Disclaimer: Everything you see here is mine and mine alone!
Shadow of the Moonlight
by Corbin
Chapter 1
The sun was about to set in a few hours. Weather conditions were nearly perfect for the twins to play outside without the presence of even one parent. The wind blew gently among the trees, their branches lightly brushing against one another. While the twins were running after one another, their mother who was busily making dinner for the family was humming a catchy tune that she heard from one of the twins. Their father was fixing a broken shelf in the patio, his back turned from his sons.
The twins were giggling among the trees near the edge of the forest, their peals of laughter was being carried away by the wind towards their busy parents, assuring them that they were truly safe. Their parents had allowed them to and had forbidden them to go deeper into the forest. They were playing a guessing game they had invented a year ago while impatiently waiting for their parents to finish baking a batch of 2 dozens chocolate chip cookies.
One of them would act out an animal, running around the other and doing exaggerating gestures to emphasize the animal’s behavior while the one guessing would sit down and when he has finally figured out the animal being acted out, he would finally draw the animal on the ground with a branch or stick. And that game mostly ends up in simply running around chasing one another with a vivid image of the silly game they had.
A snort was heard accompanying giggles and pounding of feet. The older twin had both his hands on top of his head, while pointing the index fingers towards the one sitting down, his nostrils flared as he snorted. He was pounding his feet alternatively against the ground like he was ready to charge, imitating a bull that has seen red. His twin who was younger by a few minutes was fighting tears in his eyes and was trying hard not to burst into laughter. The younger one had a hard time drawing the bull. Out of a sudden, the older twin took his role seriously as a frustrated bull and charged the younger one.
“Hey! Stop that Zai!” the younger one blurted out as he jumped out of the way of the charging twin, with a huge smile plastered on his face.
Zaiden snorted loudly as he stomped his feet and chased after his younger twin. They chased after each other, zigzagging through the scattered evergreen trees in the forest. They haven’t realized that they have unintentionally ventured into the deeper parts of the forests, the parts wherein animals of various sorts inhabit.
*****
Their mother who was cleaning up the mess she made while cooking noticed that her sons’ laughter has gradually weakened. Thinking that they have thought of another new game to play, she had set aside the uneasiness she was feeling. After 10 minutes of constant silence, her motherly instinct took place and ventured after her twins, leaving the dining table unfinished. Knowing that they are only playing at certain spot at the edge of the forest, she found that place empty with a half-completed drawing of what it seems like a cow on the ground. Being led by her rising nervousness, she had forgotten to tell her husband about the sudden disappearance of their sons.
*****
The twins have finally noticed that they were lost inside the vast dark forest. It seemed that the sun was already setting. And they have definitely reached the deeper parts of the forests as they couldn’t see the last rays of the setting sun.
The younger one tugged Zaiden’s sleeve nervously as if wanting comfort from the braver of the two. Sensing his brother’s uneasiness at being lost, he protectedly wrapped his arm around the younger one’s shoulder. They continued to walk through the forest in that position.
“Don’t worry Cyr. We’ll get out of here soon” Zai said positively, brushing away the uneasiness he felt inside.
“But…what if we can’t?” Cyril countered the older one’s optimism with nervousness as he held on tighter on his brother’s arm.
“If we can’t…” Zaiden started slowly and turned his head towards his brother. “I’m sure Mom and Da will find us!”
*****
She didn’t want to use it. But she had no other choice. What else can she do in this situation? She, too, was beginning to get lost in that forest. She hasn’t been in these parts of the forest ever. She thought ‘I should have told Seth. He should know what to do. Why am I so foolish? Searching in this damn forest would have been easier if he was with me. I don’t give a damn to that stupid restriction of the elders. I just want my babies back…’ She sighed loudly and nervously ran her long fingers along her auburn hair. “Please forgive me Seth…” she whispered into the cold air.
She held out her right hand in front of her, closing her eyes shut, she focused hard on that power, that power she haven’t used for a long time now. Her left fist was tightly clenched at her side as she gritted her teeth. She didn’t bother to wipe away the beads of sweat that have started to form around her forehead.
“This extreme power granted to me by the High Elders, which had hidden itself in the depths of my blood with the Union’s authority. Now, on my command you are to wake up from your slumber and arise into full intensity!!” Jalil exclaimed loudly as she snapped open her eyes. Smiling tiredly, her eyes fell to her hand; she knew everything would now be okay.
