"Maybe I can't fly in this form…"
I stood still and tried to transform into a bat, nothing.
"I can't fly, nor can I transform into a bat. Can I at least use my speed?"
I began to run, but my body felt heavy.
"Ugh, spare me! I feel like I'm running like a human."
If I couldn't fly or move fast, then I couldn't rely on my senses either. That meant no healing, no strength, nothing. I'd have to walk out of this Kingdom on foot.
"Ugh! These shadows are going to suffer real bad once I find them."
Was this the sacrifice I had to make in order to escape the abyss? I lost my abilities the moment I broke free from the darkness. I looked around, I was near the castle entrance. The far exit emerged in the distance. My stomach twisted. My powers were gone.
"Here we go, Lyra… let's start the long journey."
The sky above was darker than usual, the clouds rippling all around.
"These damn shadows are going to pay for this," I muttered, clenching my fists.
I moved cautiously, careful not to draw attention. I lurked behind the villagers' homes, hiding behind crates, carriages, and anything that would keep me out of sight.
"Lyra's still out there," one shadow whispered.
"I know. We must find her, or Master will be furious. She shouldn't have gotten far, her powers are gone."
"Search everywhere!"
They took my abilities, but they were still just shadows. I tiptoed forward until my foot accidentally struck a box, sending it crashing to the ground. The sound echoed.
"What was that?"
"Ah, crap…"
I ducked low and grabbed a nearby stone, tossing it in the opposite direction. It clanked against the wall.
"Over there!"
As they moved toward the sound, I sprinted the other way. Everything was going fine until I tripped over something soft. My hands hit the dirt, and when I looked down, my stomach dropped.
A lifeless body lay beneath a dark cloak.
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to scream. Carefully, I lifted the cloak from the fallen villager.
"This cloak… I can use it. It'll protect me from the sun."
I hugged it close.
"I'll get your soul back," I whispered, before continuing onward.
But as I neared the exit, hundreds of shadows swarmed the path.
"What am I going to do?" I froze, panic rising in my chest.
I was powerless… and even when I had power, I couldn't defeat them.
"Stay here in case you spot Lyra," one shadow barked.
A few drifted away, but too many remained. I scanned the area, desperate for an idea then noticed a car nearby. The driver's window was down, and a motionless body sat inside. The keys were still in the ignition.
Slowly, I crept closer. My hand shook as I turned the key. The engine roared to life, loud enough to echo through the empty streets.
"What was that?"
My breath caught. "I'm so sorry," I whispered to the driver, even though he couldn't hear me. Gently, I pressed his head onto the horn. The loud sound echoed.
"Over there! That must be Lyra!"
Perfect. I sprinted the opposite direction, heart pounding. The exit was unguarded.
"Those idiots actually left it open," I muttered with a grin.
I threw the cloak over my shoulders and ran beyond the Kingdom's domain. The sunlight burned overhead, but the cloak shielded me.
Now that I had escaped the clutches of darkness, there was no turning back. I would find my family no matter what.