Chapter Eight

“Sir. Sir. Wake up.”

Kyle perked up. He had been laying on the floor for what felt like an hour, grieving the loss of his daughter.

“You seem to be in mourning,” A woman commented. At a clear glance the woman had similar features with Lucelia’s killer-- safe from the white attire giving a heavy glow, “I’m sorry. I guess I was a tad too late to save her.”

"Who…?" Kyle whispered, trying to get up slowly. "What do you mean?"

“That girl. Was she important to you?” she peered around the destroyed bedroom, “I’m assuming so. They were important to me also.” The woman in white reached out a hand towards Kyle. He took it and the woman helped him to his feet, bits of glass falling from his clothes.

“My name is Ametsu,” she replied, “I can’t say too much right now due to the mess.” she pointed at the now broken window and Kyle saw the horror of the Armageddon before them. The first immediate sight was the hot flames licking about on the once beautiful houses of the town. Peering closer, Kyle could see there were wisp-like entities fluttering up to the horizons. Then he saw the culprits. They were haloed creatures: given no eyes to see; dozens of horns; stiff wings; and piercing, blood red claws. Despite the horrid sight, the monsters' voices were almost enchanting as their lips spewed out hot white flames.

Kyle was stunned by what he saw. All this destruction. Could that one woman really have been the cause? He cleared his throat, turning back to the woman in white. “What is all this?”

“It’s exactly what you think it is,” She answered, “The earthly calamity.” Amatsu turned back to Kyle, placing a mysterious sharp feather in his palm and closing his hand around it before leaving to analyze the rest of the house.

“Where are you going?” Kyle asked, following her.

“I need to find those wisps my sister released from my gate’s host.” when she stepped outside, her weapon glistened in the flames. To Kyle's eyes, the weapon looked like a large metallic hoop with the outer rim sharpened like a blade. “I know what you’re capable of. Either you will wallow in mourning, or you can help me save her.”

As Kyle blinked, the woman was gone while a dove was flying away from him, carrying its light behind it. If there is a chance that my Lucy is out there somewhere, I will find her. He then turned and went to the basement door, opening it and going inside. His wife was standing there, waiting for him.

"What happened, Kyle?" She asked in a voice riddled with concern. "Is it what we feared would happen?"

He walked over and put his arms around her. "They didn't come for us," he whispered, "but the situation is much more dire. I need you to make sure those defenses we've prepared are on from now on. I need to go make something so we can get our daughter back."

She nodded quietly. He could see concern on her face, but he also knew her resolve was strong. She kissed his cheek and walked upstairs, leaving him in the basement.

Now alone, Kyle walked over to the back wall, pulling dark goggles over his eyes. He then located a brick with the symbol of a wrench crudely scratched into its surface and pressed it. A section of the was slid away and revealed a lit stairwell. My workshop. He then descended the stairs, his forging fueled with direct purpose.