(A/N: I finally figured out how to separate lines, (since the chapters are automatically double-spaced and this site seems to hate asterisks). From now on, gaps in time or event change will be represented by dashes.)
Prologue
The quiet town of Lazeros sat peacefully along the southern shore of a semi-remote island west of the mainland. It's inhabitants tended to their own needs, unknowing of any other world but their own. They busied themselves with simple jobs: mining, farming, raising young, marketing, and other such practices. Everyone knew each other. The streets were always bustling with activity, something was always happening. No one in the small town was left idle. Everyone had jobs, everyone had something to do, and everyone had someone to look after. The population itself was small, but that did not attribute to the business of the narrow roads, the bustling markets, the chattering citizens. In fact, this town is hardly known at all, it being the sole town on the island, not contributing much to the general economy of the mainland. Only those who wished for a week, a month, maybe even a year, of peace know of this place.
Houses clutter the limited amount of arable land on the island, neighbors sometimes having to share land, perhaps the only conflict that occasionally occurs on this island. Birds coast along the airways, appearing to relaxed and tranquil amidst the fluffy clouds. Deer and other such creatures graze happily along roadsides and in forests. Predators take what they need, never more than necessary. The land is largely untouched by war and weathering. No severe climate change has happened, no natural disaster, no outside force thinks of touching this place. It is a haven of sorts, one that can protect its citizens for months, years, even eternity should they wish it. However, it was not to last. Something treacherous was on the move…
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It happened one autumn evening. It was unusually cold for autumn, something quite unusual for the largely maritime tropical climate of the island, a bad omen. The wind chilled the bones of citizens unfortunate enough to be left out in the cold, causing them to shiver, even the trees seemed perturbed by this night, most of their leaves had fallen early. It seemed… sinister, malevolent, deadly. What could this mean? Was something coming? If so, what could it possibly be? No outside force had ever laid eyes let alone physical bodies upon the tranquil island, so what could this mean? Many families sensed something, many felt nothing, but only one person in the village seemed especially aware of these events…
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A child. Many children. Their families crowded inside the small space provided by a single room apartment of sorts, trying to sleep the best they can. Most of them are restless, however, unable to get a comfortable sleeping position or slumber peacefully for that matter. A feeling of tension and foreboding hung in the air, causing the inhabitants their insomnia. They felt very unnerved, the feeling obvious on their faces. Some children began to cry, out of anxiety and the solemnity in the atmosphere more than anything. Occasionally, a worried grunt or moan would escape the lips of certain adults or older teens in the room; they could all sense it: the coming of something very, very big.
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A lone cabin stood on the outskirts of town, hosting a rather gloomy appearance. Its dusty shuttered windows and fading wooden walls told the town the measure of maintenance its owners mustered. A rather dingy feeling hung about the house, causing others to shy away from it, as if scared of what lay inside. The house was always silent, even on holidays; it seemed not a creature, not a soul, not a slight disturbance of wind touched the house. The deadened silence was foreboding, to everyone.
On this night, however, things were quite different. Fitful groaning could be heard coming from the house, as if someone inside were having a nightmare. And perhaps this was true, but why now of all days? Could it be that whomever lay in restless slumber know, even perceive what was going on? That will never be known, for the townsfolk, usually strolling about the streets on a leisurely walk this time of night, were shut up in their houses, churches, or any other such refuge that could be found, the sinister wind proving too overwhelming to simply ignore.
However, to the townspeople's unknowingness, there was someone in that house having a fitful nightmare, lying on a cot embedded with straw in a small candlelit room. There were other rooms as well: the kitchen, dining room, and sitting room, but they were all unoccupied, the rest of the family crowding around their seemingly feverish son.
But there was another as well. This one was not of the family, but rather a close friend. She stood next to the boy, watching him. They were about the same age, ten years, and they both grew up together, so, naturally, this girl was accompanying him in his time of crisis. However, she too was beginning to fall asleep, her head drooping slightly, and before long, she entered a light slumber.
Then the flashes started. Slowly at first, then more quickly as more time passed and more things developed…
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Chaos. Chaos everywhere. The smell of burning wood and hay overwhelmed the air, smoke seen above the rooftops of houses, people scrambling, panicking, to find shelter, as if all hell were unleashed.
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Vague creatures in the distance, marching up the hill that led to this sleepy town. Their features were indistinguishable, but it became obvious what they were after. They wanted to torch the town, to kill thousands of people, even take some in as prisoners, but why?
