Chapter 12: From Dragon to Master

Sari

Everything was so overwhelming. What was up with Ayumu? What had happened at the breakfast table? Was it about the vision she saw earlier? So many questions to be answered, so many possibilities. I shook my head, clearing my mind. I stood up from where I was sitting, and walked around the courtyard. That was when I saw Ayumu sitting beneath a cherry blossom tree; holding her head with clenched fingers. What was happening?

“Ayumu, what’s wrong?” I whispered in her ear.

“N-Nothing, it’s-“

“A vision?”

“Yes, it keeps coming back. I can’t get rid of it.”

“What was it about?”

“M-Muri. He died.”

“What?!?” I gasped, clenching my fists in disbelief. “How?”

“No, not right now. Not yet. But he’s going to. In the future.” Ayumu whispered, looking away.

I then realized that I had made her feeling worse by forcing her to tell me. “I-I’m sorry.” I whispered back, walking away.

“Sari?” I froze, and Ayumu continued, “I’m sorry too. For not telling you earlier.”

I looked back, amazed by her honesty. “It’s okay.” I called back, smiling. Then I walked into the house and lay in bed. Thinking about that vision.

Ayumu

I don’t know how long I sat there, beneath that cherry blossom tree. But I hoped that vision would never come back. Ever again. I sighed, resting my head on my knees. Everything was so hard now that I had told my secret to my sister. Before, I had kept everything to myself. I had kept all my feelings tucked inside. Never had I let them out for someone else to feel.

I got up, and walked aimlessly around the courtyard. Then out of nowhere, Charismi flies out and lands on my shoulder. She cuddles her head against my neck, trying to soothe me.

“Thanks.” I say, patting her head. Then together we walk inside the house for lunch.

~|*_*|~

Sari

At about 10:00pm that night, I wake up. Everyone is asleep. Except me. I get out of bed and stand there for a while, not knowing what to do. Before I know what I’m even doing, I have my coat and socks on. I have nothing else to do but go outside. So that’s exactly what I do. Slipping out into the night, I run through the courtyard until I come to the dark tunnel at the entrance.

I stare at the black void ahead, not knowing what to do. Then, suddenly, I hear a growling sound coming from the tunnel. I stare ahead, waiting for something to come out. I can hear my heart pounding in my chest. Ba-thump, ba-thump. Something big is about to come. I can just feel it.

Then, Charismi jumps out of the tunnel, chasing a rabbit. Oh. I can’t believe I just fell for that. Charismi sees me, and jumps on my shoulder. I’m thrown off balance for a moment, but I quickly recover. Suddenly, my head hurts, and I’m really thrown off balance. I fall to the ground, holding my head to keep it from literally exploding.

“Ugh.” I suck my breath in, trying to keep a scream from coming out. Charismi’s still on me, and I can see her, but only faintly. Then something weird happens. I see fire. Bright fire spewing from a dragon’s mouth. A vision? No, it can’t be. Ayumu’s the only one who can see visions. I turn back to the vision. The dragon is mad; his eyes are a crimson red. He’s spewing fire on… the town? My town that I’m staying at right now? I see people running and screaming. I see Benny, lying on the ground. He’s… dead? Then I see myself. Me, except I look different. I’m wearing a fuzzy vest, and I’m holding a bow and arrow. I draw my arrow and let it fly. It hits the dragon in his eye, and he roars in pain. He swipes madly, and I see Charismi spew fire at him. The dragon keeps swiping at Charismi, looking through his other, undamaged eye. He’s trying to hurt Charismi, I realize. The other me draws another arrow and lets it fly. It hits the dragon’s belly, and he roars again, claws scratching at the wound, as if he can rip it out and be gone with the pain.

Then I wake up to find myself rolling on the courtyard floor, screaming “Stop! Just stop!” Benny, Ayumu, Hemu, Muri, and their mother are looking down on me concerned.

I sit up immediately, and find Charismi still on my legs, looking at me as if to say: “Do you get it now? What will you choose?” I pick her up and carry her away. (Maybe she can explain this mess.) I storm silently away while everybody stares after me. And when I get to my room, I lay down on my bed, and think about that vision.