Lynn’s heart was pounding as she raced up the stone steps to the giant oak doors. Rain was pouring down over her as the ground shook from the thunder. The muddy water on the steps splashed up to her face as she stumbled, her hood falling back revealing her soaked brown hair and cat-like ears. Her palm caught the edge of the step, preventing her from hitting the steps and she used it to push off. Keeping her balance with her hands now she pushed her brown bag further onto her shoulder. Reaching the top of the stairs she took one large step and slammed herself into the old doors. The doors did not hesitate to open and she stumbled into the old church. The large sanctuary was dimly lit by the large broken windows above her and the sound of rain filled the room. The broken windows and leaky roof still allowed rain to find its way into the room. The sound of dripping water echoed in the background, and the floor held small puddles. Lynn stood in the doorway for a moment, breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath. She was soaked to the bone, her brown cloak was soaking wet, weighing down over her thin body. The air in the church had an eerie silence about it and the vast lonely room stood in front of her empty. Lightening flashed and the sound thunder soon followed, shaking the walls. Taking a step forward Lynn fixed the bag on her shoulder. Walking through the abandoned church she looked for a place to rest for the night.

It was dark now, and the rain still could be heard pouring down on the church’s roof as the thunder rumbled off in the distance. Taking a small round marble from her pocket she lifted it to her lips and blew on it lightly. The little marble began to glow, and within the marble a tiny flame could be seen burning. Lynn placed her bag on the floor inside a small room just off the main sanctuary. She leaned against the cold stone wall for a moment, looking up to one of the old windows. The room was small and dark, save for her small light, and the sound of dripping water could be heard still. Slowly Lynn slid down the wall to the floor, exhausted. She rested the back of her hand on the ground, cupping the small marble in her palm. Lynn tried not to think as she sat there watching the water on the stained glass window. She tried so hard to forget what she was running from. As she tried so hard not to think, her mind began to grow weary. Slowly her deep brown cat eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep.

Fire surrounded her, licking and tasting her skin, but she felt nothing. Lynn stood in the middle of a burning tavern but felt no pain. She could not feel anything at all as she looked around the tavern. She could hear people screaming as the tavern started to collapse. The large beams from the high ceilings falling and crashing down into the wooden tables and chairs below them. Suddenly the world fell into complete silence. A chill began to run up her spine. The chill felt like cold fingers with long sharp nails gliding up her spine and slowly coming around her neck. She felt her breath tighten with fear as she turned around. A tall dark figure was in the darkness of the door way. Lynn felt every muscle in her body tense up; she felt frozen solid. The dark figure entered the room. Light fell upon his armored body and bloody sword. His long black wings were splattered with blood as his devilish black eyes fixated on her. The man towered over her, his black hair matted to the top of his head by sweat and blood. Lynn’s body started shaking. No matter how hard she tried to tell herself to move she couldn’t even find the courage to budge from where she was standing. The man before her was the one thing she feared most of all. The dark man grinned evilly, and then he started to laugh. was enjoying the look of fear Lynn had on her face. The sound of his horrible laugh filled her ears. She tried to scream for help but as she opened her mouth nothing came out. She tried to move herself again but there was nothing so could do. He had taken every last bit of her strength and courage the moment he stepped through that door. The man stopped laughing, but the smile remained on his face as he raised his sword. Looking at his smile was like looking into evil itself, but Lynn could not tear her eyes away from him. She watched him raise his blade high above her head. Her mind began to race with ideas on how to escape, how to scream, how to move, how to get away from that man as fast as she could. Suddenly she began to laugh insanely. Lynn’s eyes widened as she saw him move his muscular arm to bring the sword down upon her…

Lynn screamed as she pushed herself off the wall, her eyes wide as she looked around the pitch-black room. She was still in the church. Lynn felt a wave of relief flood her body. Leaning back against the wall she listened for the rain as she tried to slow her breathing. She kept telling herself it was only a dream and that the man in her nightmares her nightmare was far away from her. AS her breath slowed Lynn listened for the rain, but the small room was silent, save the occasional drips that fell from the ceiling. The rain, it seemed, had stopped while she was sleeping. Carefully Lynn began to search for the small fire marble she had dropped when she dozed off. Her hand glided across the broken pieces of glass and stone until she finally felt its smooth round shape beneath her fingertips. She placed the marble back in her pocket and brushed aside some of the rubble; obtaining a few miner scratches and cuts as she did. Lynn laid herself down in the now clear space on the floor and curled up, folding her wings carefully around herself. Lynn couldn’t help but look out into the darkness before closing her eyes. Before Lynn fell asleep, she silently prayed for silent and safe night. And as she lay there, the gentle sounds of dripping water and happy frogs comforted her and gradually lulled her back to sleep.