8. Escape From Darkland

As soon as she stepped into the land of mystery, Alicia was possessed within its glamor. The atmosphere changed; an otherworldly perception was ingrained within the air she breathed in. A realm of super nature, extraordinary substances filled the space. The girl shielded her eyes from the excruciating brightness that closed around her.

Surrounding her, were luscious, pine-green coloured trees, as though they've been highlighted with precision; the girl captured the vivid colours that was emitted from every leaf, branch, or anything she could set her eyes on. Emerald mesquite trees rose behind her, dropping waves of tiny lime-coloured bulbs that pulsed with light as they sprinkled over the group, fading away in mid-air. "Whoa," she gasped, paralyzed in awe.

The shades of green rippled around her, clear and extremely vivid to the eye. They shone with such glamour, strangely brightened. The aroma of burning lavender, melting vanilla, and the dampness of moss and dew from light drizzles of rain, overpowered Alicia; The mere whiff seemed to raise her higher, floating off into the distance. An intense feeling of contentedness washed over her, an aching that cannot be expunged. Leaving this place would be the most difficult decision she'd ever make.

The ancient, mesmerizing trees towered over the three of them, extending upwards so high they seemed to pierce through the veil above the sky. They seemed to envelop the view of the sky, separating the land from reality. Resulting in a dark realm surrounded by glowing fields of nature and colourful, endless strides of greenery. The meadows underneath their feet, were cast with a strikingly colourful shade of jade. It sparkled mystically with the breeze of winds. The three of them stood in place, admiring the view. Drops of clear dew were peppered on their faces; sweetness and chills.

Ominous whistles of wind passed by them, striking Alicia by surprise, jolting her to reality. She was frozen in place; any movement was relinquished by the desire to dissolve herself within the landscape. It was as though a painting that she could not tear her eyes off of.

Every colourful bloom of pedals on the flowers surrounding her, the comforting warm chill of tropical winds that smoothly touched her cheek, their whispers and cozy sensations lulled her into a spiraling sense of safety and openness.

She caught the subtle whiff of a familiar scent, overpowering her. In a fraction of a second, the young woman found herself back at home, seated on the kitchen counter. She found herself 8 years younger, a child; Joy and excitement flowing within, her giddy nature rising above. She was watching her mother bake something – a batch of cookies, or perhaps a birthday cake - as the scrumptious, mouth-watering fragrance wafted through the air. A smoky figure, undistinguishable from view, was watching her from the counter. The comfort she'd felt, her insecurities and overwhelming lingering anxieties fading away, disappearing. Alicia sensed herself healing, as her past was suddenly forgotten, seeping away into the mystical nature of the land she currently inhabits.

Now, thrust back into Darkland, regaining her senses, Alicia slowly glanced at Carter and Melissa. They weren't as deeply engrossed as she were, thought they continued to admire the beauty of the magical forest. The little bulbs of light continued to sprinkle down on them, the trees towering over them like guardian angels. The girl gazed, mesmerized; it was a struggle to keep her eyelids open, as though it were pulled down by heavy weights.

"Alicia, you good?" Carter asked, scrutinizing her with a full smile. "Y-yeah," she answered, still partially submerged in the overpowering sensations Darkland provides. "Alright, lets go!" Melissa exclaimed, jittery like an excited puppy. As they ventured through the enchanting forest, wisps of smoke began to curl at their feet. The white fog was beginning to thicken up ahead. Alicia shook away the grappling beauty of her surroundings, catching up to Carter and Melissa, who were already several steps ahead.

Alicia stared at the back of Melissa's head. Something was off about her. Or is it just me? Alicia wondered. Carter too, but barely noticeable. It was as though a steady stream of waves poured into Alicia's head; a refreshing surge of energy drifted towards her. She scratched her head, looking past Melissa, and into the increasingly piercing fog, which seemed to thicken with every passing second. Alicia grimaced, nervously twirling stray strands of her hair with her fingers.

