1

  Cedric escaped from under the collapsed building because he wasn’t an ordinary boy.

  It was storming all day, trembling the earth. The rusty old car was struggling against the bad storm, creaking along the lonely country road. The uneven bumps in the ground made the car jump and the occasional engine coughing kept Cedric and Ronan awake. With every shadow passing by Cedric felt like he was trespassing into another world hidden within the night and veiled by the heavy rain.The headlights were casting long shadows ahead; light cutting through the deep darkness.

  Pulling the blanket tighter around himself was the only warmth Cedric had known in years. He thought about the last time he had a hot meal alone with his brother, instead of eating old food on dirty floors with strangers who, like everyone else, had been fleeing the world war for years.

  A thin, sharp line of blood slowly flowed down Cedric's forehead, weaving into his unruly black hair. He had a scar along his sharp jawline and another under his eerie gray eyes. A bit of mustache showed under his nose, though it wasn't as much as he would've liked. He wiped the blood and looked at the stain on his hand. So deep and red, that one could almost think he had squashed a mosquito that feasted on all of his blood. It wasn’t luck that he escaped from under the wreckage with only a scratch. Cedric wasn’t normal, looking at his arms would be a constant reminder of this.

  What had once been white cloth was now tinged with yellow and torn in places, revealing protruding crimson veins. The roots of a tree spread within his body, lifting his skin, and pumping his blood fast, Cedric sometimes would feel a boiling sensation through his whole body. Always cautious not to hurt himself, Cedric hid his arms all his life, wearing long sleeves and bandages.

  Cedric looked away from his arms in shame, remembering how he had been called a freak by the teenagers who picked on him just a few days ago. He hated the high school they fled today, hated the people, hated the lack of privacy. The only place he could hide to bandage his arms was in the bathrooms, but even there he didn't feel safe.

  During war times teenagers were hosted mostly in universities and high schools.. It was a rough place to be with so many teenagers, all sleeping there, eating there, learning there. Hallways filled with sleeping bags, classrooms too, some of the people knew each other, some were strangers. Cedric had the bad luck to share the high school where he'd been living for the past six years with a group of teenagers that were there for as long as Cedric and Ronan. They grew bored and mean, Cedric told himself many times, but the boy knew he was a freak for a reason and he was aware he couldn't show his powers, but he wished many times to take revenge on the way he was treated. Called hunchback for his S shaped spine, called Freak for his deep red veins, and mole for his grey eyes which made him look blind, made Cedric hate the teenagers he was forced to share the food with.

  Staring darkly at the empty road ahead, the boy would tell himself that every day was just like the other, and all he wanted was to end the war. He could hear the planes and helicopters taking over the skies. Sometimes, the starry sky was shiny, filled with twinkling lights, red and green, shining through the dark clouds.

  A few hours ago, he and his brother were hiding inside a school hosting over a hundred people. When the school collapsed, Cedric could only escape and help Ronan because he was special.

  Cedric was fortunate to have powers and move objects at will without touching them. He moved massive pieces of debris that fell on him and his brother, but he couldn't do anything for the others because he had to run. Cedric wouldn't stop thinking about the people who died today; their bodies crashed, and he didn't lift a finger because Ronan ordered him to run, run fast to the car!

  Cedric pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to soothe the throbbing headache, frowning at his brother, whose eyes were fixed on the road ahead. Ronan's eyes were red and tired, his face covered in dirt and scars, his clothes stained with blood and hanging loosely on him from the weight he had lost in the past few months. He couldn't eat well and Cedric saw his brother trying to save the limited food they had for the younger ones. Yet Cedric wished Ronan would've eaten, he had never seen his brother like this before—never seen him so tired and weary. Ronan looked older, perhaps because of the dark shadows under his eyes, hinting at countless sleepless nights; his hazelnut hair fell in soft waves over his forehead, and his beard, growing unchecked, made him appear older—he'd never have the energy to trim it.

  'I can drive. You should sleep a bit,' Cedric said.

  Ronan shook his head.

