Hoshi
Chapter 1
(If anyone is reading this please tell me what you think of it so far)
Everyone
else was asleep, as I tiptoed through the old house and out the creaking door.
The climate was cool. A soft breeze rustled the grass, tickling my bare
feet. I took off, racing toward the
hills. Even though they were forbidden no one could resist, especially me. For the
hills, they called me there with their views, and aura of magic. There was also
something else that called me there tonight something urgent.
For
a boy of 17 I was the fastest around. It only to minutes before my feet slowed
as I reached the base of the first hill.
A light flashed across the sky illuminating the colorful fields of
flowers. Then it was dark. I ran up the hill to see what was going on. Panting
I reached the top as my questions were answered. A body lay on the ground just
below me. It was a girl that looked just about younger than me, with flawless
features.
Tan eyelids closed, touching a deep strawberry blush, blood
red, breathless lips, her black locks fell around her, and next to her was a
chain. The chain made me gasp. For on the silver chain was the symbol that was
only heard about in stories. A symbol that no one had seen for one hundred
years!
How?
Why?
A
star had fallen. Forcing myself to rush down the hill and check it out I came
to a halt near the bottom. The star had disappeared in a cloud colorful magic.
Another light flashed across the sky. And
another, and Another! There were tons of falling stars. Lying all over the
hills were the stars, both women and men. All had the symbol somewhere on their
person, and all disappeared. One at a time.
Why was this happening? I questioned my
eyes. This couldn’t be happening. No, it was all true, and it was happening.
After a long while of
the stars falling it ended. I sat down on the damp grass, and pondered, just
pondered. I thought about the world, how devastating the world was, what will
the future hold, why all these stars fell to the earth and died, and what will
happen next.
Interrupting
my thoughts was another flash of light. I raced toward it! This one... This one
was different. I could tell. When she
landed she stood up, her eyes were clear and she was surrounded by fire. Wings
of fire appeared on her back, and then slowly vanished. Diminishing with the
fire. Her eyes lost their clear gloss and turned an enchanting pale green. Then
she fell, landing softly on the grass.
I caught her. Lifting
her up I started to carry her back to my village. She was lighter than I
expected. Looking down at her I realized
that she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Thin and pale she looked
like an angel. Turning my attention away I noticed a shadow watching me
advance. Its glowering eyes met mine and it vanished. I quickened my pace. It appeared again closer, and closer. It was
advancing toward us! Making a mad dash for it I raced toward the last incline.
The thing was gaining fast. I dashed up the hill, and turned around. It was
motionless, still glowering, and black as could be, standing erect, and
emanating darkness. Could it be the shadow? The one who so many years ago
caused the destruction of a whole country? It was him.
I stepped back and slowly edged myself to edge
of the hills. Finally I passed through the barrier and into my little town. The
sun was slowly rising in the east. People were starting to awake.
Pushing open the door to our little shack, the
wooden door creaked open. Standing there blocking the doorway was a kindly old
woman, with a thoughtful expression. It
was Grandma. She looked at me started to speak when she noticed the girl. The
star’s face was pale and her breathing was slowing down.
Nodding Grandma looked at me and asked, “Where
did you find her, Akira?” I took a deep breath. No scolding for going out at
night without telling her was a big relief.
“Um… It’s a long
story,” changing the subject I asked, “Can you see if she’s alright?”
“Yes, I shall. Tis
best to ask her the questions my nephew will not. Lay her on the bed there.”
Complying
I laid her down gently. It was the softest bed in the house, and was the one we
used for the sick. Shuffling over Grandma was checking her pulse right as
little Rini ran into the room. Glancing at Grandma and the star she hesitated
for a second. Then she glanced at my mildewed covered pants, and grass stained
cloak.
“You were in the hills
again,” she scolded, “Grandma’s told you time and time again not to go there.”
“Huh?! Not you too!”
“I will excuse it this
time,” said Grandma, “but only because he saved this poor young girl. Why she
cannot be more than 16!”
“The Shadow lives,” I
said, “And for some reason he wants her.”
“The
Shadow?! But how?! Why is he after her? What’s going on? And most importantly
how do you know?!” Rini questioned.
“Akira,
tell us the whole story. Now,” Grandma demanded.
I told them. (Well, I
didn’t really have much of choice. When old people get mad they go insane). By
the time I was done Grandma looked like she’d seen a ghost, and Rini was gawking.
“So is that the star,”
Rini asked pointing toward the bed, “And why did so many fall?”
“Yes Rini. That’s her.” I turned toward
Grandma. She was shaking, eyes wide, and she was as white as snow, “Grandma!”
