Tara did not think for another second.
The moment the woman finished asking her that question, she ran. Her feet sprinted, steps big and far, wherever it could take her. As she neared the end of the street, her body bend alongside with the curvature of the road and she sped fast into an unknown block of buildings.
The shadows of the buildings loomed over her and sped fast behind. Her heartbeat drummed loudly against her ears, desperately clasping for air. But Tara knew if she swallowed the dry air, she would lose the momentum she had. Stopping, was not a choice anymore, not even as alley ways narrowed down, the turns sharper and the night, darker.
Blurry images of some memory flashed before her eyes like scenes from a movie, muddling up her mind as much as the paths in front of her. A dimly lit room, grey and dead, foggy figures escaping into the dark, a silhouette of silver, all of it appeared and disappeared with each blink of an eye.
At each crossroad she would reach, Tara would take a different turn, trying to scatter her pursuers. And all through this, she could hear the sound of her breathing, panting, like her lungs would burn out. But she ran, ran as fast as her feet could take her.
At one point, Tara had glanced behind. There were quite a few of them, their legs were moving slowly, in rhythm, splashing against the rain, gaining up to her, their eyes determined to get to her.
She abruptly turned forward in panic and seeing the next intersection, turned to her right on an instinct. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she stumbled into a sudden halt, her feet taking time to process what she was looking at.
A few paces in front of her, there was a brick laden wall stacked up to almost four storeys high, too tall for climbing. Abandoned buildings surrounded it, with no railings and no lights on its open windows.
Tara's mind ran into haywire. She was at an abandoned construction sight.
Trembling, she fell onto her knees. Her chest tightened as tears of desperation started running down her cheek.
She was alone, completely, utterly alone.
She heard the soft footsteps approach her. ´Why?' Tara demanded angrily, quivering, her voice raspy, as it neared her.
'Why did you run?' It was the woman.
Tara turned her head around and looked towards the woman who spoke, her eyes glassy. 'Who are you?'
'You…' The woman said, her face scrunched up in confusion. 'Forget me?'
Whatever language she was speaking, it was not her native one. But before any of them could speak another word a bright reddish yellow light flashed behind the woman and within seconds narrowed onto her like a missile finding its target.
It stroked with tearing whistle, roaring in this crash and sending the woman on to the wall. She fell on to the ground, her body limp.
Utterly still in shock, Tara frantically shifted her focus between the unconscious woman and her group of pursuers, who seemed to be in as much disbelief her.
Then blinding light of golden swirled and stroked against the darkness, like lighting against dark clouds and wrapped itself around Tara. It then tugged at her with an immense force, so much that Tara found herself flying above the crowd and crashing onto the gravel road behind them. A second later when she felt the shockwave shoot pain into her muscles. She groaned loudly, pressing her hand instinctively onto it, hoping to alleviate the pain.
'Sorry, dear.'
Tara opened her eyes, as both disbelief and relief flooded into her at the same time.
Her mother stood tall, her legs planted firmly on the ground, slightly leaning forward, with her arms open at her shoulder level, as if she was bracing for a push.
Tara looked above and around and realised, they were encircled in big translucent glowing golden dome, a shield, barricading her pursuers from them.
She looked over to the woman who had been hit. She stirred slightly. Tara jolted and rushed towards her mother.
'Did you ...' She looked at her mother, unsurely. 'Are you creating this?'
Her mother nodded slightly. Her hands were strained, the tension seemingly vibrating in the barrier. Some of the people on the other side, started lighting up their hands on fire and started charging towards the barrier.
Tara instinctly moved behind her mother. 'How?' That was all she could muster up. 'What on earth is happening?'
Her mother licked her lips and glanced up at Tara. 'Kind of busy right now, dear.'
'Who are they?' Tara asked, her voice trembling, ignoring her mom's plight.
'I am not sure.' Her mother's tensed reply came.
'What do you mean by you are not sure? You have an idea?'
Her mother reluctantly nodded. 'A vague idea.'
'Why are they here?'
'Long story, I cannot explain that right now, Tara.' Her mother said, in a strained voice. 'We need to make an escape.'
Her mother shifted her left hand in the opposite direction and slowly started making circular motions. A ring of the same structure as of the shield and of the chain before that started forming midair, which slowly disappeared into a gaping hole.
'Get into that.' Her mother ordered.
'Are you sure?' Tara replied, nervous. 'That does not look safe.'