  'Not old enough to drive,' Ronan said in a whisper; his voice losing strength, and his mouth was dry.

  Cedric was fifteen, five years younger than his brother. He was no longer a child, and Ronan could barely stand upright.

  'There is nobody on the road,' Cedric tried again.

  'It doesn't matter.'

  'I can drive. It's been four hours, just let me…'

  'No!' Ronan interrupted him sharply, losing patience.

  'You did the same back there,' said Cedric. 'You couldn't let me deal with them.'

  Ronan acted as if he didn't hear anything. Cedric knew this was an occurring thing his brother would do to look superior and a know-it-all, yet he tried to understand that his older brother was left with an enormous responsibility in the world. Ronan had the role of a father; he was trying to be a protector, but this led to something Cedric hated.

  Authority.

  They used to be brothers, play together, and forget about the war together until Ronan was forced to change. Ronan spent nights and days away from Cedirc, training for the military with the other teenagers in hopes that he could protect his younger brother all his life.

  Rain pounded the car as the night shrouded the byway in darkness, creating the illusion that something was lurking in the bushes and overgrown trees beside them. But there was nothing; they were completely alone.

  Cedric turned his exhausted eyes to his left, looking darkly at the wheel. The car abruptly turned and came to a screeching stop at the edge of the road. The sudden stop did not surprise Cedric, as he kept maintaining eye contact with the wheel while Ronan was trying to gain control of the vehicle. With his hands in the air, Ronan had given up. The car almost hit the fence that was limiting the forest off the road.

  Nobody said a word for some time. Cedric’s piercing gray eyes were cutting Ronan’s. Cedric was always told that his eyes were ominous, and that is why nobody ever looked straight at him, but Ronan would have no problem doing so. The brothers were both throwing acute looks at each other as if they were enemies of ages.

  'Why?' Ronan askedfirmly, gripping the steering wheel tightly again. 'You need to calm down.'

  Ronan would never listen to Cedric unless Cedric made it clear that, even when he wasn't the one driving, he was still in control—not Ronan. Cedric was merely trying to help his brother keep the promise he made before their father.. Cedric was no longer a child, and he had enough of running and taking orders. He wanted his brother back, he was taken from the wreckage site like a child sent to bed.

  'I can bend their weapons and crash their tanks. I can do everything I think about! Yet you want to flee…' said Cedric. 'I’m in control!'

  'And I will keep telling you the same thing over and over until you come back to reality,' Ronan said, defeated, his voice telling Cedric today was not the day to repeat this. 'I wish I had the powers you have, maybe there is someone else in this world that can bend their weapons and crash their tanks like you say but now you are all alone, and you can't do anything about this,' Ronan said gloomily, and took a deep breath. The engine was cracking again, struggling to start. 'You will need an entire army and without one, I am not letting you do anything.'

  Ronan was right; Cedric was the only one. Even if he could control his powers, he would still be one against the entire world.

  2

  After one more hour of driving, the car sunken in silence, they arrived at an abandoned town. Their old house was there, obscured by overgrown bushes and dead trees. Ronan parked in front of the rusty metal fence guarding the ghostly house. None of them could ever think that their childhood town would look like a hoary graveyard. The steady patter of rain, sometimes interrupted by the distant rumble of thunder, were the only sounds the two brothers could hear.

  Around them, houses stood in ruins, their walls deteriorating and roofs collapsed. Everything was covered in creeping ivy and mold. Beneath them, the muddy ground reflected the night sky, and only the headlights were casting light on the long street. Such a deep darkness and stillness, the street had no end perhaps.

  The black ate the whole town.

  The two-story house, covered in withered plants, had a wrap-around porch. The focus of the building were three red glass windows surrounding the terrace. The windows, unlike the others black and stained, were beautiful, making the place stand like a church, yet the sight of the old house made Cedric feel like he was looking upon a place where only the darkest things happened; it felt haunted by its horror past. Once it was the most beautiful place he ever had until the war started one hot summer night. He was helping his father prepare the cake for Ronan, who was just about to turn nine, then he could only remember the distant sound of the explosion.

