Page 1 of Ruined Kingdom

PROLOGUE: SOPHIA

A heaviness lay on my chest, frighteningly immovable—like a cinderblock.

As much as I tried to move, I was unable to. The last thing I remembered seeing was Kaine hovering over me, screaming something.

What was he saying?

I couldn't quite remember now. I was just so tired. As soon as I closed my eyes, I went into a deep sleep … deeper than I’d ever slept before. But when I opened my eyes again, I found myself drifting in a sea of darkness.

There wasn't a single sound to fill my ears. Not even the sound of my own breathing or heartbeat was present.

Everything was completely still.

I had never experienced such stillness in my entire life.

It should have been frightening, but instead, all I felt was serenity.

Gently, my body was being rocked, as if I was lying on calm waters—aimlessly adrift.

The waves gently lapped against my skin, bringing me further into the night.

What a strange dream I’m having. I wonder when I'll wake up. It seems like it’s been hours already. Days. Longer maybe?

It was hard to tell. Time seemed a foreign and far away thing here… Irrelevant even.

My thoughts faded in and out, as well as my consciousness.

Every time I opened my eyes, I felt as if I had lost another piece of myself.

It was becoming more and more difficult to remember who I was or what I was doing here.

“Sophia.” A gentle voice called my name. The voice was both familiar and the most unearthly thing I had ever heard. It sounded like pure light singing in my ears, ethereal and melodious.

My eyes opened again, and I caught sight of a purple light flickering from the black expanse above me.

My lids felt heavy and I wanted to close my eyes again, but the light was so pretty. Alluring. Beckoning. Drawing me toward it.

“Sophia, come to me.” The voice rang in my ears again, filling the nothingness enveloping me.

I finally tried to sit up, but it was impossible.

Every fiber of my being felt numb and unresponsive.

What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I wake myself up?

“Sophia… Follow my voice.” It sounded farther away this time, the deafening silence seeming to consume anything wanting to exist in the same space.

No, I have to get up. Now!

I tried to thrash against the darkness as fear swelled up in my belly.

Memories began flashing through my mind so quickly that I failed to make them all out, but what was happening was unmistakable.

I remembered the sound of tearing flesh and the sight of blood splattering on wildflowers.

Someone was also calling out my name. Someone whose face is a blur to me now…

This person must have been important to me because my whole chest was aching at the thought of whoever it was. I attempted to free myself from the rocking ocean beneath me again, but I was too weak.

---