Rain patted the ground as Zahra ran, as fast as her feet would take her. Her limbs trembling with adrenaline, she never thought she could run so long, at such a pace.
The suburban village that she called home got closer and closer. Zahra thought she would collapse with relief as she saw the soft lights of home.
The white of Mrs Goodtree's front door seemed to glow like a beacon in the grey sky and dimming light. She almost fell against the front door as she frantically pulled at the handle.
Pushing the door open, she slammed it behind her. Her chest heaved with relief. It was only now, in the calm that she noticed the droplets dripping off every strand of hair, and the tip of her nose. She was drenched and soaked to the skin.
There was the sound of crackling fire in the sitting room. Zahra realised with a start that Mrs Goodtree was still up, she franticly rubbed the water from her face and rung her hair on the coarse welcome mat.
She was home far too early, Mrs Goodtree would have questions. Right now, she was out of sorts and wondered whether it would be better to tell her what happened and risk her forbidding her to ever leave the house again, or lie like she always did.
Quickly, she pulled off her squelching shoes and hid them in the cupboard, before Mrs Goodtree could see how she 'fixed' them.
Slowly, she turned her head and through the archway of her immaculate suburban home, the winged back of Mrs Goodtree's favourite chair flickered in the silhouette of the flames.
Over the side of the recently re-upholstered chair, sat Mrs Goodtree's silver curls.
"Mrs Goodtree." She stuttered. "I-I…"
"You're home early Zahra."
"Yes. I am. I-"
"I know where you've been. And where you haven't been, for that matter."
Zahra's head hung in shame. Dregs of water still slipping down her face. "I'm sorry." She said softly.
A hand appeared from the side of the chair, beckoning Zahra to sit on the sofa opposite. With her knees slightly shaking, Zahra moved into the sitting room. The warmth of the fire soothed her drenched skin and seemed to make her clothes poof as she sank into the sofa.
Mrs Goodtree stared into the fire, and never even looking in Zahra's direction. The blue of the carpet looked dark in the intense flickers.
Zahra had never seen her so still and her face without its joyful smile. "Mrs Goodtree?"
The silence was killing her. "Mrs Goodtree. If this is about college, I- "
"Do you know who you are Zahra?" Mrs Goodtree interrupted.
"Wh- what?" something about the serious tone in her voice made her feet sting with fear.
She stayed silent, patiently waiting for her answer.
Uncertainty clouded her mind, she answered. "I'm Zahra."
A small smile crept over Mrs Goodtree's face as she finally turned to face her. "No child. You are not just 'Zahra'."
There was something vaguely familiar about this lecture Mrs Goodtree was giving her, she couldn't hide the puzzled look on her face. What she did know, was that Mrs Goodtree had been crying for a very long time, judging by the bright red lines under her eyes and puffy face. She could have sworn that she saw tears begin to shimmer in the flickering light.
"You are my daughter, Zahra. You always have been." She slowly moved the blanket that covered her knees and handed a small tin box to her.
Zahra reached out and took the box, she looked at it and realised what it was.
"This is what I came with. When they left me here."
Mrs Goodtree nodded. "That's right Zahra, I kept it safe for you. Now it's time for you to have it back."
"Why now?" she asked as she wondered how to open the box.
"You'll see."
As Zahra found the wooden clasp and opened the box, a faint white light seemed to emanate from inside. There was something… unnatural about it.
She wanted to slam the lid. To slam it shut and throw the box into the fire.
The light was so hypnotising, she couldn't blink. As the lid opened further and further. The light seemed to spill into every corner, blinding her and wiping out the sitting room of her suburban home….
In the distance, she heard Mrs Goodtree speak. "No matter what anyone says, you are my daughter. You always have been, and always will be."
Underneath her feet, she felt soft grass tickling her soles. The blinding light began to fade around her, but she saw nothing from her burning eyes. A din in her ears blocked any sound.
As her immediate surroundings eventually became more clear, she noticed what she thought were outlines of trees and shrubs. As she looked down, the green of the glass slowly came into view. The din subsided and her face scrunched from the bright light.
As she looked back up, the outline of something moved towards her. She tried to back away, but fear rooted her to the spot.
As it inched closer, she realised that it wasn't something, but someone.
"It has been so long my child," an echoed voice called.
"Who-Whose there?" She called into the faded surroundings.
A voice that came from everywhere and nowhere resonated. "My child. It's time."
In the distance, she saw the faded outline lift just enough to show a magnificent lion stalking towards her.