'Would you rather face them?' her mother asked, her tone annoyed. 'Cause this barrier won't last.' She said, pointing towards the dome.
Some of her pursuers were banging repeatedly at the shield open with what looked like huge moulds of earth while others who were cracking at it with long shards of ice.
Tara momentarily exchanged a glance with her mother and obediently jumped through it.
The next moment she found herself tumbling ungracefully over damp grass. She groaned in discomfort of having the cold wetness touch her skin. Tara stood up and clapped off the grass bits that stuck to her palm.
She beheld the tall high-rise buildings, almost empty except for the few lit-up rooms at the topmost floors and the almost empty streets that would otherwise be bustling with traffic and people, in awe.
They were in the middle of the city. Atleast ten miles from where they had been.
Her mother popped through the portal, landing on her feet gracefully while it closed behind her with a swish. After surverying the area, she let out a breathe in relaxation and then gazed at her daughter.
Tara's eyes widened in shock, as she realised her mother was wearing the same attire as her attackers. A silence fell upon them. Finally, Tara sighed heavily, her breathing shaky. 'Please tell me what is going on mother?'
***
Kiara looked at her daughter, who stood there still, her eyes, brimming with tears and her face convoluted in confusion. 'My child, I can explain.' She said as she took a step towards her daughter. She noticed the slight wince she had, but didn't point it out. 'Don't be afraid. When I explain a few things, it will make sense.'
Tara nodded, her eyes wide and glassy.
'We don't belong to this world of Earth. We are from the world of Rahas.' Kiara started.
'What?' She whimpered. 'Are we not human beings?'
'We are, human beings.' Kiara started and then paused. 'We are human beings from a different world.'
'You are joking right?' Tara asked.
Kiara shook her head. 'We are what they call Na'ars. We have the ability to control fire.' Kiara explained, raising her hand and letting her hands light up in flames.
Her daughter watched the flames and stepped back, awestruck. 'Do you mean, I can do that?' Tara asked, her voice trembling in fear.
Kiara nodded reluctantly and closed her palm, allowing the flames to die out. 'The reason, you don't remember this is because, I wiped your memories.'
'Wiped my memories?' Tara's eyes watched at Kiara, as if pleading to tell her this is all an elaborate joke.'What?'
Kiara licked her lips. 'Tara, we don't have enough time, where I can explain all of this in detail.'
'That's not fair.' Tara replied, her voice cracking. 'You told me that I was in a terrible accident and I was the only one who survived. Are you saying that I did not loose them in a car accident?'
'No.' Kiara whispered, ashamed.
'So, my father and my brother, did not die in some accident?' Tara asked again. 'Why all the lies, ma?' Kiara didn't know how she would be able to respond but it seemed like her daughter understood from the expression she had on her face.
'Your brother is alive.' Kiara scampered. 'He is somewhere safe in Rahas.'
Tara let out a breath that seemed like she was a bit relieved. Then she paused up, her eyes tearing up again. 'What about my dad?'
'Your father…' Kiara trailed off, but closed her eyes blocking the tears. 'Your father, lost his life, when we were looking for you.'
Tara took in a sharp breath, biting her lip.
'Seven years ago, there had been a war between two confederations in our world. Both me and your father had owed duty.' Kiara started. 'Your brother was off training to become like us and you….we had to leave you in the care of someone else.'
Kiara looked back to her daughter, whose eyes widened in anticipation. She pursed her lips and continued on. 'By the time peace was brokered and we came back,' Kiara swallowed hard. 'You had gone missing.'
Tara pressed her fingertips to the nape of her nose. 'What on earth do you mean by missing?'
'You along with some of the other kids in the care, went missing, kidnapped.' Kiara replied as she crunched her knuckles anxiously.
Tara's mouth hung open in shock. She tried to say something, but no voice came out of it.
'Me and your father searched for you. We searched with whatever we could, everywhere.'
'But when we finally found you, there was something broken. Like we found a shell of you.' Kiara looked away, not being able to face her daughter. 'On our way back, we were suddenly ambushed and your father stayed behind to help us escape.'
Tara's glassy eyes were filled with shock. 'No.' She whispered under her breathe. 'No, no.'
'I don't know what happened to you.' Kiara interjected. 'Whatever had happened broke you. I lost my husband, I couldn't lose my daughter too.'
'Ma…' Tara spoke as she placed her hands on her head in frustration. 'This doesn't make any sense.'
Her mother looked up at her, her eyes glassy.
