The Awakening

Have you ever feared, thought, or dreamed about a loved one dying? Have you imagined what it would mean and how it would change your world? For most, such thoughts remain distant nightmares, fleeting shadows that we push away with the dawn.

I never thought about it. I never dreamed of such a thing. Not until the day it happened. Until I lost everyone I loved.

In that single moment, my world shattered. The safety and warmth of my family, the familiar laughter, the unconditional love - all ripped away, leaving a gaping void. The pain was indescribable, an unrelenting ache that gnawed at my soul. I felt as if I had been pushed into an abyss, suffocating under the weight of my despair. The memories of that day are etched in my mind, a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the cruel hand of fate.

I remember the disbelief, the hollow numbness that set in. I wandered through the day it happened like a ghost, a mere shadow of my former self. The nights were the worst, filled with nightmares that left me gasping for breath, drenched in cold sweat. I would wake up hoping it had all been a terrible dream, only to be faced with the cold, hard reality. They were gone. All of them. And I was alone.

The grief was consuming, a dark, insidious force that threatened to pull me down. But in the midst of the grief, a burning determination began to take shape. I knew I had to find a way to go on, to honour her memory. I had to uncover the truth, understand why this had happened, and seek justice for those I had lost. It was this purpose that kept me going, that gave me a reason to get up every morning and face the world anew.

My journey has been filled with pain and discovery, moments of despair and flashes of hope. I have delved into the mysteries of my past, uncovered secrets that were meant to remain hidden, and embraced a destiny I could never have imagined. It has been a path of transformation, of learning to accept the unimaginable and finding strength in the face of overwhelming odds.

Now, as I stand on the precipice of a new chapter, I invite you to walk with me through the story of my life. To see the world through my eyes, to feel the pain and the hope, the love and the loss. To understand what it means to be chosen and to carry the weight of that responsibility.

This is my story, and it begins on a night like any other, with a simple ritual and a world-changing revelation:

I chanted in Polish, saying "Roots and Bones" over and over until all the candles went out. My bedroom was now lit only by the moon. The night grew quiet, as if all the sounds had disappeared once the ritual started, even the crickets in the grass. It felt like everything around, from bugs to the breeze, could sense the energy my spell was creating.

At first, I felt scared and disappointed. Nothing seemed to happen except for the eerie silence. I thought about looking in our family spell book to fix the failed ritual, but then a sharp pain hit me. It was like a thousand needles stabbing me, injecting something into my veins. I hated the feeling of stuff going into my body, but this was worse than anything I'd ever felt.

The pain got worse, and it felt like something was moving inside me. I panicked and tried to stop it with my hands, but it didn't work. I fell to my knees, my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't see anything, so I crawled to my bed, hoping the pain would stop. I hugged my knees, closed my eyes, and tried to think about something else.

I imagined myself in a peaceful forest where the sun filtered through the leaves, casting a soft glow on the forest floor. The rustling leaves whispered secrets known only to nature, and the air smelled of fresh moss and pine.

For a moment, I was transported away from my pain, enjoying the calming peace of the imaginary forest. The serene ambiance gave me a brief respite from my troubles. My body relaxed and I felt calmer.

But it didn't last. The pain came back, intense and overwhelming, like a hungry animal. My cries drowned out the peaceful forest sounds and the fresh air became the stench of my own agony. All I could hear was my soft crying and my attempts to breathe. It felt like the air inside me was leaving.

As the constant pain kept surging through me, I finally noticed that no matter how much I pictured the forest, it couldn't entirely free me from the torment. Acceptance was my only option now.

My brain felt blank, like it was covered in a thick, protecting mist. The pain grew weaker over time, or maybe I just got used to it being there. It was a persistent ache, always present, but not too overpowering. I had accepted it as an unwelcome companion.

In the foggy mist of my mind, time had slipped away from me. Just a few minutes seemed like endless hours, and the seconds felt like they were taking forever, but I couldn't tell how long I had really been enduring it. I didn't have the ability anymore to keep track of time.

And suddenly, the pain began to fade away. I regained control of my breathing and began to take slow, deliberate breaths. The numbness went away little by little, and the confusion that covered my awareness cleared up. After a moment I regained control of my body.

I looked around the room, trying to understand what had happened. I faced unbearable pain but managed to endure it. The ordeal made me feel beaten and tired. However, it also showed me a newfound toughness inside me. It was hard, but I managed to stand up. My head hurt a lot when I moved.

After a few tries and deep breaths, I could leave my bed and look around. I was relieved to see that nothing had changed. I checked outside and saw that it was still the same night with the same moon in the same place when I started the ritual.