"You will need to fulfil your destiny." The voice called again.
As the lion neared, she saw its eyes were as black as the darkness she saw in the alley. Instantly, her arms over her face in defence.
Then something even stranger happened as the lion came closer… a calm washed over her. Zahra felt her arms lower and unclench, her back straighten and her fear melt away.
The lion now stood before her and lowered his head. She moved to her knees and the lion moved in, rubbing its head and mane over her body. It felt silken as she ran her palm to smooth over his fur.
He lifted his huge head and looked her dead in the eyes, it was then she noticed what looked like stars twinkling. It was not darkness she had seen before, it was just that she could only see the darkness, and not the beautiful stars that broke through the black.
"Go… find him."
Suddenly Zahra looked up. The landscape had vaguely cleared and in the near distance, she saw a mammoth of a tree. In awe, she stood and craned her neck to take in the wonder of the spectacle she beheld. The tree towered over her, like a statue to a revered God. Pretty pink petals fell delicately to the ground. The trunk of the tree looked so wide that ten people would be needed to hold hands around it, maybe even more.
The lion had taken his spot by her side, he sat and looked lovingly at the tree.
"Who am I to find?" she asked.
"The one who would call you, his Champion."
The voice still seemed to echo in her mind, yet somehow and though his lips never moved, she knew it was the lion speaking to her.
Zahra sniggered, turned to the lion and spoke softly, "I only get called that when I offer to clean the fryers."
The lion turned to her, his tongue hanging loosely out of its mouth as it panted. His eyes seem to sparkle harder in the pure white light.
In the distance, she heard a word she didn't recognise.
Was that coming from the tree?
The lion walked towards it. The further the lion walked, the more the white began to close in again.
As Zahra quickly tried to take her surroundings, she could have sworn that where he was going, there was even more greenery and beyond that… sand? Miles and miles of sand, as far as her eyes could see.
"You will know where you will need to go. The closer you get, the more answers you will receive."
With that… the blinding white light erupted around her.
Images flashed before her eyes. Grainy sand, navy carpet. Yellow sand, blue waters. She held the box close, feeling tears sting her eyes as her fingertips wrapped about the cold tin.
His hands were on her shoulders. An intense purple gaze bringing back feeling she thought were dreams.
"This is for you…"
Then her shoulders shook violently, but it wasn't him. Not if the way he gazed lovingly into her eyes meant anything.
Zahra awoke to the familiar feeling of the warmth of the fire in her suburban home, and Mrs Goodtree's hands firmly on her shoulders. The Pharaoh's intense gaze was replaced by her wide-eyed fear. As the blinding light finally subsided, in the box, still nestled tightly in her hands, laid two duel monsters cards.
"He.. H-he was just here." Fingertips pressed at her temples.
What was this pain? Why was it so excruciating?
Mrs Goodtree knelt down, her eyes darted between hers, trying to understand what was going on in her mind.
"I see." She said finally. 'It's happening already. You're memories are clashing." There was a forlorn look on her face as she brushed the hair from her face. "Those cards belonged to your father. Use them well Zahra."
Zahra choked on those words.
The box she came with. She tried to piece everything together. A Pharaoh. A Champion. A father?!
It was all becoming too much for Zahra to take.
Suddenly, exhaustion took hold, but her body was too wired to surrender. Her head lolled from side to side and each time her head found rest it jerked awake, desperate not to fall away from reality.
Mrs Goodtree cursed. It was the first time she ever heard an unclean word fall from her mouth.
"Let's get you to bed Zahra, you need to let your mind rest."
"No," she shouted. "No, I can't. I don't want to."
At least she thought she shouted, she didn't hear anything but a pathetic sob escape from her.
Mrs Goodtree took her hand, quietly, like she was comforting a stranger, and tried to lead her up the soft carpeted stairs.
Her bedroom came into view and her feet stopped, beyond that door was her bed. Then there was only one option, to sleep and let the pain come.
"I'm scared." She whispered to the darkness of the room.
"Don't be scared, my love." She was laid like a delicate doll, a duvet gently tucked at her sides. "I'll be right here with you."
The sound of Mrs Goodtree singing soothed her mind. It was familiar but sounded so distant she couldn't make out the words. Though she found herself singing along to the tune.
The soft touch of the mattress comforted her as she sat upon it. It was almost as though the lights had been turned off, the only sense she had was touch.
Her hands reached down, expecting to feel the springy mattress. Instead, she felt thick blades of grass and the gentle caress of sunlight.