Just then, a deafening roar of a strike of thunder escaped from a distance away. As though sending a signal. To turn back. The three of them froze in place. "That sounded close by," Carter muttered, breaking the silence. Turn back now, the voices cried, inside her mind. They seemed louder - and whispering much more urgently – than before. It was as though the voices were empowered by the mysteriousness of Darkland. Alicia winced, as her efforts to ignore the voices were in vain; her head began to throb. Into the distance, between the narrowing trees and smoke, miniature silent strikes of lightning seemed to continuously erupt at the same place.

"Guys there's a storm coming, should we head back?" Alicia nervously whispered, cautiously tailing Melissa. "What? There's a place further I want to show you guys," Melissa said, joyfully, but with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Carter eyed them both. "What time is it?" He asked. Melissa blinked, glancing down at her watch. Her eyebrows rose in shock. "Huh," the girl muttered, in disbelief, "it's 5:37."

Alicia stared at Melissa. "What? There's no way we were out here for 4 hours!" Alicia's alarming, shocked tone rippled through the air. Melissa could only stare at the watch, in confusion.

"Last time I came here, I guess I didn't look too much at it, but..." Melissa trailed off, while Carter lost focus, glancing around his surroundings.

"Maybe there's another reason why they locked this place down," he wondered. The boy seemed withdrawn, lost in thought.

"We just lost track of time," Melissa declared, "There's nothing to be afraid of." She was adept at concealing her emotions, but Alicia's eyes pierced through her.

She sensed the fear, the anxiety, and various other puzzling emotions that radiated around her best friend. The same emotions that seemed to plague Alicia at every given moment. But this is Melissa, Alicia thought to herself, squinting at the seemingly unfazed girl.

Melissa was the reckless one, the daredevil child who always pushed Alicia out of her comfort zone. And yet, Alicia pondered, as they turned around. The growing fog wiped away their sense of direction. Murky smoke flooded their surroundings in every direction. "Um...yeah, maybe we should leave," Melissa mumbled, blinking her eyes furiously. Carter was also distraught. The boy who had every answer, clever and conniving, didn't have an answer.

"Mel, everything's going to be fine," Alicia whispered, comforting her, "Let's just take it easy, and we'll be out of here in no time." Alicia's tone was strangely vibrant and confident. As though her surroundings somehow turned her into a different person. Though on the inside, her intrusive, intense thoughts continued to harm her. The words she'd spoken, however, seemed to calm Melissa down, as the girl began to scan her surroundings.

"Wait", Melissa shouted, "I remember that tree over there." The tree in question, was a metre away, distinctly shorter, and thicker than the rest of the trees. Even though the fog was still strong as ever, it cleared enough to follow a path beyond that tree. "Yeah wait right, I remember which way to go now," she exclaimed, walking towards the path. Alicia's breathing returned to a calming rhythm.

Th three stuck very closely to each other and moved towards the tree. Melissa led them through an opening. Alicia found the same vivid leaves and bright colours as when she'd first stepped into Darkland.

Suddenly, another piercing strike of thunder popped nearby. The force of its mysterious energy propelled the trio off their feet, falling backwards onto the soft, earthy grounds. The three of them winced in unison.

"Ugh, well, the lightning's much closer now," Alicia stammered, glancing at Carter, who stared up towards the sky. He stood motionlessly, locking eyes with the festering storm above. "For sure, but did you guys see it? The lightning strike." The boy asked, eyeing a small opening of the top of the trees that exposed the clear, blue skies. "Eh, no, why?" Melissa replied, pushing herself back on her feet, grunting.

"I'm not sure, but I could've sworn that lightning was a weird colour; purple or red maybe? I've never seen anything like it," Carter answered, on his feet, walking towards the noise.

Purple? Alicia thought, wide-eyed. The dream. The girl shook her head, loosening the troubling thoughts in her head. "I didn't see that," Alicia said quickly, uncertain.

"If I'm right, then those weird colours of lightning we saw on tv...maybe they originated from here," Carter said, curious but hesitant.

Alicia followed him but stopped. She glanced at Melissa now, who seemed lost in thought. "It's like that video I showed you guys," Melissa spoke curiously, "The different colours of lightning."

