Alexia's breath came in ragged gasps as she clutched her baby, Eryn, tightly to her chest, her older child, Ulysses, running beside her, his eyes fixed on hers with fear. They raced through the dimly lit alleys of Buenos Aires, the chill of the night air biting at their skin.
"Mom, why are we running?" Ulysses' voice trembled, his small legs pumping hard to keep up with Alexia's frantic pace. Alexia's heart raced as she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of pursuit. "We have to get away, Ulysses. We have to hide."
The sound of slithering echoed behind them, growing louder with every passing moment. Alexia's grip on Eryn tightened as she pushed herself to run faster, her legs aching with exhaustion. Ulysses' tears streamed down his face as he struggled to keep up with his mother's frantic pace. "But why, Mom? Why are they chasing us? What did we do?"
Alexia's eyes darted around the dark alleys, her breath coming in short gasps. "It's not what we did, Ulysses. It's what you are. You and Eryn... you're special. Eywa has chosen you."
Ulysses' confusion deepened. "What do you mean? What's Eywa?"
Alexia's grip on his hand tightened as she pulled him along. "There's no time to explain now, Ulysses. Just trust me. You have to trust me."
As they turned a corner, Alexia suddenly stopped and wrapped baby Eryn in the blue shawl she had managed to grab earlier. She kissed his forehead, her eyes filled with tears ."Toruk makto", "You will be great my child," she whispered, her voice barely audible. With a swift motion, she placed Eryn on the porch of a nearby house, her eyes fixed on her baby's face. Then, she turned back to Ulysses and grasped his hand, pulling him along as she continued their frantic escape.
"Many seek to destroy you, Ulysses," she panted, her voice laced with fear. "But I won't let them. I'll protect you, no matter what." Ulysses' mind raced with questions, but his mother's words only seemed to raise more mysteries. What did she mean by "special"? What was Eywa? And why were they being chased? He could only cling to his mother's hand,
As they ran, the darkness seemed to swallow them whole, the only sound being the pounding of their feet on the wet pavement. Ulysses' heart raced with fear, his small hand clinging to his mother's as she pulled him through the winding alleys. He glanced back, but the shadows hid their pursuer, making it impossible to see how close it was.
Suddenly, a faint rustling echoed through the passageway, followed by an unearthly screech. Alexia's grip on Ulysses' hand tightened. "Faster, Ulysses! It's coming!"
The screech grew louder, and Ulysses caught a glimpse of a dark, winged shape swooping around the corner. The creature's scales glistened like wet stone, and its eyes glowed red. A long, serpent-like tail swished behind it, leaving a trail of darkness in its wake. Alexia darted into a narrow passageway, Ulysses stumbling as he followed. The air was thick with the smell of decay and rot, and Ulysses covered his nose, his eyes scanning the dimly lit passage. Alexia stopped abruptly, her chest heaving, and Ulysses collided with her, his face burying in her coat.
"Wait," she whispered, her head cocked to one side, listening. Ulysses held his breath, straining to hear anything, but the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant hum of a city awakening.
The creature's screech echoed through the passageway, making Ulysses jump. Alexia's eyes locked onto his, her gaze intense. "Ulysses, I need you to be brave. We have to keep moving. We can't let it catch us."
Ulysses nodded, trying to be brave, but fear clawed at his heart.
They burst into a small courtyard, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. Alexia spun around, her eyes locked on the creature as it descended upon them.
With a fierce cry, Alexia pushed Ulysses away, toward the far end of the courtyard. "Run, Ulysses! The order! They'll protect you!"
As Ulysses stumbled backward, Alexia raised her arms to the sky, her voice ringing out in a desperate plea. "Hear my prayer! Take my life, but spare my child!" A blinding light enveloped Alexia, and Ulysses shielded his eyes. When he opened them again, his mother was gone, consumed by the radiant glow. As the glow faded, a figure emerged from the radiance. A woman with silvery, long flowing hair and skin as pale as snow stood before Ulysses, her flowing dress seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. The woman's gaze fell upon him, and she smiled, her lips barely curving upward."Child"
Ulysses' eyes welled up with tears as he stared at her, his mind reeling from the loss of his mother. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, his breath knocked out of him. He couldn't process what had just happened.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice shaking with anger and grief. "Where's my mom?"
Her expression softened, her eyes filling with compassion. "I'm so sorry, Ulysses," she whispered. "Your mother sacrificed herself to save you. She's gone."
Ulysses felt like he'd been hit by a tidal wave. He stumbled backward, his eyes blurring with tears. "No," he whispered, his voice cracking. "No, no, no."
She reached out to him, but Ulysses pushed her away. He didn't want her comfort. He didn't want her lies. He wanted his mother back.
But as he looked around, he realized he was alone. His mother was really gone. And she was all he had left.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "What do you mean she sacrificed herself?" he asked, his voice still shaking.
She hesitated before answering. "Your mother sacrificed herself to save you. She called upon the Luminari to save you... she called upon me."
Ulysses' eyes widened in shock. "You're the Luminari?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded. "I am a luminari. Ulysses. Your mother gave her life to save you, and now I will ensure that her sacrifice is not in vain."