The Black Prayer

Prologue

"Poor child..."

"What will happen to her?"

"Where will she go?"

"Who will take care of her?"

"Does she have any family left?"

The echoing, fading voices that once surrounded the young child seemed to drown out in a sea of blackness as she sat alone on the lonely bench within the police station, staring down at her black, soot-covered hands, and the once pouring tears had now dried behind her silver eyes. What had happened that day seemed to last for eternity, and even now...it still seemed to last longer than it really was. The child's body shook uncontrollably beneath the warm, covering blankets provided to her by the police and firemen who had rescued her. However, no matter how much strangers tried to comfort her and protect her, they couldn't erase the memory that had just been sketched deep within her mind. The memory of this night...it will never fade away. She will never forget the orange and red flames that soared through the skies, blackening it into an eerie, omniscient ink that only symbolized the inevitable deaths that took place that night.

She could still remember the intoxicating, suffocating scents of ash and sulfur that lingered throughout the atmosphere, she could still feel the beating heat against her body as she was sent flying through the glass window, landing in a field of cold, white purity that was the only embrace to her. She could still remember clearly the echoing and terrifying screams that haunted her mind and trembled her body. She could still hear the blaring sirens screaming throughout the night, growing closer and closer. She could still see the blur of yellow coated men trying to put out the flames, while men in black navy scooped her up and carried her to another place of warmth and shelter. Not once did she remember herself sobbing for the pain and death that happened that night. Not once did she remember feeling the soft tears on her face, nor could she feel her own, suffering pain twist in agony inside her.

The men in black navy approached and circled around her in a flurry of blurs, never once turning to her and giving her a moment's notice. She was the victim here. She was the last survivor, but no one cared. After all, she was just an orphan. An orphaned girl who meant nothing to anyone, and meant nothing to this world. Her destiny was as bleak and unclear as the smoke that rose over her head. An orphan...that was all she was, and always will be...

"You have true potential..."

At once, the child looked up at the sound of a voice speaking to her from nowhere. However, when she turned everywhere, she only saw the navy uniform that surrrounded her, but never aided her. She clasped her hands together, hoping this first time, it would not fail her. Her "mother", the care-taker who looked after her and her other orphaned friends, was a nun, and would teach them that prayer was sometimes the only way to gain help and receive aide and comfort. She was nowhere near religious, and was nowhere near as gullible to believe that prayer would actually help. Whenever the other children knelt in prayer and whispered soft, sorrowful words to nothingness, she would be alone, sitting in the far pew of the alter, watching them with eyes full of envy and anger.

Nothing she felt was human, and nothing she did was human. She has comitted her own sins in the past, and created unspeakable horror that only one would dare to dream about in a dark and twisted fantasy of endless fear. Her deeds have gone as far back as she could remember, twisting with the blocked images and memories of a family...that was stolen away from her...a family of a deranged father...abusive mother...and selfish siblings...

Her fists grew white in fear and anger at these twisted, sorroful thoughts and realizations. Was she willing to free herself from this torment? Was she willing to give up her once innocent life and become what she has seen? The answer was unclear to her, just like everything else. When the flames engulfed the last bit of family and survival she had, it was all she could stomach. Now, the only thoughts that roamed through her mind...was what will happen next.

She never cared for anyone else but herself. She never wandered around, in search for the comfort of shelter and warmth of embraces of love, she never held concern or worry for someone else. And now...things seemed to be changing too quickly for her. Never once did the mentions of "prayer", "religion," and "faith" mean anything to her. Never did the mention of a "God" or man who created miracles mean anything. It was always like that, she was all alone, and even when the building remained and children existed, she was still alone even then. It was the way her life was then, and is now...forever. It was destiny.

"Do you believe in destiny, my child?"

It was at that moment, though, did the mystic voice speak upon her once more, and she saw a mysterious young man approaching her. The mystical, omniscient glow within his violet eyes setting off an uneasy sensation within the child as she sat there within the station. She couldn't pull her eyes off of the man's appearance, as he held his pose and stature with an elegant, graceful manner. His long, navy hair seemed to frame his pale complexion, but it was the omniscient stare he cast onto her at that moment. She felt a little terrified to look up at him, so she averted her eyes, and stared down at her feet, covered in the ash and last remains of her once beloved shelter. She did not answer the man's question, though, unsure of where it would lead.

A moment of silence passed, and only for a brief moment did the people running amok throughout the station seemed to disappear, and the echoing voices faded out of the child's ears. She could only feel the mysterious man's stares, and hear his mystic, dark voice as he spoke onto her once more.

"Do you feel alone, my child?"

Once more she did not answer, but her body trembled as she clutched at the edge of the bench, feeling the man's voice pierce into the sheltered, dark, and cold corners of her heart. She didn't understand how or why this was happening, but the longer he lingered there in front of her, the colder she felt in his presence. Even when she had been facing the burning, engulfing flames for nearly an hour. The warmth that surrounded her moments ago seemed to dissipate quickly.

She trembled once more, and reached into the lonely pocket of her torn and battered jeans, shaking as she felt along the lines of the plastic edge of her most belovedly treasured possession. However, the moment she pulled her hand out, the man spoke again onto her.

"That is a Duel Monsters card, is it not?"

At once, she looked up at him in confusion and loss, as she did not understand what he had spoken to her. His eyes held a softer gaze in them, not so dark and piercing, but light and gentle. Like as if he was seeing through her with compassion and understanding, rather than expectance and suspicion. She said nothing in response, but watched as the man fell to one knee in front of her, and held out a hand to her.

"May I see it?"

Not understand where this would lead, the child reached into her pocket once more, and removed the brown plastic card that played along her fingers lightly. Suspiciously, she handed it to him, feeling the icy coldness along his fingers at the light brush against his hand as she gave it to him. Still on one knee, he tore his eyes off her and stared at the card. For a moment, an eerie smile broke across his lips, and this sent even more violent shivers through her body. She wanted to snatch back her card, but her hands clung to the edge so fiercely, she couldn't move.

"Angel of Light. What a beautiful and powerful card," the man spoke gently to her, and then brought his icy, violet eyes back to her. "Perhaps you would tell me your name?"

"It's...Angel..." the only two words the child spoke throughout the time she was there. She averted her eyes once more, feeling her body tremble once again as the man rose back to his feet. He returned the card to her, and looked down at her with a gentle smile.

"Angel. What a lovely name. Tell me, Angel, perhaps you are searching for someone to care for you, to protect you?" the man asked once more. Angel looked down in grief and shame, knowing that was not what she searched for. "Or...perhaps you seek a place in the world. A place where you are accepted, loved, and appreciated. A place...where you can be yourself?"

In only a slight response, she lifted her eyes only barely from the floor. And the man smiled lightly at her. He then held out his hand to her, gesturing in a sympathetic and kindred way.

"If you come with me, I shall grant you those things," he spoke. Angel stared at his gestured hand, and then realized what other choice did she have. No one else would care for her, as she was no one to anyone.

In only a brief moment of thought, she accepted the man's hand, and he led her away from that place, and directly into darkness...