Chapter 1: The day that changed lives
The sunrise's golden rays were bathing the dandelion field where two kids, a boy and a girl, were playing tag. Their laughter filled the meadow, cheerful and carefree, as their parents were enjoying that beautiful day. It was a hot day in May, too hot given the fact that they were on an island, but in the dandelion field it was perfect. The mountains that surrounded the field offered it a breathtaking look. The white untouched snow sparkled at the top of the snowy peaks. A river of fresh, glistening water was flowing from the same mountain, forming what appeared to be a tiny waterfall.
It was, well, paradise. Penelope, the little girl's mother, was making flower crowns out of the flowers the kids had gathered while chatting with her friend Selene. Their children's laughter was like music to their ears. That peaceful kind of joy that only a mother could relate to.
The wind was gentle, the breeze bringing the cool from the snowy tops down to the field and rustling the leaves from the forest at the end of this little Eden garden. Butterflies were dancing in the flowers, flying up to the sky and then back down, almost touching the water.
The once blue sky, blue as sapphire, became a crimson red. A subtle tint of the sky, a warning not to be ignored. Red, empowering, and almost demonic. A tint just noticeable enough to know something is terribly wrong. Over the mountain a massive, dark figure appeared. That thing, whatever it was, looked like the shadow of a monster. The kind you hear just in stories.
Damian froze for a second, having recognized what it was or at least having guessed. Before his mind could catch up, he ran to the kids and picked up his daughter. Unlike Damian, Iroh (the boy's father) had no idea what was going on, but he was no fool; having sensed the great danger that lay ahead, he did just like Damian. Acting instinctively as his mind struggled to understand what's going on. Trusting Damian, Iroh just followed his example and ran to get his son.
They took the kids to the end of the field, where the forest began to take rein. The leaves rustling echoed through the silence that hid the storm. Iroh noticed how the kids spotted their unease even without being able to see the full picture or understanding much of what they saw; sensing the adults' worry made them scared. He didn't expect them to understand; they were so...young. How could they even understand all that, when not even he knew what was happening?
How old were they? A question that was hard to answer. Amelia was almost six years old, too confident and curious for her own good, the village's tornado, always up to something. A harmless hurricane. Straight, brown hair. Kind, innocent amber eyes that sparkled with mischief and a smile so warm that it could melt ice. And Liam? He wasn't much older, only two years older, her partner in crime always keeping the village on their toes. Black curls and eyes like diamonds in the sky and deep as the sea. This little duo terrorized the village and always got away with it because at the end of the day they didn't hurt anyone; they were just kids being kids.
Downplaying everything, Iroh gathered all the strength he had to keep himself calm for them. If he couldn't do it for himself, he'd do it for them.
"It's a game," he smiled, trying to lighten the mood. One's actions greatly influenced the ones around them. The slim chance that it would work made it worth a try. "It's a challenge; you two love a good challenge. Listen closely to what you need to do to win. Run through the forest as fast as you can. Faster than the wind. Can you do that? Yeah? Show me! Then go back to the village, take a boat, and sail to the twin island, but keep in mind to stay together at all times. Don't leave the other behind. To win the game, all you need to do is get there as fast as you can, but you need to work together. Understood?"
Iroh kept it light and fun to ease the tension. Smiling gently, with that calm understanding and wise presence only he could have. Sprinkling a little teasing, he painted it (or at least tried to paint it) as a fun little harmless challenge, but Amelia could sense something was up. She was young, not stupid. With her little eagle eyes, she spotted the tension in her father's shoulders. Something was definitely wrong. Damian was the person she looked up to most. An unmovable mountain, an unshakable constant, the person she runs to crying because Dad can always make bad things go away.
Tugging at his sleeve, she asked, "Dad, what is going on? What's wrong? Damian tensed up, his shoulders straightened as his mind searched for an answer. What was he supposed to say? Amelia had been able to read people and easily tell when they were lying since forever. There was also something about her that always made people unwind in front of her and spill everything that was on their mind, which made her a great listener, if she was able to stay still enough to listen.
Lying would be a risky move, as it could make her even more scared than she already was. The time was running out. He had no choice. Taking a deep breath and kneeling to her level, he said with a steady voice despite the turmoil inside him, because that's who he is. Staying calm, others will follow your example.