Alicia remained silent. She stared at her palms. She still seemed normal, but something was off; something strange that couldn't be pinpointed or explained. Carter immediately turned away from the brewing storms ahead, and began walking in the opposite direction, passing by the two girls. "Okay, we have to get out of here," Carter's tone was urgent and determined, "I remember the path from where we came from, though I'm not too sure."

Melissa and Alicia followed, distancing themselves away from the strange sighting. The noise of a thunderstorm was emitted a short distance away. Alicia gritted her teeth. Her hands were trembling, her heartbeats were off the charts. The three friends made their way along a path that snaked through the woods. They were huddled together, within an arms reach.

"Wait, this isn't right," Melissa questioned, peering into the thick smoke. In front of them, rose a very, very large tree, sprinkling bright-red leaves around it. Its trunk spanned a few metres in diameter. Alicia couldn't find the top of the tree; it seemed to extend far up, reaching up higher to the ends of earth itself. "I've never seen this tree where we came from," Carter said. Suddenly, streaks of bright lightning struck into the tree in front of them, several inches away from Carter. Within the fraction of a millisecond, the lightning splintered into a million fragments of sparks. The beautiful tree caught on fire, its branches beginning to disintegrate in mid air as they fell.

"Guys RUN!" Melissa screamed, as the jolted themselves away from the tree. Pole-sized branches began raining down on them, encased in fire. Their frantic footsteps fluttered against the foreign grounds. They raced in unison, desperately searching for an escape – an escape from Darkland – peering through every nook. Winds pierced through her. Its razor-like breeze grazed Alicia's eye, causing her to wince and tear up. Her shirt rippled against the sudden burst of winds. Her legs moved as fast as they could muster. Her surroundings blurred and reshaped themselves, passing her by.

Strikes of lightning continued to bellow across the landscape, as though they were everywhere. As though the strikes were appearing from every direction. Not knowing where they were headed, the trio dashed through the gnarly forest, narrowly jumping over a thin, toppled tree. High amounts of adrenaline coursed through the girl's veins; all the cuts and scrapes of nearby sharp tree branches didn't seem to phase her. She might as well be stabbed by a thousand blades; her legs would've managed to pull her through.

Shadows and shapes passed them by. Towering large trees, sprouting flower bushes, and the mighty aroma of various earthy nature scents blurred, as they rushed towards a hopeful exit.

"Wa-wait," Carter was out of breath, his grunts clearly audible, "I don't hear them anymore, the lightning." Alicia and Melissa were equally exhausted. Sweat began to form, glistening at the top of their foreheads. They stopped to listen. It was eerily quiet. Alicia's heavy breathing echoed through the sudden emptiness of the woods. Smoke roamed above. The trees have seemed to clear out in front of them, revealing a sparkling lake, a bright turquoise shade emanating from it.

Nearby, Alicia heard the audible snickering of several undistinguishable figures. A group of men, but nowhere to be seen. A flash of lightning erupted right next to Alicia, catapulting her four feet up into the air, her back smacked the trunk of a tree. "Alice!" Carter yelled, as the two of them rushed over to her.

More streaks of lightning appeared over the skies, suddenly. A group of men appeared, out of the shadows of the woods. All of them, except for one, had evil grins implanted on their faces.

"Hmm, who do we have here?" one of the men said, spouting a snarky, sarcastic tone. Alicia's vision blurred. Her entire body was cast with paralysis; every slight movement caused her to erupt in pain. That voice... Alicia thought, I've heard it before. Turning her head towards the group was a tremendous task; she could only peer at the comforting, but terrified faces of her friends, who held her.

"We need to get out of here," Carter whispered, his tone raised high of terror. Melissa and Carter helped Alicia to her feet. The excruciating pain circulating around her body, reminded Alicia that she was, indeed, alive.

"You're not going anywhere, son," said another one in the group. The man who spoke, considering his radiating confidence and standing, seemed to be the leader of the group. He had vague tattoos spread across his exposed arms and face. He seemed indifferent, otherworldly. Tension was spewed high in the air.

