The Gemini Coven

Prologue:

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. Broken down they were by a divided pathway that seeks no one but someone. Some Thing in partake as to reference what is and is not a breaking point in understanding what lies beyond these shallow ends of the forest. Would or should someone be sufficed enough to believe there not a way of going beyond an endless passageway, or should one entangle themselves along their previous journey, forget the future and forge backwards in an unforgettable time-loop? This being a moment to realize one cannot make a choice without the other, and the other unable without the one. Just how much can one atone in order to create an inevitable experience to believe there is an answer within this divided pathway? Should Some Thing come out victorious from this trial, this Zodiac Trial, only then will I be free to stare off into the valley of dragons once more near an unwanted future.

Chapter 1: A Fresh Start

They say when one is able to start over in life, they are blessed with redeeming their past mistakes into a flourished blessing. But for some, the redemption needed to atone for one's previous life may cost too high of a price to pay. As placed on the soul of a young British girl who travels from place to place in search of a home.

Down the hills of Jordanstown, Lumina gazes out the window of a black Hyundai in search of tomorrow to come. Her light brown skin resonating from the sun, she moved her silk snow-white hair from her eyes. Her gaze was a stare, a blessing in awe of a hope that was yet to come. “This time for sure,” she silently prayed, “will I be accepted into a home.” A foster kid, a week from being sixteen, who has been pushed around for being the epitome of bad luck.

Staring from up front the driver moves the rear-view mirror to have a better look. The sharp black pupils dilating over his mustard scleroses eyes as his leer their vision on the child's intricate features. “Notice something interesting this time,” Lumina baited. The driver staggered, content to focus on the road. From the back he was noticeable to be turning red of embarrassment. “Oh, Dave, I'm only teasing.” She tilted her head back to the window. “I’m just moody about having to go to yet another house, again! Literally the twelfth house we’ve been to this and yet, not even a simple acknowledgment from one who would appreciate having a teenager for a child.”

Dave began to make a chattering noise the more Lumina groaned. “Technically speaking, this will be Dave Rosas fifth attempt at finding a home for young Lumina Jesian where she will live off her life as a productive independent human being in the real world.” Dave is known to usually speak with absent pronouns, usually referring to people by their full name. “So far, not a single family member has been interested due to circumstances that interfere with Lumina Jesians livelihood.”

Circumstances that leave the young woman to be in question on whether she truly is unlucky. From a mother having to go to the hospital in attempts to open a door that was flung at her; to a little girl's hair getting stuck in the vent for being a little too close for the wind to suck the tension right from her scalp. All casualties being blamed due to an encounter with a young British girl with snowy white hair. Of course, no evidence could be shown which enables her to move on to the next family in hopes of being accepted.

“Almost to destination for Lumina Jesian,” Dave rectified. He was on a toddler seat in order to reach the steering wheel, which made him seem a bit silly. Especially having to turn right, he shifted his whole 3’8 body enough for the car to move. Lumina wanted to laugh but remembered the first time she accidentally chuckled angered Dave enough to make her walk to one of the foster locations as punishment.

The street entered a one-way passage through what appeared to be a garden tunnel. Vines dangling throughout the tunnel, Lumina could see the light up ahead. She turned back to look at the plants only to realize something off-putting about them. The plants weren’t green and lively looking, but instead very gray and dull. They weren’t dead, but looked as if they would have seemed better to depart.

Out of the tunnel, the car entered a wide cul-de-sac. No other houses in sight apart from the one on the left corner. The house was in the shape of a Porcini Mushroom, with a peach like shade covering the building. It looked to be two stories with a grassy field covering most of the front yard. Lumina got out of the car in order to have a better preferable vision on her surroundings. The landscape was in a shape of a circle with nothing but trees covering any outside views. Very isolated enough for one to go into hiding from the world.

Lumina looked up to see the sun barely peeking out from the trees. It was a dome like environment that was subtle. Not much could be heard around the area except for the wind rustling throughout the trees. “It feels lonely here,” she whispered. “Uh uh,” Dave somehow managed to hear, “The area is actually populated by a family, the Glassdales, if Dave Rosas remembers correctly.” The name intrigued Lumina. “Not very British-like to have a name like Glassdale,” she muttered.

