The Past Winter
Black Shadow

We, the inhabitants of the cell looked at each other questioningly. The sound from behind the big door felt awkward and unnatural. All this time all that was heard from behind the door was the sound of the laughter of the guards or the cries of other residents. But now it sounds like the sound of human moans that are dying.

Suddenly, a black cloud of smoke emerged from the sidelines of the large door that went inside. The longer the more dense the smoke that goes into this basement. The black smoke gathered in a narrow room that had no air circulation at all. We also screamed hysterically.

We panicked, scared, screamed, and agitated, not knowing what to do, even some of us went crazy by bumping our heads at the bars that held us there. Hoping that the iron bars could be smashed to pieces so we could come out to save ourselves.

It did not take long, now thick smoke enveloped the entire room of the prison cell. The moaning sounds of the other residents slowly dimmed. The thick smoke forced through into the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The oxygen has been exhausted in eating black smoke.

KLANG!

BUKS!

The iron bars on my cell detached from the hinges. Same with all the other cells in there. Those who were still able to move, scurrying out to save themselves. Breaking down the only exit leading to the surface.

I had been lying helplessly in a cell, my body weakly helpless. I inhaled too much of the poison contained in that black smoke. My little body can't hold on anymore.

“Am I going to die here?” Batinku. The tip of my eye was hot, the clear droplets of my eyelids falling on the ground.

“GRRR..”

The sound of moans sounded very close. A pair of glowing yellow eyes as bright as precious metals walked over towards me. I can neither avoid nor fight. My body was already lying helplessly, I could not move even a little, even moving my fingers.

“Oh look... The big black shadow looked like a wild animal.” Thought.

I've resigned myself to dying in this cell underground. Because surely many of the residents like me who will be made slaves also die here. I had determined, decided that this cell would be my last stop. The final resting place before I go to heaven. Might as well.

What a pity, though I wanted to know everything about this world and the magic Rainar always told me to keep us both sane in there. Rainar unceasingly told me about how great the humans up there have magic.

Since not all living humans can have magic, only a select few are gods. Then the person who has it is a special person who will get special treatment on the surface. Surface people call them ‘sorcerer’ and treat them as a state-owned treasure.

Rainar also tells the story of the humans who call themselves ‘noble’ live in a magnificent and luxurious gold-plated building called the mansion. They, the nobles, had everything that could never be imagined before.

...***...

“Big once.” My inner.

The beast's breath was hot on the back of my body. And I could only look at him when the jaw of the large animal was wide open. Dozens of sharp-finged teeth like blades neatly lined up, ready to tear my body which now possessed the figure of a little girl. It was easy for the large animal to crush this tiny body in just one small bite.

I closed both my eyeballs. Prepare to endure the pain that I will suffer later. As much as possible I will not scream, and I hope that the process of his death will take place quickly without pain.

When that row of teeth started to come closer biting the back of my body. I close my eyes tightly. My heart was beating so hard that it sounded loud in my ears. The breath of the animal that looked like a big wolf tickled my tiny nape. I also laughed at his laughter.

The large animal raised my body using its muzzle. He bit the back of the shirt I was wearing. Like a cat carrying her child. His legs were level and hefty walking steadily towards the exit.

I looked to the right and left, wrapped in black smoke, making the visibility limited. There were faintly many bodies scattered everywhere. Even large animals pass through bodies that are lifeless because they run out of oxygen or die trampled.

“Rainar..” Call me lirih.

I looked limp into Rainar's cell. I saw a black shadow hanging in the middle of the cell. Rainar's body is still in there. He was already motionless with many chains shackling.

My eyes warmed up again, this time more than before. I held my sobs in silence. My tears are falling to the earth. All this time it was only Rainar who accompanied me there, chatting and joking with him was a fun routine for me. But now that figure is no longer able to accompany me.

I felt the pain in my heart. I can't stop the tears that keep coming out for the faithful boy making me feel safe in that hell of cold bars.

...***...

If in one prison cell there are nearly ten children imprisoned together, like my cell of six children including me. Rainar Cells are like made especially for him alone. Because in the cell there is only he himself with many iron chains that bind him.

The bars that locked Rainar in there looked different. Iron that looks blacker and three times thicker than other cells around it, it should be a must. As if without the iron chains holding it, the thin twelve-year-old boy inside the steel cell could easily escape.

Even every guard that passed through his cell, as if they were frightened and trying to dodge as quickly as possible away from Rainar's reach. Rainar's cell seemed to be forgotten and ignored by the guards there.

Don't know what would happen to those guards if they were close to Rainar. It felt like they could instantly get injured and die on the spot. The guards did not dare to stare carelessly or even just glance at the end of Rainar's cell. Because if anyone looks directly at the boy, he will grin looking back horribly.