Alicia sensed the wicked nature of these men, even without a single glance. The ominous winds that swept passed her as they scrambled to get away, seemed to point towards the strange men. Another strike of lightning crackled next to them, pushing them off their feet. Now she was laid on the ground, sprawled. Carter and Melissa were a short distance away, dazed and fatigued.

"Please, let us go," Melissa continued, pleading. The petrified girl trembled in her feet, desperate to run to her best friend.

"We'll forget we ever saw you," Carter added, terror flooding both their eyes, as they simultaneously peered at Alicia, perturbed. The girl in question, was motionless, but her fluttering eyelids indicated she was alive.

"What do you say lads? Should we let 'em go?" said the one with the sarcastic tone.

"Man, why you gotta make things complicated? Just kill 'em," another said, nonchalantly.

Smoke began curling at their feet, adding to the already thickened fog. It was becoming difficult to see, only the tops of trees were visible. Still paralyzed, Alicia groaned. Somehow, her senses fired abruptly. Adrenaline, her terror-stricken self was submerged within it. With no place else to go, her newfound energy sensed the wicked group of strange men approaching the trio of friends, menacingly.

Alicia was helpless, broken. Tears, they managed to slip through the cracks, as the girl remained unmoved, realizing the terror that was to unfold.

"Hmm, let me think about it," said a man. This man seemed to be encased in purple lights, violet-coloured lightning erupting around him. The smoke began to clear slightly, enough for Carter and Melissa to find Alicia. The man with the purple lightning, sported a gothic look, his straight dark hair dangling on his shoulders.

"Melissa, get Alicia, I'll distract them," Carter said, getting up cautiously. Melissa stared at him in horror. "GO!" Carter yelled at her, wide-eyed. But before Melissa scrambled to her feet, a stray bolt of lightning was struck into the ground a metre away from her. Melissa crashed haphazardly into Carter, pushing them farther away from Alicia, who could only wince in pain.

"Yo, quit playing around," one of the men said, "Just end them, you fuckin' sicko." The man encased with purple lightning, cast an evil eye at the man who spoke. "The fuck did you say? I only take orders from Jackie," The man with the purple lightning glowered at the other man, who stood defiantly with his arms crossed. The other one, had a man-braid and was wearing a thick, leather jacket despite the warm weather.

Carter and Melissa quietly drew closer to Alicia, in the midst of the commotion between the group of men. "Man, I don't give a fuck. Quit acting like a child," the man with the man braid said. Staring coldly, the gothic man closed his fist, then his eyes shined a vivid amethyst shade. A sizeable bolt of violet lightning struck straight into the other man. His body somersaulted a few feet in the air and dropped onto the ground like a life-sized doll. Another man in the group speed walked towards the landing. "Yep," he said, "Jonah's dead."

The leader of the group eyed the purple lightning man with disdain, then sighed. He opened the palm of his hand, a ball of red fire danced on his skin. Immediately, the gothic man crumpled, his knees forcibly glued to the ground. "I-I'm sorry," the gothic man pleaded, tears of pain streaming down his face. "You follow orders from me. Is that clear?" the red lightning man demanded, his thick, aggressive southern accent radiating through the air; his voice strained and flooded with hostility. The gothic man nodded furiously, trembling. Snot dripped out of his nose, as he stared downward.

"As for our little intruders..." the leader added, intently watching their desperate attempts to escape, "Didn't your mothers tell you not to roam in strange lands? Not another living soul can hear your pathetic cries for help here."

Again, red lightning began to swirl around the mysterious man. Darker, turning from bright red to a sinister crimson shade. It sparked above his outstretched palm. He pointed it towards a weak, feeble individual paralyzed on the dirt ground. Melissa shrieked in panic, tears flowing out of her like rivers. Carter lay motionless, wide-eyed still, but drained of colour and hope.

As though a striking cobra, the fiery crimson lightning bolted towards Alicia, striking her out of proportion. A blast of energy, the sound of a thousand sparks.

"ALICIA!" Melissa cried out, desperately crawling over to her. But it was pointless; the smoke, the increasingly thickening smoke, made it extremely difficult to pinpoint her. A wave of anguish and darkness infected the air.

