Okay, here's one of my entries for the contest. More to come!
Spoiler ShowCall Me A Sinner
I have heard people talk about it before, on what they’d do if they had only one day left to live. Some would donate all of their belongings. Some would cry pitifully in a corner. Some would take care of their grudges. Some would seek forgiveness. Some would murder someone. I am in the last category; there is someone that has to die before I do. It is the one that cursed me to this half-life when I was a baby.
My father has to die.
I felt my muscles tense as I slammed into the wall; my head spinning even as I pushed myself up to my hands and knees. My muscles were screaming at me, I did notice the odd blurry vision I’d gained, probably from whacking my head against the wall. Staggering back to my feet, I glanced at the man that stood across from me; the older gentleman is casually inspecting his nails.
Anger boiling over at the disregard, I snarl at the other man. Lunching across the room, I brought my sword down and snarled as the man casually deflected it, a reprimand coming from the man at my sloppy form. I don’t care; I just had to win the fight. I went flying across the room, skidding across the floor I glared at the man as the older male reprimanded, “If you wish to live, you should run.”
A humorless bark of laughter escaping me, I sized the person up, knowing that I was outmatched but I couldn’t lose this match. The girls were depending on me, my sisters and my girlfriend. Clenching my fists, I nearly retorted when I was forced to dodge to avoid being impaled by the sword that was aimed at my head. Parrying the strike solely on reflex, I glanced to see what my opponent was planning even as my blood pounded in my ears. “---cannot hope to win. They will die, you will die.”
The sudden flash of change in the man’s eyes sent my skin crawling; I’d screwed up and big time. Willing myself to change, I shifted forms and tried to dodge; only for a dragon to barrel into me and pin me down. Shifting back to human form, I groaned even as footsteps crunched the gravel in my direction. Turning my head toward the man, I watched as the man crouched down, stroking my cheek in a mocking form of affection. “Silly boy, I told you to run. What made you think you could defeat me? They could not do it, and they are so much stronger than you.”
I felt the dragon shift its weight, just enough for the man to get close and whisper in the same mocking fashion, “You are a foolish boy, but you still have so much potential; so I will tell you what. I will give you a special type of second chance, where I have not given the others it.”
My skin crawled at the words, something inside of me froze as the possibilities spun and turn in my head. I read the words that were being spoken, my head still pounding so all sound was drawn out; and the words didn’t make sense, or at least not until it took effect. A scream tearing itself free, I felt totally grateful when death swept me away from the hell I’d entered mere hours ago.
~-~-~-~-~
Light cuts through my closed eyes, turning my vision red until my eyes open. Blinking a few times to clear it, the strange surroundings tell me that I am somewhere that isn’t home. The fact of that is clear. It is also something that I’m sure the persons staring back at me didn’t expect, judging by their surprised look.
It only takes a moment for my eyes to locate the cross that they wear, and a fraction of that time to locate the dull blue gem that rests in the center. Raising my hand to my own necklace, I brush my fingers against the cool metal. A smile spreads across my face as a thought creeps into my mind. I have defied fate. I have defied what others have not been able to do.
I have defied death.
Then the words my father spoke comes back to me, and horror replaces the joy. This is what he meant when he said he had special plans for me. I haven’t defied him; I am still his pawn, even in death. And now, I am bound to this boy.
This new tool for my father’s game.