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The creatures are in the village, bringing chaos and mayhem to the now shocked citizens. Those with torches set fire to houses, buildings, marketplaces. Those with weapons killed men, women, children, the elderly, and the sickly. Those with no weapons captured and took prisoner whomever crossed their fancy, not caring who, whether it be healthy young men, sickly elderly men, young children, women, or middle-aged wives. They raided the town swiftly, doing all of this within a matter of minutes, relishing every second of it, showing no remorse for their actions. These were most certainly the cruelest, most brutal creatures around, and it became apparent that they did not care what happened to the town or its people, for they kept this manslaughter and ransacking for as long as possible. Then, without warning, as if they were never there, they were gone. The only thing remaining was the smoldering fires of still burning houses and whimpers of those who had survived the treacherous event, screaming or complaining from injuries…
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The girl awoke, tears rolling down her face, not knowing what had just happened. Not knowing whether it was a dream or something more. The boy lying before her was quiet now, his fitful groaning silenced, sleeping regularly; whatever had tormented him had passed. She watched him for a few moments, then wiped her tears away, realizing whatever she had just seen was only a dream, nothing more.
However, there was something amiss… The family was no longer in the room, but instead, they were standing in the front entrance, looks of immense shock and fear covering their faces. And she could tell by the looks on their faces that something had happen or was happening. She jumped up, running to them as quickly and silently as she could, for she did not wish to wake the boy, and peered out the small window as they did.
What lay before her struck her like a dagger, causing her to pale with fear, even begin to sob silently. Outside there was chaos. Fires sprang up everywhere, licking the roofs of houses and spreading from house to house, building to building, until the whole town was ablaze. It was just like in her dream, only this was real. People massed the streets, shouting what sounded like curses and threats to get others out of their way. It was just like in her dream…
Suddenly, one of those vague creatures, now more distinguishable from this close up, approached the house through a thick cloud of smoke, sword in hand, a malevolent, hateful look in its deep, yellow eyes. It looked horrific. Its skin was a nasty shade of brown, covered in visible bumps and scars, even scaly. Its head resembled that of a snake or lizard or something in between. Its body appeared lean, fit for running and agile maneuvers, yet strong, seeming capable of wielding powerful weapons and lifting heavy objects. A tail could be seen jutting out of its far end, appearing long enough to wrap around the creature's front. The thing held its sword in a threatening way, as if to say "Disobey me and die".
And this was true, for as soon as it approached fully, it spoke in a sly, hissing manner. "Come peacefully and you shall be spared…" it said. The parents of the young boy, obviously perplexed as well as outraged by this situation refused, slamming the having been opened door in front of the creature, even though they knew this would not stop it. They knew who these creatures were, but they did not understand why they had come to such a peaceful city.
The girl had moved behind the boy's parents, hiding from the creature, when they slammed the door. Now she stood behind the cot that the boy was sleeping on, fear spread across her face. She didn't know what was going on and neither did the parents, only that their survival would be determined in the next few moments.
A banging resounded on the door and everyone conscious knew that the creature was trying to break in, hissing curses and shouting in rage for having been defied. Soon the door splintered and a massive clawed foot poked through the hole that was created. A satisfied grunt erupted from the creature's throat and it effortlessly pushed the remaining door in, causing what was left of it to crash backwards onto the dirt floor.
The creature stared at them with murder in its eyes, licking its lips with an ugly forked tongue, smiling, and said: "I'll enjoy ripping your flesh from your body and grinding your bones into dirt…" Then it lunged, extending a claw to swipe the man, effectively hitting him square in the chest, five long streaks of blood appearing where the claws had been. The man gasped with pain and shock. The creature took this opportunity to bash the man's head in with the hilt of its sword, disposing of him then and there. A puddle of blood began streaming steadily out of the gashes in the man's chest from his prone, dead position on the floor.
The woman, a look of absolute shock and revulsion crossing her face at the sight of her bleeding husband, backed up to the wall, not having any weapons to protect her. The creature marched steadily forward, calmly as if savoring the look of fear that further spread across her face.
Upon reaching her, the woman screamed and covered her face with her arms, protecting what she could. This was futile, however, for the creature simply stepped back, readied its sword for a charge, and ran her through simply and efficiently. When the creature wrenched its sword free, the woman crumpled to the floor, dead, bleeding profusely from her stomach wound.
The girl, who had witnessed this whole scene, soon burst into immediate tears, loud sobbing that would have made the cruelest of men soften their hearts. However, this creature only smiled, obviously pleased at the girl's pain, and said, in some evil, sadistic manner: "You'd make a good slave… My master will be pleased with you…" The girl screamed and also covered her face, but felt herself being lifted anyway, as if her feeble protection could stop this ruthless beast.
The creature simply laughed as she tried to wriggle free and said: "Keep struggling and I'll have to restrain you…" The girl didn't listen, but she did open her eyes to see what had become of the boy. As she continued to struggle, she noticed he had gone. He must've slipped out during this whole escapade. So overcome with relief and fear was she that she didn't even notice the creature's words before a massive clawed fist fell upon her head…
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That night, the limp body of a ten year old girl could be seen carried off into the night, boarding a ship to the mainland…