CHAPTER 1

BEGINNINGS

The world was dyed in scarlet. Everything was engulfed in flames. There was blood all over the floor. Countless of bodies lied dead. Screams of anguish and despair filled the air. In the middle of it all, a little girl no more than 8 years old ran as tears fell from her eyes.

Help! Somebody! Anybody! Help!

She covered her ears hoping to drown out the noise.

Help! I don't want to hear their screams anymore!

She continued to run, desperate to get away.

Please, somebody take me away!

Then the scene shifted. There was a woman in front of the same little girl. The woman was beautiful but her eyes stood out the most. Her eyes were red, like blood. The woman's face showed deep sorrow that startled the little girl. Then suddenly the woman embraced the little girl and softy whispered.

"My dear, I'm sorry…I ha- to take –way so—thi— pre—us to you…But with this, I ho—that will be able to li—pea—fu—until the ti— comes. This is the only way. Please, until then, forget."

Leila woke up thinking of the dream that haunted her for years. She has no clue how or why it happens but once in a while, that dream would crawl into her head and haunt her nights. The first time she had it, she was so scared that she cried and demanded her most trusted friend to stay with her for the rest of the night. But by now, she was more or less used to it. It was still scary but now she was more confused about it than scared. The scenes in the dream bothered her, most especially the woman. She would swear that she never saw those things or that woman in particular but the thing was, she couldn't remember most of her life. She was missing a huge lump of memories. Leila wasn't even her real name. She loved her name but it's still nice to know the name her true parents, whoever they are, gave her.

"I guess there's no use pondering about it again." Leila mumbled to herself.

She then glanced at the clock to her left. She groaned. It was definitely time to get up. In fact, she totally overslept again. She sat up and the mirror in front of her bed immediately caught her attention. Purple eyes stared back at her and she noted how her long black hair was a total mess. She really had a bad case of bed-head. Then suddenly the door opened and revealed her aforementioned most trusted friend. He was more like a brother to her really.

"Good morning, Leila, had a good night's sleep?"

"Good morning to you too, Gon. I can't say yes to your question though." Leila replied.

"Something wrong?"

Gon approached her with worry etched across his face. Gon had spiky black hair that seemed to defy gravity and huge amber eyes that showed his childish innocence more than anything else. He was more or less the same age as her, twelve years old. Leila doesn't exactly know how old she was since she can't remember her birthday but her appearance suggested that she was as old as him or perhaps a little bit younger.

"It's nothing serious really. It was just the usual nightmare again." Leila answered.

"Are you okay?" Gon asked, still worried.

Gon sat on her bed and squeezed in an act of comfort. Leila smiled thinking how lucky she was to have a friend like him. She was like a brother she never had. They also lived on the same house so they were practically raised like siblings. He was her most trusted confidante so she had also informed him of her dreams.

"Yep, I'm fine and don't worry. If it gets really bad, I'll be sure to crawl into your bed in the middle of the night and tell you." Leila squeezed Gon's hand back reassuring him.

Gon replied with a smile.

"I guess I better get myself ready to get choked again." Gon joked which earned a smack on the shoulder from Leila. Well, the last time they slept beside each other, which was about a year ago, she really did almost choke him but, hey, it wasn't her fault that she subconsciously liked to cuddle.

"Why did you come to my room by the way?" Leila asked.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Mito-san told me to wake you up and have you get ready. She said that if you aren't down within thirty minutes, she'll double your chores."

Leila paled at the thought of the chores. She didn't mind doing it but it's exhausting just the same. Mito-san was Gon's aunt. Mito-san along with Gon saw her washed up on shore four years ago and they cared for her ever since. They let her stay in their house, fed her and even taught her to speak since, apparently, her memory loss reverted her back into an infant-like state of mind. Mito-san was like a mother to her and she loved her to bits but sometimes that woman could really be a slave driver.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" Leila exclaimed in panic as she scrambled up to get ready.

"Got sidetracked, I guess." Gon replied sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Geez. If Mito-san kills me with the chores, its gonna be your fault, Gon."

"I better leave you with your hair then." Gon chuckled as he proceeded to leave.

"Arrgh! Don't even get started on my hair!"

Minutes later, Leila finally got herself ready. She went downstairs to help her guardian with the bar. She was dressed in her usual blue summer dress and she had her long black hair tied in a ponytail that reached just above her waist.

"Here is your drink, sir." Leila said as she served the drink to a customer at the table just next to the counter. The customer, meanwhile, stared at her quite curiously. "Is there anything else I could help you with, sir?"

"Ah no, nothing really." The guest replied. But your eyes, miss, I must say that I've never really seen that colour anywhere else. It's quite unique. Is it natural?"

"Yes, I guess. I mean it's been like this ever since I could remember."

"I see."

Leila went back to the counter to get started with another order. She wasn't really surprised with the man's question. Most of the people she met tend to ask her about the strange colour of her eyes. She has no clue why people find it so strange or if the colour of her eyes was actually that unique. She hasn't been anywhere else since she was found on Whale Island.

Suddenly, the door was harshly opened to reveal a very anxious sixteen year old.

"Quick, Leila, hide me!"

"Wait, what are you-"

Before Leila could say anything else, the teen already hid under the counter and seconds later three young local boys burst into the door. Leila raised an eyebrow.

"Again, huh…" she thought.

"Hey Leila, have you seen Iris?" One of the boys asked.

