Prologue

Twas early dawn and the sun arose, milking colors onto the sky, blessing the moon in its fierce enlightenment of holier-than-thou grotesque: all from the heavens. The sunrise quivered with a grim magnificence from the outer edges of the atmosphere of the so-called Earth, and awakened blind minds to the birth of a new day...

There I was, sitting near my window, looking out to the rising of the god of life barely clothed, and wrapped shamelessly in the comfort of my rumpled bed covers. My black hues unconsciously reflected the born light; almost to make them seem a gentle spiced brown, and they shuddered with the soundless abyss around me.
No one within my home had yet stirred, and I was thankful. For at that blissful moment I wished to be alone... Only to fall into a subconscious state in the company of my lifeless stuffed animals, and hear the soft singing of the gentle breeze from the outside world.
The sun still rose, and my body lazily rolled off the bed to stand to my full height of 5'6". I could almost taste the voices of past time praising my slender, tall figure, but never quite took them to mind... Only was I to simply whisk them away, far from me and then in turn to only to never quite take some, or most, into consideration. I've heard it all before...

‘Have you ever thought of becoming a model? You're rather tall for your age, and slim. You could do runway! Be rich and famous!’ How pompous of them...I'd rather choke on my own blood before recognizing their existence, and to drink in their flattery.
‘You're at a good height for your age, and you could have an advantage on the courts. I'm tellin' ya, you should start playing basketball now while you still have the chance to make it to the league. You could make a good point guard’ What are they exactly trying to confess? Why am I even recalling such filthy lies? Even if they were true, does it seem like something I want? They don't understand… they can not even comphrend the complexity of even themselves! So why bother with me?
‘Well I don't know, it seems like you've been on a swim team, or are on one. I mean, you have such long legs, and the way you run is so... I don't know...Are you sure you're not on a swim team or something? If you aren't, would you like to sign up for the one I happen to be on? It's pretty good!’ Someone was almost there to my understanding now that I think of it, but he, as everyone else, was selfish. Everything... all of it... that's all I heard... That's all they will know; their own selfishness.

I heaved a sigh, my fingertips picking at the clothes in one of my drawers. “What to wear...” I mumbled, “What to wear...” and grumbled. Without any other hesitation I pulled out a pair of denim shorts which my step-mother had bought for me, and hastily reached for a sleeveless black-hooded sweater. This happened to be one of my favorite outfits... along with my black boots, and white socks to complete it. I slithered into the shorts comfortably, and pulled the sweater over my head until it fit quite fine onto my human format. My left fingers played at the zipper only to zip up the shorts, and I sat on my bedside to mindlessly slip on the white socks and boots to follow. My room, I cleaned some days before, my bed sheets, newly bought, and the day ahead... treacherous as maybe always. Yet something sparked within me...Would I see... him..? The man who continued to make me speechless, and fall agape at my own idiocy? If I did see him, it would certainly lift up my current despair for the short while I'd spend with him. Now... it was beginning to get late in the dawn, in fact, dawn was just about to become a fearful morning as I stood to escape from the confinement of my four-walled room to open up the family business.
My silent footsteps echoed throughout the living quarters as I stored them away to the first floor which was our business station. I stared at the ceiling high windows through the whickering darkness, and drew myself towards them, grasping some keys which my grandfather had most likely left on the glass counter. Steadily I came closer to the windows with their shutters to close out the awakening town, but missed by a foot to unlock the entrance and push aside the gates as I then stepped out unknowingly into a foot of snow. I was a bit taken aback by the fact that it had snowed the night before since I could hardly see a thing from my window, but maybe it was due to the fact of frost that I couldn't see a thing... I wasn't exactly in my right mind then. A growl emitted from my throat as I shuffled through the snow to pull up the window shutters, and then ploughed back inside. Where I “lived” was odd, I thought... this dimension... Yami...

It started to snow as soon as I stepped back inside, and switched on the lights of the family business. It was time for me to work, and the snow just caused me to frown... It was cold enough... but it progressed -- falling harder yet as I sighed. I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't see Tony... and I had a tingling feeling that he may not want to be mine, and mine alone. A sigh slipped past me as I walked behind the glass counter and just awaited customers... What a day this was to be. I pulled back my hair into a ponytail, tying it with a rubber band since I forgot to get a proper scrunchy, and heard some footsteps come down the staircase. It was my grandfather... “G'morning, Grandpa Isong...” He nodded his head to me. He was dressed nicely as always, something I noticed which I never knew why. His light brown slacks, nicely combed gray hair with patches of black that still submitted itself to a small afro, his thick-heavy glasses, his darker brown polo shirt with a pair of worn out brown shoes. He loved those shoes I kind of figured, but then I turned my gaze away to stretch my vision out toward the windows which had on display mannequins sporting the latest fashion. What will happen today, I wonder...
This December day was strangely colder than most, and the snow played a merciful role upon this small town of Yami... “Nia!” My senses stirred as I heard my name being called, and I looked to entrance door where a flushed-face brunette panted heavily.