The driveway had rock-like textures plastered onto the floor, making it seem bumpy to enter or leave. The door appearing about seven feet tall enough to smush the where they stood. The gray like color reminding Lumina of the plants in the tunnel gave her goosebumps. Dave presses the doorbell only for a melody to echo throughout the household. Footsteps are then heard as the two prepare for incoming charge of a welcome.

The door yanked open by a couple who should have stayed in what looked to be the 50’s for Americans. The wife wearing a black and white polka dot dress with a pink lace around her waist. “Well, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes,” the lady proclaimed, “you must be Lumina if I'm not mistaken?” Lumina couldn’t help but stare at the lady’s features enough to only nod upward or sideways. The woman's eyes wide as ever like she just won the lottery or something. The light brown streaks in her hair wrapped up in a bundle showing off her glowing pale white face. Her skin seemed so tight as her cheekbones were the first thing to notice covered by bright red lipstick that could be seen from a mile away. She had auburn eyes; the ones that could see within a gentleman's lies on a blue Sunday. The one thing Lumina could not look away from was the fact her left eye twitched unusually fast as if it hurt smile.

“Well, ‘scuse my honey-sickle pied self, where are my manners? The names Glassdale, Mavis Glassdale. And this bonified hunk of a hunk right’chere is Mr. Glassdale himself,” the wave of her hands was alluring as if she was representing a prize. “Go on sugar, say hello to the little lady.”

The husband was minuscule compared to the wife. He was almost unnoticeable if it weren’t for the Mrs. to move her dress out the way. He was a fidgety man; A simpleton whose ideal way to live seemed to be based on whatever the wife agreed upon. He barely had any hair on his bald scalp which made him look nothing but thin and bone. The slouch of his head gave him a hunchback, except his head would shrivel into his shoulders. His round glasses looked too big on him, while his nose was the shape of a right triangle.

“He-he-heii,” the husband croaked.

Lumina turned to look at Dave only to notice the two were around the same height. Even their mustard sclera eyes with sharp black pupils matched enough to think the two could be twins. The only difference being Dave was young and had a pompadour hairstyle working for him. Even Mr. Glassdale’s attire was out of question. With very dull colors, a brown button up with an olive-green vest along with black slacks which seemed too big for him over his tiny brown dress shoes, where only the tips of the shoes were present.

“Such an honor for Dave Rosas to meet both Mr. And Mrs. Glassdale,” Dave announced. He did a gentleman bow, the kind one does when introduced towards her Majesty. Dave then reached for Mrs. Grassdale's hand. “A charm it is for Dave Rosas to meet such a lovely family.” She began to chuckle once his lips compressed upon her palm which left saliva spatting from her mouth revealing the gap in her teeth. The kind of thing only an American would approve of.

Dave was known to perform the exact skit with every family which made him an open book in Lumina’s eyes. By this time, Dave would persuade the family by targeting the wife first, mainly complimenting her physique form and such. He would then have small talk about the weather and how beautiful the town is. After being welcomed into their home, a few drinks of scotch, which was the go-to drink he would bring in order to make the family “comfortable” enough to talk to, he would shift the conversation back to Lumina.

The couple greeted the two inside as Dave began to scout the surroundings, looking for anything particular out of the ordinary. “What an extraordinary house Dave Rosas believes Mr. and Mrs. Glassdale have together,” he lied, “it is like nothing Dave Rosas has ever seen before.” The house appeared cozy an at the same time cramped. With the desolate floor tiles which fabricate the uneven walls that somehow manage to formulate together. The distilled purple tables seemed to be the only thing ‘normal’ in the home which left Lumina a bit curious.

“Why don’t y’all have a seat while I whip us a nice cup of tea.” The clicking of her heels echoed throughout the halls creating rhythmic vibrations to maneuver throughout the home. The couch was a bit smudge to sit on with its brownish black leather striking up Lumina’s skirt. It was firm enough to make someone prefer to sit on the floor.

Mr. Glassdale came with a tray of cups for each. He sat across in a chair as his gaze never left Lumina’s precision. “How long have Mr. and Mrs. Glassdale lived in a wonderful home Dave Rosas likes so much,” Dave asked. Mr. Glassdale looked as if he wanted to respond. “Oh, it’s hard to say,” the missus interrupted from the kitchen in order to break the silence. Mr. Glassdale focused once more on Lumina as if she were to blame for his silence. “Perhaps about two to three years now. We’ve moved quite a bit with everything going on and all.”

