2

Karina drove to a timbered area, where a huge part was owned by my mom and dad. The aroma of damp mud and rain was heightened by the tranquil atmosphere. She closed her eyes, tilting her head upwards, letting out a satisfied sigh.

She strode towards the left leading up to a dense thicket. A part of the area was filled was laid out with purple and blue blossoms. The delicate soft petals were formed in the most beautiful way possible, curved at the edges and thinner in the middle.

'Nova' is what she'd called them. Something she'd kept hidden is how she could create these blossoms, about which she'd felt so isolated. Something abnormal. Not what you would see every day.

She had discovered it when she was 12. She had been playing in the mud when a plant grew and gradually bloomed a light purple nova.

The strangest thing is how it could heal you physically and emotionally. The swift change in your mood, the instant relaxation. Like a sweet lullaby being sung to you, your senses dulling to a sweet slumber.

The only people who knew were her parents. They didn't seem surprised when she'd told them...which she always wondered about.

She sat on her knees, playing with the sand. She slid her hands under the layers of mud. Concentrating on the very essence of earth. It was like a shift of energy when a small sapling emerged.

After a few minutes, the sapling grew into a small plant with a purple bud.

She stood up pleased, deciding to take a stroll.

Karina relished in the feeling of walking in a humid forest. Pleasant to the ears, eyes, and nose. Her hands and feet were covered in mud but she loved it nonetheless.

She ran over towards a huge tree and tried to climb it for the thousandth time or so. Ended up failing miserably.

Strolling along the path of the forest, she stopped thinking. Suddenly, her back experienced a stab of pain, causing her to stumble. Her face constricted in discomfort.

It stopped at once. That's when she heard the rustling of dry leaves that surrounded the moisture-laden ground. Her senses heightened in alertness as she instinctively moved towards the source of the sound. She found a tree to hide behind, peeping to see what happened.

It was a tall man with ruffled black hair on his knees, his body bent forward...But most importantly...

He had wings.

Karina's mind instantly went blank..without a thought, trying to fathom the most uncanny sight she had ever witnessed. The strange man clumsily stood up, in pain.

Before she could even figure out, he turned his head towards her direction, meeting her eyes.

His eyes were dark brown, his face muddy.

Her legs were ready to take off until the man fell towards the ground like he was punched in the gut. He groaned in pain, his hands clenched into fists.

The events that later transpired were so sudden, she didn't have the chance to run.

His wings were bloody, yet glowing so brightly. He let out a loud cry of agony, feeling his wings slowly lose their life, detaching from his body.

He leaned backward, devoured by anguish, his wings tearing, his body covered in blood.

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