"Uh…no… Are you sure she went this way?" Leila lied. It was practiced lie. It happened a few times in the past already.

"Is that so… that's too bad. We better look for her someplace else then. But, hey Leila, you're actually pretty cute, wanna hang out with us?"

Leila's eyebrow twitched appalled by the invitation.

"No, I'm not interested and as you can see I'm quite busy with the store right now so if you could please leave I would greatly appreciate it." Leila flashed them one of her sweetest and fakest smile, not bothering to hide the hostility under her polite speech.

Seeing this, the young men gulped nervously and realized that they've bothered the young waitress quite enough as they hurriedly dashed through the front door. Leila smiled contently as she saw them leave then she playfully smirked at her friend who was still hiding under the counter.

"Playing tag again, Iris?"

Leila chuckled as she heard a thud in reply. It seemed like her friend bumped her head as she tried to get out of her hiding place.

"Shut it, Leila. And correction, I wasn't playing tag. I was obviously running away from those idiots." Iris grumbled as she clutched her head in pain.

"Same difference"

Leila laughed more as she watched her friend trying to nurse the bump on her head. She can't blame those guys for chasing after her though. Iris was downright beautiful with her long, silky midnight blue hair which reached the middle of her back and enchanting green eye complete with a pretty face and stunning figure. She was hailed as the town's dream girl, not that Iris ever acknowledged it. Iris was never one to take advantage of her charms nor was she fully aware of its effects. In fact, she loathed that she was chased by boys because of it as she found the reason shallow and stupid. Leila could remember one time that Iris got so irritated with a suitor that she punched him on the nose. Of course, living in a small town, the word of the incident got around and eventually reached the ears of Iris's mom who scolded her for it. The boys never stopped chasing after her though and just assumed she liked boys who can fight. So the next few weeks after the incident a lot of boys went to show off their lame fighting skills and since Iris couldn't violently retaliate if she got too annoyed, she would usually avoid them, run away, or hide like what happened just now.

"Iris, I didn't know you were coming." Mito's voice interrupted Leila's thoughts.

"Your store has a lot of good hiding places, Mito-san." Iris replied grinning sheepishly.

"Playing tag again, Iris?" Mito asked, unable to hide her amusement.

"Really, Mito-san, you really just had to ask the same question?" Iris looked at the older woman incredulously while Leila clutched her stomach as she burst into another round of laughter.

"I wouldn't be laughing so hard if I were you Leila." Another voice joined the conversation as Gon's grandmother arrived.

"Obaa-chan" Leila greeted, acknowledging the old woman.

"You're as pretty as Iris, Leila-chan. In a few years, I think you'll be having your own band of suitors chasing you, young lady. Both you and Iris look prettier as you grow." Gon's grandmother said stopping Leila from laughing.

"Well, I guess, Leila has a lot of growing up to do." Iris teased.

Leila flushed at the statement. It was she was quite short for her age but she didn't really need anyone to point it out. Then Leila thought of a good comeback, more like a little bit of blackmail actually.

"Oh, you know what, I think I may have to tattletale someone's location at the moment."

"You wouldn't dare…"

"Try me."

"Alright, I give up." Iris raised her hand in mock surrender. Then she playfully pointed her finger at Leila and declared "You may have won this battle but never assume you have won the war. Mark my words, I will have my revenge!"

"Then I will celebrate this moment of victory." Leila playfully replied.

By this time, the participants of the conversation were laughing. Then Mito and Gon's grandmother left leaving Iris and Leila alone.

"Hey Leila, where's Gon?" Iris asked.

"He's at the lake. You know, trying to do his task."

In exchange for Mito's approval of their participation in the Hunter Exam, Mito gave them both tasks to accomplish. Leila's task was to retrieve a very rare herb that grows on top of the highest tree in the island. The task was quite difficult since the tree was quite slippery. Then there were snakes coiling in the branches and don't even get her started with the ants and the bees. Leila still managed to successfully get the herb though within a few tries. On the other hand, Gon was tasked to capture the largest fish in the lake.

"I hope Gon captures that fish. I really hope to enter the exam with the both of you." Iris said. There was a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

"Yeah, I hope so too." Leila replied.

Iris's parents were both hunters and were constantly on the move. Two years ago, Iris arrived on the island and met the two of them. When she heard that Leila and Gon planned to take the Hunter Exam, she was so ecstatic about the news that she decided to wait till they could enter the exam with her and told them that she wasn't particularly in a rush to get her license. Leila had no doubt that Iris would pass the exam. Iris was smart and an excellent fighter and not to mention her parents. She heard that Iris's parents were quite famous but Leila never really paid much attention to the rumours and Iris doesn't really talk about her parents' hunter career that much.

Then Leila thought about her motive in entering the Hunter Exam. Gon wanted to enter that exam to find his father and Iris wanted to prove herself. On the other hand, her motive was vague at best. Leila thought that by entering and passing the Hunter Exam, she may be able to find clues about her past and who she really was. But that was just her being hopeful. The truth was that she just doesn't want to be left alone. Her closest friends, Gon and Iris, were going on an adventure and she wasn't ashamed to admit to herself that she wanted to tag along too.

Suddenly, Leila heard a commotion outside. Then the next few seconds she found herself outside with Iris. They both looked at Gon who had a huge grin on his face and huge fish on his back.

Gon finally got the fish.

"This is it. No turning back now." Leila thought as she strengthened resolve.

All three of them were taking the Hunter Exam.

EDITED: 7/2/2018