She stopped shaking, and looked at me and Rini. Face returning to normal, she
shook her head.
“I’m
alright. Just promise me this.”
“What?”
We both asked.
“Promise me this, that you will never let her fall into the
wrong hands.”
“We
promise grandma,” I said.
“Yeah,”
said Rini, “We promise.
The
room went quiet. We all just looked one another and thought, but then she
stirred. Her deep black lashes fluttered open, revealing those mysterious green
eyes. Sitting up she looked around questioningly. Her milk white skin looked tinted blue in the
sunrises light, strawberry-blonde locks flowed smoothly down, light pink lips,
silver green eyes jumped around in a curious way, her hands grasped the woolen
blanket, as her light gray pink dress wrinkled in an unreal way.
“W-where
am I,” she asked?
“You’re
safe,” said Grandma, “Go to sleep now, but first what’s your name dearie?”
“I-I
don’t remember,” she replied, “Why? Why, can’t I remember anything?”
“Then
get some rest. Maybe your memory will return then,” she turned toward us, “And
as for you two. You two should really be getting to work now. C’mon! Get
going.”
“Thank you.”
We departed, and headed
to go do our morning chores. I wondered why Grandma made us make that promise.
There was something she was hiding. And that girl had something to do with it,
but no matter what it was about. It was probably best not to question Grandma
about it. She was unbreakable when keeping secrets. Even the town mayor had
trouble.
Stepping
outside with my mind still full of questions I noticed a dark figure watching
me. I took a closer look. No. It wasn’t the shadow. Taking a deep breath I
sighed. For some reason I was on edge.
Even the smallest noise would come to my attention, and send shivers up
my back. So when Takai (my best friend) came over, he was wondering why I was
so jumpy.
“I
don’t know Takai, I’m scared just to tell you in case you get involved too,” I
said while sitting cross-legged in the grass.
“C’mon, Akira you can
tell me. I’m not a chicken like you,” He leaned down and punched me in the arm.
“Ouch,
Takai that hurt!”
“You’re scared of something. I can tell.”
“No,
I’m not! I’m just. Just, worried I guess. Alright?! Something happened this
morning, and it set me off edge.”
“Tell
me! Please?”
“No, Takai.”
“Come on. Please!”
“Fine,”
I sighed, “I was in the hills again.”
“Akira!
You know that place is forbidden! Even to the strongest warriors! Why would you
go there, besides the obvious?”
I
opened my mouth, and closed it again. Should I really tell him? I will. I
shall.
“Something
or someone was calling me there. I don’t know what still, but when I got there
I saw billions of falling stars. All of them disappeared except one girl. She’s
at my house now asleep and weak. Ai’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever
seen,” I caught myself and got back on topic, “But that’s not the thing that’s
put me off edge. While carrying her home I noticed that something was following
us. It wasn’t till I got close to the barrier that I found out who it was.”
“Who
was it?”
“It
was. It was the Shadow. He tried to get her, but I got through just in time.
I’m just worried that he’ll come back.”
Looking
at Takai I noticed his eyes were wide for a second, and then a grin crept
across his face. He looked me over again. Then he burst into gales of laughter.
When the laughter subsided he smiled wide.
“Akira,
you’re kidding me! What really happened?”
“No,
I’m not kidding you! That’s what really happened. I’m serious!”
He
leaned back against the wooden fence and sighed. That blue-eyed gaze looked far
away, black hair waved around in the soft breeze, and he looked kind of sad,
for all of the laughter was drained from my friends face. Looking down at me
once more he smiled again. What I had seen him like seemed like just a piece of
my imagination.
“I’ve
been hoping this wouldn’t happen,” he sighed shaking his head, “I’ve known
about this for so long, but still. I just couldn’t accept it.”
“Wait.
What?! You knew?!
“Yes,
I knew. I heard the elders talking it over. They noticed me and made me swear
not to tell a soul about what I had heard. Of course I swore. I mean those
oldies scare me!”
We
laughed.
“No seriously.”
“I
agree.”
We
just sat there for quite a while, and watched the clouds float across the sky.
They were spread out and calming. The breeze carried the smell of wild
blossoms, as my younger sister ran out of the house excited. Her wild green-brown
hair flew valiantly in the wind, laughing brown eyes gazed at my friend, and
then her face reddened into a hue that I had never seen before. Especially not on
her.
“Akira,”
she called, “She’s awake! She’s awake!”
“What!
Sorry Takai I’ve got to go.”
“I’m
coming with you!”
“Fine,
hurry up though.”
