For the week before the thing came, Papa began to have the worst nightmares. He’d wake in the middle of the night screaming. Hearing him sound so frightened made me cry. Then a few days later, the storms started. I remember it was the worst weather I’d ever seen. Skies the colour of blood. Thunder so loud you thought your eardrums would burst. Constant rain. The lighting was relentless and so destructive. I remember that Mamma had to keep comforting me, because I genuinely thought that the sky was going to collapse and kill us all.
The final night, we were huddled in the living room. The power had gone out. I was wrapped in a blanket which I carried everywhere with me. I loved it, because it smelled of them. I was sitting on the edge of the couch, stroking Papa’s hair. He was laying on it, writing in one of his journals that he’d converted into his own version of a HASEA handbook — the one you now own. He’d barely been getting any sleep at all. More bad dreams he’d told me, but he never told me what about.
I remember Mamma was sitting on the floor holding Papa’s free hand. None of us were talking, we were just happy in each other’s company.
Papa heard it first. Or sensed it, I’ll never know which. He jerked up almost knocking me off the armrest. He looked down at my Mother, who seemed confused for a moment and then…scared. The atmosphere frightened me. I asked what was wrong, but they wouldn’t answer me. I followed, dragging my blanket as they ran into the hallway. I watched my Papa open the small metal vent above the stairway. He pulled out a bag and ran back into the lounge with it. I followed him back in. He placed it on the table and pulled out all sorts of things I’d never seen. I know now that they were Alliance weapons. Mamma pulled away a small rug, which exposed a trapdoor I’d never even known existed.
They were acting frantically and it was scaring me so much I could barely breathe. I started to cry. Papa stopped and looked at me. I’ll never forget that face as long as I live.
He looked so sad.
Mamma…sorry this is so hard. No…it’s ok, I’m ok. Mama knelt down and hugged me so tightly it hurt. Father did the same. They both held me as if it were the last thing they would ever do. I was sniffing and hiccupping from being so scared and confused. Mamma shushed me and smoothed the back of my hair, the way she always did when I was upset.
I remember, she pointed at the trapdoor and said, ‘listen carefully mia bambina, you need to go down here and keep very, very quiet okay?’ I told them I didn’t want to. I–I didn’t want to be away from them. Then Papa said ‘please.’ Maybe it was the way he said it, or because of the look he’d given me before, but I agreed. They both hugged me one more time. Then they said their last words they would ever say to me. Mamma said ‘We love you with all our hearts.’ And Papa said ‘Always.’
They lowered me in and I pulled the blanket up to my face. There was a sort of rustling sound overhead and then darkness. The dirt below me was damp, from where the rain had found its way in through the cracks. I was sitting in a cold, smelly puddle. But I stayed completely still. Even though I was still only a human, I could tell something bad was coming. I could sense it.
I waited.
If God really existed and had any mercy, he would have made me deaf then. It started with the screeching of some horrific creature from outside. It sounded like a horse’s neigh mixed with nails on a blackboard. I know now that it was the sound of that poor soulless unicorn that that evil creature rides around on.
Then there were the heavy, slow footsteps. All I could think of was the giant from the Jack and the Beanstalk story Papa used to read to me. All sorts of thoughts ran through my head. Was the giant real? Had it come for us? Its footsteps were so powerful they made the mud jump up around me. I remember lumps of it flew up into my face and up my nose, making me choke. There were more frantic footsteps as my parents ran around the living room, doing god knows what. I had to resist the urge to call out to them.
The front door burst open and I heard Mamma shriek. The thunder was so loud, as if it had come right into the house. I could hear the rain beating down and the howl of the wind. Then there were the pounding footsteps of this thing coming closer.
I heard Papa’s voice. He was shouting above the roar of noise. He said that he knew it would come. That he knew it wasn’t just a dream. Mamma pleaded with it, saying they wanted nothing to do with the war and only wanted peace.
