Haunted

[Unleashed Squiid]

Haunted

Epigraph:

Those cold, glasslike eyes hide secrets. Secrets of a world far away. They hide the pain of the past, and the deep lust to return to a broken world which no longer remains. They are filled with lure; stars which shine bright and draw a being closer. If only for a millisecond, they even hold a tantalizing and nearly tangible glimpse of an inevitable fate. A trap which will snare the finest swordsman or the brightest logician. They bear the and curiosity of secrets and power. Things all creatures desire deep down in their souls, yet are never willing to admit. But that does not mean that the urge is still there. Those haunting eyes are dangerous. For beyond those stars lies pain.

[Unleashed Squiid]

Part I-By Stars and Candlelight

The world was cold. The soft glow of a candle flickered gently against the whisps of wind. Starlight radiated down, illuminating the single figure on the dirt. Her face was guarded by long white strands of hair. Things which would never uncover the mystique expression below them.

She walked along a moonlit path, fireflies dancing and twirling around her, and the hum of crickets guiding her way. The hair covered most of her vision, and in return, her hearing had grown sharp.

"We've been watching her forever" said Tuskin, a little creeped out at the situation unfolding before him. "Whatever it is that you want-I doubt she'll show it." He gripped his candle a little tighter.

"No. Just wait. It'll happen."

Tuskin was freezing. The wind ruffled his fur and he shivered. Why was this Kalon so interested in the mysterious girl. What did she possess that was so entrancing? He seemed to sense it in the air, but couldn't put his finger quite on the emotion it brewed. Maybe there would be some sort of trigger. After all, it had been three hours. He had come out here for something.

The night drew on and the strange moonlit girl crept along the past, stopping every so often and cocking her ears, listening for the slightest voice or hum of life. Luckily, Tuskin and his companion were quiet. They were trained in this skill of tracking, and he was certain that the kalon did not know of his presence.

"Stop!" Nadia commanded suddenly. Tuskin froze in place, and only his eyes drifted towards her.

"What is it?" he whispered between clenched teeth. He knew that 'stop' meant all movement; so sudden that the only trace of life would be his shallow breaths and beating heart. But even that had faltered.

"I think it's happening."

Tuskin skipped a breath. Indeed it was. The mysterious girl tilted her head back, and for a single moment, all was silent. The forest paused its nightly movements. The crickets trailed off, the fireflies' glow was cut short. Even the wind in the trees, and the gentle grace of gravity seemed to draw away. It was as if the whole forest had frozen in unison, waiting for the kalon to make her move, and resurrect the world.

"The candle" Nadia whispered.

Tuskin quickly blew out the singular light which remained. As soon as the smoke flurried into the cold air, it happened.

[Unleashed Squiid]

Part II-Grey


There was a blinding flash of light which stole her vision for a few moments, and she was thrown many feet backwards onto the ground. Nadia's entire body shook with fear. What was happening? The whole night sky was entranced in a spinning motion, the eye of which sat in the center of the clearing where that mysterious kalon sat. The trees seemed to sway towards that eye, and all of the kinetic motion seemed to follow.

She could not make out any smaller details, as little stars flooded her vision. The only memory she held of this chaos was the single moment when she realized that the hair covering the kalon's face had been parted. But as soon as the glimmering eyes had been revealed, the light had lashed out, and taken her here. To another world, perhaps? Maybe it had driven her insane.

Nadia looked around and realized that everything was wrong. A strange grey-scale had taken over, causing the sky and the land and the air to be drained of their colors. She looked down and realized that her own fur was the correct coloration, however. And when she called, her voice was the right voice.

"T-Tuskin?" she whispered, her voice cracked and dead. It shook too. Obviously. She was terrified.

"Nadia!" He yelled from behind a tree. And came dashing over. His fur was correct as well, however it was a little harder to tell, as it was grey anyways.

The two stood in silence. What was there to say? She just stared out into the forest which she had come so far into. And she noted that although this was the same forest, will the same landmarks and trees, there was something very, very different. The trees which had looked as if they were dying were now brand new and lively. The ground was littered with gorgeous flowers, and dotted with healthy insects and other tiny creatures.

And the most odd part of it all was the echoing silence. Their voices seemed to trail on and on forever. And if she listened hard enough, Nadia could hear the very beat of her heart. She could even head the pulse of blood throughout her veins.

But before she could finish, there was a soft and willowy voice. It was like that of the river itself. Or the rushing wind. The fiery sun, the gentle moon, all of the tiny luminous stars were entangled in that call. She turned around slowly. And there before her was the mysterious kalon, her eyes uncovered, staring deep into her soul.

[Unleashed Squiid]

Part III-Light of the World


"Welcome" said Eden. She examined the two for a while. "I knew you were there." She also knew that they couldn't respond. Her eyes had a way of doing that to others. They seemed to freeze them just like the world. An old friend had once told her that her eyes had hit her with vivid memories which played like a movie. Over and over; the happiest and the saddest days of her life.

She smiled faintly, and then turned around, letting the two travelers go. As long as they didn't look, they would be free of those rushing memories.

"What-I-my mom? Why...?" whispered one of the kalons. Nadia, she recalled. She remember her name being mentioned between the two.

"Who are you" the other, Tuskin was it, asked, his expression full of terror.

"I'm just a kalon like you, really." she responded. Eden didn't really mind the fear. She knew it was normal.

"How did you do that?" Nadia finally had gotten her words together.

"I didn't do anything, love. My eyes just do that by themselves." Her eyes were a gift. There was nothing really special about them other than their entrancing color; a gentle moonlit silver which faded down to a snowy purple. The stars in her eyes seemed to be what had caused all of these reactions. Each star was a regret, and they filled her vision almost completely. Now one could definitely say that the stars were beautiful. Even Eden had to admit that. It was like looking at a cool winters night, or the lovely purple August sky.

"I stopped the forest so I could look back on the way things used to be." Indeed. The trees were young back then, and beautiful. It was where she used to live, before things had spiraled out of control. Her past was not something she liked to remember, as back then her eyes were regular, normal, average eyes. The nostalgia feeling flooded her chest. She wished more than anything to fulfill the longing and go back, but for now, this was as far as she could go. Sadness tugged at her heart, but she could not cry. If only. "I am going to let you go, now." she said, softly.

In the distance, she could see the spot of their graves. Where they should have been at least, or where they should have stood today. If only. Maybe another time Eden could visit them, but not now. The two kalons did not deserve to be trapped here. They each had families; they each had friends and other loved ones who they could be spending valuable time with right now.

The two kalons exchanged a look behind her, he could sense the cold aura it gave off.

"Just one thing. Please." As soon as all of their attention rest on her, she continued. "Please go home. Hug your families."

There was a long pause. "Okay" said Nadia faintly. Eden realized that the kalon was crying.

Without warning, Eden slung her white hair back over her eyes. At once, the world was restored. She ran off as the others stumbled to the ground again, and over to that spot where her family rest. But this time, they were worn away from this world.

"Hello?" a voice called. But she did not answer it. The travelers would be left only with the small conversation that she had given them. A world which was much better know by less. A fate which was best shared with few.

[Unleashed Squiid]

Tuskin, Nadia, and Eden are not real characters as of now. This was a writing piece for kalon contest 1015. Eden was the character in question, and she is a real beauty.

I'd like to wish everybody a good luck. Your entries were all gorgeous. c:

Posting open.

Edit: 5/9/17
I can't believe it, but Eden is now a real character. She is my babe, and I love her so much! ;_;