  Ronan was shining the flashlight at the house, making it look frightening, casting enormous shadows in the forgotten yard. They entered easily as the front door collapsed on the floor, filling the air with dust. The smell of mold was strong, and forced the brothers to breathe through their mouths, letting out cold puffs of air.

  The living room welcomed them. It had a fireplace and a beautiful archway leading to the terrace, where the red stained glass stood grandly even though the house was lifeless. It used to be their grandparents' favorite place to have tea.

  The second floor didn’t exist anymore, it was as if a monster had taken a bite out of the roof, leaving them only with the first floor. What a shame; the house's three bedrooms, including their shared childhood room, were on the second floor. The stairs had collapsed and debris blocked them, leaving the boys only with a rat infested kitchen, an unusable bathroom, a terrace, and a small pantry room. It wasn't much, but at least they could start a fire.

  'Help me with this,' Ronan said.

  Ronan was trying to move a bookshelf in front of the window, under which the couch used to be. They had to find a way to keep the wind out, as the glass was completely missing, leaving only the frame. They could see the street, so lonely and dark.

  'Step away,' said Cedric.

  Ronan didn't hesitate at all. He stepped back and watched as Cedric raised his arm, commanding the bookshelf to move. Without touching it and with remarkable ease, the bookshelf glided slowly across the room, driven by Cedric's powers right in front of the window. Then the door that collapsed on the floor raised and flew inside its frame, stopping the wind from coming inside the house.

  Later the fire was cracking and struggling to heat the big room. They carried the blankets stored in the car and some water. Cedric was making the wood levitate around the room and throwing pieces inside the fire. Ronan was watching curiously.

  Night fell deeply over the forgotten town, pressing it with a heavy silence. Thunder shook the earth with fury. Neither could sleep; they had no food, and the cold inside was biting.

  They had their heads towards the fireplace, far enough so their hair wouldn't catch fire but close enough to warm their faces.

  'How long are we going to stay here? This place stinks,' said Cedric gloomily.

  'You don't like the old house?' asked Ronan jokingly.

  'I want to fight,' said Cedric firmly. 'I am sick of running and living like this. It's been years, Ronan.'

  Ronan couldn't answer. They both jumped when a high scream was racing the sound of thunder. Cedric hurried and pointed his hand toward the bookshelf, blocking the window. The bookshelf dashed to the side, as if possessed by a ghost, allowing the boys to check the scream. They were trying to spot what was going on outside but the darkness and the wind howling made it harder.

  Someone was running chaotically, lost, falling into the mud, and crawling away in fear ━ a woman. They could barely see anything; there were no street lights, but she was close, right in front of their house. Perhaps she saw the smoke and ran towards the only place where she knew she could find a soul. Ronan hurried outside to help the woman, and Cedric followed in a heartbeat.

  The concrete sidewalk, wet and cold, was sinking into her blood. Ronan took the lead, in his hurry he nearly slipped and fell in a puddle—just as the woman had moments earlier. Cedric watched his brother grabbing the woman’s arm gently, trying to talk her into calming down. She was barefoot and her feet were bleeding, the palm of her hands too. Crawling in fear had torn her thin skin. A trail of blood was following her, slowly being washed up by the rain. While Ronan was trying to reassure the crying woman, Cedric looked around. There was nothing but the wind and rain, nothing but the darkness and stillness of the forgotten houses. The sky was gathering formations of black clouds and the moon was covered, barely lighting up the world. Yet the woman was crying that something was chasing her. Her words echoing, engulfing the street in her hoarse voice.

  The brothers brought her inside, letting her lay on the blanket close to the fire. The woman was offered every blanket they had. Her pregnant belly was poking through her thin dress; she needed the warmth desperately. Only her milky face was visible inside the cocoon of blankets she crawled into.

  Feeble, weak, and tired, about the same age as Ronan. Her face was full of scars from falling, but otherwise beautiful like a princess from a fairytale. Long golden hair touched her ankles, youthful big green eyes filled with tears, and full pink lips reminded Cedric of the softness of rose petals. She was a beauty and both boys could agree with their looks, especially Ronan, who wouldn't stop admiring her as he sat down next to Cedric.