"Ah, what a sense of joy in death," the man in red exclaimed, "A true beauty, I'd say". As he riled up for another blow, something seemed to tug at him. Pure black lines, like tattoos, travelled along his exposed arm. He winced in pain, gritting his teeth intensely. He grunted, collapsing to the ground, writhing in agony.

"You good boss?" one man asked, confused. The rest of the wicked men stared at the strange event in shock. Carter stared off into space. "This power," the boy muttered under his breath.

In the commotion, Melissa managed to break out of her paralysis. "Alice," she pleaded, whispering into the smoke, "Please, come back to me". The tears dripped down her face, blurring her vision. Smoke curled around her, blocking her view, as though possessed by an evil spirit. She stumbled around in the smoke, unrelenting and desperate. Somehow, the smoke cleared a path for Melissa to follow, strangely showing the way.

-

Alicia felt burned. Scorched, burning eternally within the slowed version of her reality. Her own movements became strange and unfamiliar, as she attempted to lift her hand. Her mind blared a million thoughts, screaming out. Move, her thoughts cried. However, her body was much too weak to comply. She sensed an aroma – no, some sort of intoxicating sensation – pass by her. Waves of insecurity, helplessness, and a strange impression of a divine nature, washed over her, startling her.

She heard a calling. "A-ice," it blurred and faded as she drifted in and out of reality. Doesn't make sense, the injured girl thought, Ice? Why? The warmth of the summer air slowly subsided, replaced by a chilling atmosphere. Shivers crept down her spine as she lay there, stricken by light. Trembling, the girl closed her eyes.

Blackness: with her hearing shortly impaired, she suddenly cast herself within an empty, dark place. A realm of silence. The girl felt her hands rise up themselves as though they had a life of their own. It seems, that in this world she'd concocted, there was nothing; only she remained. The distraught girl gazed at her imaginary hands. They seemed to glow with a divine, transcendent light, as though her skin occupied an outer layer of fluorescent light. It was the only thing she could see, as though a blanket of darkness covered her. She found herself anew, strength enough to pick herself off the floor of this imaginary world. The girl sensed wisps of smoke curling around her feet; the same fog that occupied much of Darkland.

Her movements within this dark land transcended beyond reality. Echoes of radiant energy; sensations of a nervy nature, bustling with new emotions, a stranger to her own. As though this new sliver of light poured out of the micro pores of her palms, the glow of her skin pierced through the veil of the darkness that surrounded her.

As these new emotions developed within, Alicia envisioned her world reinventing itself. Spots that seemed to appear, as her personal void gradually diminished its darkness. The illusioned individual sensed someone familiar enter into the room of her world.

"Alice?" her father cried, emerging out of the depths of the smoke. He had deepening wrinkles on his face, a lengthy white beard that fell just above his chest, and his hair overgrown and gray, glowing like magical frost. Countless long years and painful memories have been spent living here. Alicia felt like an outcast within her own mind.

"Dad?" the tearful girl quivered out. Every single emotion she'd buried, had come rampaging out, breaking out of the prison she'd created once. Memories of a past life; her complete family, two parents, and their newborn child. She'd been normal, peaceful, and cheerful. She hadn't seen too much of her mothers' dark circles and weary eyes back then.

Tears began to slip out much more strongly, controlling it would've been an impractical task. She saw her father turn younger, before her eyes. Much younger, as though his stress and frailty of old age had suddenly been wiped away.

Alicia looked down at her hands. They seemed younger, child-like. The girl looked around, the darkness rapidly fading away, replaced by a scene from her childhood. Her bedroom: It remained unchanged, but something was tugging at her. It spoke to her, urgently awaiting her notice. Alicia wiped away her tears and walked towards her desk.

When she'd woken up this morning, there were only three objects on the table. Her laptop, a calculator, and a flask of water.

As she stood behind it now, however, there was another object; a picture frame, overturned and facing downwards. It was a noticeably familiar frame; she recognized it when she was in the basement last week, searching for a toy to play with Adam, but she never touched the frame itself. Now, it was sitting on her desk, clean and anew. With trembling fingers, the fearful girl lifted the frame off the desk. The picture held within the frame, depicted a family. Her family. Her mother and father, even baby Adam. The tears that spilled out, seemed to fill oceans. Her shaky breath whispered into the dead silence. Child-Alicia was in a joyous mood, her smile bright and vivid within the photograph. The girl set down the picture frame.