There was no answer to their words. I remember straining my ears above the noise to hear if the giant said anything. But there was only silence. Then I heard another sound like creaking hinges followed by another I didn’t know then, but know all too well now. The sound of a sword being unsheathed.
The final words my Mother ever said were “please don’t.”
Then there were gunshots. So…many…gunshots. Like a full scale war in our living room. I screamed then- I couldn’t help it. Luckily it was too loud for me to be heard. I stuffed the wet blanket into my mouth to stifle them.
The sound of gunfire was cut short by two sharp sounds. The first was followed by Mamma making a high pitched squeal. The second, even more disturbing was a sound like Papa being sick. Then nothing but the wind and rain.
I stayed there for a while, too scared to do anything. Then I felt dripping on my arms and forehead, more and more until it was all over me. At first I thought that the rain had seeped through into the lounge. But it was warm. I couldn’t move. So I stayed in the same position, blanket wrapped around me and this warm liquid pouring over me. After a minute or an hour — I couldn’t tell, the heavy booming footsteps started again. Somehow I regained control of body and managed to stand up. I nudged at the trap door and peered out.
I saw it. The Sorrow in full view. Not that I knew what it was then. It was standing in the hallway. So tall, most of its head was hidden by the doorframe. It was facing away, breathing slowly. I could hear these harsh rasping sounds as it breathed. It was wearing dark armour, covered in spikes and creepy symbols. It carried this colossal sword. It was covered in blood. I froze again. It was like staring at the embodiment of a nightmare. The image seared itself into my brain. I see it every single night and probably will until the day I die.
It spun around. It was unnaturally fast for its size. Somehow preservation kicked in and I ducked back into the hole. I waited for what seemed like eternity for it to open the trapdoor and pluck me out. But it didn’t. Luck was on my side. I heard its footsteps start again, first in the hallway and then splashing in the rain outside. Then I heard that horrific baying noise and thundering hooves.
Then nothing.
I pulled myself out of the trapdoor. It was then that I noticed my parents. They were lying together, Papa holding Mamma against him just like the way they did when they slept. But this time…they both had red slash marks on their chests, which were pulsing out blood…so much blood. The whole floor looked like it had been painted red. I looked down and realised so was I. Only then did I understand what the warm liquid was.
T-the…thing which broke my shock was Mamma’s hand. It was palm down on the carpet above the trapdoor. In her final moments, she’d tried to be as close to me as possible. Grief hit me. I–I actually remember the sensation; it felt like a rock crushing…crushing down on my chest. I–I couldn’t breathe. I crawled over to them and tried to wake them up…b-but they wouldn’t. It was no use…they were gone. So I pulled Mamma’s arms around me, closed my eyes…and willed myself to die.
30
Gabriella looked at me, eyes damp with tears.
“I… I miss them so much.”
Her face crumbled and ten years of repressed grief broke free. She buried her head into my shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably. Sounds of pure anguish escaped from somewhere deep within her, each one like a claw tearing at my insides. I wrapped my arms around her quivering body, ignoring the painful tremors that ran up my arms. I wished I could somehow take her pain away. Gabriella’s suffering felt far worse than any of the beatings I’d taken from Terry; more soul destroying than the thousands of acidic wo
rds that had dissolved my confidence. What made it even worse was that I’d forced her to remember. I caused this.
Tears blurred my vision. I tried to blink them away, but there were too many. Instead, I closed my eyes and leaned over, resting my cheek on the top of her head.
“It’s okay Ella, I’m here,” I soothed, rocking her gently backwards and forwards as she wept. My words were hollow, and I knew it. But no combination of words in the world could ever console the sort of ordeal Gabriella had experienced. All I could hope to do was help carry her through the pain, until she emerged the other side.
Time seemed to grind to a halt. Minutes became hours that stretched forward towards infinity.
