Chapter 3: School

Chapter 3: School

“Dawn. Daaawn…” Sang a sweet motherly voice softly.

“Mom…five more minutes…” Dawn mumbled half asleep. “I couldn’t sleep last night…I had a bad dream…”

“It’s okay dear. The night is over.” Dawn’s mother whispered.

Dawn sat up and stared her mother’s face. She was alive! The whole thing had just been a bad dream! And as an extra confirmation, Elva suddenly burst through Dawn’s bedroom door and flew unto her bed.

“GOOD MORNING!!!” She shouted. “Come on! We’re gonna be late for school if you don’t get your lazy butt out of bed!”

Dawn glared at her best friend for a moment. The two remained froze like that; Dawn glaring and Elva smiling with mischief behind her eyes. Then both girls burst out laughing randomly. Elva slid off her friend’s bed and began throwing Dawn’s uniform onto her head. Then Elva skipped out of the room leaving Dawn to get dressed. Dawn’s mother seemed to have disappeared but Dawn just figured she slipped out when Elva pounced her. After a quick shower, Dawn stared at her reflection in the mirror. Had everything….just been a bad dream? Maybe. Elva was there and her parents were alive. She had woken up inside her own house which she saw burned to the ground. Everything was where it was supposed to be. But what about Tito and the other Flyers? Was that just a dream too?

Of course it was. Why would a Flyer actually approach her? She was just like everyone who wanted to sprout wings and soar. Dawn sighed. It was just one of her crazy dreams…that just felt so real. She moped down the stairs to find her mother cooking a delicious large breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage and toast. That was strange. Dawn’s mother usually never made a large breakfast. Maybe, she got up early this morning. Dawn shrugged it off and enjoyed her large breakfast with Elva. Well at least that was normal. Elva would usually come over and “steal” their food. She was a morning person. Dawn wasn’t. The two girls finished quickly then sped off to school. It was the normal routine except they left a little bit earlier than usual so they decided to walk.

Walk along the trail through the dark forest where both girls would try to scare each other, stroll along the warm coast then up the grassy bank to the gothic looking building known as Saint Bridget’s School for Girls. The day seemed to move unusually fast and before she knew it, Dawn was in the last lesson before lunch: Period 4. The day had been pretty normal and boring….except for one thing. Not once during a single lesson did one of the girls jump up and exclaim, “Look there’s a Flyer!” That was odd. Flyers always passed over during school hours and always one girl would at least catch a glimpse.

But not today. No, not even were any of them staring out the window hoping to catch a glance. They were all focussed on their work! Dawn shrugged that off too, but something was tugging at the back of her mind that something was wrong. No, maybe Flyers just didn’t feel like flying today. Or the girls who sat by the window were too tired to scan the skies hopelessly. Whenever something seemed off, Dawn always managed to convince herself otherwise. Lunch was normal. Dawn and Elva made their way to their favourite spot and stared at the sky while enjoying lunch together. As Dawn was in the middle of Elva’s special cookies, a glimmer of red in the sky caught her eyes. Could it be?

Dawn stood to her feet with a huge smile on her face.

“Tito! TITO!” Dawn shouted at the sky waving her hand. “Down here!!!”

Suddenly she felt a harsh hand yank her back down to the ground. Elva?

“What are you doing?” She hissed.

“What? That’s Tito, a Fire Flyer.” Dawn exclaimed.

“Um, no. That’s a red glider.” Elva corrected, slightly confused.

A second look confirmed that. It was just a man in a red glider. Dawn sighed.

“Where are the Flyers today? I haven’t sensed a single one.” Dawn asked.

“Flyers? You mean birds?” Elva asked really confused now.

“Huh? No, I mean Flyers. You know the humans with colourful wings? Don’t you remember? We saw one yesterday.” Dawn frantically answered puzzled by her friend.