It seemed like the ritual messed up my sense of time and direction.

The circle on my bedroom floor was still there, with runes and the candles blown out. Without wasting more time, I went to the bathroom, washed my face, and looked in the mirror.

I saw my pale face and the marks on my stomach from the ritual. My whole body was still shaking from the pain. It didn't take long to find my black hair hanging down and covering my right eye.

But when I looked into my own eyes, I felt a sinking feeling. My eyes were still brown; they hadn't changed color like they were supposed to. It was like a car crushing me, my heart raced, and I had trouble breathing.

Had it all been for nothing? Did I risk my life for nothing? What should I do now? This was my only way to get back at the monsters who killed my family and to honor them.

I left the bathroom feeling crushed. But before I could cry in frustration, I fell on my bed and screamed into the pillow because of the pain in my eyes. The pain grew stronger by the second. My eyes throbbed with an unbearable burning sensation, and I grabbed my temples. It felt like the source was deep inside me. The pain grew stronger by the second. Colors around me merged and twisted, and I couldn't see clearly.

The pain was overwhelming, causing my vision to blur. My eyes, which used to be familiar to me, now felt like they were deceiving me. The colors were changing right before my eyes as if different hues were fighting for dominance within my irises.

The colors swirled around like a whirlpool, dragging me deeper into the painful abyss. I felt the urge to scream and even considered ripping out my eyes to escape the agony. Then, I remembered what I had just been through. This experience was distinct; I could tolerate the pain. It didn't feel as intense as before.

I rose slowly, feeling unbalanced, and the discomfort in my eyes decreased. It seemed like a peculiar change had taken place within me. I staggered with shaky legs back to the bathroom.

Turning on the light, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. The sight took my breath away. My eyes, once a single shade, now displayed a mesmerizing forest green color. It was as if I was seeing a part of nature embedded within me—a green that mirrored the deep lushness of a pristine forest, a shade that seemed to resonate with the wholeness of nature itself.

When I looked in the mirror, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, within seconds I started crying out of pure joy. I was crying because I didn't see my brown eyes; I saw green ones.

"Yes! I did it!" I shouted, feeling hopeful that the monsters who killed my family, whom I had just buried in the garden two hours ago, wouldn't be able to harm me anymore, and that now I could get my revenge.

But I wasn't stupid. I knew I needed help to carry out my plan, specifically the help of a coven. A coven, a group of witches and witchers in our world, something like family but more than that.

My mind was focused on finding a coven, but it reminded me of my old one, the one I had before the vampires came and killed everyone in it. They didn't care if they killed kids or adults; we were all the same to them, just livestock.

Before I could think more about my situation a disturbing feeling had settled in my chest, a gnawing fear that made my heart race. It was as if something invisible had gripped my throat, making it hard to breathe in my quiet home. The usually familiar sounds of the night became strange, and the feeling grew stronger with each passing moment.

The air felt thick, charged with an evil feeling that stuck to my skin. I focused on listening, trying to hear any sounds outside.

After a short period, I detected a faint tapping noise, like sharp claws scraping a wooden fence, getting gradually closer with an ominous intent. I wasn't certain if the noise was genuine or if my mind was trying to warn me.

My heart started pounding with dread and my breath caught in my throat as I stood up from my seat. I sensed that someone or something was approaching my doorstep with evil intentions.

The room felt tight. The cold feeling spread silently through the walls, like poisonous smoke surrounding the house. I couldn't see it, but I felt the wickedness - it griped my mind and caused shivers down my back. I couldn't stay any longer; I needed to run, to escape the sinister presence that was drawing closer with every passing moment.

My room turned into a chaotic frenzy. I hurried to the closet, opened its doors loudly, and took off clothes from hangers to put them into a duffel bag. It seemed like time was of the essence, as if the approaching evil could suddenly appear at any time.

Shoes were thrown into the bag, creating a sound like my fast heartbeat. My hands were shaking as I grabbed a flashlight, spare batteries, and a package of granola bars. The space shrank as I added more to the bag, but I had to take everything with me.

I rushed to the nightstand, and my trembling hands knocked down a picture in a frame. It fell and made a noise, but I didn't pause to retrieve it. The drawer had a wallet, some crucial paperwork and a tiny first aid kit. Without thinking twice, I put them in the bag.

My eyes glanced at the window. Outside, darkness and the unknown waited, but it was still better than facing the approaching evil. I grabbed a jacket, even though the night was warm. It would offer some protection, shielding me from whatever lingered outside.