At some point, Gabriella’s sobs became deep sighs. Then they stopped altogether. She kept her head buried in my shoulder, as if trying to hide.
I sat up and waited.
Like a timid animal, Gabriella eventually emerged, lifting up and pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes. They were swollen and red. Without another word, she slipped from the couch and disappeared into the bathroom. When she returned, all physical signs of her breakdown had been wiped clean. But I could still see it behind her eyes.
Gabriella sat down close to me. “You know I’ve never told anyone that before.”
I looked down. “I’m sorry. What happened to you…I had no idea. I feel so guilty for forcing you to talk about it.”
Gabriella shook her head. “No, it’s okay…really. I needed to, I just didn’t realise. I can’t explain how much better I feel now. It’s like I’ve been purged.”
“Still, it wasn’t fair of me to make you re-live all that purely for my sake. Although I am really glad you told me about them. They sounded like wonderful people.” She nodded. “They were.” “Sage Etorre was right. I bet if your parents could see you now they would be so proud of the person you’ve become.” Gabriella closed her eyes and fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. “Oh Ella, I didn’t mean to…” She shook her head and took a deep breath. “They would have really liked you.”
I felt a squeeze in my stomach at what was easily the best compliment anyone had ever given me. Gabriella brushed the back of her hand against my cheek, which vibrated where our skin connected. “It’s such a strange sensation,” she said, pulling her hand away and wiggling her fingers. My mouth fell open “You…you can feel that too?” “Since the day I first met you.” “Why didn’t you say something?” She smiled. “Why didn’t you?” I had no answer.
Gabriella looked away from me into the fire. As she stared at the flames, something shifted in her expression — became conflicted. “I need to tell you something else,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Anything.” “If I tell you, promise me that you won’t freak out.”
I panicked internally. Gabriella had already told me she was half-succubus and that her parents had been murdered by The Sorrow — the same nightmare that was after me — and neither times had she looked as nervous as she did now. What could possibly freak me out more than what she’s already told me?
“I won’t,” I promised.
She turned back to face me. Her expression looked so torn, I could feel the knots wrapping around my insides. “No it’s too soon, oh god, I don’t know-”
“Gabriella, tell me!”
“I think I’m in love with you.”
The words burst from her mouth as if they had escaped without permission. For a few seconds they didn’t register. Then like a delayed response, my body came alive with emotions. My heart skipped so many beats it seemed like it would never regain its rhythm. The knots transformed into a flurry of butterflies that beat a storm of wings against the walls of my stomach. Adrenaline surged through me, igniting every inch of my body and pushing all of my senses into overdrive.
Gabriella looked away. “I’m sorry. I know it’s a lot to take in. I–I’m confused myself. Maybe it’s the soulmate thing. I don’t know…I can’t help it.”
This can’t be real. I’m dreaming. But the look in her eyes told me it was real. I was sat in front of the most incredible girl ever to grace the Earth, and she was confessing her love for me.
Words were beyond my reach.
Gabriella stood up suddenly. “Look, don’t worry, it was stupid. Forget I said anything. I’m going to go downstairs.” She started moving towards the door.
Not this time.
I sprang off the sofa and marched after her, grabbing hold of her arm.
“Gabriella.”
I pulled her around to face me and pressed my lips against hers. They felt a thousand times better than in my imagination. The charges rolled through my body — they were different this time, more exciting. Our mouths parted and tongues gently touched and explored. Gabriella’s lips slid along mine as we kissed and a soft moan escaped her throat.
I pulled away and stared into her eyes. “I love you too. I did from the second I saw you.”
Gabriella’s face broke into a smile. She grabbed at the back of my neck and pulled me close. We kissed in short, breathless bursts. A wave of charges rolled down my spine making me shudder with pleasure. I ran my fingers up and down her bare arms, each one sending a fresh wave of electricity coursing through my fingers. My heart was racing.
