The sky raged with power, and thunder roared as if it was racing lightning—both warning those who lived beneath the vast sky of a storm heading their way.
On the 6th of July, 8976, the countdown began.
Under heavy rain, in a village hidden from sight, a man was running swiftly until he reached a certain house.
He knocked hard on the door, wiping the water from his face.
Man: Caesar, it's me, Edmund! Caesar! Caesar!
Inside the house
In the bedroom
A couple was sleeping next to each other.
The wife began to stir from the noise and disturbance outside.
Sarah, sleepily: What are these sounds?
She recognized the voice—Edmund's—immediately.
Sarah, worried: Edmund!
She shook her husband who was fast asleep.
Sarah: Caesar, wake up now! Caesar!
Caesar, annoyed: What is it, Sarah?
Sarah: …
She didn't finish her sentence due to the constant knocking and Edmund's shouting, which made Caesar realize something was wrong.
Caesar, concerned: Edmund?
He jumped out of bed and rushed to the door to find out what was happening with his close friend, while Sarah headed to the closet to quickly change her clothes.
He opened the door urgently.
Caesar, worried: Edmund, what's going on?
Edmund, anxious: Sophia is giving birth—right now!
Caesar, shocked: What?!
Sarah, who was coming out of the room, overheard and shouted in disbelief:
Sarah: What?! She's only seven months pregnant!
Edmund: I don't know how—but she's in labor now! I don't know how to help her! And I'm afraid to take her to a hospital, or they'll find out…
Sarah: I'll help her.
She dashed off without waiting for her husband or his friend, racing the wind to reach her closest friend, knowing these were the most dangerous moments of her life—none of them might survive the night.
Caesar quickly locked the house, not bothering to check the lock—after all, they might not live long enough for it to matter.
Edmund and Caesar ran after her. Luckily, the house wasn't far, and the road was empty due to the storm.
By the time they arrived, they were soaked to the bone.
Sarah wiped her face with her hand.
Sarah, concerned: Edmund, why is there no sound?
Edmund: I don't know.
He rushed inside, and the others followed quickly. The house was just as he left it.
Edmund: The house is the same…
Sarah quickly went to the bedroom to search for Sophia, while Edmund checked the other rooms.
She didn't find her in the bedroom, but then heard a faint groan next to the bed.
She moved quietly toward the sound and was shocked to find blood and Sophia clinging to the bed, biting down on a piece of cloth.
Sarah, shocked: Sophia!
Sophia, in pain: S-Sarah…
Sarah, loudly: I found her!
Edmund and Caesar rushed in.
Sarah was about to sit beside her, but realizing she was still soaked, she grabbed some of Sophia's clothes and ran off to change.
Edmund: Sophia, my love, why are you holding in your screams?
Sarah returned after changing.
Sarah: Take clothes from here and get out—now!
Caesar: Why?
Sarah: So you can change your wet clothes. Quickly—move!
Edmund: Alright…
Sarah made sure all the windows were securely shut, brought more pillows and blankets, and helped Sophia change positions.
Edmund returned after changing.
Edmund: Let me help lift her.
Sarah: No.
Sophia clutched the blankets beside her tightly.
Sophia, in pain: No, Edmund. Maybe if I give birth silently and secretly, no one will know. Mmm… and then… ah… we'll have a chance to escape with our son.
Edmund held her protectively, speaking with strength and determination.
Edmund: Don't worry, Sophia. I'll protect you and our son with everything I have. I won't let anyone hurt you.
Sophia, smiling: I know.
Sarah: Edmund, please leave now and let me handle this.
She added: You and Caesar, keep watch and take care of yourselves, alright?
Edmund: Take care of her, Sarah.
Sarah, smiling: Don't worry.
He kissed his wife's forehead and left the room.
Sophia was drenched in sweat, the pain growing stronger, as she bit hard into the blanket beside her.
Sarah: Sophie, push hard, dear! Push hard!
Sophia, crying: Mmmmmm…
Outside
Edmund couldn't find Caesar and felt worried, but his concern eased when he saw him return carrying a small travel bag.
Edmund: Caesar, where did you go? And what's with the bag?
Caesar: We have to leave as soon as Sophia gives birth. I brought travel documents for me and Sarah. You should also pack yours and Sophia's—we need to leave immediately.
Edmund, refusing: Sophia and I will go alone.
Caesar, angry: What?! Are you insane?! I'm coming with you! I'll never let you face those men alone!
Edmund: Yes, you will. I've dragged you into enough already, you need—
Caesar, cutting him off sarcastically: You think I'll listen to you now? You didn't drag anyone into this. It's those criminals who are hunting your family for no clear reason.
He continued, furious: You think I'll let you face this alone?! Never, Edmund! Never.
Edmund: Are you crazy?! Things won't ever be the same again. I have a child now. They'll try to kill us—me and Sophia. If you're with us, they'll kill you too. So no, you're not coming.
A look of sadness crossed Caesar's face.
