GALES OF DESTINY

ZOEY

My head banged hard again, The relentless banging had been going on for days, leaving me disoriented.

Often,the throbbing in my head is accompanied by unsettling flashes. It's always the flashes of humans turning into monsters.

The flashes invaded my mind distorting the once familiar human features into monstrous figures. Their eyes always turn an eerie dark black, and their faces became bloodied. It was like a horrifying nightmare that kept replaying in my waking hours.

I tried my best to shake off the disturbing images, but they persisted, haunting me day after day. The frustration and fear grew as I couldn't pinpoint the cause or find any relief.

"Argh"

I yelped out. Okay this is getting worse

And then, in a sudden and overwhelming moment, the flashes came again, forcing my eyes to close involuntarily. Through the haze, a scene unfolded- It was a couple engrossed in their tender moments within what seemed to be a living room. But everything changed in an instant. Their forms shifted and changed into something monstrous

This is the same thing I've been experiencing,eyes turning pitch black with a bloodied face.

My gaze landed on a picture frame hanging on the wall. It was a snapshot of the couple and a girl who bore a striking resemblance to me. Realization hit me like a thunderbolt. The flashes sharpened and everything became clearer. This was my living room and they are my parents. The flashes were revealing a twisted reality that I couldn't escape.

The details of the living room became clearer in my mind's eye—the familiar furniture, the warm lighting, the cherished memories infused in every corner.

My heart raced, fear took root within me. I needed to get home immediately. The mysterious flashes were something I never wanted to confront. But the fact that my parents were involved made it scarier.

Turning swiftly,I retraced my steps. I was on my way to a friend's place before this unsettling incident. I sprinted home, pushing my body against its limits as fear intensified.

Arriving at my house, I opened the door cautiously. The room lay silent, giving off an eerie feeling as if it were devoid of any presence.

"Mom?"

I called out,my voice trembling with both fear and hope as I cautiously walked through the room.

The silence was oppressive yielding no response. My heart sank realizing something was definitely wrong.

"Dad?"

I called again, hoping for an answer, but the silence persisted. The fear within me intensified.

A sound suddenly emerged breaking the silence . It started as a muffled noise, barely audible but quickly transformed into a low growl. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end

"Dad? Mom? Is anyone there?"

I called out, my voice trembling with fear as I traced my steps towards the source of the sound. The closer I got, the louder it became, sending chills down my spine.

The sound led me to my room

As I stood outside my room, my instincts screamed at me to run away, to escape from whatever horror awaited me inside. But something compelled me to push open the door, my hands trembled with a mix of curiosity and dread.

The sight that greeted me was beyond shocking, beyond anything I could have imagined. My parents, their once familiar faces now twisted and disfigured, stared back at me with dark, black eyes. Bloodied wounds marked their features, and their growls filled the room, drowning out my own racing heartbeat.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I called out to them, their names trembling on my lips. But they seemed oblivious to my presence, consumed by whatever had transformed them into these monstrous beings.

Confusion and terror gripped me as I took hesitant steps towards them.

My mom turned her gaze upon me, clutching a picture of me in her hand. It was a haunting sight, seeing her so unrecognizable, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled to speak.

"What... what happened to you?" I yelled, my voice filled with a mix of anguish and desperation. But there was no coherent answer, only the relentless growling and the haunting darkness in their eyes.

Suddenly, they charged towards me, their growls growing louder and more menacing. Instinctively, I began to retreat, counting my steps backward, pleading for them to stop. But their intentions were clear as they lunged at me, teeth bared, ready to sink into my flesh.

"Stop!"

I screamed, my voice filled with a mixture of fear and defiance. And in that moment, the atmosphere responded with a violent force. Winds whipped around me, throwing my parents away, shaking the very foundations of the room. The air was filled with the sound of shattering glass and the chaos of the supernatural.

I couldn't grasp the reality of what had just transpired.

Just then,I caught the sight of my parents lying motionless.

I trembled as I walk up to them.

"Mom?"

I called out gently clasping my hands around hers.

"Wake up, please"

Tears welled up on my cheeks.

I turned to my dad,he was laying lifeless. But then, I noticed something unsettling—.a deep bite mark marred his neck. It was as if something unearthly had sunk its teeth into him.

An immediate sense of dread compelled me to check my mom's neck, and to my horror, she bore the same mark.

What the hell is this?

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**PHOENIX ACADEMY**

In a dark room, the pale crescent moon cast its silvery glow and gave some dimming light through the partially opened windows.

The wind was getting heavier and the occupant could feel it.

Standing there was Caden- looking unnerving as ever.

Having a view of his shadow from the wall,he looked just like a huge beast

But staring at his face directly,it contrasted with what the shadow depicted in the dim light.

Just then,he heard a knock

With a wave of his hand, he made the door swing open, revealing an old man standing before him. The old man held an herbal bag and leaned on a walking stick, bowing with elation.

"Greetings"

The old man exclaimed, though he received no response. He was accustomed to Caden's stoic demeanor, so he continued with his news.

"We've found her"

The old man revealed, his words gripping Caden's attention.

"We've found another chosen one"

He concluded, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and reverence.

"Fetch her right away"

Caden ordered with an authoritative tone, his command echoing through the room.