“Understandable indeed, Dave Rosas recollects the times in the office have been quite difficult in the necessity to recruit new children into the establishment of the adoption agency given the old ones were needed elsewhere.” Dave pretended not to feel the intense look Lumina was giving after calling children “recruits.”

“A lot of unlucky ones out there ending up without a home from a bunch of cruel hearts indeed.” Mrs. Glassdale pushed aside the tray of cups Mr. Glassdale brought in as she placed four mugs of coffee on the table. “Weren’t we supposed to have tea,” Lumina thought. “But after all, if it wasn’t for them, we would not be so blessed to be given this opportunity in meeting sweet Lumina now, would we?”

During times such as this whenever Lumina would feel the spotlight focus on her would she them curl into a ball and pretend to be invisible. Dave would usually get nervous as well given at this point an accident was sure to come with the family asking the two to leave. Lumina wanted to speak or something, but remembered what Dave always said. “Lumina must always smile and look presentable enough to be worth a family's time.” So, fixing her body posture, Lumina began to smile and nod whenever asked a question.

“How was the trip,” a nod from her while Dave answered.

“My, what fancy clothes you got,” another nod as Dave answered.

“Is your hair naturally this white,” once again, another nod while Dave answered. The length of her smile was beginning to deteriorate as the soreness of her jaw was coming into place.

“Say,” Dave called, “why not have Lumina take a look around while Dave Rosas has a conversation with the Glassdales?”

“Oh that sounds like a mighty wonderful idea,” Mrs. Glassdale clasped, “just down the hall to the left you’ll find the rooms and such.”

Lumina began to zone out as she walked down the hall. The brown-grayish halls made the area feel cave-like enough to have one prepare for hibernation in the Winter. No pictures nor murals were hung on the walls, which made it feel a bit lonesome. Lumina caressed her hand across the walls, empathizing how much space could be filled if one were willing to provide.

Dave was probably finding ways in assuring how wonderful it would be to have a daughter of their own, especially one who is capable of helping out around the house. Lumina looked back from the hallway room to see Dave waving his hands around as if he discovered the first dinosaur and couldn’t wait to tell the world about it. That’s the thing about Dave, he always tried for the sake of his kids to do whatever he could to find them a home.

There was a time between the two with a visit to a family's home, much like this one didn’t go exactly as planned. To make matters brief, a plate was chucked at the father after giving a speech on family abandonment and what was to be done about it in the 21st century. Not the ideal topic to be discussing when an orphan wasn’t really sure what became of her family. Dave, at the time, tried to blame the whole situation on himself even though it was deliberately seen as the fault of Lumina who was standing in the area the plate was thrown. Although, could one even be blamed for a girl defending a family she never met?

Dave was always known to be there ever since Lumina was an infant. There wasn’t a time Lumina couldn’t remember without Dave being by her side. In a sense, Dave was the legal guardian for her, if it not for him having to make her life seem like a business proposal. She wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about him as a father figure so instead she shrugged it off and continued down the hall.

The house was bit cozier than imagined. There were several rooms, one master bedroom alongside two other bedrooms. One of the restrooms appeared as if no one had ever touched the area to begin with. From the floor tiles to the corners of each crevice, the room was simply spotless. Aside from the outside being the shape of a giant fruit, the inside was quite tidy to Lumina’s approval. She tried imaging herself living in a place like this. Coming home from school, saying hey to the folks, having dinner meals, bringing friends over for movie night. Times where arguments would come about as she would race to her room with the Missus coming later to check in to see how she was doing.

Lumina was about to head back into the living room when she noticed a ladder above her. Both hands on the handle, she pulled it down only to witness a room up above. Of course, her curiosity led her so far as to volunteer in wanting to enter the attic. Once upstairs, Lumina looks around, only to find a coffee table next to a twin-sized bed inside. The attic was substantial enough to be a room of its own. The walls painted a warmish gray color which made the area appear formal, yet isolated. There was a circular window where the sun would radiate over the room. Lumina turned to notice a sliding closet on the far end. Unquestionable about it, she was a bit excited given her previous homes never allowing her to have a valuable possession of her own. The wooden floor seemed sturdy, no messes or bruises anywhere. She paused for a moment in realization. The room was nice, gentle, and possibly able to be hers.

