Awakening (Excerpt) WIP

Fire rained down on Placid City. The sounds of sirens booming, people screaming, and buildings collapsing now filled what only moments before was a calm and quiet night. I had been peacefully asleep in my bed up until the first blast exploded our county jail, which only lay a few blocks from my house. In a second flat I was out of the blankets, standing in front of my second story window to see what the commotion was. It only took me a few more seconds after seeing the smoldering flames to throw on my pants and shirt from the previous night and rush downstairs to find my father.

My dad was the police chief of the Placid City PD. Even as fast as I was to get downstairs with my clothes on, he had fashioned enough time to get dressed in full cop uniform and tighten his gun belt around his waist.

“Cody. Listen to me. I am not sure what is going on but I need you to stay here until I get back,” He said starting for the door.

“Don’t talk to me like that! I am not a kid anymore!” was what I wanted to say, but due to the situation I figured it would be best to keep my mouth shut and obey. I started to say “good luck” when I was interrupted by the terrifying sound of another explosion. This one was followed by a high pitched scream from somewhere nearby. Dad glanced back at me, nodded, and ran out the front door to his police cruiser. I could only stand and watch as he turned on his red and blue lights and drove away for what could possibly be the last time.

I walked back into the living room and turned on the TV in hopes that the world might have a little more knowledge as to what was happening better than I did. I was instantly greeted by Fredrick Havard and Denise Tetter on channel 7.

“…explosion to the city jail has left the building completely in shambles. This is the first time in nearly a decade that an attack has happened on US soil. The government has been informed and the situation is still developing. What we do know is that there are artillery attacks to the city and we urge the people of Placid City to stay indoors until there is more information on the situation. I repeat stay indoors…”

The remote fell from my fingers to the hardwood floor below. An attack? On Placid City? I had no idea what to think. My first thought was to do as my father instructed, stay inside and cower in fear to the threat that lay outside. But the more I thought about it I couldn’t bring myself to sit by when I could be out helping. In the end I decided to swallow my fear and go where I may be able to make a difference. I could no longer be bound by my fathers words.

I pulled on my shoes and went to the front door. Another blast exploded right down the street to the East. People poured from their houses, scattering down the street in a panicked rush. There was no room left for vehicles on the street, causing many to revert to the sidewalk narrowly missing the panicking pedestrians on foot. The scene somewhat reminded me of an ant colony during a heavy rainstorm.

“Damn it. Where could he have gone?” I whispered under my breath. Last I remembered he headed… East! My heart sank thinking of the location of the last blast. Could he have been caught in the massive firestorm? I refused to let myself believe that such a horrible fate could have befallen my father. He had to still be alive.

A flash of orange caught my attention. At first I thought it was just the reflection of the flames dancing from the sides of the houses. It wasn’t until I noticed the flames casting my shadow close to my feet that I realized the light was coming from above. Knowing what was coming, I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, yelling at the people close to my property.

“MOVE! GET OUT O…” It all happened so fast. I felt the intensity and heat of the strike before it even connected with my house. It was as if the sun itself was descending upon my residence. The shockwave that followed was worse than the heat, hitting me with enough force to send me flying through the air and into the side of a car parked in front of my house.

I have not the slightest clue as to how long I laid there. What I do know is that when I came to I wasn’t the only one laying on the ground. Slowly I picked myself up and searched the faces of the others around me. Their bodies were still and just thinking about it I can still smell the scent of burnt skin in the air. I wanted to check them and make sure they were actually dead but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. In a time of such turmoil its best to not think of such things until the crisis is over, at least that’s what dad use to say when I would ask him about one of his few firefights on duty.

The house laid in shambles. Pieces of the walls laid, scattered about the lawn and street. It hit me at once that I had very narrowly avoided death and that thought alone was enough to shake me to the very core. RUN! I yelled to my body, urging my legs to surge forward and bring me to shelter. No matter how much I willed them to do so I simply could not convince myself to move.

“Cody!” Screamed a voice in my head. The only problem was the voice was not mine. If I had any chance to move myself from these bodies before, that chance was now gone. Who or what was controlling me? Before I could stop to evaluate the thought, I heard what sounded like a slow spinning helicopter rotor coming from above. I could only stand and look to the sky in anticipation that I was soon to come face to face with whatever terrorist was attacking my home.

At first, I saw nothing in the dark night sky, and had it not been for the dancing flames from the houses below I might not have seen anything until it had landed. I’m in shock, I thought staring at what came out of the sky. I had seen them in movies, read about them in books, and even been told to quit being naïve as a child when talking about dragons. They were something from children stories to be the most probable villain in the book. However, this was no monster from a fairytale. Staring hard at the dark black scales of this beast, I would say the closer comparison would be that of a nightmare.

The dragon stood as tall as my two story house that had been there only moments before and about as wide as it too. Its massive translucent wings span out the length of four commercial size buses back to back, which tucked neatly close to the sides of his body. His pure white eyes fell and fixed on me, holding me in place.

“Did you not hear my call child?” He boomed in a deep and raspy voice, being sure to show plenty of his sharpened teeth. Now that I looked at him I realized that everything on him seemed to be sharp. His teeth, the razor sharp talons that extended out of his hands and feet, the curved horn on the edge of his snout, and even the long fin that extended from the base of his neck all the way down his spine to the tip of his long tail that was curled up to the ground beside him.

“What do you want with me?” I asked with as much force as I could, which in reality left my mouth as a whisper. Let me be honest, this thing scared the living hell out of me.

“I was told that you are to be a fierce and mighty warrior,” he said raising his hand and tapping one claw to his chin as he stared at me, “You do not look like you are much of a threat boy. If you are to be the Narrvx Sivax Neru then you have quite a bit of growing to do.”

“Sivax Neru?” I asked putting together a little more assertiveness to my voice, more out of confusion than confidence, “I am not sure exactly what that is but I think you have the wrong person.”

“Oh do I now?” he chuckled, his voice taking on a mocking tone, “And you really think this meeting between us is simply just one of chance? I do assure you Mr. Monataro, I have the right person.”

My heart sank when he said my name. How could such a creature know anything about me? And aside from that why?

“All in due time little Sivax Neru,” he said, reading the fear and confusion that I clearly wore upon my face, “I hope that the next time we meet you will be a little further informed on the situation. For now I wish to leave you with a message. When the choice comes for you, there is a way out. Smash it and you will not have to worry about me again. However, if you decide to go against my advice then you will feel the wrath of the Syhox.”

“The Syhox?” I ask, not getting anything that he is talking about.

“Goodbye Cody,” he said, opening his mouth. I could see the flickering of the flames in the back of his throat. My imminent death was awaiting me in the form of fire, and there was nothing I could do.

The flames shot forward. I was about to die.