  Cedric was looking at her too, but not with the same soft gaze his brother had. Cedric was thinking about her strange appearance. The woman looked like a character who had come to life from a story. Perhaps a princess or a queen, imprisoned and isolated for a long time. Her eyes reflected fear and confusion, but she had no other way to escape the cold than to accept the help of strangers. She was probably wandering lost for a long time. Underneath the blankets she was dressed in a rag dress, handmade, reminding Cedric of a potato sack, yet her hair was so shiny making him wish to pass his fingers through it and feel something nice for once. Looking at Ronan, he guessed his brother thought the same.

  'Are you feeling better?' Ronan asked.

  The girl nodded, trying to gain control of her body. She was shaking.

  'It's alright, take your time,' Ronan said gently. 'We don't have any more blankets. You will get warm soon.'

  Cedric never heard his brother talk that way, mesmerized by the beautiful girl.

  'What happened?' Cedric asked the important question.

  'There was something after me outside,' she said, whispering darkly.

  'Someone?' Cedric corrected her. 'Who?'

  'Something,' she followed quickly. 'Something!' she said louder, thinking they couldn't understand her crooked voice.

  'We didn't see anything,' said Ronan, and Cedric agreed. 'Nor hear anything other than you,' added Ronan. 'What is out there?' he asked as he saw the girl confused and frightened.

  'A monster,' she whispered as if the monster could've heard her.

  The brothers were trying to comprehend her words. She must've hit her head, Cedric thought, or something worse happened to her in the war, which seemed to take a mental toll on people. Cedric arched his eyebrows and looked at Ronan, whose expression was warm, trying to let the girl know that he understood her story even if it was hard to believe.

  'Perhaps the military is here,' guessed Cedric.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  'Military?' the girl asked, confused. 'I know nothing about this.'

  'The war?' Cedric asked, his eyes big as he never thought on this planet could be someone who didn't know about the soldiers stomping every bit of land and spreading blood and flesh on the streets., turning the planet into a butchery of humans. 'Were you here for a long time?' asked Cedric.

  'I don't know, I can't remember,' she said touching her head which was hurting thinking about any memory. 'There is a monster outside.'

  'What about the father of the child?' asked Cedric. 'Where is he?'

  'I don't know,' the girl intervened. 'It will come after me again,' she said, frightened by her own words.

  The night was long. Cedric couldn't stop thinking about what the girl said. He was sitting alone on the terrace looking out the red window, but nothing outside made sense. It was so dark, that no shape was in his sight.

  He could hear his brother and the girl talk. Ronan was trying to figure out where she came from, and he was listing places nearby and none of them were familiar to her. Neither the names of the shop vendors, priests, nor doctors or nurses made any sense to her. Ronan came close to Cedric, and they both looked confused at each other.

  'She went through a lot,' said Ronan. 'She knows nothing. She doesn't even know when she got pregnant.'

  Cedric peeked over his shoulder at the girl, who was looking into the fire. The blankets she cocooned into were her warmth, the fire flame lightened her up, and she was wagging agitated.

  'What about the monster?' asked Cedric.

  'What about it? Do you believe it?'

  'I think there are soldiers around. Deserters perhaps.'

  The deep breath Ronan took was enough to fill the air with cold clouds of mist, looking like little ghosts floating by their faces.

  'Don't you think that is weird?' Cedric asked and came closer to his brother. His whispers were ghostly. 'We didn't hear anything, and we drove through the town. She just appeared, and she is talking about a monster.'

  'We can't leave her outside,' Ronan said, thinking that his brother was right about the sudden appearance of the girl.

  'Yes, I know. I was thinking we might not be safe here. We should leave soon. If she called people monsters, she had a reason to do so; she is frightened, Ronan.'

  'I know, I know…' Ronan said, tired. 'I will think of something, but don't worry, I wasn't planning on staying here forever.'

  'Where do we go then?'

