A girl chosen by fate foretold in a prophecy that has been told to her since she was old enough to understand, and all she knows is she doesn't want any part in it. Groomed since birth to behave in a certain way, brainwashed about the real world around her, The only friend she has is the one she meets in her dreams wrapped in shadows. After people break in to the place she was made to call home, she finds herself fleeing, Alone and scared, she somehow finds herself embarking on a journey she thought she'd never be on and everything she's ever been told doesn't make any sense. Magic, was it real?
The feather marked Chapter 1 Ophelia
For as long as I remember, my life has been the same. Every
minute of every day planned out, nothing ever changes. The rules are for my
protection, my wellbeing, for I have been honoured, blessed, I have been chosen.
My childhood memories aren't those of which you would
expect, I wasn't raised by a family with love and affection. There were no
family days out, no family get togethers, no playmates, no normal childhood.
I have been locked away in this prison I call home awaiting
the day until I turn sixteen. So I can then step up and fulfil my destiny of
which is of the highest honour. For I have been blessed, for I have been
chosen.
The sunlight streamed in through the small window. That was
positioned that high. There was no hope of climbing out and just running,
running that fast and quick. Towards the forest of trees that surrounded my
"home". Towards any chance of freedom.
It was like clockwork. The sun came up and that beam of
light always woke me from my dreams. Which for the last two years have no
longer been haunted by the nightmares that had consumed me.
It was due to the pressure of the prophecy that had been
placed upon me, all because I was born with the mark.
I was no longer plagued by these nightmares due to a visitor
wrapped in shadows. He chased away the nightmares when he appeared.
My mark was shaped like a feather. From my inner wrist down
along my arm. The one thing that, even if I covered up, I knew was there. The
one thing that made me special. Or so I've been told. Over and over again,
until I believed it. But then again, I had nobody to tell me any different.
Sitting up on the metal framed single bed, my back still
ached from the springs that prodded through the worn down mattress.
A quick glance around the room showed a mirror, sink,
toilet, the bed I sat on, a lamp, a storage box with my "uniforms" and stairs
which led to the main house through the trap door.
Grabbing a clean uniform, I made my way up the stairs and
towards the in-house staff showers.
The house was quite like every other morning. The only other
people awake were the cleaners and the chef. All preparing for the day ahead.
After a quick shower, I combed my pale violet hair. I always
found it a weird colour. It was the same colour as my eyes. I was yet to see
anyone else with any colour close to mine.
I brushed my teeth, and I was ready to start the day. I
grabbed a slice of toast from the kitchen.
I didn't bother talking to the members of staff. I gave up a
long time ago when I used to plead with them to help me. That I didn't want to
be special or chosen, I just wanted to be free. I was ignored every time. They
never spoke to me, so eventually I just stopped.
As I got older, I realized the only people who were allowed
to speak to me were my tutors, trainers, and my parents, Monica and Dave.
While eating my toast. I found myself drifting into my
thoughts. Bringing myself back to my dream from last night and what my stranger
had said to me. "It's nearly time, you'll be safe soon."
Usually, my dreams slip away and all I can remember is being
visited by the stranger. But never had I remembered more details than that.
Well, until last night.
I found myself pondering those words. I knew the stranger
was a figment of my imagination. I had somehow dreamed up to stop the
nightmares. I was happy with seeing a stranger in my dreams. Even a made up
person. It was better than those nightmares. But last night it felt so
real.
The sound of footsteps coming towards me broke me from my
deep thoughts. I looked up to see Monica and Dave coming towards me with
another person, a man.
The man was wrinkled with age. His grey hair pushed to the
side. To hide the obvious bald patch. If I were to guess his age, I'd say
sixties. He held himself tall. He screamed importance.
Now, considering I never met anyone new, this was extremely
strange. "Ophelia follow us" were the only words that were spoken as they
continued to walk past me down the hall.
I rose quickly to follow, as I wanted to avoid dealing with
the punishment for disobedience.
After walking through the hallways for a couple of minutes,
we arrived at the house study (a room I was not allowed in under any
circumstance, or so I was told).
I hesitated at the door, unsure whether to follow them into
the room, as I was not to break the rules. Monica snapped at me to get in.
After a brief introduction. I was informed I would be leaving
my home as my sixteen birthday was in one week, and there were preparations to
be made.
At that moment, I couldn't tell you what came over me, and I
spoke out of turn. Asking questions that I learned long ago not to do. "What
preparations? What's going on? What happens when I turn 16?" They kept flowing
from my lips, and I didn't know how to stop.
To my surprise, it was the man who answered me, not my
parents. " My child. you are chosen, you will be honoured. your soul will
be carried to the greatest level, and you will be the last. For you will awaken
our goddess and through her. You will continue to live". It took me a moment,
but I quickly realized I was to be sacrificed to the goddess.
Boom, the house shook, followed by silence, and then the
screaming started from down the hall. "Take her and run. we can't lose her
now" Monica screamed at the man. He grabbed my arm and started pulling me
towards the door.
I started to run with him. Away from the shouting, and I
found myself in all the crazy thinking. For an old man, his fitness is
remarkable.
Clearly, I had just gone insane with the bombshell of being
sacrificed on my sixteenth birthday. And the fact that someone had clearly just
blown up some part of the house.
The screaming got further away as we progressed through the
house, and I was taken outside through a doorway behind a bookshelf I never
knew was there.
After mere seconds of being outside. A man covered in black,
head to toe, appeared out of nowhere. He literally aimed his gun and fired at
the older man. Killing him right in front of me.
I knew I was next, and at that moment, I thought, what does
it matter now or next week. At the hands of this man, or a sacrifice to some
crazy people's goddess? Either way, I was going to die.
I put up my hands slowly in surrender, and I felt a gentle
hum underneath my skin. I felt myself heating up, which is the only way I can
explain it.
I screamed as it started to feel as if I were burning. I
felt a rush go through my hands. What appeared to be blue flames shot out,
burning the man in front of me.
At this moment, I had clearly lost my mind and I did the
only rational thing I could, I ran. I ran toward the forest as fast and as
quick as I could. I ran towards my freedom.
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The feather marked
Rachaelk212
Fantasy
Chapter 1 Ophelia
25/04/2023
Chapter 2 Present day
25/04/2023
Chapter 3 Drake
25/04/2023
Chapter 4 The prophecy
25/04/2023
Chapter 5 Teaferra academy
25/04/2023
Chapter 6 Strange dreams
25/04/2023
Chapter 7 Honoured
25/04/2023
Chapter 8 The grand tour
25/04/2023
Chapter 9 Fated
25/04/2023
Chapter 10 Orientation
25/04/2023