Everything was frozen as I wonder through a beautiful forest filled with strong towering trees, colorful flowers and birds but it was a wasteland in terms of anything truly being alive. In my eyes, though everything seem to be breathing they are dead on the inside; unable to blow with the wind or remove themselves from their pinned position, stopped at mid flight in the sky. Had God forgotten this world or was this, their ultimate punishment for an unforgivable sin? They were stopped in Hell on a journey to find Heaven.
Giant orange ball of light known to rise and shine very brightly in the sky, it laid lifeless devoid of its fiery nature; frozen for so long... your flames have been stifled out and now bare for all to witness, I never knew father was cruel, like this. Neither pearly white, mix- coloured nor stormy fluffs of condensation can be see; once frozen they began to dissipate slowly. Tears escape these foolish eyes unable to be an onlooker to this tragic sight, how could I have been so blind? I collapse on my knees crying for all those beings submitted to this inhumane and cruel punishment. Distorted words met my ear pulling me out of my thoughts as the began to drown me with different outcomes. I staggered to my feet before running to find the source of the voice. I wanted to escape this forsaken place, afraid I will be another addition to this picture piece.
"Ashlin! Please wake up!" Cleus panicked voice was now clear yet as my eyes scan the area he was no where in sight.
"Where are you!" I shouted in the distance.
"Ash, what's happening to you?" He asked as though not hearing my question.
"Cleus" I fell to my knees letting my previous hope spill away.
"Wake up soon" I felt his strong palm embrace my small ones, "I'll stay by your side until you awake" warm lips pressed against my forehead only for a few seconds until the cold of this place engulfed me again.
I lost track of time no longer able to keep track of counting once I had made it to 485, 700 and fifty something.My mind was surely broken and I had no doubt my soul will follow suit. Was this a world specially crafted for punishment while you're still living?
"This isnt divine punishment" spinning around I turned to face the person who had spoke, "Sorry to frighten you, this is my home" .
The owner of the voice was a young female who looked to be the same age as myself, her cherry blonde hair, soft angelic features resembled those of heavenly beings yet I had never seen wings such as hers. They we made from a collection of different stars and her halo was crafted the same. She was made of dreams and wishes, this is the only way I can describe her.
"Who are you?" she looked at me with a smile.
"Who I am is important, the information I am about to share with you is" she offered a had, " For your comfort call me, Lyra. I am a guardian of the 'stars' we protect the ever changing destiny and defend when outside forces try to change fate. I recently came across your lifeline and it has been ever changing. This should be impossible unless..... the environment you associate with isnt the one you were born in."
" What are you saying?" I asked confused.
"Ashlin you were born a result of the Great Chaos War, when the dust cleared and battle was over, there you laid admits the destruction, blood and death. God took you to heaven even though your wings were a tainted colour." Lyra looked sad but she wasn't breaking my heart or causing me distress, she was telling me the truth when no one else will.
"Why is it important for me to know this information now?" she turned away.
"Another Chaos is coming and it'll be something that cant be measure with diamonds, gold or all the riches in every world" Lyra words lingered even though she disappeared in a gush of wind.
My surroundings became distorted, morphing into a mesh of colors until vanishing altogether. I awoke to the familiar surroundings of my bedroom, Cleus sat in an armchair next to my bed, asleep. Tiptoeing out of bed, I sneaked out of my room to the bathroom. It was difficult for me to accept what Lyra had said but I somehow knew it was the truth. The emotions started to flow in one by one before engulfing me in their embrace; I felt utterly betrayed. I was taught loyalty yet no one was truly loyal to me, taught honesty yet others were barely truthful to me and I am left realizing, family......I have none.
I had no roots and never meant to be anything more than the spoils of war, I was born from blood, destruction and death. It's no wonder Cleus knows me so well, it explains why we are great friends. Tears stream down my cheeks at a fasten pace as my thoughts swallowed me up and I know that I've never truly lived. Warms arms embraced my shoulder, looking up my eyes was met with Cleus concerned orbs. I sobbed uncontrollably, what was my purpose now? I had nothing tangible anymore. Many thoughts surge through my head yet a few stuck, is my birth the reason father had named me Ashlin? Is this why I was kept afar or on earth? What use am I to heaven?
"Everything will be alright, its okay" Cleus hummed in my ear and though I wanted to believe his words I couldn't.
"No it won't, not this time" I cried out in response.
"What's going on Ash? You obviously cant handle it on your own" his voice remain gentle.
"I met someone named Lyra and she told me, I was born from the Chaos War" his body went deadly stiff and eyes zoned out.
"You're ......what?" an all to familiar voice asked from the doorway and I dreaded turning around, there were any secrets I kept from him and my skeletons aren't kept in a closet instead they are already buried underground.