A/N. So... DBR is back! I want to apologize to all my readers for the wait and taking it down so suddenly. Some drama ensued that quickly became personal, and I felt the need to step back for awhile.
In the time since, I have been blessed to find an amazing group of people to help me, and I want to personally thank them. Lotus Wright is now my favorite person ever for not letting me give up and for introducing me to everyone else, especially my other favorite person ever, snowflakelover (Snow Swan) *spanks*. Thank you, Frannie Walsh, for taking on my chaos and being my beta, you are so greatly appreciated. Thank you, both Vampiregirl93 (Sydney Taylor) and Lotus Wright for all your pre-reading help. Lastly, thank you, everyone, at Pay it Forward on FB for your kindness.
Divine Black Rain - Prologue
I'm running. I'm running like my ass is on fire – as if my life is at stake.
Because it very much is.
I guess I should rewind and explain my predicament. How I got here and why.
And I'll get there, I will. Just as soon as I manage to get to any kind of safety I can find. Quite the feat seeing as I have zero idea as to where in the fuck I am. Odds of escaping are slim.
Shit, shit, shit, where do I go?
I turn into a narrowed alleyway, followed by building after building of a city still in ruins.
I'm not from this zone; no, I have no idea what to do or where to go. I was left to rot by those supposed to protect me. So now I'm being preyed upon and hunted like an animal.
I know there is no escape, but I won't - I can't give up. It may not be the best life but it's mine to fight for, and I intend to try and try I will.
Because … because I don't want to die. The thought alone makes me whimper aloud.
"I can smell your fear, little prey. Keep running little pig - it's time for your slaughter," he taunts as a boisterous laugh comes echoing from somewhere I can't see, and somewhere I can't get away from. I can't get away from him ...
I cry out, tears leaking from my eyes like a river. Adrenaline is pounding my heart into my mouth, a heavy beat resounding into my eyes and even my ears. My body feels like rubber. My legs move one way as my torso shifts another.
The terror is unimaginable and choking me as I weave, duck, run and trip my way through the ruins of what was once Seattle. The remains of a nuclear fallout.
I duck my way into a building, shoving my way past doors, furniture and even the remains of the unsuspecting victims of a global attack more than twenty-five years ago.
With my heart in my throat, I continue on to find anything, anyone to get me out of this nightmare. I shouldn't be here; right now, I should be in the little, one room studio apartment I share with my parents. Instead, I'm dreaming awake, or so I wish. I need someone to wake me so I can get out, so it won't be as real as I know this is. I need help out of here, away from this asshole trying to kill me. I need just about anything right now.
I make myself move again, to stop thinking in my head and to keep from being captured. Sprinting on I suddenly fall with a loud thump and grunt on my ass. White-hot pain shoots up my leg, bringing prickling tears to my eyes. I bite down on my knuckles to keep from screaming. The last thing I need is to show him my pain or to let him know where I am.
Take a deep breath, calm down, I tell myself. After a few, very, very short breaths, I look to see my left leg stuck in the flooring, up to mid shin. It's at an odd angle, and there's a small piece of a wooden floorboard embedded there. Blood slowly begins to trickle downward into my sweaty sock, and I want to scream bloody murder. I don't know if it's broken, I've never broken anything before, but I know I can't move. I can't.
Does this mean I am done? Is this it; my final fall?
I can hear his piercing laughter in the distance. He's heard my struggle. He's heard my fall. My pain is an obvious sound of amusement and joy to his ears.
He's sick.
This is a game to him. We are just a free sporting event to weed out the weak, the once rich who fared differently. To play God and to make us pay.
They are their own kind. They are the kind that now rules our species. They are the kind that kills. They are the kind that are the children of the once poor; the homeless. They are the ones looking for revenge for the hand they were dealt.
This world has changed since the fallout. After it awakened from the black rain that had fallen from the sky, these others emerged as the Gifted Divine.
No longer are they just human. They are stronger, faster, smarter versions of what they once were, what we as Norms are. They are each gifted with their very own divine gifts to kill us.
As I hear his heavy footsteps approaching me, I realize this is it. I gaze up, and all hope pours out of me when I catch his eyes; when I realize who and what he is.
Felix.
He is a powerful and revengeful Gifted Divinity, and he is here for one reason only.
To kill me.
I love you all!