Chapter 6: The Prophecy

The age of darkness will soon be gone
The age of light will reign
When the time comes, you will know
There will be no more pain

Through the ashes a darkness shall spring
Through the heavens a light shall spread
The one you seek has finally come
Find her or we are all dead

Will sat next to the charred stone statue of the mounted archer. He tossed his DoomBringer from one hand to the other casually. Vanya and Mark paced up and down around the lightning-blasted ground in deep thought. She had escaped again.

“Why is it that we always just miss her?” Mark asked in frustration as he kicked a rock away with his foot, “At this rate we will never fulfill the prophecy. It’s not fair.”

“Life’s not fair,” Vanya replied absentmindedly as he continued to pace about. Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. There, directly underneath him, was a fire ruby from a Flame Golden Circlet.

“Mark, Will, come take a look,” Vanya gasped as he bent down to pick it up. However, when Vanya’s fingers were just millimeters from the jewel, he suddenly recoiled as if it had stung his hand.

“It’s cold, too cold,” Vanya exclaimed as he massaged his fingers. Mark strode forward as he hastily put on his newly acquired Work Gloves and picked up the fire ruby. He could feel its icy temperature as it slowly seeped into his gloves. Quickly, Mark stuffed it into his pack.

“She will be wearing a Flame Golden Circlet without the ruby,” Vanya explained, “We must move quickly if we are to find her. Come!” Vanya dashed towards the direction of the entrance to Mushroom Park as Will and Mark sprinted behind him.
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Aaru opened her purple eyes to the darkness of the night. She could hear crickets chirping outside the house. She slowly propped herself up with her arms and rested her back upon the couch. Around her were her two best friends, who had pledged themselves to her forever just a few hours ago. They were sound asleep, their chests rising and falling steadily.

The grand father clock suddenly chimed twelve o’ clock, making Aaru gasp in surprise. As the twelve gongs reverberated throughout the house, Aaru found herself suddenly drowsy. As the twelfth chime sounded, Aaru’s eyes closed and she was immersed into darkness once more.
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Aaru ran down the alley in Kerning City. Her footsteps echoed about the close walls of the surrounding buildings. Soon, that pair of footsteps were joined by three more. Aaru glanced behind in terror as she ran, getting a glimpse of her pursuers. Three Rangers sprinted after her, wielding their Hinkles.

Suddenly, a wall crashed up through the ground, making her skid to a stop. She three other walls suddenly sprang up, enclosing Aaru with the three Rangers in a cage.

“Stay still,” the lead Ranger growled menacingly through gritted teeth, “We will finish it quick if you cooperate.” Aaru found herself reaching into her robes for her Cromi, but found the very wand her parents had bought her the night they were murdered. Tears streamed out of her pretty violet eyes. She blinked them away with rage as she returned her glare to the Rangers.

“I will fight to the death,” Aaru said stolidly. A great, evil laughter rang through the air.
“Very well, but you will beg for death before we are done,” The lead Ranger grinned. They closed in.

Aaru slowly stepped backwards as the Rangers advanced, but was blocked by the accursed wall. She felt a sudden fear she had never felt before rise to her throat, choking off her airway. She collapsed as the three Rangers reached her and towered over her.

As the Rangers stopped, the lead bowman reached for his hood. He slowly slid his hood off and revealed his messy brown hair and pitch black eyes. He sneered menacingly, revealing a set of sharp, jagged, non-human teeth. The three Rangers raised their bows fitted with an arrow each simultaneously and pulled the string back. Their dark eyes met Aaru’s purple iris.

Then, unexpectedly, the lead Ranger’s face suddenly turned into Aaru’s father’s from so long ago. Aaru’s pupils dilated in shock as a face so familiar, yet so distant appeared right in front of them. It cannot be.

“Goodbye.”
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“Aaru, Aaru wake up,” Someone was shaking her.
Aaru’s eyes flashed open once more. Blurred faces loomed over her eyes. Her head pounded like there was no tomorrow. She keeled over to the side of the couch and vomited.

Dawn’s first rays crept over the trees and managed to bring its waxing light into the room. Amidst the sudden chaos, Aaru’s Flame Golden Circlet sat on the coffee table, devoid of a single fire ruby.

Author’s Note: Forgive me if this chapter is short, but I did not have much time.