*****
Seth has just finished repairing the broken shelf as he was nourishing himself with a glass of ice cold water. He tiredly wiped the sweat away from his eyes with his left arm. He gently set down the now-empty glass of water on the table where his tools where laid and slowly entered the vacant house.
Something is wrong. He sensed. I should be hearing the whistling of kettle, boiling water for our green tea. The kids? Where are… He abruptly stopped his tracks as he entered the dark and empty dining room. His eyes fell to the unfinished dining table.
He suddenly snapped his head towards the forest, eyes wide open. He knew that feeling. He had just felt a mighty energy flowing from the forest. A familiar energy, he mused. Too familiar. He had just realized something.
“Ja...” He whispered, forgetting his aching body, he started to sprint towards the dark forest.
*****
“Zai...” The younger one started as he sat down near a tree trunk.
Zaiden had set his eyes towards his twin, nodding for him to continue as he, too, sat down gratefully. Cyr stared out ahead of him and said “Are we still…” He suddenly stopped. Zaiden noticed the sudden pause in his brother’s sentence and saw his brother’s eyes wide with fear. Cyril’s face had gone extremely pale and had started trembling.
“What’s wrong?” Zaiden anxiously asked. Cyril continued to stare ahead and was too terrified to answer. He looked towards the direction ahead of them and he suddenly paled at the sight.
He saw a tiny ball with bluish white sparks floating 20 feet or so away from them. He saw the orb slowly increased in size. It was nearing them. Afraid of what the orb might do to them, he grabbed his twin’s hand as he said “Cyr, come on!”. Zaiden dragged Cyril to his feet, turned to the opposite directed and hastily ran away from the approaching object.
Zaiden looked over his shoulder and saw it was still following them. A shadow was forming behind the bluish orb. He squinted his eyes and saw a silhouette of a person, following the path of the hovering orb. It was too dark to determine what creature lies behind the orb. Too afraid to look behind, he increased his speed, his twin following suit.
Suddenly, powerful arms bound them together. He heard whispering but didn’t seem to understand. Zaiden felt too scared to care about what was being said by the creature. They started to wiggle out of the arms firmly wrapped around them. Feeling anger and fear, both of them started to scream and pounded their fists against the strong arms, hoping their Mom and Da would hear them.
They felt themselves being carried away by their captor. Overwhelmed with fear, they did something they didn’t know how to control. They felt immense warm energy flowing through them. Powerful streaks of orange-red energy started to flow from their bodies. The captor suddenly dropped his prisoners, feeling that energy slowly penetrating his body. He strongly wrapped his arms around himself and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
The twins, who were both dropped to a kneeling position, had their hands on the moist ground, looked at each other and smiled triumphantly. They knew out of a sudden that they can kill the person in front of them. With the new found power in their midst, they had their hands face their captor, they concentrated hard on that power.
We want to see Mom and Da. We want to be brought home.
“Go to hell!” Zaiden angrily screamed as bright orange energy surged from his hands. Cyril’s eyes went wide at the words said by his twin. His surprise slowly turned his agape mouth into a huge grin and crimson red energy followed suit.
Their captor suddenly paled, his mouth wide open with fear. No! You don’t understand! He thought, too frightened to shout.
Both twins shut their eyes closed and felt their energy surging from their hands and forced it towards their captor. They heard their captor scream with intense pain. And another voice deeper than their captor joined it.
“No! Stop!” Seth screamed and roughly pulled the twin’s captor away from the twins’ fire-like energy. The twins suddenly became confused at their father’s action. They scrambled as far as they could get and looked at each other with confusion and fear. Why did Da rescued him!? Shouldn’t he rescue us? Why Da? Why him?! Thoughts like these came echoing through their minds. Both twins wrapped their tired arms around each other, unsure of what may happen next.
Seth kneeled beside the twins’ captor, shocked at what he saw. He gently cradled the body that had threatened the lives of his sons. He tenderly stroked the cold cheeks and listened to the laboured breathing of the person he held in his arms. Another moment, the body stopped breathing and Seth trembled with grief.
“Jalil…No…” He whispered. He hung his head as silent tears poured from his eyes, wrapping his arms firmly against the body of his wife
Cyril and Zaiden looked at each other, devastation was clearly written across their faces as the wind carried their father’s whisper.
