Prologue: One of Many Lives Ruined

Prologue

It had been awhile since she'd been up here. The attic room where it had all began. It had been awhile since she'd thought about the event that had ruined her life.

But why, then, did she remember it so well? She could hear the voices, she could see the crib, she could feel her heart race, see her husband fall to the ground.

It was a warm day when it happened. The clear sky gave admittance to the sun's light straight overhead. She was staying in the inn at the small town of Haman on her way to visit family. Her husband was with her along with her 6 month old son.

Her husband was a blacksmith by trade. He stood around six feet tall, broad shouldered and strong. But of the two minds her's was surely the stronger. She had resolve, he didn't. She was blunt, and often, rude. He was subtle and calm.

She herself stood five and a half feet tall. Slim and slender. The face of a calm, rational woman concealed the true nature of her personality. She defended her husband and her son, and gave her all every day to see them smile.

Her son was a strange child. Though only 6 months old he seemed to have an understanding of her and her actions. When she cried his arms moved up as if to comfort her. As she hugged her child she would cry ever the harder. And as the warm tears cascaded from her swollen eyes she heard what she believed to be the voice of her son. Comforting her and calming her even as tears shook them both.

She prayed every night with her husband that he would grow up to help others, to be honest and giving. And as they fell asleep every night in their bed. She thought only of their baby of her husband. It truly was a dream come true.

So came this day, when everything changed. It was in the midst of a celebration. The day of life had come. A celebration of when the world was freed from the grasp of demons. The legend of the man named Keir. It was a name that fitted him well. He was just one piece of a great apocalypse that gripped the world. The final result of one who was a shifter for too long.

A shifter, known to most as the damned, drew his power from one of the two great forces that govern the world. Life and death, it was that simple. Many who were shifters lost their minds due to the inability to control these forces. Killing hundreds and even thousands of people before the power consumed their souls and destroyed them from the inside out. Be it life or death the end result was the same.

In fact there were only two people she knew of who had ever learned to control their power. Keir the king of death, and Anri, the woman who had destroyed him. At the cost of her own life.

Suddenly, in the midst of the celebrating crowds, she heard a tremendous explosion from the direction of the inn. She wheeled around to face the inn as an apocalyptic wind began to roar. She began to run, her husband and son were in the second floor of the building which was now being ripped apart by the furious storm.

She ran up the stairs desperately trying to find her family. Pieces of the roof crumbled and cracked as she cried out desperately for her husband. All was a mass of panic and confusion.

But just as suddenly as the storm began it subsided. She stared all around her waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. She returned to her search, crying out her husband's name. She quickened her pace, for the suddenness of the storm could only mean one thing. One of the damned had lost control.

She ran up the stairs and took the first left into her room. Her heart stopped and sank to her feet. Unable to bear the weight of her body she too fell to the floor.

Her husband lay dead on the floor, a look of shock plastered on his pale face. But her baby, her child, was unharmed in his crib. Crying as the sound of her footsteps.

As she approached the crib with cold tears filling her eyes she noticed something different about her child. His eyes were glowing a bright, vivid blue. She stared in strangled shock as the light faded from her son's face.

Realization hit her with a force that shattered her resolve. She screamed to heavens, tears flooding down her pale cheeks. Her son lifted his arms it what seemed to be an apologetic fashion. She lifted him up and held him tightly in her arms. The voice that had once born her comfort now changed tone. “I'm sorry,” she heard the voice say.

Her hard spirit shattered and faded, only to be replaced by a weakness she had never felt before. She knew that she didn't have the power to take care of this child anymore. She also knew that he would need to fight, as the damned were hunted down like animals. And she knew she had to act fast before he lost control again.

“I will not let them take you,” she said weakly. “I can no longer be your mother Issak.”

The child began to cry. As if in some small way he understood what was going on. She stood up and began her journey. Her still crying child in her arms.

She knew a man who could teach him to protect himself. She only hoped that she could reach him in time. Before Issak lost control again. “I understand,” came the voice in the back of her head. “I cannot protect you either.”

Lost in this memory, the woman looked around the room with dead eyes. Bombarded by old memories she raised her hands and let them fall. With a sickening thud, a cold knife found her dead heart.

Author's Note

Alright this was copied straight from a written page so there may be typos. Please let me know where I can expand, what questions are unanswered or, really, any input you have on this book this has been a long time in the making. I have the entire book written I just need to translate it to text. Thank you guys so much for reading and for your support you guys are awesome!

Reviews

[Lizbeth]

This wa a really powerful first chapter, presenting a fast-moving storyline.
I loved the description and feelings that evolved when your protagonist went back to the attic. Beautiful descriptive writng.
I enjoyed reading about the mother-child relationship that were beautifully written, but found it quite strange when she felt she no longer had the strength to look after her boy. An interesting tale, indeed.
I agree with an earlier review that as a reader, I would like to know more about the inn, the town, the atmosphere she encountered there. The town has a name, so it can definitely be developed.