Edmund, sorrowfully: Caesar, I want my son to have someone by his side as he grows. I don't want him to grow up alone. You know in our family, every time a child is born, those men appear—like they did when I was born and killed my parents. My parents passed memories to me when I was born, and I saw those men. They said it would happen again and again. I saw those memories when I turned 20. I've always wondered—does this have something to do with this mark?
Edmund touched the dragon-shaped mark on his left shoulder—a dragon curled into itself.
He continued: This mark runs in our family. I saw it on my father's shoulder too—in his memories. There's a lot of mystery around our family... and our fate... and mine. I don't know. But fate, my friend, we can never escape it. I'd rather not drag you into it, Caesar…
Their conversation was cut off by Sophia's scream, followed by the cry of a newborn baby.
Edmund rushed in to see his wife and their child.
The baby was incredibly beautiful, with yellow hair and golden eyes.
Sarah: Edmund, help me!
He helped wrap the baby in the cotton blanket, looking at Sophia with concern.
Sarah: She fainted from exhaustion. I'll try to wake her up. You take care of the baby.
He held the baby gently in his arms.
Caesar, from outside: Sarah! Help Sophia get ready. We need to leave—fast!
Edmund came out holding his baby, shouting to Caesar.
Edmund: Cae—
Caesar, interrupting: Don't waste time talking. Listen—none of those men are here. They must've been expecting the birth two months from now. This might be our chance. Let's go now—night is the best cover.
He added firmly:
Caesar: I won't let you face this alone. That's enough.
He looked at the baby and smiled.
Caesar: Wow, your son is beautiful. If my wife has a daughter, I'll marry her to this handsome guy someday.
Sarah, having made sure Sophia was okay, came out. Caesar noticed her deep in thought.
Caesar: Sarah, what's wrong? Are you okay? Feeling unwell?
Sarah, puzzled: Edmund…
Edmund: Yes?
Sarah: Haven't you looked at your son's shoulder?
He and Caesar looked at her, confused. Edmund pulled the blanket off his son's shoulder and saw the mark of a dragon—but with two heads. The inherited family mark was a one-headed dragon.
Caesar, astonished: What is this? What does it mean? A two-headed dragon?!
Edmund: I don't know what it means!
Sarah, interrupting: We're not staying to guess, are we? We have to go—now!
Caesar: Yes, let's go. Edmund, get Sophia— the car's ready.
Sarah: Car?! We're using a car? Aren't we going to use our powers to escape?
Caesar: No way. They'll track our energy and catch us fast.
Meanwhile, Edmund went to his wife. She had regained consciousness and looked eagerly at his hands. He realized she was longing to hold her baby and handed him to her.
She cried with joy, holding her baby for the first time.
Sophia: See how beautiful our little boy is? Doesn't he look like me? But he got your eyes.
Sophia was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, 25 years old. Edmund was tall, with black hair and stunning golden eyes, 27 years old.
At first, he hadn't wanted to marry Sophia—fearing she'd be killed with him. But Sophia insisted and followed him from place to place. Eventually, she told him she knew the truth—she had overheard his conversation with Caesar. Their fates were now one.
Edmund hugged his wife and child, full of sorrow and concern.
Edmund: Didn't I tell you not to marry me? Then you wouldn't have to fear for your son or your life. You shouldn't have… and I shouldn't have agreed.
She gave a soft smile.
Sophia: What—my life? Edmund, I wouldn't have lived if you had married someone else. I would've died, haha, if another woman had married you, you jerk.
She looked at her son with love.
Sophia: Don't you see how beautiful he is? Our little boy—Jack.
Edmund, surprised: Who? Jack? Did you name our son Jack?
Sophia: Yes, his name is Jack Anderson—son of Edmund Anderson, my beloved husband.
Knock knock knock
Caesar: Can I come in?
Edmund allowed him inside.
Caesar: Sophia, congratulations on your baby.
Sarah: Congratulations, Sophie!
Sophia: Thank you both.
Sarah: Did you name the baby?
Sophia: Yes, his name is Jack.
Sophia stopped talking when she saw the mark on her baby's shoulder, stunned. She looked to her husband for explanation.
Edmund: Don't worry, Sophia. We'll try to find out what this mark means. But we need to go—sunrise is near.
Edmund sealed his son's powers so no one could sense them. Then he handed the baby to Caesar.
He packed their travel bag while Sarah helped Sophia prepare to leave.
The three of them headed toward the door to leave, but the sound of loud knocking made them freeze in place.
Sophia clung tightly to her husband, her gaze instinctively turning to her son, wanting to soak in his image.
Caesar and Edmund looked at each other, their breath caught. Caesar pulled his wife into a protective embrace.
Edmund stepped forward calmly to see who was at the door, but Caesar quickly yanked him back when the door suddenly flew off its hinges.
Someone stepped in with calm, confident strides. His face was completely covered, with only his sharp eyes visible, scanning the room around him.
All eyes were fixed on the newcomer.
To be continued…