Mum…
No…
We killed Mum!
The sun was about to set in a few hours. Weather conditions were nearly perfect for the twins to play outside without the presence of even one parent. The wind blew gently among the trees, their branches lightly brushing against one another. While the twins were running after one another, their mother who was busily making dinner for the family was humming a catchy tune that she heard from one of the twins. Their father was fixing a broken shelf in the patio, his back turned from his sons.
The twins were giggling among the trees near the edge of the forest, their peals of laughter was being carried away by the wind towards their busy parents, assuring them that they were truly safe. Their parents had allowed them to and had forbidden them to go deeper into the forest. They were playing a guessing game they had invented a year ago while impatiently waiting for their parents to finish baking a batch of 2 dozens chocolate chip cookies.
One of them would act out an animal, running around the other and doing exaggerating gestures to emphasize the animal’s behavior while the one guessing would sit down and when he has finally figured out the animal being acted out, he would finally draw the animal on the ground with a branch or stick. And that game mostly ends up in simply running around chasing one another with a vivid image of the silly game they had.
A snort was heard accompanying giggles and pounding of feet. The older twin had both his hands on top of his head, while pointing the index fingers towards the one sitting down, his nostrils flared as he snorted. He was pounding his feet alternatively against the ground like he was ready to charge, imitating a bull that has seen red. His twin who was younger by a few minutes was fighting tears in his eyes and was trying hard not to burst into laughter. The younger one had a hard time drawing the bull. Out of a sudden, the older twin took his role seriously as a frustrated bull and charged the younger one.
“Hey! Stop that Zai!” the younger one blurted out as he jumped out of the way of the charging twin, with a huge smile plastered on his face.
Zaiden snorted loudly as he stomped his feet and chased after his younger twin. They chased after each other, zigzagging through the scattered evergreen trees in the forest. They haven’t realized that they have unintentionally ventured into the deeper parts of the forests, the parts wherein animals of various sorts inhabit.
*****
Their mother who was cleaning up the mess she made while cooking noticed that her sons’ laughter has gradually weakened. Thinking that they have thought of another new game to play, she had set aside the uneasiness she was feeling. After 10 minutes of constant silence, her motherly instinct took place and ventured after her twins, leaving the dining table unfinished. Knowing that they are only playing at certain spot at the edge of the forest, she found that place empty with a half-completed drawing of what it seems like a cow on the ground. Being led by her rising nervousness, she had forgotten to tell her husband about the sudden disappearance of their sons.
*****
The twins have finally noticed that they were lost inside the vast dark forest. It seemed that the sun was already setting. And they have definitely reached the deeper parts of the forests as they couldn’t see the last rays of the setting sun.
The younger one tugged Zaiden’s sleeve nervously as if wanting comfort from the braver of the two. Sensing his brother’s uneasiness at being lost, he protectedly wrapped his arm around the younger one’s shoulder. They continued to walk through the forest in that position.
“Don’t worry Cyr. We’ll get out of here soon” Zai said positively, brushing away the uneasiness he felt inside.
“But…what if we can’t?” Cyril countered the older one’s optimism with nervousness as he held on tighter on his brother’s arm.
“If we can’t…” Zaiden started slowly and turned his head towards his brother. “I’m sure Mom and Da will find us!”
*****
She didn’t want to use it. But she had no other choice. What else can she do in this situation? She, too, was beginning to get lost in that forest. She hasn’t been in these parts of the forest ever. She thought ‘I should have told Seth. He should know what to do. Why am I so foolish? Searching in this damn forest would have been easier if he was with me. I don’t give a damn to that stupid restriction of the elders. I just want my babies back…’ She sighed loudly and nervously ran her long fingers along her auburn hair. “Please forgive me Seth…” she whispered into the cold air.
She held out her right hand in front of her, closing her eyes shut, she focused hard on that power, that power she haven’t used for a long time now. Her left fist was tightly clenched at her side as she gritted her teeth. She didn’t bother to wipe away the beads of sweat that have started to form around her forehead.
“This extreme power granted to me by the High Elders, which had hidden itself in the depths of my blood with the Union’s authority. Now, on my command you are to wake up from your slumber and arise into full intensity!!” Jalil exclaimed loudly as she snapped open her eyes. Smiling tiredly, her eyes fell to her hand; she knew everything would now be okay.