In the 3rd paragraph I think that should be"staying at the inn in the small town of ..."

You did say you want to get in written up first and would make the changes later. I would like to see the changes now, so that I can picture the inn and the town and the community, before everything changed.

Looking forward to next chapter. A great read!
Lizbeth

[ewest1220]

Actually some very good points you've brought up I'll see what I can do :) As far as the changes go it depends on where I want the story to go. I'm still debating a couple things then I can add all the details in one motion. Either way I'm really thrilled you're enjoying my book thank you so much for reading!

[Lizbeth]

Always a pleasure!

[Amanda]

I can see myself getting into this story. It was nicely written and I liked how you kind of tied up the loose ends at the end of this chapter. On to the next chapter I go.

[ewest1220]

Wow thank you! I'm really glad you liked it and I hope you enjoy the rest my friend!

[Roger Ferguson II]

magnificent start. very captivating.

[ewest1220]

Thanks! I'm really thrilled you enjoyed my work!

[Missy]

Nice, I plan to read more tomorrow evening.

[ewest1220]

Sweet! Thanks!

[Brandon Mathis]

I love the description of the charters a very great prologue keep writing always like your stuff

[ewest1220]

Thanks! Will do my friend I'm glad you liked it!

[Sarah Hitchcock]

I liked the flow and pace of this piece, you did a great job there, details too, which worked so well.

I am being honest I am not an expert on this genre, so bare with me. I can only tell you I am wondering where the young child's journey will take him.

[ewest1220]

Hey no problem I'm glad for any input you can give me! Thank you so much for reading I hope you enjoy it!

[Sarah Hitchcock]

You are more than welcome.

[quixotic_rose]

I am intrigued, captivated. Unsure of whether or not this will be my type of write that I will personally enjoy. I have yet to know, but I look forward to finding out. so far so excellent. This beginning leads me to believe that this child will do something great. I'm hoping for it too. good work here :)

[ewest1220]

Well I hope you do enjoy it ;) keep me posted and thank you so much for reading!

[Mushiegirl]

What an interesting beginning - an explosion, a baby that is more than just that, although exactly what you haven't said yet and a mention of shifters. I like how you laid it out and you have my interest to read more.

The spelling is good and I don't see glaring punctuation issues, just tidy up some fragments

Mushie

[ewest1220]

Got it :) Will do. Thank you so much for reading I'm really glad you enjoyed this!

[Ama May Cooper]

* She thought only of her baby and her husband

Ive read about half way and i feel its a lint blunt and simple. i feel with this amount of detail into everything that you can put your emotion and feeling and description in.
I get a good sense of your protagonists personalitys and somewhat of her husbands nothing to solid for him but its early so that's not a bad thing. I like the way you bring us in slowly lulling us into a kind of happy family life but keeping it clear from the start that things will become nasty soon.
I love the idea, the shifters seem brilliant , the way you thought them threw seems solid.
What is the inn like? What is the town like? Where are they scenery wise? I feel you have completely left this out , which causes me to be a little less connected with the story than i would like.
How is your protagonist feeling watching this possible death of her husband and child? Is she scared? How does she feel? is her heart beating fast? is she shaking?... little things like your characters emotions add such a massive part ot a story and without them its harder to develop them. Saying that though your character development never ceases to amaze me, i always without a fail feel very connected to your protagonist by the end of your pieces.

*crying at the sound of her footsteps

Ooo you get more descriptive toward the end and your very very good at it! I love the twist aswell, fantastic i never would of expected the child to be the shifter.... what an unfortunate occurance.

Becareful with your ending the way you have presented it is a little off, for someone's hands to have fallen they wouldn't end up over there chest, but the last line is glourious. Such a drastic reaction, such deep pain and such livid wording.

I shall happily be reading this one on.

[ewest1220]

Very true I'm really thankful for the input on the first section. I'm going to go back and revamp every chapter and I love these unanswered questions thank you so much. As far as the end all I will say is that you caught right on to an intentional hole in the story... Anyways! I'm really glad you enjoyed it and I'm thrilled you will be reading on! I can't wait to see your input on my other chapters! Thanks again!

[Admiral Kirk]

Wow, this is a great introduction. You know, I probably should have read this first. Ah well. Anyway, this is very descriptive, I like it... :) Your character's emotions are very realistic, and this is very well done. I will read on, but in the morning, because I have a really short attention span in the middle of the night. Anyway, great job! I'll get back to this soon!

[ewest1220]

lol sounds good! Thanks JS!

[Admiral Kirk]

Lol, no problem! :)

[Yheela]

A great way to start, makes me want to read more (which I shall - ch2, here I come!).

[ewest1220]

Sweet! Hopefully you enjoy chapter 2 ;) thank you so much for reading I'm glad you enjoyed my work!