Chapter 1: Sudden Encounters
Lights flashed out from all directions. Noises roared around me almost lifting my feet and pulling the ground below me.
My legs trembled and a wave of whispers pushed me to move forward. This haunting moment made it seem like time was nonexistent. A step I took into a pit of fire.
A ring of red flames burned around me and the heat became blinding. "You can't escape us!" Voices called out.
Hotaru's eyelids burst open. Could it have been a dream? These thoughts and dreams haunted her for days. "Hotaru, is everything alright?" The voice had been strong and soothing. The door cracked open.
"Yes, everything is fine Daddy." Hotaru looked up at the man with white hair and thick round glasses as they reflected light.
He left calmly, leaving the door almost closed. Light shone through uninvited. Hotaru sat up rubbing her eyes as the hands of darkness grasped her little body from behind.
Why is this happening to me? Questions infiltrated her mind. She knew she was alone. No one else was to be trusted.
Her little feet dropped down from bedside. She sat alone wondering what life would be if she were normal.
You are perfect the way you are, Hotaru. Her dad's voice had always saved her from the darkness. She wondered what if one day it won't be enough.
She stared down at her pale hands. What's the use? She thought. Everyone thinks I'm a freak. Faced down, Hotaru's eyes filled with tears.
Every drop that fell down her cheek hit her pale hands. She had but an ounce of strength in her withering body.
"Don't cry my sweet. I promise you one day it will all brighten up. No more tears, Hotaru. Please." Hotaru looked up to face a pale faced girl.
As if she was looking into a mirror, Hotaru moved her head towards the girl's face. The girl kneeled down and met Hotaru's eyes. She grasped Hotaru's shaking hands gently with one hand and wiped away her tears with another.
"Who are you?" Hotaru's words barely left her mouth. She sounded pathetic and she knew it. "Some call me Angel of Silence. Some call me Saturn. You, my sweet can call me Destiny." Saturn looked at Hotaru with comfort.
This strange girl wore a uniform of some sort. Hotaru felt oddly compelled to talk to her, as if she knew her. Hotaru's shaking hands were no longer cold and brittle as before. Saturn had mentally implied some sort of positive force on Hotaru.
Saturn got up and looked down at Hotaru. The light reflected the girls face in a peculiar manner as Hotaru could have sworn her eyes glowed purple.
She held a long wand in her hands that were caressed by long arm-length white gloves. Her facial expression had suddenly turned dark. "Don't forget me Hotaru. I will soon return."
She turned away in silence. Hotaru watched her dark violet skirt sway like soft wind as she took each step. "Goodbye, for now." Hotaru eyes lit up watching the figure slowly vanish before her.
"Destiny!" Hotaru hollered out grasping the figure that no longer existed. It was over. Saturn had left.
I can't even make friends with ghosts, let alone real people. She thought to herself.
Hotaru left her bed like she had a fusion of energy. Something deep in her core had just lit up.
"Have fun in class, Hotaru." She watched as he walked down the hallways greeting all the genius children that passed by.
Hotaru grasped her briefcase walking in the opposite direction. She brushed shoulders with a girl and didn't dare look up. "What's wrong with you, freak." Hotaru continued walking.
A hand grabbed Hotaru's short dark hair from behind with great force. Too scared to turn back Hotaru froze in position.
"You better let her be, Jerk!" A strong female's voice called out as she stepped between Hotaru and the predator.
Hotaru had her eyes still closed. "Are you okay little girl?" A warm entity hugged Hotaru's stiff body. "It will be alright."
She smelled the sweet perfume of this angel that hugged her. Is this angel Destiny?
Hotaru opened her eyes to find the women's gorgeous bright teal colored hair in Hotaru's face. It had seemed to be too much for Hotaru to take as slowly she fainted in the angel's arms.