Thanatos: The White Dawn

Prologue

© 2017 by Danelle Dreyer. All rights received.

No copy, in any form or manner, of this work is permitted.

Personally contact the author in case of an enquiry.

'If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the help that never came
You want it darker

There's a lover in the story
But the story's still the same
There's a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it's written in the scriptures
And it's not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

They're lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker'

- You want it darker, Leonard Cohen

Sonya and Trita were sitting in a local campus coffee shop. It was early, the sun was shaded with clouds and the smell of roasted coffee beans and fresh bread filled the small deli.

Trita twisted her head around again to peer out the large window behind her; "There; do you see him?"

Sonya lifted her head from her phone and shot the brunette an annoyed look; "Trita, you need to stop this."

"I swear on my life- just look!"

The platinum-haired girl rolled her eyes and took a sip from her latte; her eyes skimmed over to the window and lazily gazed out in search of a dark figure. Her lime green eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of a man standing across from the deli.

"See?" Trita tried again, her eyes filled with paranoia; "Someone's been following us since Monday, I swear it."

Sonya took her time to examine the man- he wore a long, black coat, the collar lifted up to cover his neck. His hands were pushed tightly into his pockets and his face was ducked down to hide his features. The man was standing in a dark shaded corner under the boutique across from the deli; he stuck out like a sore thumb.

The bright suburb close to the university was light with vibrant colors, lively young students and modern streets, but that black coat left a bitter taste in Trita's mouth. She knew this deli; it wasn't the coffee's fault.

"That could just be some homeless man or a drunk guy. Relax, Trita, you're being paranoid."

Trita scoffed and turned in her seat to stare at the man. Sonya grabbed her upper arm from across the table and fiercely whispered; "Don't stare!"

"If he wasn't something to worry about why would you care if I stared?"

"Staring is rude!"

"No, stalking is rude!" Trita turned her head back to the figure, but much to her surprise- he was gone.

"Where'd he go?" The dark haired girl moved her eyes up and down the street in hope of finding the mysterious man, but it was to no avail. Sonya leaned back and sighed; "Look, whoever he was, I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about. Besides, why would anyone be stalking us?"

Trita's dark green eyes kept racing through the street. Sonya sighed softly and refocused her attention back on the dimmed screen of her mobile phone.

"Tsk." Trita turned back in her chair and flicked her tongue, her expression dead-pan; "You're right. I'm starting to see things."

Sonya nodded absentmindedly as her fingers typed. Trita examined her friend and took a sip from her espresso.

"Baron?" The brunette asked.

Baron was a young man Sonya had met a few weeks ago; he was medical student at the hospital where Sonya did her nursing practicals.

"Yeah..." Sonya furrowed her brows at the screen; "He's being strange."

"How do you mean?"

"I don't know- lately he's been overly concerned about me. It was nice at first, but now it's getting strange. He wants to know where I am and with who all the time."

Trita lifted a manicured brow; "Weird. Maybe he's super territorial?"

"No, he's normally so easy-going. I don't know what's gotten into him?"

"Well," Trita placed her cup down onto the wooden table and signalled for the bill; "just don't let him boss you around or anything; he might be a senior in your department, but that doesn't give him the right to 'daddy' you."

The platinum girl nodded solemnly; her eyes filled with calculation.

"Have you heard from Aurora today?"

Sonya nodded and tapped her nails against the table; "Speaking of over-concerned... She's been messaging me literally every second hour."

"I was just about to say the same thing!" Trita frowned; "It's not like her. Do you think she misses us?"

"Must be it? I hope she's not too home-sick."

Trita chuckled and leaned back in her chair; "Not very likely. I'm sure Thane keeps her busy."

"Lucky, lucky Rora..." Sonya fanned her face playfully. "That man needs a warning sign."

Trita laughed; "I'm happy for her. He's so in love with her. Too bad they had to leave for Italy so early."

"Hmm... Aurora's course sounds like it's pretty hard."

Trita wiggled her eyebrows; "Or maybe they just wanted to get some proper alone time..."

Sonya chuckled and sipped the last bit of her latte, but softly she chocked as her eyes landed on the darkly dressed figure. He was back.

She wiped her mouth with her hand; "Trita..." The young girl nodded her chin to the figure across the street. Trita turned around slightly and gulped as her eyes landed on the large man.

He stood closer now; his back resting against a news-stand, but his shaded face was focused in the deli's direction. A chill shot up the girl's spine.

She turned back slowly just as the waiter brought the bill; "Back exit?"

Sonya didn't hesitate to nod.

Welcome back, Thanians!

Miss me? Of course you did.... So let's get to it, shall we?

*cue manical laughter*