With a sudden burst of control, I lifted Gabriella up. She wrapped her legs around my waist and placed her hands either side of my neck. Still kissing, we stumbled towards the sofa. I threw her down and slid on top of her. I slowly kissed the side of her neck as she let out sharp breaths, fingers raking through my hair. My lips buzzed every time they met her skin and she shook gently in response. She grabbed at my t-shirt, and I stopped so she could slide it off. I placed my hand in the small of her back and lifted her up into a sitting position. Gabriella crossed her arms and pulled her own top off. My breath caught in my throat as I saw her naked skin, covered only by a bra. She’s perfect.
Gabriella wildly kissed me all over. My face, neck, collarbone, chest. Each kiss sent vibrations rushing through my body. I wrapped my arms around her and felt the warmth of her Umbra skin on my hands. I sank back down onto her and pushed my lips against hers. The charges made everything more intense. I couldn’t believe I’d ever seen them as a bad thing. The more intense we got, the more pleasurable the electric connection got. I had no idea that anything could feel this good. Gabriella’s sweet breath filled my mouth as our tongues wrapped around each other. Her breathing grew heavier and she pushed a hand against my chest, breaking away. She moved her mouth to my ear and whispered into it, her voice breathless.
“Alex I want you… now.”
I didn’t refuse.
I woke up to a red glow pouring through a crack in the curtains. For a split second I thought the base was on fire, before I realised it was only the sunrise.
Gabriella’s naked body was wrapped around me, her head resting on my chest. Her raven hair flowed over it, spilling onto the sheets. I ran my fingers up and down her arm, letting the tips flow over her soft skin. She sighed in her sleep and nestled into me. At that moment, I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life.
In the tranquil silence of the morning, I let myself remember the night before and my stomach filled with butterflies all over again. It had been the most amazing experience of my life. At some point we’d ended up in the bedroom. Afterwards, I’d held Gabriella close and listened as she told me the rest of her story.
She’d still been wrapped in her mother’s arms when the HASEA had found her. Gabriella had thought it was the ‘giant’ come back to finish her off. But instead she’d been picked up by a kind female Guardian who soothed her, whilst another spoke on the phone. He’d told the person on the other end that they’d been too late. He had moved away from her and lowered his voice, but she’d still heard him say, ‘one more thing Sage Etorre. They had a child.’
I kissed Gabriella’s cheek and gently slipped from underneath her. I pulled the duvet up and wrapped it around her body, tucking her in. Moving over to the window, I opene
d the glowing curtains.
The sky looked as though it were on fire. Streaks of scorched clouds stretched into the horizon. Directly above was a yawning hole of blackness as dark as death. I twisted the drapes in my hands. This isn’t a sunrise.
“It’s the Red Storm.”
Gabriella’s voice made me start. I turned away from the window. She was sitting up, covers drawn up to her collarbones. “The Sorrow’s influence.” “What does it do?” “It’s a symbol used to invoke fear. The storm always arrives before The Sorrow does.” “But I thought Faru sealed the Veil?” “He did. But unfortunately that doesn’t stop its influence.” “Will it do anything?” “Not without The Sorrow to control it. Except that now every Rogue within a hundred mile radius knows where to come.”
I took a second look at the vicious hellfire sky. It felt like I was watching Armageddon unfold. “It’s not the end of the world. But you can see it from here.”
“Sorry, what did you say?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter, just a saying I heard once.”
Someone knocked at the door. I looked at Gabriella, who shrugged. Grabbing a dressing gown from the wardrobe, I padded into the lounge, tying the chord as I walked.
I opened the door to see Delagio leaning against the frame. He stepped back, surveying me through a squinted eye. Then he gave a broad smile.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh nothin’,” he grinned. “Ah was lookin’ for a feisty brunette. Only there seems ta be one missin’ from her apartment. Say, you haven’t seen her have you?”
I could feel my face growing hot with embarrassment. Before I could answer, Gabriella’s voice floated over my shoulder.
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