Chapter 16: One of Them

DANICA

“What?” Fear gripped me.

“This wasn’t an ordinary vision. It’s training, and it’s going to get more intense each time. How did I not realize sooner?” His tone was grave, and I couldn’t understand why.

“Training for what?” I questioned.

He seemed to be carefully choosing his words. “You’re one of the celestial rulers,” he said, his voice resonating. “You recognized my name because celestial rulers possess the ability to see beyond. They sought your help because only a celestial ruler can save the sky,” he clarified.

“Why me?” I was taken aback. “If I’m one of them, there must be others. Let them help!” I protested. “I’ve already told you, I don’t want this!” Panic set in, and I began to tremble.

Hugo approached me, steadying me with his hands on my shoulders. “There is no other,” he said, looking into my eyes.

“But…you said there were others. What happened to them?” I asked.

“They’re all dead. No one has survived the transition in a hundred years,” he revealed, and a lump formed in my throat.

“How many have there been?” I asked, but he deflected.

“It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you can’t deny your abilities anymore. There’s no escaping it now,” he insisted, but I interrupted.

“How many?” I demanded again.

He sighed, giving in. “A new celestial ruler is born every month,” he admitted.

“And none of them survived?” My voice wavered. “Even those who were trained from a young age?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Does that mean I’m going to die too?” I asked, but his silence and expression said it all.

“The saving they were talking about…it was about preventing the sky from falling?” I asked, and he nodded again.

I turned away. “How long do I have left?” I asked.

“Danica, you’re a celestial ruler. You’re meant to undergo this training. You’re destined to save the mythical world. You can’t let yourself believe you won’t make it,” he tried to reassure me, but I laughed bitterly.

“I’m meant to do so just like all the others? I’m meant to die just like all the others? If they didn’t make it, what makes you think I will?” I challenged, and he had no response.

“Yeah…that’s what I thought. Not everyone is meant to save the world!” I yelled at him.

“Not everyone is meant to save the world, but you have the responsibility to do so!” he shouted back, his voice so loud I thought the trees might topple. “You’ve been given the power to save everyone, and all you can think about are your own selfish desires. You know what? I bet a lot of people in the world want to live, but instead of saving them, you’re choosing your own wellbeing!” he yelled.

Tears streamed down my face. “I’m not that strong!” I cried out. “I barely understand half of what you’re saying, and you expect me to save anyone? I can’t do that. Not because I don’t want to, but because I physically can’t. I don’t have the strength to do it alone.”

“No one said you have to do it alone,” he replied.

Hugo came over and embraced me, holding me close as I sobbed into his jacket. “I’ll be there for you…what if you’re the one?” he whispered, but I knew I wasn’t. I couldn’t possibly save the world like he wanted me to. I was clueless, and I knew my time was running out.

I fell asleep on the way home, and I dreamed again.

I couldn’t deny that I’d always dreamed of him. I just needed to understand what those dreams meant.

~And there he was, sitting there, gazing into the distance. But this wasn’t our first meeting there. He’d been coming there for two weeks now, easing my pain. I’d never felt happier, finally free from the constant agony.~

~I approached the bench where we usually met.~

~I sat next to him, and he extended his hand to me. Once I placed my hand in his, he brought it to his lips. “Tell me. How was your day?” he asked.~

~He held my hand as I shrugged. “My days are like a broken record. I wake up, go to work, and then come back home.”~

~His face took on a thoughtful expression. “Is that the life you want?” he asked.~

~I shrugged again. “I’m not sure. It’s how my foster mother lives. Her life is stagnant. She just stays indoors, hoarding more and more dust-collecting trinkets.”~

~“Does she?” he asked, a gentle smile playing on his lips.~

~I smirked back at him. “You’ve been in my house, remember? You broke in like a common thief.” I teased him. It was strange. I should have been terrified that someone had broken into my room. But his ability to take away my pain made him endearing.~

~“You humans, you value your possessions so much. There was nothing in that house I wanted, except you.”~

~He was curious about me. “And did you find what you were looking for?”~

~He nodded. “I know what you are. Now I’m trying to figure out why you don’t. Why no one told you.” It was strange. I knew he wasn’t entirely human with his abilities. But I was certain I was just that. Yet, he seemed to think I was something more.~

~“What am I?” I asked.~

~“I think there was a reason for keeping it from you. I won’t endanger you by revealing it.”~

~“Well, if you won’t tell me, how will I ever find out?” I asked.~

~He fell silent for a moment. “Why did you help me? When we first met? Aren’t humans supposed to be cautious when meeting strangers in the dark?”~

~“I suppose I don’t have much to lose by putting myself in danger.”~

~“It’s a sad existence you lead. With nothing and no one to live for.”~

~“What do you live for?” I asked.~

~His gaze dropped. “That’s how I know it’s sad, pathetic, and lonely. I too have no one.”~

~“What about family?” I asked.~

~He shook his head. “There is no one. I used to think it was liberating to be free, with no one to answer to. But it’s the loneliest thing to live with no one and for nothing.”~

~“Is that why you took an interest in me? Because you had nothing better to do?”~

~“Because you were kind. No one is ever kind to me. Despite all the warning signs, you approached me, you helped me. It was…different. No one ever does that where I come from.”~

~I placed my other hand on top of his. “Well then, if you’re still here tomorrow, come by. You’ll have someone to share your loneliness with.”~

~“How does two make a negative?”~

~I shrugged. “I don’t think two negatives make a positive in this case.”~

~He smiled gently. “Are you trying to keep me around so I can take away your pain?”~

~“Absolutely,” I joked, earning a chuckle from him. But it was more than that. I liked the way his hand fit into mine, the way his name rolled off my tongue. Even if he was a monster, it felt comforting.~

~He pulled out some stones from his pocket and placed them in my hand, then let go. “It’s late. You should sleep.”~

~His hand was gone and I felt a chill. “Can I ask…what did you do that was so terrible? Did you hurt someone?”~

~He nodded, his gaze fixed on me. “I did.”~

~“Was it a good person?”~

~“No.”~

~“Will you ever tell me?”~

~“Violence is perceived differently in my world. In your world, it would land me in jail. And you might never understand my ways. If I were to tell you, you might not want to see me again. But I promise, I won’t hurt you, Danica.”~

~I looked straight ahead and slowly stood up. “I hope you’ll be here tomorrow.” I shrugged. “I don’t think you’re a bad person. You don’t feel like a bad person.”~

~“Maybe you just don’t know me.”~

~“Maybe. But I’d like to.”~