Chapter 0:

Nocturne of the End

PARADISE:/ LOST


[February 22, 2034, on the Caligian Calendar]


It was like a flash of lighting.


The fire consumed the city of Hyperion like wildfire through a dry forest. People with nowhere to run jumped from their windows to escape the insufferable death of the fire. A fog-like veil covered the sky, creating an eternal night. Some of the people outside stood motionless on the sidewalks and streets; frozen in time, encased by a bloody, cracked stone.


What is going on? How did this happen?


Feeling the rough texture of the asphalt street on his face, he knew that somehow, he had fallen face down on the ground. He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn’t obey the command he sent out. Sounds of panic filled the air. Children now orphaned, mothers and fathers left childless—Their cries and screams filled the city.


The sights and sounds terrified and disgusted him. He desperately wanted to help and silence some of the pain that penetrated his ears. However, in his current condition, this was impossible. Suddenly, an explosion sounded near him. The heat radiated into the asphalt he laid on.


Hot, hot, hot, it’s hot. He repeated to himself over.


Someone… please. He tried to breathe, but a raspy breath was the only thing that he could manage. Help… me.


The scorching heat from the fire and the lack of oxygen in the air stopped him from speaking. The words he thought he was saying out loud, were only in his head. The ringing of his ears was so loud, that he didn’t realize that every word he “said” wasn’t coming out of his mouth. The sounds of terror slowly and abruptly silenced one by one as if someone or something was responsible for doing so. After a few seconds, there was silence.


Nothing, but the cracking of the fire remained until the screeching of a metal blade scraping on the asphalt pierced through the silence. He looked back and saw a figure approaching him with a tall sword dragging behind her. The backlit, humanoid silhouette slowly approached him as he lay on the ground. The figure’s heavy footsteps got louder and louder as they approached him. Its long hair blowing in the wind.


Suddenly, its blade was replaced by a smaller figure that followed behind her, keeping her same, slow pace. As the two figures closed in on him, the smaller one bent down to look at him. . She was a small girl with long, China Blue hair that was tied up in the back with three long knots, one on the top and two on either side and two medium-length strands on the sides, tied in the middle. Her yellow eyes shone brightly in the fiery light in front of her. She looked human, but something about her didn’t seem right, but he couldn’t put a finger on it.


The smaller figure spoke in a strange cryptic language that was hard for him to understand, but he could assume what was about to happen to him if the larger figure got too close to him. The larger one nodded and started walking towards him. He waited until it got close enough and he threw some ash into her face. He tried to crawl away, but the smaller figure stepped on his leg sending a shocking pain through his entire body.


“Well, well, well. Seems like this one might be useful.” The larger figure said.


Her voice was feminine but low for a female adult. She squatted down, grabbing his hair to force him to look at her. He locked eyes with this mysterious woman that stood before him and refused to look away. Her long, blonde hair blew in the wind but stayed in its neat form as if the wind was there only to aid in her beauty. Her left eye was covered by a rose that’s color was still bright and vibrant despite the lack of direct light. She laughs out loud, filling the silence once more.


“Oi, 4-23. Take this one. I like this kid.”


The smaller girl, presumably 4-23, nodded and picked him up, hoisting him over her shoulder and the three of them disappeared into the ruined city.


At that moment, his—Kouma Fujikawa’s life was spared for a little while longer. 

Arashi Sensei
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