*****
Seth has just finished repairing the broken shelf as he was nourishing himself with a glass of ice cold water. He tiredly wiped the sweat away from his eyes with his left arm. He gently set down the now-empty glass of water on the table where his tools where laid and slowly entered the vacant house.
Something is wrong. He sensed. I should be hearing the whistling of kettle, boiling water for our green tea. The kids? Where are… He abruptly stopped his tracks as he entered the dark and empty dining room. His eyes fell to the unfinished dining table.
He suddenly snapped his head towards the forest, eyes wide open. He knew that feeling. He had just felt a mighty energy flowing from the forest. A familiar energy, he mused. Too familiar. He had just realized something.
“Ja...” He whispered, forgetting his aching body, he started to sprint towards the dark forest.
*****
“Zai...” The younger one started as he sat down near a tree trunk.
Zaiden had set his eyes towards his twin, nodding for him to continue as he, too, sat down gratefully. Cyr stared out ahead of him and said “Are we still…” He suddenly stopped. Zaiden noticed the sudden pause in his brother’s sentence and saw his brother’s eyes wide with fear. Cyril’s face had gone extremely pale and had started trembling.
“What’s wrong?” Zaiden anxiously asked. Cyril continued to stare ahead and was too terrified to answer. He looked towards the direction ahead of them and he suddenly paled at the sight.
He saw a tiny ball with bluish white sparks floating 20 feet or so away from them. He saw the orb slowly increased in size. It was nearing them. Afraid of what the orb might do to them, he grabbed his twin’s hand as he said “Cyr, come on!”. Zaiden dragged Cyril to his feet, turned to the opposite directed and hastily ran away from the approaching object.
Zaiden looked over his shoulder and saw it was still following them. A shadow was forming behind the bluish orb. He squinted his eyes and saw a silhouette of a person, following the path of the hovering orb. It was too dark to determine what creature lies behind the orb. Too afraid to look behind, he increased his speed, his twin following suit.
Suddenly, powerful arms bound them together. He heard whispering but didn’t seem to understand. Zaiden felt too scared to care about what was being said by the creature. They started to wiggle out of the arms firmly wrapped around them. Feeling anger and fear, both of them started to scream and pounded their fists against the strong arms, hoping their Mom and Da would hear them.
They felt themselves being carried away by their captor. Overwhelmed with fear, they did something they didn’t know how to control. They felt immense warm energy flowing through them. Powerful streaks of orange-red energy started to flow from their bodies. The captor suddenly dropped his prisoners, feeling that energy slowly penetrating his body. He strongly wrapped his arms around himself and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
The twins, who were both dropped to a kneeling position, had their hands on the moist ground, looked at each other and smiled triumphantly. They knew out of a sudden that they can kill the person in front of them. With the new found power in their midst, they had their hands face their captor, they concentrated hard on that power.
We want to see Mom and Da. We want to be brought home.
“Go to hell!” Zaiden angrily screamed as bright orange energy surged from his hands. Cyril’s eyes went wide at the words said by his twin. His surprise slowly turned his agape mouth into a huge grin and crimson red energy followed suit.
Their captor suddenly paled, his mouth wide open with fear. No! You don’t understand! He thought, too frightened to shout.
Both twins shut their eyes closed and felt their energy surging from their hands and forced it towards their captor. They heard their captor scream with intense pain. And another voice deeper than their captor joined it.
“No! Stop!” Seth screamed and roughly pulled the twin’s captor away from the twins’ fire-like energy. The twins suddenly became confused at their father’s action. They scrambled as far as they could get and looked at each other with confusion and fear. Why did Da rescued him!? Shouldn’t he rescue us? Why Da? Why him?! Thoughts like these came echoing through their minds. Both twins wrapped their tired arms around each other, unsure of what may happen next.
Seth kneeled beside the twins’ captor, shocked at what he saw. He gently cradled the body that had threatened the lives of his sons. He tenderly stroked the cold cheeks and listened to the laboured breathing of the person he held in his arms. Another moment, the body stopped breathing and Seth trembled with grief.
“Jalil…No…” He whispered. He hung his head as silent tears poured from his eyes, wrapping his arms firmly against the body of his wife
Cyril and Zaiden looked at each other, devastation was clearly written across their faces as the wind carried their father’s whisper.
Mum…
No…
We killed Mum!
posted by kcorbin @ 8:05 PM
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