  'Let me think. I will figure something out. Before this we had another problem, we have no food and the girl is pregnant. I thought there might be some food left in the nearby shops.'

  'I am going,' said Cedric confidently. 'Pete's is close to us.'

  'You stay here with the girl. I am going. If there is someone out there…'

  'If there is someone out there, I have powers,' Cedric said, spreading his arms. 'Or I am coming with you.'

  'You can't leave her alone and we can't take her with us outside in that cold. You stay here and I will go check.'

  It wouldn't help to fight Ronan against his command. Cedric learned this lesson after years of listening to Ronan, who took the authoritarian behavior from their father.

  'I am so sick of everything,' Cedric started, his voice lowered in a threatening tone. 'I can't stop thinking about the people that you just wouldn't let me save, and now you want me to stay here with a stranger while you go out there alone.'

  'I want you to be safe until you realize you are my brother…'

  'If you die…' said Cedric.

  'There is no monster, no people, no nothing. She is hurt, lost in her thoughts. Realize that you are my little brother, I won't ever, ever put you in danger while I am alive. This discussion is over. I will try to get some sleep.' Ronan finished angrily and sat down next to the woman who fell asleep, leaving Cedric alone in front of the red windows.

  3

  Thick mist was swallowing the town, making it feel like a phantasmal painting. The frosty morning air made Cedric's bones freeze. He was standing on the dirty floor watching the woman wake up covered in all the blankets they had. The boys stood all night close to each other in their attempt to share body warmth, while the mouth of the fireplace would spit heat at them. Cedric understood she was pregnant and she needed the heat, this wasn’t his problem, it was her sudden appearance, her fairytale looks, her strange story. Everything about her was odd and Ronan seemed to forget to question her. Cedric moved his eyes from the girl to Ronan, who entered the house with one bottle of water and handed it to the woman.

  'Drink slowly,' he said softly while the woman almost choked on the water.

  She woke up from a slumber of ages, so thirsty, and sweating profoundly. The girl looked Ronan deep in the eyes as he was holding the bottle for her. She had no clue how to drink from it.

  'I need to go outside,' started Ronan with a carrying voice. 'If I can find something…'

  'Don't go outside!' said the woman, choking. 'Stay here. What if it is still around… the monster!' she grabbed her belly, and due to a sudden pain she fronded. 'I am alright.'

  'What is your name?' asked Cedric.

  Cedric sounded cold and Ronan and the woman could tell. While Ronan was throwing disappointed looks at his brother, reading that he should mind his tone, the woman was frightened and answered, shying away from Cedric’s gray eyes.

  'I don't know…' she said softly.

  'Did you see the monster?' asked Cedric.

  The woman shook her head.

  'Did you hear it?' Cedric tried again.

  'Yes, I heard it,' her voice was high pitched like a kitten's cry. 'It was moaning. I think it was hurt or weak, or… I am not sure. It talked to me, calling me…' she said darkly.

  'Calling you? How?' Cedric kept going despite his brother's concerned looks.

  Ronan could see that Cedric was more interested in hearing about the monster rather than watching the tone of his voice. The heavy looks and severe tone filled the room with intense pressure. The woman who was nearly keeping up with her crooked voice, speaking as if the monster itself could hear her at any time, was startled. She went through horrors.

  'I don't remember! He was calling me, but it can't be. He was saying he! Him! He…'

  'Who's he?' wondered Cedric.

  'I don't know. There was nobody else with me. I swear!' she said, agitated.

  'Easy,' said Ronan as the woman grabbed her belly once more, holding herself from throwing up.

  Cedric had a puzzled gaze.

  'I need to look for some food,' said Ronan, waiting for the woman to calm down, but neither she nor Cedric heard him.

  'There's someone outside. It can’t be a monster...' Cedric said, his voice breaking.

  'There is something! SOMETHING!' the girl shouted.

  'Tell us who you are. There has to be something you can remember about yourself,' said Cedric.

  'I don’t remember!' the woman said with tears in her eyes and scared.