"I can't... I can't do this; I can't be here." Alicia stuttered, her shuddering voice rippling through the air. You have to be, a voice whispered. The voice sounded as though an older version of her, a confident, much stronger version of Alicia. She shook her head furiously, wandering around her room.

"Allie, it's okay," Thomas spoke, his voice soft and delicate. "You need to let go of me".

"No!" Alicia exclaimed angrily, hurling an object she'd picked up randomly. The object shattered into a million pieces through its collision with a wall. Alicia turned around and realized she'd thrown the photograph of her family. The broken frame lay on the ground, abandoned. Wide-eyed and immediately filled with regret, the girl stood, frozen. "I-I didn't mean to..." she said, trailing off. Shards of glass were strewn across the hardwood floors. A dent was formed on the wall, the point of collision.

"It's okay darling," her father said, his kindness and warmth radiant. He took off his envisioning gaze of her, to grab something. He pulled out from behind him, the same photograph as the one she'd broken. Alicia stared at the new frame, then looked back at the one on the ground. The broken photograph had disappeared, melting into the ground.

"Maybe not today, not tomorrow," her father continued, "But you need to move on. Continue becoming the determined, strong woman you can be. No matter what, I'll be right here. Proud of who you've become".

The girl was frozen, and her voice lost the ability to speak. But before she could say something, her father disappeared in a cloud of smoke. As if on cue, her room faded into a cloud of smoke, that swirled and churned around her, until she was back in the empty, dark place.

-

"A-ice," voices from outside continued to fester, though louder this time. "ALICE! Wake up, please!" It was Melissa, Alicia was sure of it. Suddenly she was shaken awake; Desperate, familiar eyes stared back at her, inches apart, as Alicia's world shook violently. As soon as her eyes fluttered open, Melissa's heartbeat quickened.

"Alice! You're..." Melissa stopped; confusion began to spread on her face. Until the tearful girl's instincts took control, enveloping Alicia into a bear hug. They held each other, both trembling intensely. Unstoppable tears continued to flow out of the two of them, while the smoke subsided around them.

"Ugh, too tight Mel," Alicia groaned, wincing. Her surroundings were blurry and meek, but they were starting to get clearer. As though a camera readjusting.

"Right, right, sorry. How-are you alright?" Melissa asked, her concerned tone producing a flush of warmth on Alicia's cheeks. "That lightning, I thought I lost you," she mumbled, weeping softly as she gazed at Alicia.

"I-I'm okay, I think," Alicia stammered, her mind foggy and dimmed. The adrenaline that once coursed through her mind and body, was now subsiding. Lying on the soft, dirt ground, the girl was drained of energy; She wanted to stay completely motionless forever. But a thought poked through her mind. "Hey, where's Carter?"

Panic rose on Melissa's face, her wide-eyed expression reappearing. "Oh god, I have no idea, we have to find him!"

Alicia struggled to get back on her feet; the slight movement flared up her leg, causing her to wince profusely. Noticing this, Melissa hoisted the injured girl's arm over her shoulder, supporting her, as they made their way through the thickness of the forest.

Voices could be heard from a short distance away. "Huh, looks like your friends abandoned you, kiddo." Their voices pierced through the thick veil of smoke. The two girls approached the group of men, cautiously, through the direction of the voices.

"Please, I never meant to cause any trouble, I won't tell anyone about your group." Carter's voice rang out; Alicia sensed his helplessness, his desperation filling the air. Melissa locked eyes with her, shivering with fear and guilt.

Upon spotting him, Melissa stumbled forward into the fog. Noticing Melissa about to call out to Carter, Alicia felt her own hand clasp the mouth of her friend. Tears, they continued to spill, as she realized the gruesome outcome of this trip of theirs. Melissa could only stare at her in shock. Carter wouldn't want this, Alicia willed herself to believe her own thoughts. He wouldn't want us all to die.

