I fell into a trance as I began to dream—no I was having a vision. The night was the same. I was wearing the same dress standing on the balcony while the people inside the hall were dancing and conversing. The clock was still up in the sky but turned twelve at the exact moment I looked up.
A bad feeling rose in my chest as I sensed imminent danger.
"What…" before I could finish screams broke out in the hall as the metallic sent of blood and burnt skin permeated the air.
I turned abruptly and witnessed the most haunting scene.
The nobles that were once laughing and dancing were now screaming and running. Black figures appeared from the shadows and slaughtered them mercilessly spilling blood on the once pristine floors.
Some were burnt others the life was sucked out of them.
I just stood frozen unable to do anything. That's was when I felt it or him. He was behind me resting on the railing without a care in the world. He watched the scene unfold without showing any emotion.
I was staring at him. He had dark hair the color of night with piercing red orbs that could give anyone chills. He wasn't wielding a weapon but gave of the feeling of being the most dangerous one of all. And he was staring at her with the most intense gaze.
"Please" my voice came out in a soft whisper as I pleaded. I wasn't sure what I was pleading for but all I knew was she wanted it.
"Your time is up my love" he muttered but the words still reached her ears. It was deep and alluring. It was familiar.
That's when I remembered. I've seen this before. It was all the same; over and over again. They always died but I could never save them every time.
I broke out of the trance and looked up at the sky. There was still two minutes before midnight.
'Can I save them? What if….no there no time to think about that Arianna, you have to move. MOVE'
I forced my body to move before the doubt crept in. I rushed into the hall like I was being chased. Time was running out.
I could hear the clock ticking in the background—a reminder of what was about to happen. But I can't let it happen again even if I have to race against time.
"Run!" I shouted the moment I reached the hall "you have to run before they come."
I could hear whispers but no one was running.
Tick tock tick tock
"Please you have to…" before I could finish I saw them, the dark figures. They didn't look human. They were like dark shadows swirled into a humanoid form.
And yet that wasn't the worst of it. Their eyes were like two gaping holes that sent chills down my spine. They moved silently yet with purpose.
Then it started all over again; the screams, the blood, all chaos broke loose with me in the middle like a spectator in all of it.
'Why is this happening?'
Everyone was running while I just stood there frozen; unable to muster any strength to move even a single muscle.
That was when I saw him, the man with the mask.
The mask was black with intricate gold linings. It gave him a dark and mysterious vibe. I was scared; not of him, not of what was going on but of the pull I felt for him. He had an intense gaze which was now pinned on me. His red magnetic eyes were watching her like a predator would do to its prey and yet at the same time his gaze was gentle.
My eyes stray from his eyes as I drink in his figure. He was tall and well built and dark hair like the night which brought a sense of familiarity. He was standing in the farthest corner in the room seemingly unaffected by what was happening around him.
I was suddenly struck with the realization that he was the man I saw in my dream—no vision. I slowly inched towards the door that led out of the hall trying to escape his gaze and the chaos. As though he realized what I was thinking, he tilted his head to the sign as if daring me to run.
I felt a spark of excitement run through me as I turned around and bolt down the hall twisting and turning around bends until I reached the garden. I came to a halt as my eyes registered the crimson colored sky and my ears pick up distant screams of agonized people.
Everything came spiraling down causing me to feel dizzy and lost my footing almost crashing to the ground when I felt an arm snake around my waist pulling me to a hard chest. I was suddenly engulfed with the smell of rain and pine.
It was a little cold out but I was warm in his embraced.
"Easy my love" his deep voice sent delicious shivers down my spine. I was hit with a sudden feeling of drowsiness.
"What are you…?" my words come out slurred as I try my best to hold grasp to reality but it keeps proving to be difficult as my mind starts to succumb to darkness.
"Sleep my love" his voice sounded next to my ear and I felt his other hand go beneath my knees.
I was lifted off the ground easily and I try to keep my eyes open. I got a glimpse of him looking down at me with an unreadable expression.
"Did you do this?" I heard myself asking so quietly I doubted he heard me which caught me by surprise when I heard his answer.
"No" it was such a short answer which somehow filled me with relief.
"Good" I muttered as I let the darkness overtake me before I could hear what he had to say.
The last thought I had before I completely lost consciousness was about my family.
'I'm sorry I couldn't save you mom, dad Dante. I'm sorry for leaving you Dora. Please forgive me'