Dawn didn’t understand it. How could it be? Didn’t they see a Flyer a few days ago? Or was that a dream too? If that was the case then what parts was the dream? Had the whole history of Flyers been made up in her mind too? What about Xander, Tito’s Great Grandfather who saved her twelve years ago? Too many questions buzzed around in Dawn’s head. Then Elva spoke up.

“You must of fallen asleep drawing again. You always did have quite the imagination.”

“Hmm…..yeah…” Dawn whispered.

But it still felt wrong. Something was wrong but something was also telling her it was right. Dawn stared at the lapping green water. Green? Wait, last time she saw the water it was blue. Eh, maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Her eyes must have been a bit blurry. The rest of the day moved along quickly then it started to rain as the two girls walked home. They unbuttoned their blazers and sat them on their heads in a desperate attempt to keep dry. The thunder cracked the dark sky which seemed to whip the rain down harder and the lightning zigzagged its way through the clouds. Dawn and Elva made haste through the dense forest back home. Neither spoke to save time.

They quickly said goodbye under a thick tree which provided brief dryness then went their separate ways back home. Dawn scurried home. She was pretty much already soaked so she lowered her blazer and scampered home darkening her white socks even more. Dawn shoved her key into the door and pushed the door open quickly, glad to be out of the cold rain.

“Mom. Mom, I’m home!” Dawn shouted kicking her muddy school shoes off.

No answer.

“Mom?”

Dawn walked out into the living room only to find it empty. That was strange. Her mother was always sitting at home awaiting her on the couch with a warm smile always willing to listen.

“This has only been a taste of what this world could be like.”

A dark voice suddenly said from behind startling Dawn. The whole room suddenly went pitch black. Dawn breathed heavily, terrified. She slowly turned, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest. It seemed to echo through this strange dark place. She turned and faced the dark voice. It was a man. A tall man shroud in shadow. Despite the rooming being pure darkness, Dawn easily made his shape out. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall in a medium built body but something told Dawn he was strong. The man then removed his black, sharp helmet. He had long black hair and glowing orange eyes with tan skin. Dawn’s heart beat faster.

“Stay asleep. Remain here where Flyers don’t exist and you never have to face the darkness.” The man tempted.

Dawn almost wanted to say yes. While the whole world might have been an illusion, her friends and family were alive. Everything was normal except for there weren’t any Flyers. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing…

The man moved closer.

“Here, you’re safe. Stay here with your friends and family who love you and care about you and will never leave you.”

A step closer.

Dawn couldn’t move…or maybe she didn’t want to. The idea was sounding better and better. Suddenly Tito appeared far behind the figure. He seemed to be trapped behind some sort of blurry glass. Dawn could just make out his mouth screaming her name but couldn’t hear him. He pounded his fist against the “glass”.

“Look at me.” The figure commanded, roughly grabbing Dawn’s arm.

She was forced to stare into his deep eyes. She could feel her body and mind letting go; giving into unconsciousness. He was winning. She was about to be eternally trapped is that wonderful illusion. No.

“Ti-” Dawn breathed.

“No! Forget everything. Forget the Flyers. Forget your destiny.” The man growled growing desperate.

“Ti-Ti…TITO!!!” Dawn screamed.

The glass suddenly broke allowing Tito to fly in. He wrapped his arms tightly around the man’s waist and tackled him to the ground. The man struggled angrily.

“Dawn! Wake up! Get out of here!” Tito desperately shouted struggling to hold on.

The man abruptly caught Tito in the nose with his elbow then once free, threw him into the “wall”. Dawn backed away, terrified. She would have run to Tito’s if only for what happened next. The man began to change. Dawn thought there was something horrifyingly familiar about those eyes. A Dark Creature. His bones cracked into place and a sickening black liquid began squirting from his pores.

The thick, syrupy substance climbed along his body until it formed the leathery black skin belonging to Dark Creatures. Unlike the others Dawn had seen this Dark Creature was shaped more like a black panther than a bulky, raging beast. His body movement was smooth as he stared at Dawn.

“RUN!” Tito shouted again.