“I see you like the room, yes?” Lumina jumps out of space without realizing she’s on the bed. Those cursed soft wool blankets got the best of her indeed. Mrs. Glassdale, peeking her head from below, began to chuckle as she abrasively tidied the wrinkles, pretending to be a ghost for a moment. “Oh relax, it was about time this place got a little messy.” She began to walk towards where Lumina sat, caressing the streaks like an archaeologist observing a goldmine of fossils. She was prudent and bold, which made her feel a bit uneasy, but so did every foster parent that wanted her.

She turned back to face Lumina with the widest grin ever. “I have a feeling you and I are gonna get along just fine. Who knows, we may get to go shopping, get our nails done, and even get to talk about boys!” She began to giddily clap. “Oh, there’s bound to be a mall ‘round here to just make our little tail hinds thrilled with excitement!”

Lumina started to smile, relaxing her body a bit. She was able to relax, not having to be proper and all-doing most of the time, as usual. Mrs. Glassdale was weird, but in a way comforting enough for Lumina to be okay around. She began to chuckle along with Mrs. Glassdale as she continued looking around. She stares off to the right of her noticing something feint on the wall. The bottom corner happened to have a crease in it. The wall appeared to be paper like, easy enough to rip. She could see in the crease a little tear. It was small, but manageable to be seen. A little flower drawing on the wall.

“Oh dear, you happened to notice that!” Mrs. Glassdale hollered before Lumina could peek any more. “Pay no attention to that sugar, just a little remodeling we had to do after the last girl who lived here.”

“The last girl?”

“Yeeaah, a mighty beauty she was, but the poor girl simply didn’t seem to like us very much.”

‘What happened to her?” Glassdale took a moment to herself. Picking herself up, she stood up to stare above at the window.

“She ran away,” her voice shuddered, “a few days later, the girl was found dead. Mauled by a bear officer’s say.” she put her hand on the table. “Such a shame it was, how beautiful she turned out to be.” She turned to face Lumina. Her eyes of blue ivy, staring down the soul of an innocent as if she were envious enough to be her. “I sure hope we could have a better connection.” Lumina nodded intuitively without thinking. “Now, why don’t we head downstairs and join the others hmm?” The child pretended to smile in hopes she would believe it enough to be real. Walking past, Glassdale gently patted her back in assurance how okay she was to have her around. A chill went down Lumina’s spine, alerting her to be cautious. With one final look at the room, she began to follow her down the ladder.

Entering the hallway once more, Lumina looks around only to find Glassdale out of sight. The halls dark enough to hide a light within, she notice paintings on the wall. “I don’t remember those being there before,” she thought. She reaches behind to scan a light on the murals. “Strange,” she questions as she patted her hip, “I could have sworn to have had my phone.” She looks back to realize never taking out her phone to begin with. Annoyed a little by the inconvenience, she began to head back to the living-room.

“Woo...,” A sound whispered. The hairs on her back began to stand firm as a tree. Her body shifted toward the opposite direction. Nothing but darkness coming from that pathway. “Woooo...,” the sound rose. “What is that?”

Tiptoeing down the hallway, Lumina’s body was alert, focused to the point of being prepared for anything. The hallway appearing plain black enough for ones eyesight to go point blank. “This is ridiculous,” she sigh, assuring herself there to be nothing along the path. Turning ninety degrees away, a low sound is heard. “WhoooOO...,” the voice returned. Her violet eyes glowing through the night, dilated on an invisible travesty. She began to step forward only to notice a soft breeze hush upon her face.

She reach out her hand in hopes of nothing to be there. Her hand suddenly stops to touch a wall of some sort. Unsure of what it was, she felt something off about it. Not a wall, but a door perhaps, a huge one. The wooden texture felt throughout her fingers caressing its angles. To the left, her hand got a hold of a handle, a cold steel handle at best. Looking back, she was known to get into trouble due to her curiosity, especially when opening doors without permission. “Although,” she thought, “this would all seemingly be mine if I were to think about it.” She smiles at the thought and continues to open the door.

The area leads her outside in a grassy field behind the house. A couple of tools on the right of her are shown to be in the corner of the house. On the left of resided a gate, cage of sort, which was barricaded in a square fort. “whoOOooo,” the voice howled. Lumina began to walk towards the cage. “Were you the one calling me,” she whispered. Inside of the metal cage a wooded kennel shaped for a dog, although the kennel appeared to be larger. A huge kennel, big enough to fit a horse, or eve a bear. It was inhabited in the corner of the cage, blockaded by trees and sort. A little nest for whatever lied within. A dog bowl was on the side, but that wasn’t what caught the young investigator’s attention.

