I managed a small smile and slightly squeezed her hand, which she held tightly in return. “It’s good then, Mama...”
Most likely, we’re in a different city. Or farther. Judging by the noise outside, it’s likely that injured people were brought here too.
“I’ll call your father; he’s at Grandma Glenda’s house with your siblings.”
I simply nodded. As Mama quickly left the room, a silence enveloped me.
I exhaled deeply. For now, I’m not having trouble breathing, and I can move my right foot, something I thought I would never walk on again. My left arm— I don’t know. It still aches. I have no idea how many hours or days I’ve been here, but I’m sure it’s been a while.
I looked up at the TV. Swallowing hard, I saw the chaos on the news. Riots. It’s not just that man wreaking havoc now. The damage in our area is severe. The buildings are destroyed, and many are injured. Most likely, he has taken control of our city. Most likely, he has claimed it entirely.
And I’m just lucky. Twice. First, a chunk of debris fell on me, and again the second time. I don’t know how he does it. But he seems to come from another world or something because... there are things he does that we can’t. That bullets and bombs can’t stop. That monstrous being— it looks like an Octopus, unidentifiable in size. Maybe thirty meters tall, and it disappears in the blink of an eye. It seems to appear only when... yes! It appears only when that man needs it.
I closed my eyes and tried to calm my mind. But soon enough, I noticed that I was softly humming.
Oh. It’s the same melody. I heard it earlier when I woke up.
I don’t know where I’ve heard it before, but it calms my system. Since I was a child, I’ve always had a deep connection with music. Maybe I’m remembering a song from then. This has always happened to me. Perhaps I’ll search online later to find the title or the singer. That is, if there’s still internet or signal. I’m not sure if it’s affected by that monstrous being’s destruction of our city, but I hope not. That’s all I can focus on for now.
“Ella,” I heard Mama’s voice. The door opened, and she entered with a tray of food. She approached my bedside and placed the food on the side table. “From now on, you’re not leaving, okay?” She sat down beside me and gently ran her fingers through my hair. “You’re not going back to that war we all know we can’t win.”
A bittersweet smile crossed my face.
I know.
This is a war we’ll never win, no matter how many countries help us. Many will die.
“Maybe it’s the right thing to do,” I said. “I really can’t do it, Mama.”
No matter how hard I try to stay positive, I know it’s futile. I can’t do it. My heart and soul can’t. Even though I try to hide it, I feel crushed. I really can’t.
Many have retreated— maybe it’s my time now.
Time passed, and I saw Mama had fallen asleep on the sofa, while my mind remained alert. I couldn’t sleep because of the noise outside. Even though I’m tired, something keeps pushing me to stay awake.
But soon, exhaustion caught up with me.
However, my mind refuses to cooperate—
I almost jumped in shock when shouting erupted outside. I looked at Mama, deeply asleep— likely too tired to be disturbed by the noise outside—
Oh, shit, what is that?!
Some crashing and screaming... My eyes widened. Despite the pain, I forced myself to get up. I limped toward the door, holding my left arm tightly because it still hurt. This arm acted as a shield when debris fell on me.
I turned the door handle and took a step outside, only to slam it shut again.
The lights went out around me.
Nurses, doctors, and patients were rushing.
Shit. Shit. Shit. This is too fast. This shit is too fast. No. Not here. My mom is here— it can’t happen— why here? Why? Why here? No—
Fuck! Why here?!
“Miss! Run!” shouted a male nurse passing by. Soon everyone was gone, rushing to escape. Silence. I could see the hallway faintly thanks to the moonlight coming through the window.
I heard my heartbeat. The noise was deafening.
Then I heard something— footsteps. Quiet at first, but they grew louder, and I saw the figure everyone had been running from—
I swallowed hard.
The moment I saw his hat, I already knew who that man is. His long hair swayed with each step he took. He was tall— terrifyingly tall. Yes. I am terrified. I couldn’t move from where I stood. My mom— inside. I couldn’t wake her up. My mind was racing, overwhelmed with fear.
Especially when I saw what was behind him.
There’s... something lurking in the dark. I could see its eyes in the shadows, watching him— following him—
Our eyes met. I could clearly see the strange color of one of his eyes.
...master.
He looked murderous. I could feel the cold emanating from his gaze, and that’s when I started to back away. My knees trembled, and all I could think about was my mom—
He suddenly halted when he saw me. The lights around us flickered back on, and whatever being had followed him disappeared.
“What?” he sneered. “Wait, wait— what?!”
His coldness vanished. He looked— surprised. Irritated, angry, amazed. I don’t know. I couldn’t tell his true reaction.
I mean, who wouldn’t be? I’m f-cking alive. Twice he tried to kill me— and here I am, standing beside him, watching him? Well... he has every right to be surprised.
I swallowed hard again.
“P-Please... n-not my mom... S-She’s still inside—”
He didn’t acknowledge my words. “Who gives a shit about your mother?! How in the world are you alive?!” His voice boomed around us.
“L-Luck!” I screamed in fear.
“Huh,” he sneered. “You. Come with me. Quickly,” he ordered, then quickly walked past me.
“B-But—”
“Follow me or I’ll gut your mom. Let’s see how far your luck takes you,” he snapped, giving me a cold, piercing look.
Shaking, I forced myself to follow his heavy footsteps.
“Move faster, goddamn it!” he yelled at me.
“I-I’m limping!”
It’s because of him... and... where is he taking me? My mom— my mom! Why didn’t I move earlier? Sometimes, my stupidity kicks in at the worst moments!
He looked annoyed, glaring at me. “What do you want me to do? Carry you?” he mocked. “Use some spells or magic. Fix your damn foot and follow me!”
H-How?
What?
“B-But how do I do that?”
He looks like he’s going to snap. He runs a hand through his long hair, eyes wide with frustration. “You’re so useless I want to shoot you— tell me— how are you alive?”
He’s pissed.
****