"Run. Run, and promise me you won't look back no matter what, and whatever happens, be brave even if it seems impossible. Promise me that!"
"I...I pro...promise," she said, her voice shaking as she tried to hide the fear spilling in her words. //What is going on? Why is Dad acting like this?// were the questions running through her mind, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill. Brushing a strand of hair out of her face, he kissed her forehead one last time.
She tried wrapping her little arms around him for a hug, but he pushed her away. It hurt. Her father never did that. Rejection stinking like arrows to the heart. A tear from the many she was holding back ran down her cheek. //What did it do...?// The same pain shot through Damian like daggers to the chest. He never pushed his daughter away. To him she was his entire world, his little comet. Seeing that, a single tear filled with hurt hit the ground; his heart shattered into tiny shards. Shards as small as sand. It felt as if his world crumbled, but he did what he had to even if it hurt them both. Time is running out.
"Now run!" he said in a hushed tone, pushing both kids away once again.
The kids didn't need to be told twice. They ran as fast as they could through the forest. The forest usually was lively and bright. You'd always hear the birds' cheerful chirping, bunnies hiding in bushes, and squirrels running away frightened whenever the kids climbed the trees. Poor squirrels were always chased through their own homes.
The forest used to be so magical, but now it was darker and colder, the birds were nowhere in sight, and it seemed to never end. Their footsteps were swallowed by the quiet. The soft crunch of dried leaves didn't ground them in the present; it was just a catalyst to their fear. A sound that usually meant fun trips through the forest was now a reminder that their lives are never going to be the same again.
Twigs were snapping under frightened steps, a harsh reminder of the gravity of the situation. They were terrified and confused; the only thing they could do was obey. They ran, running as fast as the wind, jumping over fallen trees. Their breaths were fast and uneven, tired and scared, but they didn't stop running; they ran faster than they ever did. Amelia had always been faster than Liam. Scared and afraid to be alone, she looked back to see if he was still there following her...he was, but...but the scene behind them...no...
She didn't understand much of what she saw. There was an enormous monster and a shadow on top of it, a rider, human perhaps; she couldn't really tell. There was a fire that swallowed the dandelion field, and it started to spread to the forest. Scarlet flames devoured everything in sight. Her eyes widened; her steps halted.
She broke the promise she made to her father, and it had a terrible outcome. This was the first time she ever broke a promise. "Promises hold great power, sweetie. Don't make promises you can't keep. If you constantly break them, people will stop trusting you. Be careful with what you promise, okay, sweetie?" her mother used to say in that sweet, warm, and caring tone that just makes you melt. You couldn't help but listen to her. Both her parents put great value on them and taught her to do the same.
Now, however, she broke the promise. There's no turning back; she couldn't change the past but could influence the future...she would fulfill at least the second part of her promise, 'be brave.' Scared...no, terrified, she grabbed Liam's hand, and they ran together. She didn't want to be alone; she needed to know that he was there, that she wasn't alone in this mess. She can't do this alone, not when everything she knew and loved burned before her eyes. He's all she has now, and losing him too isn't an option.
The two kids continued to run, and soon they saw it—the village. It wasn't the small, little piece of heaven of Amber Island they knew. Panic had settled in; everyone was confused at the sudden appearance of the crimson sky. The confusion melted into fear that spiraled into panic that became chaos. The clouds were all sorts of scarlet with traces of black. If this is all a nightmare, please wake up. The elders were mumbling prayers to chase away the demons gripping the island.
They run to the dock, their faces lighting up at the sight of a boat. Hope, a boat, an escape. Born and raised on an island, to them sailing was no different than riding a bike. They jumped in, but she found herself falling into cold water, swallowing her whole as darkness surrounded her. Looking up, the boat was nowhere in sight, vanished like it wasn't even there in the first place. Sinking deeper to the bottom of the dark sea, the light from the surface slowly dimmed, slipping away like hope until it stopped. Her lungs filled with water, suffocating her slowly; however, it didn't feel like drowning. Liam's hand had long since slipped out of her grip. Now she had no one. Alone and falling into the endless void…