  'Silence!' Ronan ordered louder than any. 'There is nothing outside. You are both safe. Listen to me, we can't die of starvation here and you need to feed your baby!' Ronan pointed to the girl's belly, which she was hugging.

  'I am coming with you!' said Cedric, getting up fast.

  'No! Don't leave me alone!' said the girl.

  'Stay with her. I will be back shortly.' Ronan ordered.

  Cedric's eyes found his brother's and once again Ronan wasn't scared to look into the gray eyes that were staring him down intensely. Cedric couldn't believe his brother was suggesting to leave him alone with a stranger. Their whole life was only Cedric and Ronan everywhere they would go.

  'I am coming,' said Cedric sharply.

  Disappointment could be read on Ronan’s face. Cedric was always stubborn. Years of listening to his father and Ronan became something usual, he learned to obey, yet since yesterday when he ran like a craven from the wreckage without helping anybody, leaving people to die under the collapsed high school, marked him beyond anything. Listening to Ronan brought him such a heavy burden on his mind. Cedric knew that Ronan was trying to keep him alive, he knew he was only one against the world but why would he have such powers if he would flee like a coward his whole life? After a brief break, Ronan spoke wearily.

  'Come with me to the car,' Ronan said and then turned to the girl when he heard her gasp. 'We will be right back. I need to talk to my brother.'

  Cedric followed Ronan. If a sound could wake the dead up within the pure silence, it would've been the gates creaking when Cedric opened it. Ronan pointed towards the end of the street, which was splitting into a fork. The fog was thick as curdled milk.

  'The shop's there on the right,' Ronan said.

  'I know where Pete's is,' said Cedric. 'I am coming with you and we're taking her with us.'

  'We don't have to bring a pregnant woman outside. It is too cold,' Ronan took a while, staring his brother down, as Cedric wouldn't move. 'Look, I am tired and I am starving, you are aware that we can't die here like this. I promised dad I'll take care of you and I intend to do so. Please stay with her inside,' said Ronan. 'There is nothing out there. Do you hear anything? It's quiet.'

  Like a graveyard with houses instead of tombstones, was indeed the quietest town they had ever known. Frightening to think what happened to all the people here, perhaps some where even rotting in houses, cold corpses guarding obliterated places. There was no soul that could breathe but Cedric, Ronan, the woman, and her baby. No sound that could speak back at them but the wind and drops of rain draining from the roofs into puddles. But Cedric knew what his brother was doing. Showing the short distance to the shop was a way to convince him that there was no need for three people to go through the bone-freezing cold.

  Cedric returned to the girl who faced away from the fire and turned to him so fast it seemed she broke her neck. The girl’s cheeks were gaining a beautiful pink color again and her lips were slowly getting wet, the dryness fading away. She breathed easily. Cedric thought she wasn’t used to being alone even for a moment. Her shiny eyes watched Cedric slowly approaching. Cedric sat down after adding more logs to the fire.

  'My brother will try to find some food,' he said. 'Don't expect something too fancy.'

  'I don't remember when was the last time I ate something,' she said. 'But I am hungry.'

  'Same. So you say you don't remember anything, not even how you got here, in this town?'

  'Nothing,' she confirmed once again.

  'Any names then? Do you know anyone?'

  Cedric watched the girl getting lost in the flames. She was thinking and thinking, and…

  'Ko… Kovac,' she said, unsure. 'I think it is the name of my baby.'

  'Sounds like a boy’s name. How do you know your baby is a boy?'

  'I don't know, but Kovac sounds beautiful.'

  Half an hour had gone by, as Cedric was counting in his mind. As years passed by he could never afford another handwatch. Lacking money was due to living on the run, and even when he worked he would not get paid in money but in a shelter and food. Naturally Cedric became pretty good at keeping count of the hours in his head after someone stole his hand watch a few years ago during a chaotic evacuation from a library where they used to sleep. Truth be told he grabbed the handwatch off a corpse (the poor man buried under debris) but he never found another one since. Cedric was walking in circles around the room and watched the girl fall asleep.

