Flames and Starlight

Screams filled the air as fights broke out all around Hannah. She ran through the street, trying to avoid the vicious fights that had broken out between various supernaturals. She screamed as a building behind her collapsed. She ducked as pieces of the building fell all around her. She ran as fast as she could, narrowly escaping being crushed.

She shrieked as blood splattered all over her. Someone’s body had splattered on the ground and she ran even faster.

All around her a war was breaking out and she was caught in the middle of it with nowhere else to turn to.

An explosion sounded behind her and she was tossed into the air. She screamed and her limbs flailed until she fell hard onto the road in front of her. Pain coursed through her and heat blasted over her skin. She snapped her head around to see a huge, raging fire had erupted and was consuming everything and everyone in its path.

She tried to get up but her left leg wouldn’t cooperate. She desperately tried to stand up and screamed as a burning pain shot through her. She looked down and saw that her leg was crooked and obviously broken. There was no way she was able to stand up.

She sobbed as she tried to drag herself away. She wasn’t strong enough to drag herself away from the fighting. She tried conjuring up magic to get away from the fighting but it was no use. She didn’t know any spells that could save her and her injuries were preventing her from using any. It was hopeless. She was going to die here.

Someone stepped in front of her and saw it was the same dark entity from her previous vision.

Before she could react, the figure reached down grabbed her by her neck, and lifted her into the air. She gasped as her airflow was blocked and the grip caused pain to radiate through her beck.

She clawed at the hand and kicked her legs, desperately trying to break from the grasp. She screamed as the entity tightened his grip, feeling her windpipe start to crush.

“Hannah Nicole Marie Carson,” the sinister voice echoed eerily in her mind. “I warned you to leave and you refused to do so. Now you and everyone you love will suffer.”

The entity drew back his hood and -

Hannah bolted up in her bed, screaming. Her aunt burst into the room as Hannah sat in her bed, panting heavily, tears streaming down her face.

“What happened?” Mary demanded as she turned on the lights and pulled Hannah close to her.

Hannah gasped for breath. She could still feel the hand around her throat, squeezing tightly, until she was sure her neck was about to be broken. A terrible pain was still coursing through her leg. For a second, she almost thought it was broken. She looked down at it and saw it was straight but still throbbing painfully.

Mary brushed Hannah’s hair away from her neck and gasped. “Oh my god, what the hell happened?”

Hannah looked in the mirror and gasped. There were bruises all over her neck, as though someone had been trying to strangle her.

“Hannah, did you have another vision?” Mary demanded.

Hannah could only nod, her throat dry and sore. She grabbed her sketchbook and quickly drew everything she saw in her vision. Mary was silent the whole time, watching Hannah draw, Once she was done with it, she showed it to Mary.

Mary gasped. “Oh, my god. We need to -”

She was cut off by a shrill beeping sound that came from Mary’s bedroom. Hannah ran after Mary and watched her aunt pick up a small electronic device that looked like a walkie-talkie.

“Oh my god,” her aunt kept muttering to herself repeatedly.

“What?” Hannah croaked, her throat still dry.

“Raven City’s under attack.”

Hannah felt all the wind leave her. She actually felt dizzy and had to lean against the wall to keep from falling face-first. “What?”

“There’s a huge attack going on. An army has invaded and all the Guardians are called into action. I have to get over there.”

Hannah gasped and grabbed her aunt’s arm. “No! You can get killed!”

“Hannah, I have to go. This is what it means to be a Guardian. There’s no time to argue about this. We need to get you to a shelter now.”

They rushed to the nearest shelter they could find. It was a huge three-story building though it was packed as everyone pushed in. It was a whirlwind of activity as everyone was frantic, trying to make sure their loved ones were there and demanding the Guardians that were posted there to give them answers. All three stories of the building were filled with supernaturals looking for safety and there was no room to sit or get fresh air.

Hannah could barely move through the tightly squeezed place. She stayed near her aunt, who was desperately trying to keep everyone calm. Everyone was frantic and angry as they demanded answers. Mary and the other Guardians had to detain a few sups who’d gotten aggressive with the Guardians. It was brewing hostility everywhere.

It was so packed that it was so hot and stuffy it was hard to breathe. It felt like the temperature had increased a hundred degrees and sweat-soaked her skin and hair. She had no idea how Mary and the other Guardians were going to keep everyone calm and safe.

They somehow managed to find a somewhat quiet space where they could get a little air. Mary leaned against the wall, closing her eyes, her face soaked with sweat. Hannah felt a lot of sympathy for her, knowing how stressful this had to be with her. The shrill voice from Mary’s Guardian device, what Hannah heard Mary call her Calling Device, which was basically a walkie-talkie, came back.

“Guardian Mary Summers,” a static voice said over the Calling Device. “Report to the nearest Guardian Station immediately.”

Mary turned to Hannah and said, “I need to go to the station. Stay here and stay safe.”

She turned to go but Hannah clung to her arm. She couldn’t stand the thought of her aunt going out there and risking getting killed. If what happened in her vision was any indication of what was happening, she risked never seeing her aunt again. “Take me with you.”

“No. Stay here.” Mary tried to remove her hand but Hannah tightened her grip.

“Mary, you’re the only family I have left. I can’t lose you.”

Mary grabbed Hannah by her shoulders and stared intently into her eyes. “Hannah, this is my job. I understand that you want to be with me but you have to stay here. I can’t do my job and keep an eye on you. Stay here or I will have you arrested when I come back.”

Mary disappeared into the crowd before Hannah could respond. Hannah pushed her way through the crowd in the direction Mary took off in and saw Mary heading toward the exit. Hannah ran after her, shoving people out of her way.

Shouts and protests erupted as Hannah unceremoniously shoved and elbowed people out of her way. She knew it was rude as hell but now wasn’t the time to be nice. She had to get to Mary.

She pushed through the sea of people and saw her aunt create a Portal. Hannah ran forward and jumped in after Mary before she could see. She cried out when fireworks of bright colors nearly blinded her and shrieking wind nearly split her ears. It was over in a matter of seconds though felt like an eternity before it went away. When it was over her head was pounding and she felt dizzy. She swayed on her feet and had her eyes squeezed shut as she fought back bile.

“Hannah!” she heard Mary roar in fury.

She opened her eyes and she saw that she and her aunt were in a Guardian Station. Guardians were staring at them and appeared furious.

Mary grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her roughly. “What the hell are you doing here?” she growled through clenched teeth as the sound of fighting could be heard outside.

The war was beginning.

“I w-wanted to be with you,” Hannah stammered.

Mary groaned and the Guardians ran outside. It sounded like a battlefield was taking place outside.

Mary pinned her with a look that made Hannah freeze. She knew her aunt wasn’t playing.

“Stay in here and if you step one foot outside this station then you will wake up buried six feet underground.”

Mary ran out without a backward glance.