'Yesterday, I was just this normal teenage girl, who wanted to stay out late and go to parties. And after I finish my high school, then go to some university.' Tara sputtered, her voice trembling. 'But now? It's like my whole life had been eradicated.'
Kiara pulled her daughter into a tight hug and she felt her daughter sob uncontrollably. 'I am truly very sorry.' She said, holding her daughter as tightly as she could.
Kiara was desperate. She needed to protect her daughter and needed to send her far away. Far enough from whomever wanted to capture her as leverage against Kiara.
It terrified her, knowing that she will not be able to stop anything anymore or protect her anymore. But she wanted her to live. And even if Tara would probably have half the chance without her, Kiara was willing to bet on the same.
'I know you are very confused.' Kiara pulled herself away from the hug and looked at her daughter. Then she stood up and put out her hand to her daughter, looking very determined. 'Just, follow my instructions. Alright?' She said. 'For now, you only need to worry about that. I will handle the rest.'
Tara gulped nervously and nodded, as if understanding she had no choice.
'Listen to me carefully, Tara. I am opening a portal to Barrier Hills in Golden Hills, my home country. It will open, probably in the middle of the town or on the hills. When you get there, find Aaliyah, my sister. She will know what to do.'
Tara nodded, perplexed.
Kiara walked ahead for a few steps and reached into her uniform's coat. The minimized Realmtear looked like a dice, albeit without the markings. She increased the heat in her hands so that it would break the minimization spell on the Realmtear and then placed on the ground.
'This is a Realmtear.' Kiara explained. 'It opens portals between dimensions and it will open a portal back to Rahas.'
'A portal? Its an Inter-dimensional portal?'
Kiara nodded.
As the minimization spell completely broke, the Realmtear expanded to its normal size and lifted itself mid-air. A brilliant burst of energy surged out of it, conforming to a circular boundary a few feet wider and taller from the centre.
The energy changed its brilliant form to a more subtle gold colour that appeared like glowing confetti. It danced around in the sky to form concentric circles and then slowly stopped moving. From the middle of the structure, reality started twisting itself to form into a black hole, swallowing into a hole of darkness. It grew in size until it reached the last circle, big enough to fit an individual through it.
Kiara turned towards her daughter, urging her to go through it. Tara looked at her unsure but walked towards it.
Just before entering the portal, she paused. 'What about you, ma?'
Kiara stood frozen for a second and then a sad smile appeared on her face. 'I will be alright.' She assured her daughter, mustering up with whatever confidence she had left.
'You are lying, aren't you?' Tara's voice cracked.
'I will be alright as long as you are alright.' She firmly said. 'Now, enter the portal.'
'Ma….' She said. 'Had I known…' her voice cracked and she felt she could not continue on.
'Whatever happens, happens for a reason. This was inevitable.' Kiara replied, firmly. 'This was not your fault.'
Suddenly, Tara ran back towards her mother and hugged her mother tightly, her eyes tearing up. 'I love you.'
Kiara closed her eyes and let herself feel the warmth of her child as she patted her back. 'And I love you too.'
Tara reluctantly let go of her mother and then walked back towards the portal. She stepped through it, looked back. Kiara let out a deep breath and nodded at her, signalling that it was all going to be alright.
Then in a few seconds, the opening shrank and closed, leaving no trace.
'You let her escape.' The cold voice behind Kiara spoke. The air turned cold, as she felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck. The ground beneath her feet, turned into a sheet of ice, as Kiara felt the ice prickle up her boots.
Kiara light up her hands in flames and warmed herself before she turned around.
It was her, the same woman she had struck down earlier, now glaring at her. She had arrived sooner than she expected.
'I did.' Kiara replied back. 'You wanted me, you have me.'
The woman laughed coldly. 'Whoever said, it was you, we wanted?'
Kiara's eyes narrowed. 'What is my daughter to you?'
The woman laughed as shadows slowly started emerging from the darkness of the buildings. 'That piece of information is not relevant to you.' The woman looked around, the shadows forming into people as they started assembling behind her.
'You are not from IDC.' Kiara stated.
'Well…' The lady grinned.
'That was not a question.'
'Even so.' The woman replied with a smile. 'We may be, we may not be.' The colour of her uniform shimmered from the black to a white. 'I must say, you observation is quite impeccable.'
Kiara looked at the woman in front of her in confusion as she felt her stomach drop. 'An illusion spell?' How did she not notice that before?