  But something wasn't quite right with the woman. A sudden gasp and intensified breath grabbed his attention. He stood still and gazed at her. Cedric was feeling as though he was drifting off to sleep and dreaming. The way she said the name: Kovac, it felt so personal, so familiar. Kovac was a good name for the baby, Cedric agreed to himself.

  The girl was sleeping with her belly uncovered and heated by the fire. The flames of the fire were shining on it, warming the baby inside of her who was moving. Cedric's gaze was glued to the movements like a cat's to a rat.

  The baby was moving a lot. The woman’s skin was stretching as the movement of the baby was intensifying; the baby lifted its arms and Cedric took a few steps back as the hands poked through the skin. The arm was abnormally big, as if the baby was already a toddler. The woman’s skin was a soft veil, behind which the baby was stretching. The child was oddly grown up, and long, kicking his legs through the belly; almost ripping the skin off. What Cedric was witnessing wasn't normal, it was a bad dream or an omen. The baby was too grown inside of her body and she was too feeble to carry that… How big was Kovac?

  'Wake up!' yelled Cedric and turned his back to her. 'Wake up!' he repeated, afraid.

  The girl woke up confused and, judging by her calm voice when she asked what was happening, Cedric knew that the baby stopped moving so he peeked to make sure.

  'What happened?' she repeated.

  Cedric looked at the girl. She was fine, but he couldn't stop staring at her belly.

  'I need some air. I am right outside,' he said and, after receiving a baffled nod from the girl, he left the house.

  Cedric waited for Ronan in front of the gate. He was ready to run whenever he would get the chance, as long as he could be away from the girl. Around him was misty gray, washed like his eyes. Cedric could not see anything, only the sky and the dark shadow clouds that were forming in the distance. After fifteen more minutes, Ronan's car stopped in front of the house.

  'What happened?' asked Ronan, getting out in an instant. 'Why aren't you inside?'

  'There is something wrong with this girl,' Cedric said sinisterly.

  4

  An ill harrowing of agony, a cry from far away doomed the world to what seemed to be its end. The noise stuttered the brothers. The scream echoed through the town; a sudden strong wind made the bell of the church toll. The boys had their eyes fixed on the sky when a monstrous harrow shook the dark clouds and the whole earth. Their hair was getting tangled by the wind, announcing a storm of ages. The girl was running towards them as Cedric looked at the house. She was crying and the rag she was wearing fell down, revealing her shoulder.

  'It's coming! It's here!' she cried.

  Ronan grabbed her arm, gently bringing her closer to him. Cedric watched him holding her, sinking her face into his chest, making her look away from the sky where there was nothing they could spot. Cedric raised his eyes at the sky. Nothing… yet.

  They've read stories in fantasy books. Stories of massive dragons roaming the skies, such a beast, loomed larger than their house, perhaps even bigger than their house and the neighbors combined. It had six heads, five hanging limply, while one was moving about chaotically; it was a burden for its massive body to hold. The dragon was emitting a putrid stench around its body.

  It was about to faint.

  Ronan grabbed the girl and helped her fast on the back seat of the car while Cedric followed quickly, sitting next to Ronan, who was trying to start the car. Cedric thought his brother decided well, if they were to hide inside the house, the dragon would've landed on it and crashed it like it was nothing. Ronan's hands were shaking uncontrollably, his lips all dried out. The girl was petrified, and wouldn't take her eyes off the window, watching the dragon circle around.

  'It's not starting!' Ronan panicked, trying in despair to start the car.

  'Let's leave! LEAVE!' the girl yelled.

  Trying to balance in the air, the dragon howled again, getting closer to them. Ronan turned the car, and they were zooming through the mist. Cedric looked at the enormous shadow above them, drawing nearer and enlarging.

  'It will drop on us!' said Cedric.

  Cedric didn't expect a response. Every time his brother was focusing on something, he wouldn't talk. Ronan was trying not to crash the car as they were passing through narrow streets obscured by the vast fog. Trees were falling on the ground, leaving a trail behind the car. The dragon’s wings were spreading, hitting the trees and making them fall like pieces of a huge domino.