The injured girl shook her head quietly, trembling, overcome with her own self-conflicting thoughts. Storms were brewing, much more violently than before. Sparks of lighting streaked across the dark clouds above, magenta and crimson. The decision to let go for another day, or fight and lose everything.

"Keep that promise boy, when you're sent up above." Sharp, blood-red strikes of lightning struck from above, fires began to spread across the trees. The smell of burning wooden flesh wafted through the air. The air electrified around them, emitting an aura of hate and distrust.

Series of crimson and violet-coloured lightning bolted through the area; their mighty impact sent the two girls flying off their feet. Alicia couldn't move; she was truly petrified this time. She was thrown in the opposite direction from Melissa. Carter was nowhere to be found. Alicia caught the sensation of something stirring. Behind her, a distance away, an eerie chill festered within the smoke.

Terror-stricken, Alicia forced herself to move an inch. Her gaze was captured by the silhouette of a mysterious figure that stood before her. Something seemed to stir within her, a chaotic energy.

Carter, she thought, her voice broken, and her mouth was incapable of uttering words. Is that you?

The mysterious figure stared down at her, before bending down to her at eye-level. Her vision blurred and remained out of focus, but as the figure drew closer, the girl noticed their hair. Dark, straight hair that dangled before her. No, she gasped, Not Carter.

"Hmm, you look familiar." The gothic man squinted at her for a moment, the lightning around him turning a shade of amethyst. The detail of his exposed shirt came into view. It was gray, but a single symbol lay hastily painted on his chest. The letter X, spray-painted in a shade of magenta.

No, no...the dream... Alicia recalled, looking away. Disillusioned, the girl perceived a cloud of blue smoke churning off into the distance, behind her. Amongst the gothic man, were the rest of the group. I'm sorry, Alicia prayed.

Dad, I'm sorry.

"Aight man don't keep us waiting," one of the men yelled out. The leader of the group, locked eyes with her from afar, scrutinizing her.

Alicia had her back faced to the ground. Above, she gazed at the dark skies above, through a small clearing of the trees. The stars seemed to sparkle more vividly, flickering, as though beckoning her forward. Guiding her above. The gothic man stood up, examining her, still intrigued.

"I swear, I saw you somewhere." He questioned, muttering to himself. Alicia looked away. In her sights, was an injured person lying cold on the ground, a few metres away from her. Melissa, Alicia teared up. Her breaths came in short bursts. Her heart beating as though pulsing out of her body. She could hear it pulsating, vibrating as though desperate, to be let out.

"Pl-please," Alicia cried, hopelessness infecting her words. The man stood before her, smirking as his hands erupted with light. Magenta. Violet. Raging amethyst flickering through his fingers. Smoke curled around them.

Carter, where are you, she thought. Memories seemed to surface; the three of them, lifelong friends with an unbreakable bond. Lifelong memories of venturing, saving each other. Carter would know what to do.

Instead, Carter was nowhere to be found. Melissa on the verge of death. Alicia, helpless as she'd ever been.

Broken. Alone. Weak.

Whispers broke out of the shell of her mind, reminding her of who she was. Time was moving as though she were underwater; She saw the purple lightning retract out of his hands, pulsing with light and power.

Nothingness. Hopelessness. Light. Grasp it.

Power, she yearned. She stared as he gripped the lightning with his bare hands, seconds away from unleashing it onto her. This time, the girl knew. The bolt of lightning would be designed to lead her to her maker. To the place above.

Time slowed even further; it seemed this force was giving her the chance to say goodbye. The red lightning man continued to stare at her, his eyes enveloping a shade of darkness, but now, he seemed to be in a state of shock. His eyes seemed to widen, from what, Alicia didn't know. She wondered if bad guys were scared of anything.

Then, her thoughts traced back to the dream. Her in a bus, surrounded by strangers. She seemed to have some sort of electrifying aura. She found herself within a light, some sort of power, back then. The dream. She wondered what it would be like to have powers.

To have lightning dance along her fingers, like the man towering before her. To have this magnificent power flowing, coursing through her.