“Miranda, what's up?” She looked to me, with her freckled face, frantically, running up to the counter to only reach over and grab my arm. It was wild how hot her hand was against my arm, it sent my veins pumping madly. Then she shook me up saying to me which was almost maddening. “Tony's out in town square! I saw him, I saw him dear God y'know it, I did! He was alone, but it looked like he was waitin' for someone. Nia! Ya gotta go get him! Now's your chance! Do it now!!” Her light southern accent tickled my sensitive ears as I nodded without myself knowing it, and ran out from behind the counter when she freed my arm. “Grandpa Isong, I'll be back soon. Can you take care of the customers until I get back?” What was I saying? There were hardly any customers at such an hour, but I had to say it anyhow and my grandfather shoveled an elderly grin as he got behind the counter.
Miranda was already ahead of me as she snatched a winter coat right off one of the racks, and tossed it at me. I laughed unbeknownst to myself and slid my arms into the dark blue coat to then follow my friend out into the snow, dashing toward town square: feeling on high. It was almost as if I had taken a drug for I couldn't stop smiling even if I wanted to stop, I couldn't. He was there... waiting for me... Yes, for me and no one else! My thoughts... my intentions... they all may have been idiotic, but I didn't care. I didn't want to care. Anthony Rios, the man who I've held my heart for for five maddening years. He was to be my one and only at this very moment! Then alas, as I trudged through the snow, approaching the bustling town square, I was pushed over. All those thoughts and emotions which stirred up crazily within my heart and soul crumbled as I fell face first into the bone-chilling snow. Who could've been so stupid as to push me in the middle of a sprint? …The one who raced to my one and only, and clung onto his arm with a rude façade that sickened me… Miranda stopped ahead, staring at Tony and the blonde-haired wonder that showered his fine face with playful kisses. She looked to me as now I was kneeling in the snow with my cheeks and nose a stinging rose color, my eyes filling up with crystal tears. How could this happen..?

Tony looked over the shoulder of the woman whom hugged him to notice Miranda and me as she helped me up onto my feet. He flattered his face with a hearty smile letting go of the blonde-haired wonder, and approached us not knowing my silent tears existed. “Hey”

“Hey Tony...who's that girl...?” Miranda had spoken for me as I was still choking on my breath. Finally when I had the courage to look up to him at his almost towering height, I fell right into his arms. “Hey Tony...” I didn't even recognize my voice. It was so weak, and terrible. I hugged him close to me, to feel his warmth as I buried my face childishly into his chest. His strong arms soon held me, but in a different way from how I was embracing him. I embraced him with desperation... almost letting him know that I wanted him, yet he held me with not any such knowing of my desperate cry. We stood in silence for a while before he let go of me, and patted the top of my head placing the all too-well-known kiss onto my forehead. Then he looked down to Miranda and smiled responding at last to her question, “Her name's Alexis... she's my new girlfriend...Sorry ladies, but I gotta run. Alexis and I have some plans.” And with that, he turned on his heel and left us with a small wave. With that same hand he held Alexis' soft, pale hand and they both walked away. I felt sick...

“Nia, c'mon! Cheer up! You'll get him next time!” Miranda had taken me back home as I lie on my full-sized bed, and shed silent tears. He slipped past me... It... It didn't make any sense... I felt horribly sick now and turned over in bed. "...I'm just a kid, remember...?"Miranda began to grow irritatingly furious, and then got up shouting, “Are you out of your mind! C'mon!! That guy over there is the one you ENDLESSLY talk about!! I mean, I hafta wear freakin' EAR PLUGS to make ya SHUT UP! He HAS to be the one! I mean! YOU'RE HEAD OVER HEELS! GAH GAH ABOUT HIM! Ya gotta take Tony back! You've known him longer than that bitch, and remember, in love...AGE! DOESN'T! MATTER!” I turned back to face her with surprise, and squirmed uncomfortably in my bed. I wanted so badly to hear those three forbidden words clutch at his lips, then slip past them in a sweet, tender whisper. To be forever in his arms, gaze into his soft brown eyes as he would stare into my own black pools, but I didn't have the heart to interfere in his current relationship. It would be insidious! I felt it close in on me... the reality of my current situation... I came to Yami to get away from that... My bedroom door opened, then shut quietly, and I looked to the one who entered. The figure wore a black hooded cloak, and approached my bed. I could see some strands of pink hair from underneath the hood then as it pulled the hood back from its head, piercing oceanic eyes. It so happened to be Shingatsu, the one who introduced me to Yami and forbade me to come here if I had nothing to do that was important here. Her pale face expressed a calm expression, but her eyes bore a frightening tale. She was screaming what seemed death at me... but concern... and kneeled at my bedside. Miranda stared at Shingatsu hard for a long time and the woman looked to my friend with a glassy smile. Miranda rather took it as a hint to leave as she looked to me with a nod and broad smile, and left my room with a whispered “See you later, hope ya feel better” then shut the door.

“What now?" I looked away from her. “‘What now' you ask of me? ‘What now’? What is that to mean? Nia... you came here after I told you not to... This is a dimension in which these people have journeyed from afar to escape in which all they know. What have you to run from? You're only 13, Nia. You are coming home with me right this instance.” Her voice was icy, and she gripped my wrist pulling me out from bed. I struggled with her, kicking and screaming, I didn't want to leave... I refused to leave! But she silenced me with a shadow of her slender fingers passing by my eyes as I felt drowsy... Her silhouette was always a mystery to me, but I soon blanked out... and she whisked me back to the world I knew, feared, and despised... The world of reality...

Believing that the sunrise can heal, and heal all souls was a lie... It's the disdaining sunset behind the horizon, behind the mountain range in which clears the mind and opens it -- taking it to another height. Two worlds, one that is maybe made from the imagination, and another that is as real as the stunning, piercing notes of the violin collide. It was a born Armageddon to begin with...