Chapter 2 REINCARNATION

YUANITA

A sudden searing light tore through the darkness, nearly blinding me. I gasped, trying to catch a breath of air, as the memory of life seeping from me, clouded my mind. My lungs burned, and my heart hammered roughly in my chest, like it was being ripped from its position. I let out a loud cry, as the pain felt too much to endure. A familiar metallic scent clung to the air with something I couldn't name. Heavy with panic, my eyes fluttered open after adjusting to the bright light, but all I could see was an endless stretch of colourful hues, like I was suspended in a painting.

I could remember I had died and in my catholic faith, I was to face judgement.

Could this perhaps be purgatory?

Suddenly, the pain I felt in my insides stopped. However, it was quickly replaced by a piercing surge of tingle, that crawled up my skin from my feet. I wriggled on the floor again, as I watched my muscles flex and stretch, the patches on my skin fixed and healed. A weight of something new which I couldn't recognize, filled me as my body disappeared into a huge wave of light.

My eyes snapped open again. But this time, the room was different. Dark and eerie, with black curtains stretching from the tall walls and red candles scattered all over the place. The table, fixed in the middle of the room, had unfamiliar weapons and bows neatly arranged on it. Not far from me, a high seat– probably a throne of some kind– was buried into the wall. It was exquisitely designed with diamonds and gleamed under the dark sky.

I looked around, trying to decipher if I could find something familiar and luckily caught sight of a mirror. It was fully covered with a red cloth, revealing only the down part which reflected my ankles. Gulping a hard lump of air, I took calculated steps towards the mirror and slowly unwrapped it. The sight I beheld made me gasp in awe.

My body, which was normally lean and malnourished, had become robust and ample. My hair had changed from short dark brown to a long wavy blonde colour, giving more hint to my newly double coloured eyes. I also took notice of the emblem- a chained black rose flower– perfectly tattooed at the top of my breasts. I had gone from looking miserable to looking irresistable in the blink of an eye. While I was still admiring my new look, a calm ethereal voice jolted me.

"Welcome," the voice announced.

I turned around to look for the person or entity but saw nothing. Defensive, I grabbed a knife from the table and flung it around, taking notice of the new strength that flowed through me.

"Who are you?!" my low growl echoed back at me, and I almost questioned my memory.

"You better show yourself this minute!!" I warned again, glancing around the dark room.

A shadow flew past behind me with the speed of light, and I turned in haste but saw nothing. It passed behind me again, knowing I wouldn't find it.

"Show yourself, you coward." I hissed before the voice finally spoke again.

"Do not be afraid, child." It tried to assure me, but I wasn't falling for that cheap trick again.

"Afraid?" I scoffed. "With the way things are, I wonder who the scared one is!"

"If you don't want me to be defensive, then show your fucking self!" I yelled back at him, although my shaky hands were giving me out.

"I have only come to deliver a message."

"This must be some kind of joke." I hated the anger I felt, which was mixed with fear. "Who are you and what do you want from me?"

A pause lingered in the room, longer with piercing torture of fright. Then, a black raven descended from god knows where and dropped an envelope on my feet. Curious, I picked it and opened it to find a neck piece in it.

Heart shaped, filled with a red liquid which couldn't pass as any other thing but blood in my eyes. The envelope turned to ashes in my finger and vanished.

Strange things were just happening here. But the surprising thing was that I wasn't even scared. It felt like I belonged here.

"You have been chosen."

"Chosen?" My brows knotted.

"To fulfil the wishes of the realm." I could feel an elation in his deep voice. "As a missionier."

Chosen?

Realm?

Missioner?

Was I in some kind of enthrallment?

"A what?"

Even though I try to deny it, everything that had transpired proved me wrong. My transformation, the power I felt and this place. It was anything but human.

"Look, I know that the things I'm experiencing are not normal. But, I'm not a fool to just give in to the mere talks of a voice I can't even see. How do I believe you?"

"You can't run from your fate." He simply replied.

"And being a missionier or whatever is my fate?" I retorted angrily. "You must be sick in the head!."

Before I could finish, the knife flew from my grip, twirled around in a threatening manner and lounged near my throat. An inch closer would drive me to my death.

Again.

"Watch your words." He warned.

I swallowed, fluttering my lashes in hidden fear.

"What... do.. you..want?" I stammered with a trembling voice.

"The world is greatly drowning in the malevolency of the evil ones." He began. "Due to this, a special group of people have been appointed to send souls beyond redemption to hell."

That was the longest he had spoken.

"So, I've been appointed to send souls to their doom?" He ignored my question, but I asked again regardless. "How do I even do that?"

"You have been granted special powers to accomplish your mission."

Special powers?

Instantly, another knife moved past me but I caught it between my arms. Almost immediately, I could also hear the bitter cries of a multitude beneath me. My eyes blazed red and I could see beyond the room, which was surrounded by a huge vast forest.

"That should be enough proof."

"But, you must undergo a full training on how to use your powers, before you can be granted a task."

I hated the fact that everything was adding up.

"Fine." I had to give in because there was nothing else I could do. "When do I start?"

"First, we have to take a vital precaution."

His last statement was followed by another surge of light that completely engulfed me, until I gave in to darkness again.