Elemental Surprises
Chapter 2: Daydream
"Uh...my head." Megumi sighed as she started to come to.
She opened her eyes and noticed that she was still in the forest. She rose up from a lying position to an Indian sitting position as she glanced at her watch. It was broken, with glass shards lying around her and the hands of her watch missing. She stood up and started to walk back home when she remembered why she was in the forest.
"Aki! Oh, where is he?" Megumi asked herself, quietly.
She got up and slowly walked in the direction opposite of which she came. The trees were still decayed and it upset Megumi to see that the sceneary wouldn't be changing for a while. Her feet sank in the black mud and her nostrils stung with the smell of wet and decayed wood. Her head pulsed with every step she took. She pulled out her compact from her skirt pocket to check herself in the mirror and even though make up was forbidden at her school, she always carried one, just in case.
She glanced into it and directly looked at her forehead. She had a single cut, only a graze, but it still bled and left a nice bruise at the base of her hairline.
'Washable and no big deal.' Megumi thought.
Megumi closed the compact and placed it back into her skirt pocket. She continued to walk forward, in a daze, and not really looking around her. Then, all of a sudden, her thoughts went back to that flash of red she saw before she collapsed. Maybe that was a clue to her that someone else was out here. Then it frightened her because if someone did live out here, were they friendly or were they the type of mountain man that lived in the woods and fed off helpless girls such as herself? Only time would tell because just thinking about it wasn't getting her anywhere.
Megumi had been walking for sometime now, the sight of dead trees not really bothering her that much anymore. She was quite used to it by now. But then something strange startled her. The scent of burning wood.
"A fire! That means someone else is here. Maybe they can help me!" Megumi yelled to herself.
Her pace quickened. Finally, in sight, was a wooden cabin. Megumi reached the door and knocked quietly.
"Come in." Said a voice.
'It's a female. Maybe she won't kill me.' Megumi thought as she turned the handle and pushed the door slightly.
The scent of firewood was strong. Megumi could also smell the scent of hot tea and lavender. She took her first steps through the door and looked to her left. She saw the wall with paintings on them, a potted flower here and there and a table set which is most likely where the inhabitant sat when eating. She glanced forward to see a door labeled 'Bathroom'. And to her right was a family area/kitchen. Sofa, coffee table, fireplace, fridge, oven, stove, pots, and pans were some of the things that Megumi noticed instantly. Simple yet heartwarming. A door was in the corner which was labeled 'Bedroom'. And seated in the sofa that was opposite of the fireplace, was a women, with glowing white hair that reflected the dancing flames of the fire. She didn't turn around but only said "Come here child" and motioned for Megumi to sit.
Megumi did as she was told and took a seat to the right of the old woman. Megumi didn't speak first, out of pure fear for she was sitting in the house of a complete stranger in the middle of nowhere. Instead she glanced from the fire to the old woman and back to the fire. She got a good look of the old woman though. Her face was absolutely perfect. It had no wrinkles, blemishes, anything. She looked like a woman in her early 20's. The only reason Megumi even considered her to be an old woman was because of the hair and scratchy voice. Then the old woman broke the silence and Megumi's thoughts.
"Why are you here child?"
"I was following my dog. He ran into the forest and I tried chasing him but ended up running into a tree and passing out. Please, have you seen him?"
"I've not seen your dog...uh...what was your name again?" asked the old woman.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! How rude of me. My name is Megumi. And this is such a cute home." she replied swiftly.
"Thank you. But flattery is not why your here. Please, follow me."
With this the old woman got up and walked through the door labeled 'Bedroom'. Megumi questioned this action at first but decided to follow the old woman. She rose from the chair and headed through the door and gasped at the site of what she saw. It wasn't a bedroom at all. In the center of the room was a crystal ball. Nothing else could be seen except for the face of the old woman, which was reflecting the light of the glowing crystal ball.
"Come child. Look into the ball." Said the old woman.
Megumi did as she was told, taking very slow steps into the room and towards the crystal ball. Once she reached her destination, she glaced into the eyes of the old woman. Megumi didn't sense any anticipation at all. The eyes were humble, serene. Breaking the glance, Megumi looked into the crystal ball. At first, everything was hazy. Then Megumi could see a light and the mist started to evaporate. When the mist was cleared away, Megumi could see a destroyed city. The buildings were on fire, blood poured into the streets, wind blew down the alley ways, rustling everything in it's path. Then, on eight separate buildings were eight individuals, shrouded in shadows. Nothing could be seen except their outlines and their hair blowing in the wind. Megumi grabbed her chest and stumbled away from the site. The old woman stood motionless, judging Megumi's response.
"By your reaction, I take it you saw the destroyed city?" asked the old woman with no emotion.
Megumi shook her head up and down. She had suddenly lost her voice, like there was a void in her body, limiting her actions.
"Then your the one. The one to unite them and keep them on the path of good. Your the Chosen. Your fate has been sealed on this night, Megumi."
"What are you talking about?" shouted Megumi. "My fate?"
"Your the one who will help the eight elemental spirits to get along and protect your world from an evil force. He threatens to destroy your world right now, even as we speak." stated the old woman.
With this the old woman started to walk out of the room, leaving Megumi to stand there, dumbfounded. Once Megumi regained her senses, she followed the old woman out of the current room and into the room she was in previously.
"I..." Megumi started but was cut off.
"Do not worry. You will receive a detailed explanation tomorrow. Right now you need sleep. Feel free to take the sofa and make use of my facilities. Good night, Chosen." And with this, the old woman disappeared through the door labeled 'Bedroom' and wasn't seen again until the next day.
A/N Okay! Chapter 2. Hope it was a pleaser. Please leave comments. It really helps me to make sure everything is running smoothly. Until Chapter 3...