'You are right.' The woman said with a smirk. 'If we were them, we would have given up searching for you and your daughter a long time ago.'
Kiara pursed her lips. 'Who are you?'
'Frankly, Captain Kiara.' She said, as put her palms together and she slid to the opposite sides, creating a long protruding spike of ice. 'I am not at liberty to say that.'
Kiara clapped her hands together and shifted her leg backwards. The flames on her hands blazed brighter and stronger.
'You think you will be able to fight all of us?' The woman asked.
'You would not have questioned me.' Kiara replied back plainly. 'If you actually knew who I am.'
The woman smirked. 'To death then.'
***
'Is this really the best you can do?' The woman with the icy blue eyes shouted out from one corner as she panted.
The screams of a person who was being incinerated died down as Kiara attention turned to the woman. The woman sent a blizzard of frost towards Kiara. Kiara swung her fire-lit hands and punched into the air, hurling a sphere of blazing red-hot flame towards her.
The woman immediately produced a long shard of ice and struck right at middle of the projectile. The shard of ice immediately vaporized, causing the woman to grit her teeth. She lifted her hands and called on to other people. More men appeared behind her, lunging towards Kiara.
'She won't be able to escape her destiny, Kiara.' She called out from behind them, as they surrounded Kiara. 'You do know what she has become?'
'She is just a child!' Kiara swayed her hands in a circular motion, creating a circle of blazing bright fire and pushed it outwards, forcing everyone backwards. 'And you do not decide her destiny.' She answered back, with gritted teeth.
'Surely not.' The woman replied. 'It is already set in stone. We would be just guiding her to that.'
Kiara felt the anger ring in her ears, as she sent another wave of fire at the woman. The whole street lit up as if it were daylight, as one after the other, Kiara sent waves of fire towards her opponents, giving them no time to react.
'That is enough.' The woman shouted back angrily. 'You are getting on my nerves.'
The woman pulled her hands inwards as water drew out from the drains, freezing to form long spears of ice. Then she stroked her hands forward, sending the shards of ice towards Kiara.
Kiara was ready, surrounding herself with orbs of fire, allowing them to orbit around her. With each shard directed towards her, she countered it with fire, causing them both to vaporize and with each shard vaporized, she thrusted forward, blazing her enemies in an angry fire.
'I expected better from you. Maybe not fighting for the past seven years has taken a toll on you, Kiaria.' The woman taunted. 'You have lost your shine.'
Kiara was in the process of creating a wall of fire. 'Maybe you should talk less.'
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pang through her chest.
'Or maybe you should pay more attention to your surroundings.' She replied with a cold smile.
As she looked down, she saw the pointed end of a steel sword pierced through her chest, coated in a deep red colour. The sword disappeared in the next moment and with it she felt her ability to breathe. Gasping she stumbled down, her hands clutching her chest, vainly trying to stop the blood flow.
She turned around to find a man completely clothed in black, moving back into the shadows.
'Perhaps, your reputation is quite… overrated.' The woman snarled, her face twisted into an evil grin, as she walked towards the now fallen woman.
Kiara spat out the blood coughed up in her throat and scoffed.
The woman stood in front of her, and pushed up Kiara chin. 'I want you to remember this moment.' She spoke as the water around her hand solidified into a sharp icicle.
Kiara closed her eyes and felt a tear dribble down her cheek. Her daughter, her son, she will never see them again. She struggled to open her blurry vision.
The women pressed her hands against the Kiara's cheeks. 'Come on, open up. I want you to remember the face of the person you will see the last.'
Kiara let the other tear fall down across her cheek. She was not going to let them go after her.
'Maybe…maybe.' She gritted her teeth through her blood soaked mouth. 'It's you who going to remember this moment.' She spoke.
The woman frowned and then as realisation hit her, Kiara saw how fear reflect in them. The woman raised her hand, trying to form an ice shard as fast as possible in order to thrust into her opponent.
Kiara closed her eyes and let the energy within her completely fill her, to the last remaining cell in her body. It was pure energy, something that Na'ars are never able to control. That which utterly destroys everything, even themselves.
It happened too quickly for comprehension.
The whole street was enveloped in a light brighter than the sun, blinding anything and everything that would have set eyes upon it, blowing up anyone in proximity of it. In a few seconds, everything dissolved as no one remained, no bodies, no bones, no blood.
A cold wind blew, as rain pattered on the ground, washing any remaining dust into the drains.
.