Shadow Master

The illusory sunrise

-

In the morning, there was a mild breeze. My kite's wings filled as soon as they were unfolded, and the eagle took to the air. Some passers-by were amused and continued on their way without looking back. The eagle soared up the facade, pirouetted in front of the third-floor windows, and flew away.

Kerry was in the kitchen making tea when she noticed the eagle off in the distance. Her breakfast cup smashed on the tile floor as she couldn't believe her eyes.

The building door opened a few moments later, and Kerry stepped up to me, meeting my gaze. She gave me a friendly grin and took the kite's handle.

She made a paper eagle do enormous "S's" and beautiful "8's" in the big metropolitan sky. Kerry had a natural talent for writing airborne poetry. "I missed you," I read when I finally figured out what she was writing.

You'll never forget a girl who manages to write "I missed you" with a kite.

The sun was about to rise.

Our shadows stretched side by side on the sidewalk. I noticed mine bending in and kissing Kerry's lips.

It was only a matter of following her lead.

-

-

Where’s no going back

-

A powerful kick to the backside.

The pain twisted throughout my body, transforming into small stings, tingling, and then... nothing.

I'd stopped praying for my survival a long time ago, as I knew I wouldn't make it out of here alive.

I was being attacked by four winged shadows. I'd gotten rid of two of them, and I was certain they hadn't brought me here by accident. They had a specific strategy in mind: inflict as much anguish as possible on me before killing me.

-

-

Neither night nor day

-

I have no idea what time it is.

The second is the widely accepted reference unit of time within the International Earth System. Humans structure their activities using the conventional non-decimal units minute, hour, and day.

The day is defined as the period of time between sunrise and dusk. Dawn begins the day in the morning and ends with nightfall in the evening. By extension, the day indicates the entirety of a single day and night, and corresponds to the Earth's total rotation in regard to a certain geographical position.

Night is when the sky darkens dramatically, the Moon, stars, planets, and occasionally even the Milky Way can be seen if the sky is clear.

On my return from the winter break in sixth grade, this information had earned me the highest mark with congrats during a pop quiz. This same information was useless to me in this situation.

I doubt that the time that passes here is measured in the International Earth System's second. Nothing convinced me that I was still alive, unless the Earth had been conquered by winged creatures during my spells of coma.

I was simply a shadow of the guy who had half of the shadows of the people of Paris, the most famous city on earth. My constitution had decreased to the point where, despite my high level, I was practically unsuitable for combat.

I had awoken in a world where there was no light. The buildings, the street corners where I used to walk to school, and everything I had known as a youngster had vanished; Paris as I knew it had vanished.

My childhood world was vanished.

My strength had dwindled. For my protection, I had utilized it till it was depleted. The same power that the shadows took from me every time they were able to break through my defenses and touch me.

-

-

Neither day nor night

-

I'm still not sure where I am.

It is perpetually dark.

My legs are immobile, and my entire body is a misery. A big, towering shadow is the final image on my retina. Perhaps their leader's, who hovered over me, his eyes gleaming with frenzy. It had clawed wings that hid the light of an orange moon that hung in a black sky with ochre-colored clouds.

I could hear noises off in the distance. Certainly a get-together. A bunch of people were singing and dancing.

I was thrown on my stomach by a kick. It caught me off guard and was a pleasant surprise. Screams, as well as the slapping of steel-toed boots.

My agony multiplied tenfold, and I regained consciousness.

A face flashed from the depths of my memory: a set of smiling blue eyes, and all the things I wished I had done came flooding back to me.

Perhaps it was the winged shadows' blows that rained down faster. The kill was on its way.

All I wanted to do now was watch Kerry make flawless S's and 8's. The delight of seeing her again... Are they planning to beat me to death? If I had known I had already caught my enemy's attention with my power...

I felt as light as a feather all of a sudden. Was this what it felt like to die?

No, I was on the move. I was whisked away from this horrible reality, helpless and half-blind.

-

-

Lightless day

-

The arid dirt of the realm inhabited by the ghosts of winged monsters was replaced by a realm where the damp sand soothed my wounds and flayed flesh like a true salve.

I despise this life, the one I am currently experiencing, this agony, this dreadful agony that twists and bends me with each breath.

My conscience surrendered.

The memories faded away, and the picture of clawed wings descending on me reappeared. Yes, death will come soon, and I will be free of this agony.

Screaming for help would be futile. I knew even less about this universe than I did about the previous one.

I was on my own.

The waves slammed at me with increasing power with each sweep of water across the sand.

I couldn't speak due to the sheer blood on my lips.

My voice rose weaker, begging for aid, in a heroic effort fueled by my sorrow.

Silence responded to my call with a deafening silence.

All I could do was sink and listen to the law of stillness.

Tomorrow will be another day, if tomorrow exists here as well as on Earth. If the day ever comes....