Chapter 3, Goodbye home

Atlas laid quietly in her bed with her blanket bundled up to her shoulders, she contently stared out her window looking up to a bright full moon that disappeared and reappeared through the pollution of smoke. It wasn't often she was able to see things in the night sky, it seemed to be almost to peaceful. Only closing her eyes for a second to blink and discovered she back in her dream surrounded by thick white fog.

"Its time Atlas" spoke the older woman who stepped up behind her and placed her hands on her shoulder.

Atlas turned to look up at her, "Wh-what do you mean?"

"What we've talked about over the years Atlas. Its time for you to leave your home. You and your brother, leave before it is too late." She replied.

"but.. but we are just kids how are we going to survive out there!? That's a whole different world outside Bowerstone!" Atlas proclaimed.

The old woman nodded and frowned slightly, "i know... its frightening. But you must. This life you live will change and you will go through hell before the end. Once you take that step you must keep walking. Walk firm, should you lose your footing in the rapid waters of destiny, you will drown."

Atlas stared up at her for a moment before turning her gaze downward, "but I... Where do I need to go first, Theresa?"

"Travel to Brightwall. There you will find your first companion, the new hero of will" Theresa answered, "A young scholar who practices her skill out the sight of others. Her name is Skilare. Tell her that you've walked the path of misted light. She will understand."

Atlas looked at her again, "path of misted light? Then.. where after that?"

"One step at a time, my child, one step at a time." Theresa smiled down at her as Atlas' vision started to swirl and fade.

After blinking a few times her room that was shared with her parents and brother came back into focus. She looked around pushing her self up from her bed and looked around to find everything seemed to be normal. Gabriel was sprawled out in a strange angle on his bed with his head barely on the floor and snoring loudly. Shaking her head with a heavy sigh Atlas was about to lay back down in her bed but jolted from her bed upon hearing a loud knock downstairs. Her parents ignored it for a moment until it got louder and more violent as if the visitor was trying to break down the door.

"What in the hell?" she could hear her father growling from his bed.

She sat up quickly looking at her father as he picked up a lantern, "Daddy?"

"Its nothing sweet heart go back to sleep" he patted her head as he walked by her bed to get to the stairs.

Atlas watched as he disappeared downstairs before she jumped up and started to pull on her boots. She could hear her father answer the door as she moved to her parents bed where a long chest was hidden under the mattress that contained a few of her father's weapons. While she loaded up a pistol her mother started to rise from her bed, "Atlas?" she blinked at her daughter, but both of their attention was soon diverted to an argument that broke out downstairs and was ended by a gunshot.

Her mother jumped from the bed grabbing a hatchet from the chest and hurried to dark corner just at the top of the stairs to wait for the intruders. As they rushed into their home and started up the stairs they didn't see the attack waiting for them. Atlas's brave mother swung from the shadow driving the deadly edge into one man's face.

Atlas winced looking away from the bloody sight as her mother set her attack upon the other interloper. Soon it was over, but not for long. Her mother pulled her up from the floor, "grab what you can, only important things you can't live without love," she said to her daughter before going to wake her son, surprisingly he was still asleep. Her young eyes looked down to the bloody corner and her stomach turned slightly as she found she couldn't look away.

"Atlas, do what I said!" her mother yelled at her bringing her back to her senses.

The young girl nodded and collected what she could use from her father's chest, and stuffed a satchel with all her gold and clothes. Just as she finished, her mother with her younger brother in her arms, grabbed her arm and started to quickly pull her way. She moved her children so fast to avoid the sight of dead bodies and their dead father. They moved so quickly their waking neighbors gazed out their windows confused and groggy.

….

Running through the back alleys of Bowerstone industrial seemed to be easier that it looked. Guardsmen of the area where rushing to a fight while most of the city slept. "Mommy" Gabriel had started rubbing tears from his eyes, "whats going on?"

She hugged her son close petting his head, "i don't know love" she whispered back to him. She peeked out from their hiding place after the street was silent again. She looked back to her daughter siting down Gabriel with her, "listen to me.. go ahead of me and get out of the city."

"Mommy no. no no" Gabriel started to cry more reaching for his mother.

She hugged both of her children one more time, "mind your sister little love, hopefully.. we'll be together again."

"what.. do you mean. You aren't coming with us?!" Atlas asked.

Her mother looked at her, "I think we both our paths split from here love" her mother said sadly.

"You.. know about that?" Atlas stared in shock.

"I'm sorry love..but yes. Now go." She said pointing in the direction where her two children could sneak out of the city.

Hesitating at first Atlas looked around the streets before she took her brother's arm and to pull him with her. By the time she looked back to the alley they once were, she discovered it to be empty and her mother gone. Thankfully Atlas knew the streets of Bowerstone and she guided her brother through them and they safely made it out, saying goodbye to their home.

Sorry i had forgotten about all my stories. That's what life will do to you when you leave high school. But i'm trying to get back to these now that i found my account and all. But read and review.