The room blurred as I hurriedly packed memories, hopes, and fears. A framed picture with cracked glass of my family was added to the essentials in the bag, a reminder of all that I lost.

I went into my dad's office; I knew he had secrets that could help me survive. I entered the room and looked around. I saw a painting on the wall and took it down.

Behind the painting, I found a hidden compartment. My heart raced as I opened it, uncovering a hidden area packed with old papers, scrolls, and, most interestingly, a dark leather book without any title or markings.

This was our family's spell book, where we passed on ancient knowledge from generation to generation. Holding it felt like holding centuries of secrets. My dad never let me touch or see it, making it all the more interesting to finally be able to touch it.

Once the book was securely stored, I closed the secret compartment and returned the painting to its original place. My father had hidden the book for a reason, and now it was up to me to safeguard it.

I went downstairs to the kitchen and as I walked down the stairs, fear overcame me. I had been trying to forget what I had seen in that room. My heart pounded as I opened the door.

The moment I entered, I felt nauseous. The room looked exactly as it had in the morning. The memories were still vivid in my mind.

Tears filled my eyes as I saw the sad scene before me. My parents, who were once full of life, now lay motionless on the cold kitchen floor, their bodies completely disfigured as I dragged them out of the house to bury them in the garden. The red blood they spilled made grotesque patterns on the floor.

I couldn't stop crying any longer. I held my chest to stop the sobs as I started replaying the scene in my head. I was too late to save them, too weak to defend against the vampires that invaded our home.

But I couldn't afford to dwell on the past. I wiped my tears, my grief turning into a silent determination.

I gathered all the strength I had left, turned away from the heartbreaking scene, and made my way to the back door. As I walked out into the garden, I breathed in the chilly night air and wiped my tear-streaked face.

I hurried to my home's garage, my heart beating fast. With my trembling hands, I searched for the door handle. Suddenly, a loud crash came from inside the house.

They were back.

I didn't have time to waste. The dim, cold light of the space drew me inside. With pure panic, I jumped into the car, grabbing onto the steering wheel.

Using trembling hands, I inserted the key into the ignition, causing the engine to roar to life.

I hit the gas pedal hard, and the car quickly sped forward, making the gate rattle as it lifted. I didn't look behind to see the monsters that had come into my home. I knew they had heard the sound of the engine and were chasing me.

As the night darkened, I had many feelings inside me. Fear clawed at my heart, but so did the fierce determination to survive and avenge my family. I drove fast towards the unknown, not knowing where the road would lead.

Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw my home for the last time.

The houses in my neighborhood disappeared behind me, and a big forest started to surround my car. I felt relieved.

Thanks to my escape, I had time to think about my situation.

Where should I go now? I needed to find a new coven to help me survive, but it wouldn't be easy. Maybe I should go to Paris; there were definitely some covens there, and I even knew some of their names. But wouldn't it be too obvious? Paris was probably the first city the vampires would look for me.

As I thought about my next move and followed the road deeper into the forest, I saw a sign that said I could get on the highway in about 10 kilometers. This made me even more nervous because it meant I had only a few minutes to decide where to go. It seemed that despite the risk, I had to go to Paris.

Before I could make up my mind, I felt something dangerous nearby, and it felt like it was getting closer as I drove faster.

As I thought about the vampires chasing me and how to get away from them, a man appeared out of the bushes and stood in the middle of the road. I screamed, slammed on the brakes, and barely avoided hitting him.

When the car stopped, the man smiled at me and got into the car as if it were the most normal action to do in such a situation.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying not to look at his lower half.

He turned his head and grinned, "I'm getting in your car. What does it look like, dummy?"

I stared at him, not knowing how to respond to such a strange and cheeky answer. How could he just come out of the woods naked, stop a stranger's car, and get in like it was nothing?

"Are you going to stare at me all day, or are you going to start the car and drive? I think the guys chasing you are getting closer," he said, seemingly amused by my bewildered expression.

Only then did I realize what he had said, and my heightened senses confirmed it, making me even more anxious. Without questioning him about how he knew I was being chased, I started the car and drove away.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Adam. What's your name?" the naked guy next to me asked, laughing at my reaction.

"Francis. My name is Francis," I replied, driving to put more distance between us and our pursuers. I still wondered how this strange guy knew about the vampires chasing me.

"Cool name, Francis. I like it. We're going to have a lot of fun together," he said, and I could practically feel the grin on his face as he looked at me. I tried not to punch him, because if I did, we might have crashed into a tree.

"I doubt it," I muttered.

And so, I drove in silence, accompanied by a naked stranger I had met only minutes before.