On the floor led a string of chains entering the hole of the kennel. The chains were massive, two pinned from each side. Lumina couldn’t keep her curiosity at bay as she took a step onto the cage. The top of the cage had barbed wires which didn’t scare Lumina since the last time she dealt with them were due to an escape from a crazy old lady believing foster kids to being the root of all evil happening in the world. Once near the wire, Lumina kicked off immediately doing a somersault in midair, landing on both feet with hands in the air. Her eyes filled with excitement, unsure of what she just did.

Her boots began to crease into sand. She began to look back at the door assuring Mrs. Glassdale especially wasn’t aware of what she was doing. “whoOooo…,” the voice wailed. Lumina spiraled her body, following the noise which led to the hole. The closer she got, the larger the kennel appeared. It was massive, huge enough to scare a tiny being such as her back into the house. She looked at the chains on both ends to find them the size of which reached up to her knees. For a sixteen-year-old with the height of only 5’8, she was beginning to feel smaller than expected.

Lumina began to pick up on something. A scent, difficult to notice at first, but able to grasp a hold of once found. Lumina knew this smell; from times she would get into fights with bullies at the orphanage. The reasons she would be left in a room to herself at times. The smell of blood came from the kennel. Lumina got closer and began to notice red streaks paved at the floor of the entrance. She began to shake, unsure if she should go near. “WhoooOoooOo...” the noise silently wailed. Lumina wasn’t sure if she should be scared or worried for what lied ahead. “Hello,” she asked.

Making it to the entrance, Lumina noticed the chains beginning to rattle. Those massive shackles skipping to the beat of someone jump roping over them. Lumina could hear a drip coming from inside. She stepped in only stomp on a puddle. She looked down to notice the bottom of her black boots covered in red. Blood, drenching off, she wanted gasp only to cover her mouth. Up ahead a figment moves in her direction. Lumina mentally shrieks to be face to face with glowing yellow eyes. The figment was huge, hovering over her, she was paralyzed from the waist down.

She couldn’t speak as the closer to the point of dissipating away from her. The figment shifted into the shadows only for a faint cry to be heard. A voice of a man crying in the shadows. Lumina persuaded to get closer. “H-hello?” No answer. “It’s all right,” she called. Her hand reaching out. “You can trust me honest.” The figment shifted its face to her. Nothing but its eyes, its glowing yellow eyes beading her down as she got closer. “...away,” it whispered. ‘What’s that,” she asked, “can’t quite hear you.” The figment’s face began to appear.

A man, beaten to the core, with slashes throughout his body. His hair raggedy as his eyes were swollen from crying. His neck was cuffed with the chains hovering over his shoulders. He was in fear. Lumina placed her hands over her mouth as she realized the man to be covered in blood. Barely any under garments on, the man was shaking. Lumina quickly too off her coat and wrapped it around the man. “Oh, you poor,” she cried, “whatever ha-” she gasped to realize what was next to the man. On the corner of him lied bones, multiple bones gnawed to the core. Pieces of leftover arms, legs tossed around, fingers flung around. Lumina was horrified by what she saw. “Run away,” the man cried.

“Dagnabbit,” a voice came from behind. Lumina turned immediately in fear. “Now weren’t you supposed to go back into the living room like I done told you from the beginning?” Mrs. Glassdale, alongside Mr. Glassdale were standing on the other side of the fence. Mr. Glassdale half the size of the cage began to fidget around in place. “M-Mis-Mrs. Glassdale?’’ Lumina’s eyes were widened in horror. The woman smirked her red lipstick as she placed her arm the fence. “Now Now, Judd, looky what we got here.” Lumina looked at what Mrs. Glassdale was carrying on her other hand. A cross-bow of some sort; a fancy silver one as well. “Straggler, straggler, we just caught a straggler,” Mr Glassdale chanted as he danced around the Missus.

“So much energy unlike before,” Lumina thought. She took a deep breath and began to focus. “What have you done with Dave,” she demanded. “With Dave,” Glassdale chuckled, “why honey, that lil’ gremlin is as safe as can be unlike you who should have been in the living room and enjoyed a nice cup of tea.” Clearly, she didn’t know the difference from coffee and tea, Lumina assumed. “By now, good ole Davey boy is fast asleep on the couch. I was nice enough to give him a blanket to rest while I dealt with the real matters at hand.”