Then, she wracked her head back towards Melissa. So many secrets. She wanted to let her best friend how much she meant to Alicia. It might be too late. But maybe not.

Alicia, with the last of her humane strength, glanced down at her hands. They were paralyzed, unable to move. She caught the sight of something. Something bright; it disappeared into the surface of her forearm.

The man with the purple lightning, had his hands aimed at her, a weapon of mass destruction. Instinctively, Alicia's hand curled into a fist. She closed her eyes.

Something changed. Alicia. Her nerves flared, her thoughts limitless.

Her eyes were closed, but within the darkness, she stared straight into a ball of white light. Mysteriousness and divine. Surrounding her, was darkness, and nothing but black colours radiating around her. As she locked her gaze with the ball of light, she watched it transform. Streaks of lightning formed around the ball of light, in the shade of emerald and neon green.

There is strength, a voice whispered. Her voice, though encased with a sense of confidence and determination. Someone who she yearned to be.

She squinted at the transforming ball of green light, watching it grow larger and larger. Her hand was raised, an arm outstretched towards the ball, as it transformed, into a wall of green light.

Power. Fierceness. Unrelenting Light.

The voices surrounded her now. The tip of her finger inched closer to the wall. Closer and closer, until it passed right through. Like a vacuum, the mere touch of the wall caused her body to gravitate towards it. The force of the vacuum, it grappled with her mind.

With every passing second, it seemed to infect her thoughts. Her inconsolable thoughts transformed into maturing, determined and unrelenting perceptions.

When her entire body passed through the wall, her world changed. She was back in Darkland, though something seemed different.

The light around her became deafening. The men stared in shock; this time, they were paralyzed. Her skin glowed with divine energy.

New streaks of lightning formed along the clouds above. Jade and emerald strikes of lightning.

In a sudden burst of power, the entire group was knocked backwards. Thick smoke curled at her feet, in a shade of viridian. Eyes encased in a vivid green colour; Alicia bent the men to her will. They were sent to their knees, whimpering in pain.

Memories began to surface. Each of the men, their past, it seemed so abundantly clear. Of the power she holds in the palm of her hand.

The man with the red lightning, stared her down coldly. He gritted his teeth, fires erupting around him. "Ah, so the Light has beckoned you forth." He exclaimed, his eyes reflecting that of a madman.

"We'll meet again, I look forward to it." Smiling wickedly, the man flicked his hand towards the rest of his group, whipping them within a funnel of fire. In the absence of screaming cries of pain, it became clear the fire wasn't meant to hurt them.

"Remember this name. BloodFire. One day... you will wish you were dead."

Suddenly, the group of men vanished, leaving Alicia alone with her newfound powers. In a short moment, her powers subsided, leaving her in a daze and drained of energy.

The girl stared at her hands. The green light had seeped back into the fabric of her skin, disappearing. But she seemed anew. As if she were rebirthed.

Her vision was clear. Clearer than ever, as though an eagle. She turned around and glanced at Melissa, who, within the commotion, hadn't woken up.

"Mel," Alicia spoke, her voice calmer and angelic, as she grasped the shoulder of her friend. Her voice alone, seemed to wake her friend.

"Ugh, wh-what happened?" Melissa questioned, dazed and confused. Her tears were dried and stained on her cheeks, but the girl seemed rested.

"The bad guys escaped; we have to find Carter." Alicia exclaimed, scanning her surroundings.

Tears spilled out of Melissa. "Oh god, what did I do?" Her voice trembled with devastation. "Melissa, it's okay, but we need to find Carter."

"How? We both saw him get blown to bits, by that evil-," Melissa claimed, which led to another barrage of tears flowing out.

Alicia opened her mouth to speak, but no words were uttered. Her eyes lowered in sorrow.

"Still, maybe... he could still be alive, like how I was. He needs us to find him, we owe him that." Alicia finally answered.

Melissa nodded, still shivering. Alicia extended a hand, which Melissa took immediately, latching onto her. Together, they fled the scene. Onward, into the mysteriousness that is Darkland.

Off to save their friend.