Sci Fi & Fantasy / Murder of Crows (Prologue)
Prologue: Innocence
She slowly sinks towards a gentle slumber, alone in her room, enjoying the quiet peace of the late night hours. Wrapped tightly in blankets of cotton and wool, she clings to them to shield herself from the winter cold. Teetering between the state of wakeful awareness and a light sleep, she can still hear everything around her. The soft tapping of tree branches blown against her window, the muted purring of passing vehicles, and even the muffled conversations of those still awake at such an ungodly hour; each seem to blend together almost as if an attempt to lull her to sleep. She finds herself unsure exactly which sounds are real and which are part of her dreams, and to be honest at first she doesn't care. But the next noise she hears is unmistakable; a sound she's come to dread more than death itself. No, death would be a welcome alternative to what she knows is coming.
She hears the soft creaking of her bedroom door as it's slowly opened inward and instinctively clenches the blanket tighter, so much so that it starts to hurt her hands. She tries to remain perfectly still, to pretend shes asleep, knowing very well what good it will do. She feels his presence as he enters the room. How could she not, it made every hair on her body stand on end.
Her breathing starts to become more and more shallow, her heartbeat pacing faster. He slowly creeps across the floor trying desperately not to make any kind of noise. The closer he gets the more her muscles tense, so much so she thinks she might pass out from the strain. Then comes a loud creak and he immediately stops, her heart jumping in the same instant. He had stepped on a loose floor board. They both remain still, waiting, listening to see if anyone in the house stirs. Silence. He starts to move towards her again only this time he chooses not to take his time. He's lost his patience and is anxious to get what he came for.
He's so close now and she can smell the smoke of his favorite cigarettes like an arsenic aura surrounding his body, no doubt soaked into every pore of his skin. She can hardly breathe and the ache in her chest feels almost as if someone is squeezing her heart. Now he's standing next to her bed. He stops moving all together and she tries to do the same, now holding her breath. For several moments he doesn't move at all, only stands there as she risks hoping that he'll change his mind and leave. But she knows better. There's no sense in hoping for what she knows is against his nature. And so for a moment time just stands still.
The waiting is almost unbearable but she has no choice but to take it in stride. Then with out warning she can feel him reach for her and place his hand on top of her bed spread. She flinches and his hand jerks back just a little. She can feel him smiling, can almost picture it in her mind. Then her attention is snapped back to what she knows for sure as he starts moving his hand up and down the length of her body, petting her over the covers. She clenches her eyes shut as he peels back the blanket, kneeling over to kiss her on the four head.
With the pinkie finger of his right hand he gently brushes back her hair and she can feel the tears begin to swell up inside of her. "Shhhhhh," he whispers. "How's my little china doll?" He says now stroking her hair with his whole hand. He grins, and she can tell he's becoming more anxious. She's always hated that name. He's called her that ever since he and her mother started seeing one another, his pet name for her and what he claims is a sign of his 'love'.
He now starts to pull back all of the covers, taking his time, enjoying every moment. She tightens her body into a ball, fighting the tears she knows will soon come. There's nothing she can do. She's a child, only twelve years old. He's strong, she's weak. She's tried to tell her mother several times before and she's never believed her. Worse, she's threatened her and even accused her of trying to ruin their relationship. No, she's alone, powerless, with no one to save her. "Show me you love me." He tells her as he goes in for a kiss, the tears only exciting him more. She can feel his breath on her skin now and suddenly she knows she can't hold back anymore. Something churns inside of her, something shes never felt before. It echoes throughout her entire body and seems to only push the tears forward.
He's tired of waiting now. The game is losing its appeal and she knows he will try something soon. The rough short hairs of his unshaven face scratch her as he kisses her on the cheek and she instantly starts to cry. And as her tears break so does something else. All the pain, all the fear, all the anger and hurt, she just lets them all go. It all happens so fast; instinct. She releases her pain and something more along with it.
The pressure in the room rapidly increases, the air becoming filled with heat and friction. Her breathing changes, growing faster and faster. Her own temperature seems to increase, her body becoming covered with sweat. She begins to rock back and forth almost as if with the rhythm of her own panting. The tears run down her face as if small rivers of their own and she tastes the salty liquid as it flows across her lips. She feels a headache coming on, throbbing behind her eyes, the tension only increases the flow of tears.
He makes his move running his hand down her leg. Instantly a lamp across the room bursts. Then a small glass figurine of a unicorn shatters way over on the opposite end. He jerks himself upward searching the room for an explanation. He looks back and forth afraid someone has walked in on them. She's perfectly calm now. Her mind relaxed and her attention focused. She's had enough, is tired of being a victim. She only wants it to end, for him to get what he deserves. What she wants...is to watch him burn.
Her tears cease and the headache is now gone. No more doubt, no more fear, only her will remains. Suddenly he feels a growing heat under the hand still placed on top of her. It starts as a minor discomfort quickly growing to a burning sensation. At first theres only a single small spark, a tiny blue flame. Then several more ignite throughout the room catching everything ablaze. In an instant the pressure in the room jumps, dropping him to his knees, and in his next breath the room in its entirety bursts in an explosion of blue and white fire. Surrounded by an inferno of etheric flame engulfing everything in sight, he is devoured as reparations for his evil deeds. No longer powerless. No more the victim. Her will is done.
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Really nice intro..I could tell your story is going to be heavy on the detail. Your notes sold me…I didnt even start reading and I already liked this. I’m glad your keeping it more realistic than scifi…but not to realistic. It took me a while to pick up on what was going on but by page 2 I caught on. Sorry that I dont have anything negative to say, becuase I liked and the promise of other character introductions have me exited about reading more.
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