“And what matters would that be.”

Glassdale began to smirk once more, as her brows began to crease in anger. “by taking out the likes of you lot as many as I possibly can.” Glassdale lifted her fingers to her mouth enabling a whistle to commence. The sound was high pitched, enough to echo within the chains to shriek. The man began to scream from behind. Lumina stunned by what was happening to the man. “Rise and shine big boy,” the man fell to the ground hollering throughout the cave, yet it wasn’t a holler. The man began to howl.

Hair started to appear from his body in areas that were unforeseen. His bones began to dislocate as his skin were stretched out, ripping the skin from his body. Moments later the man was covered in fur, his face extended, creating a snout. His ear growing to a point behind his face. What struck Lumina the most were his eyes. Yellow as before, only they pure as if looking into the moon itself. “Well, you said you were hungry did you not?” Lumina turned in disbelief as Mrs. Glassdale smiled dreadfully onto the beast. She clicked a button from her hand only for a large click came from the beast neck. Chains falling a moment later enabling a bellow of a thump. “Those are Castillan Iron Chains,” the woman claimed, “most guaranteed too be the strong type of metal capable of handling a beast such as this one.”

Lumina didn’t dare take her eyes off of the beast. A foot appeared into the light, then another, until finally the beast appeared gracefully into the light. At least eight feet tall, bigger than then the kennel itself, the beast hid its face from the sun. “Oh, your not used to the sun now are you, well get used to it,” Glassdale chuckled. “Girl is dead, Girl is dead, cannot wait to play with Girl’s head,” Mr. Glassdale pranced around like a pixie. Lumina tried to take a step back. “Now uh uh uh, none of that escapism shit,” Glassdale began to aim her crossbow at Lumina, “We ain’t gonna have no second chances happenin like the last time with the other one.” “You mean the girl before me,” Lumina Shrieked, “the one who ran away that you said was killed by a bear!”

“I said a bear of the sort. And I was right, was I not?” Lumina looked around her surroundings, trying to come up with a plan. “Now this’ll be good.” The beast didn’t take a second for Lumina to think anymore as it lunged towards her. Without noticing, Lumina immediately did a back-flip inches away from the claws of the beast. “Oh, she’s got reflexes now, does she?” The beast shook it’s head as it turned around to face her once more. Now more prepared, Lumina took a stance, daring the beast to come. She tiptoed her way to the fence enough for her back to positioned next to it. The beast reacted immediately lunging after her once more. Lumina charged after it only slide, remembering the sand to sink her boots from before. The beast hit the fence as Lumina quickly got up only to chase after the beast once more. While staggered, she jumped onto its knee, committing a pull-up from its shoulders onto its back enough for her stand on it. The beast abrasively stood on its back legs, knocking Lumina into the air, only it was what she anticipated.

Midair, Lumina somersaults her way over the fence, capable of reaching the other side on both feet. “Oh no you don’t,” Glassdale roared. She began to load her crossbow as Mr. Glassdale began to charge after her. For a tiny man he was aggressively fast. Lumina began to bolt into the woods. The forest was pact with bushes and trees. She kept having to jump over bushes so much so that she wouldn’t trip over.

She found a downhill which then slid through as she she looked for a nearby area to rest. She ends up finding a tree, an oak tree, big enough to hide in. Lumina rushed behind, only to forcibly stop and take a moment to breath. She began to count, “One...two...three.” her breathing began to slow down. Eyes closed, she began to focus on her surroundings and her whereabouts. She tried to come up with a plan to escape, only to realize one fail to her plans. “If I leave now,” she thought, “that would only bring harm to Dave.” She sat for a moment to realize no sound was coming her way. She was sure she would be able to hear rustling coming from around her. Just then, a chuckle is echoed from a far. Unsure of its whereabouts, she gets up ready to take evasive actions. The chuckling begins to grow louder. “Silly girl ready to fall, silly girl dead to all,” Mr. Glassdale was heard from all over the forest. Rustling came about from one of the bushes. Then another to the point multiple bushes were being rustled. Lumina began to climb up the tree in hopes of being able to spot him from above.

