"I can help you gather supplies if you are in need," said Evie, heading down the ash hill before her.Alecia trailed behind it while keeping eyes on her surroundings. Clouds of dust formed underneath her white boots with each step she took, making it dirty.A soft, ricocheting sound rippled through a narrow alleyway. She walked close enough to examine where it came from and found a plastic sheet manipulated by a gentle breeze."Alecia," Evie called from behind her. She turned her attention to her companion. "These supplies will put your strength back to normal."-Alecia and Evie were on the first floor of a dilapidated building. Sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor, she stared through the crack on the wall and viewed the city down below, a gust of contaminated air blowing on her silver hair."I didn't realize I was so hungry," Alecia said with a chuckle. Her smile quickly faded as her eyes narrowed at the two men walking side-by-side in the distance, pulse quickening at the sight o

Falling into a never-ending abyss, Alecia's breathing increased rapidly as she watched the light dimmed out. As soon as she closed her eyes, awaiting the inevitable end, rough voices growled and dominated her head."She's one of them!""This is for all the people who have died because of you.""I'm different.""I thought you'd understand."In a snap, she became weightless, along with the calm breeze guiding around her entire body. Alecia pried open her eyes to find herself no longer slipping endlessly, but hovering above the ground, transparent blue flames keeping her in a fixed position. It delicately descended her to the ground and disintegrated away into nothing.She struggled to keep herself up-just standing upright was a difficult task for her-and roamed her eyes around the unfamiliar area."Oh, Evie," she murmured with a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry."She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh, and when she opened them, a thick fog surrounded her. Slow and steady, she stumbled to th

The curious individuals strode near the ruins of a large built-in fountain."Isn't that weird, how it has an infant with wings?" she said, standing in front of it, scrutinizing the statue, her arms crossed. "It looks like it's blowing the palm of its own hand.""Seems that way," he said, moving beside her, and typed something on the device on his wrist, light reflecting his face."What a weird idol," she said, stroking her chin with a tilt of her head. "No, it's too basic to be an idol.""It might only be an art form," he said with a reasonable tone while he continued typing."Is that so?" She frowned and roamed around the fountain, meeting his gaze. "What are you doing?""Just logging our time spent here." He took a look at her and back on the screen."Do we have to do it?" She perched on the fountain wall."Yes," he glowered at her, "we do."Scowling, he rolled his eyes. "We need to keep record where we are and how we got here."He stopped typing and lowered his arms. "We are very f

Ivon took a step away from her."She's not supposed to do that!"Aven's eyes filled with shock as a blue pulse of energy erupted from her body, forcing Ivon and his two men to fly across the room. Ivon got up-confused and shaken-and before he even recovered, another calm, blue flame-like energy slowly emitted from her body; its intensity constantly pulled back as it moved out from her as if it longed to release itself but couldn't. Aven smirked, pride laced upon his lips. The ropes around her dissolved, and she stood, glaring at Ivon."D'you think you can get away?"Leah raised her hand, palm facing him; a circular outline formed within it as if it bent light in itself. Ivon got hit by an invisible force, smashing him towards the cracked wall. In fear, the two settlers dashed through the massive hole."Aven," she ripped the ropes off her brother and caressed his scarred face, "we need to get out of here."She lowered herself, let his arm lean around her, and carried him outside and in

Alecia lay down on the sofa near the office's window, with Wallace sitting on the chair facing her."Although I've put you in a deep sleep," he rested an open book on his lap, "you'd still hear my voice, as clear as when you were awake. Now, Alecia, tell me what you see.""I feel very short." She chuckled. "Like a child.""Interesting." He scribbled on his open book. "Are you sure you're a child?""Yes.""Can you tell me where you are?""I traversed down a beautiful passage as if the stars had been captured and put on each side of the wall, with colors of blue, red, green, and white. I had an urge to touch them, but I shouldn't. Ahead of me, a white crystal statue shaped like a woman came into view. I ran towards her out of pure joy, but as I got closer, the walls of the passage ended. Below me was a bottomless drop, and the floor where I stood narrowed towards the crystalline woman. It didn't stop me from balancing towards her."Beautiful colors surrounded the inner walls, headed int