Sides of Day and Night: Two sides of Daywalkers

It was August 6th, mid-morning. The sun's rays reached the shimmering cyrstal buildings of Lightside like light reflecting off a chandelier. The eternal daytime of Lightside had bright crystal buildings were surrounded by sparkling blue beaches, wide savannas, rivers, tall waterfalls, and active volcanoes around the city.

In the town squre a huge banner written 'Happy 16 Birthday Cyra!' With bright, colorful colors and large letters was hung across two lamp posts with a string. the marble stone streets bustled with chatter. The people in the area wore red, white, bright white-yellow and gold outfits. They also wore a strange golden metal bracer on their wrists with a bright marigold gem in the centre of it, that seemed to glow faintly under the blazing sun. The stone was called the Sunstone. They called their bracer a Solar Bracelet.

In the highest tower in the city, where the bright and fiery phoenixes soared with their piercing cry, a girl with chocolate brown hair tied in a messy braided bun with amber brown eyes leans out the window. Her name was Cyra Sinclair. "Happy Birthday to me, I guess... " She thought. Inside her head her train of thought has been going everywhere like a roller coaster ride. It had been iritating her head since last Tuesday, which made her lose her focus on her task and accidentally use her quill and wrote on a quite ancient book she had been reading from the library.

A warm and gentle voice came from behind her as the door opened with a creak. "Cyra, you should be celebrating. Sixteen is a big deal you know?" Her amber brown eyes mirrored the same calm expression Cyra had. The man who stood beside her stood tall with a soft expression. His blue eyes carrying the weight of responsibilities on his shoulder that was never only for him to carry alone. It was her parents, Nora and David Sinclair. David chuckled deeply, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Yes, dear, you should be out with the rest of your people." Cyra turned around, arms crossed. The same stubborn expression she carried on her face for years. "I don't want to accidentally burn anyone ... again." She said, looking away, guilty for that. It was the incident where at a very important holiday where she had accidentally lost control of her powers and sent a small spark on one of the civilians clothes on fire. Ever since that day, Cyra was too embarrassed to talk about what had happened that day.

But the memory of it was still fresh on her mind. Like a scar that never healed.

Nora took a step further and grabbed Cyra's chin gently to face them. Nora looks into her daughter's eyes, her calm and stoic expression softening. "Cyra, everyone in Lightside knows that was an accident. Don't blame yourself for that." Cyra's arms loosened reluctantly and she sighs deeply. "I just can't hurt anyone-" Before she could finish her sentence, alarms blared across the city.

The Brightstone's invisible barrier began to crack like glass with pressure. The ground rumbled strong as earthquake. The civilains screams echoed across as the guards barked orders of evacuation to calm the situation down. Strange shadows loomed over Lightside with intent. It could only mean one thing ...

Hunters have breached Lightside. Nora and David exchanged a knowing look and placed their gaze on Cyra. Their expressions serious. "Cyra! You have to leave now!" David said urgently while shouting out orders to the guards outside from the window. Nora gave Cyra a suitcase and satchel from a nearby closet and placed them in front of Cyra. Her eyes were filled with fierce determination and anxiousness. "Cyra, take these and go to this address." Nora shoved a little piece of paper into Cyra's trembling hand, and looked at her expression carefully. Cyra looked at the crumpled paper in her hands, and up at her mother with a confused expression. Her brows furrowed as she protested. "But, mom!

I-I can help fight! H-how am I supposed-?" She stammered.

"Cyra." Nora cut her off gently. "Hunters are looking for someone, and that someone could be you. Promise me you'll protect yiur identity." Cyra looks down at the floor, her eyes filling with tears quickly. She blinked rapidly, trying not to let them fall.

She nodded tearfully, her voice cracking. "I promise, mom." Nora and David nodded and gave her a quick hug. David looks at Cyra with thise serious, yet gentle blue eyes. He kisses the top of her head gently, amd wipes her falling tears with his thumb. His touch was soft, soothing, and gentle as always.

Gathering courage, he finally spoke up. His voice raspy and deep. "Be strong, Sunshine. Your mother and I love you so much." Before Cyra could answer, a flash of bright light appeared behind her. Then whisking her away from the only home she'd ever known. The last thing she saw was her parengs determined expression, and hearing Lightside's battle cry one last time. "Solwalkers ... our journey begins!" It echoed down as she was dragged further and further away.

In a split second, she stumbled upon a large building with a mysterious and eerie aura. The buildings bricks were mostly covered in moss, dirt, and vines. And on the moist ground, thick fog gathered around her feet. Around the large building were lakes, forests, and as furthest the eye could see, an abandoned clock tower stood still inthe distance that seemed to have haunt the grounds for decades. Shd had reached the address on the wrinkled sheet of paper which was still clutched tightly in her hand. UP.A.B. It stands for Unitary Preparatory Academy of Britain. The large and tall scale of the building loomed above her like it had been ... waiting for her arrival. Across the courtyard, she saw other supernatural students chatting around and already making friends.

She adjusted her hoodie's sleeves to cover the Solar Bracelet on her wrists.

The marigold gem's light seemed to fade as if it was hidden in the darkest cave. From the other side of campus a certain person caught her eye. He had a dark brown hair with a pair of green-hazel eyes, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the brick wall casually. He notices her looking and his eyes narrowed slightly, a small smirk formed at the end of his lips. In curiosity?

Suspicion? Cyra forced herself to look away, but she couldn't get this nagging feeling off her chest. Her instincts told her to stay away from him. But despite that she also felt some sort or connection to him .. her chest tightened, and a shiver ran down her spine. For the first time, her stomach knotted with nerves.

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© Chasey Buena

Sides of Day and Night