She desperately looked around as the rustling grew louder. “Got Girl, Got Girl!!!” She looks up only for Mr. Glassdale to land on top of her he begins to claw her. She screams only to let go of the tree. The impact hits her back knocking off Mr. Glassdale as he scatters away in joy. Her face scratched up; she looks for a nearby stick. The tiny man chuckles once more. Lumina closed her eyes, allowing the area to be in her referral sight. Her senses enabled; she could feel the footsteps coming toward her. “Got Girl, Got Girl!!!” Mr. Glassdale launched himself. Without hesitation, Lumina grabbed athe nearest stick and swung and hard as she could, tossing the man across the forest. The stick snapped during impact.

Lumina now relieved, began to move only to hear a noise zip past her. She yelps to notice her arm was grazed by an arrow. “Found you ya little tramp.” Glassdale began to load another arrow as Lumina began to run away. Her vision blurring out, she grabbed a hold of a nearby tree to catch her breath. “I see the poisons wearing in now.” Lumina looked at her arm as purple acid began to spew from her scratch. She rushed forward only to fall in a bush. She hid in a burrow as she heard the movements of Glassdale get closer. “It won’t be long ‘till this is all over y’know,” she scouted, taking one step at a time. “Just submit and let us be done with this already, geez, I got some hush puppies dying to be eaten.”

Lumina covered her mouth, hoping to slow down her breathing. The pain in her arm expanded throughout her neck to the side of her face. Her vision on the right of her was starting to fade. She tried covering her eyes blocking out the mental signals of wherever she felt the pain. She kept her right side of vision closed as she crawled away looking for another area to hide. “I will not die here,” she thought. She envisioned herself in the car with Dave. That’s all she ever needed, nothing else.

A bellow of a roar wailed throughout the forest. The beast was back and immediately spotted Lumina. The girl picked herself up and run as fast as she could. The beast caught up within seconds only to knock her to side. She her face hitting a tree as blood splattered throughout the forest. She refused to be unconscious. She began to pick herself up only to scream in agony. She looked back to find a claw tearing into her leg. Her screaming grew louder.

“Oh, there you are,” chuckled Glassdale, “I almost didn’t recognize you, y’know with all that blood on your face. Oof, what happened to you?” The beast began to drag Lumina by her leg. “Now, I know we made promises and whatnot to go shopping and such, but honey, think of this like a shopping spree of a lifetime. One where you won’t have to impress anyone ever again!”

“Why are you doing this,” Lumina cried.

“Because Dearie,” Glassdale aimed the crossbow at Lumina’s head, “your kind weren’t meant to exist to begin with.”

Lumina was angry, enraged by what was happening to her. She screamed louder and louder until her voice echoed beyond the forest. Her eyes glowed, white as snow, as a gust of wind engulfed her surroundings. Lumina screamed once more only for a surge of wind to be released from her. Glassdale, as well as the beast, were knocked back from Lumina. She began to breath heavily unsure of what just happened. A rush of her body relocating back to the pain in her leg coming into place. She started to crawl in means to escape.

“You spiny bitch,” yelled Glassdale from afar, “to think you would away awaken at a time like this!” Lumina struggled to get up. “No matter, I don’t care how you learned so quickly, but even so,” Glassdale planted her foot on Lumina’s wounded leg. She began to scream once more. “You are gonna die right here and now!” Lumina looked as the look of a serial killer stared down at her prey. He r make-up seared across her face as her hair was entangled with twigs. She was a mess and was proud of it.

Glassdale readied her crossbow aimed at Lumina’s head once more. The sneer smiles sinister enough to keep a child up at night for days. “Say goodnight bitch!”

“Velos tou Apollona,” a voice echoed. Both looked around only for a flash of light seer straight through Glassdale’s face. A hole left in her eye socket. Her crossbow singed in half. The woman shrieked in pain as she fell to the floor. Lumina, eyes watery as ever, looked around to see her surroundings. She looked behind to see two, maybe four no less appear from a midst.

The first to appear was a boy about her age. Silk black undercut hairstyle, with tanned skin, hint of pin k blushing from his cheeks. He had on a red jacket with blue jeans and black boots. The only thing Lumina noticed were his eyes. Fiery amber eyes glowing in the day. The boy got closer for Lumina to notice something in his eye. A symbol of some sort in the shape of the Leo sign from the zodiac. “What is going on,” Lumina whispered. The boy looked at Lumina and smiled. “Relax luv,”, he smiled, “the heroes are here.”