The Dark Creature turned his head and growled at the limp doll like figure on the ground known as Tito giving Dawn enough time to turn and begin running. But not enough to get away. The Dark Creature growled loudly then sprang high over Dawn; its four tails just missing her. The Dark Creature rolled its shoulders which in turn rolled his wings as well. He was in attack mode and Dawn was the weak target. Tito jumped to his feet, drew his large sword and jumped in front of Dawn; placing the sword in front of him like a shield across his chest.

“How do I get out of here?!” Dawn asked anxiously, her brown eyes wide with fear.

“Wake up, Dawn! Just wake up!”

At that moment, the Dark Creature lunged only to be held back by Tito’s sword. The beast crushed Tito’s sword in his mouth then pushed Tito to the ground. Tito struggled to keep the beast’s large mouth off his neck with his hands.

“DAWN!!!” Tito screamed, a bit of terror hinted in his tone.

Dawn didn’t know what to do. She never had to try and wake up from a realistic dream. The stress was building. Tito could die! But this was a dream; would he really die in real life? Dawn suddenly screamed, tears pouring down her face. The whole room shook and cracks of light appeared. Dawn continued to scream.

“Dawn!” Tito shouted as Dawn suddenly bolted awake.

She sat straight up, sweating and panting in fear. Her heartbeat raced dangerously. Tito was kneeled at the side of her bed with his hands on her shoulders.

“Dawn, calm down! Calm down.” Tito said calming down himself.

But Dawn wasn’t calming down. She stared wide eyed at her sheets and still panted dangerously fast. Tito called for a doctor and one arrived within seconds.

“She is in a state of shock.” The Flyer doctor said calmly. “Obviously the work Volos.”

The doctor pulled out a needle and then stuck it into Dawn’s vein. Dawn immediately calmed down. Her eyes glazed slightly and she fell limp slightly. Tito held her up. He picked her up and carried her to the Flyer Council. By that point, Dawn started gaining more life. Her eyes focussed slightly and her heart rate remained down.

“Volos has just confirmed it. The Dark Lord is after Dawn. Why? I do not know but I fear it has something to do with the legend. Volos used a very powerful illusion on Dawn meaning they feel threatened already.” Tito explained to the council. “We have also received word from other Flyers that many other species are in trouble. Many are suffering from similar situation: their families were killed and friends kidnapped but they escaped.”

The council murmured amongst them for a bit. Tito swallowed. He stood alone in a dark room with a single spot light on him. The council could be seen around him but just barely. Most of them were old, wise men that had been in control for many generations. Flyers lived slightly longer than the average Earthling. Their average life span was about 100 years. The oldest member was about 150 years old though he appeared strong and tall. The only hint to his age was his medium long white hair and deep set wrinkles.

The Head Council member stood to his feet easily. Tito pursued his lips. He had power over all decisions below the King.

“So, what do you propose we do?” The eldest member, Lord Eirik, asked.

Tito was hoping Lord Eirik would say this. He began to explain his plan. Go to each land of the four different species and find out what the Dark Lord is up to. He was to take Dawn with him if the legend was true about her. Lord Eirik listened intensely without saying a word until Tito was finished. Tito held his breath awaiting the Head of the Council’s decision. Then he nodded.

“If Dawn is really the Earthling the legend speaks about then it will be useful for her to learn about what lies beneath her understanding.” Lord Eirik answered. “Tomorrow you will take her to see the Waterlings.”

Tito nodded then picked up Dawn once again. She was much more awake but the shot had temporarily killed her nervous system causing her to become doll like. Tito carried her as if she weighed nothing back to her room without a word. He gently laid her back on her bed and pulled the covers over her legs. It would still be some time before the relaxant wore off. Just as Tito stood up, Dawn reached out and grabbed the edge of his tunic.

“Please stay.” She whispered.

Tito weakly smiled then pulled up a chair beside her bed. There he sat through the night watching over her…like a guardian angel. Her Sky Angel.