  Cedric, Ronan and the woman gasped and yelled as a gigantic tree fell right in front of them, blocking the road. Ronan turned the car suddenly and they stopped just before hitting a gate.

  'Get out now!' said Ronan.

  Cedric was stunned. He was following the dragon through the mirror, he couldn’t believe it was real. It was approaching fast.

  'OUT!' Ronan screamed, grabbing Cedric's attention. Cedric glanced at his brother briefly and exited the car.

  They were sprinting towards a recreation center. Ronan was yelling into the basement! The building had a basement where they used to spend time with other children after school before their father would pick them up. The recreation center was in ruins, but the basement could be intact. It would be a place where they had the most chances to survive if the dragon would drop on them, even if they would be stuck under wreckage, at least Cedric could move those but he was scared as the dragon was too much for him to even think about challenging.

  The dragon collapsed in the middle of the street, its breath felt by Cedric so close, so putrid as it was opening its mouth slightly to let the boy see the sharp teeth. Cedric couldn't run anymore, the dragon was behind him. Its onyx eyes, dark and lifeless, were following Cedric’s movement, hearing his heartbeat.

  Ronan and the girl were standing still a few meters away from Cedric.

  Silence fell over the empty roads. Cedric was seeking Ronan's help through his eyes, while Ronan gazed back, wanting to reach for his little brother, but moving will be the end of them. Ronan crunched his mouth, signaling the need for absolute stillness. The dragon was shaking the ground as it was slowly moving closer to Cedric.

  Cedric looked at Ronan, who silently yelled desperately with his glare to not move. Begging him.

  But Cedric was certain that moving or not would make no difference, it wouldn't save his life... they needed to run and hide. Cedric wanted to run and grab his brother and the girl. He wanted to run and get them inside the basement fast. If he stayed still, he would die…

  The dragon was approaching and gained more speed as Cedric ran for Ronan and grabbed his arm. Ronan didn't have time to react, being shocked by the decision his little brother made.

  Ronan was not moving. He and the girl were standing motionless in shock and fear. Both eyes wide open. Cedric thought they were looking at a ghost.

  'Come!' Cedric yelled, but Ronan was not responding, only looking at him in horror.

  Cedric realized the look on his brother's face was a grim one. The dragon’s long skeletal hand seized Cedric and lifted him above the power lines in no time, and Cedric stared down at Ronan in terror.

  Nothing was moving but Cedric and the dragon, flying up above the clouds.

  The creature accelerated, flying aimlessly. Cedric refused to look below, paralyzed by the height as he closed his eyes.

  The dragon descended, aiming to crash and shatter the asphalt. Overwhelmed by nausea, Cedric was fast thinking about breaking the creature's hand, bones, head, neck... wings... eyes… Eyes!

  Cedric opened his eyes and stared at one of the dragon's heads, the one standing up. Its small onyx eyes, shiny and empty, were looking back at Cedric.

  Dangerously close to crashing into the solid earth, Cedric focused intently on the creature's eyes. Seeking strength.

  A sudden snap and a scream pierced the air. The creature's eyes bloomed into an ocean of blood and flesh.

  Cedric closed his eyes once again.

  He thought a minute passed or two. He soon felt the grip loosening as he started to breathe more deeply; no pressure on his chest. The dragon’s roar seemed distant as if submerged underwater…

  Cedric opened his eyes to darkness and water surrounding him.

  Falling through a dark ocean with remarkable speed, he turned his head to his left and saw the wounded dragon struggling to move to the sides and unable to gain force. The water’s pressure wouldn't let it fly. The dragon was getting further and further away from Cedric, disappearing into pure darkness.

  Wide-eyed, Cedric realized he was no longer held captive. He was the witness of the water clearing to reveal a deepening blue. Descending through the ocean within moments, he saw rooftops made of hay and moldy streets approaching rapidly; the wind brushing against his face. He used all the strength he had to turn, risking falling on his back.

  Looking up he saw the endless ocean that replaced the sky he once knew, an immense water surface floating above the lands.