Year: Around 1600 BCE

Location: Akrotiri (Santorini, Greece)

The sun was setting across the ocean. Sharp pinks and oranges splashed the blue horizon. A steady breeze pulled the salty air over the water and up over the bank that Vatra sat against. With her back to the land, she watched the waves dance at her feet in the sand.

Fishermen were pulling in their hauls for their day. Not far from where Vatra sat at the water's edge, the docks were busy. The fishermen's boats were being unloaded as if it were enjoyable for them to do, and not as if their very livelihoods depended on it. Raucous laughter drifted down the beach.

Vatra smiled as she watched the faint outlines of bounding figures walking about the docks.

"Berenice!" a small voice echoed behind Vatra.

The shout was followed by the sound of a dog barking, and sand pelted Vatra's back not long after. She barely had time to dodge a flurry of paws and an overly excited tongue from the hound that had preceded her brother. Vatra's brother arrived a moment after, falling to his knees beside the dog. He grabbed the hound by his leather collar and pulled it from Vatra's lap.

"Get off her, Dog!" her brother shouted, though a smile pulled at his lips.

The white dog, lean and all muscle, became attentive by his master's reprimand. Dog sat with barely a twitch.

Dusting herself off, Vatra chuckled. "Irenaeus, I told you not to call me by that name anymore. I want you all to call me by Vatra, now," she said.

Irenaeus frowned. "It sounds so foreign. Va-tra." Irenaeus stuck his tongue out and gave a look to Dog as if the animal would agree with him. "I don't think our parents like it, either."

"What's so wrong with coming up with my own name? It's the only thing around here I've been able to make mine." Vatra sighed and looked over her younger brother with a scrutinizing gaze.

He hadn't washed for dinner, yet. His short, black hair was a curly mess on his head. Grime and dirt streaked his face and creased beneath his brown eyes. It was impossible to even see the freckles on his cheeks.

"Mother won't appreciate the dirt on your face before our meal," Vatra scolded him with a playful pinch to his elbow.

Irenaeus pulled away his arm. "It doesn't matter, I can wash up before you even make it home. You walk so slow."

"Oh, is that right?" Vatra grinned, jumping to her feet.

Her brother clambered to his own bare feet, Dog jumping up in excitement beside him. "I'll race you back!" Irenaeus turned and darted off toward the docks, his hound close on his heels.

I do think he will make it back before me, she thought.

Bending down, Vatra grabbed her sandals from the sand before walking after her brother and Dog. She was in no rush to get home. After all, it was a beautiful evening.

The sand was soft underfoot. With each step, it sprung beneath her and pushed her along. Turning her head to the sky, Vatra wondered if it was similar to walking amongst the clouds. Birds drifted above her, taunting her imagination. What she wouldn't give to fly amongst the clouds and look down on those below her. To see the world from somewhere far beyond where she was.

Soft grains turned to rough wood. The planks of the dock creaked beneath Vatra as she took a shortcut through the path of the fishermen. She passed through those still walking about the docks with small nods of acknowledgement.

Having grown up on the island, Vatra knew almost everyone. Those older than her had helped raise her, and those younger than her she'd helped look after. Many of the older fishermen had worked alongside her father before he'd retired to working inland, and a few passed messages to her as she walked by to check in on him for them.

The smell of fish was heavy through the docks. Vatra couldn't help but hold the back of her hand to her nose as she walked hastily by, trying to expedite her interactions with anyone that stopped her. 

Once she reached the end of the dock, Vatra skipped down the steps back down on to the packed dirt of the path leading to the village. She should have chosen the long way around and avoided the docks altogether. It wasn't like she was in a hurry, after all.

Vatra sighed, enjoying the fact that the scent of fish was no longer suffocating her. The evening air was growing colder, nipping at her bare shoulders. She wrapped her arms tight around her and walked along the path with haste.

It was quiet and lonely. The voices of the fishermen grew faint behind her. No one else from the village was using the path at such an hour, and Irenaeus and Dog were far ahead of her. Vatra looked about with unexpected panic, a chill on her arms that she hadn't felt before.

Why am I afraid to walk in my own village?

She felt as if someone was watching her, their eyes on her from the shadows of the rocks surrounding her on either side. Vatra quickened her pace to a slow run, the hard dirt bruising the soles of her feet with each heavy step. The looming presence behind her pushed her onward. Daring a glance, Vatra looked over her shoulder. No one was there.

Turning back, Vatra skidded to a halt. Someone was in the path ahead of her, blocking her way to the village. She hadn't heard anyone approach her, though. 

Maybe in my panicked run, they'd managed to quietly approach me?

"Who's there?" Vatra questioned the figure, bravely stepping closer. She did know most of the villagers, after all. It was most likely just someone going back down to the docks.

The person stepped forward, their face unveiled from the shadows. It was a man Vatra didn't recognize. His light hair and eyes were uncharacteristic of those that lived in the village.

Fear swelled inside Vatra's chest. She cut a glance behind her and considered running for the docks. There would still be people there. No one had come up the path behind her, yet. Instead of moving like her mind willed her feet, Vatra found herself frozen in place. She was a mouse caught by a cat.

"Care to join me for a walk, love?" the man questioned. His voice rang with a spine-chilling sweetness.

"Who are you?" Vatra shuffled backward a step, a hand raised in front of her.

The man chuckled in obvious amusement. "My name is Enyalius, and you won't believe what luck you've awarded me. You can come with me willingly or not, but you will be leaving this village with me," Enyalius said. The smile faded from his face, and a cold look crossed his eyes.

Vatra was even more scared than she was before. After the change in his demeanor, the man before her was reminiscent of a monster. He was not human. 

"Leave me alone, please," Vatra pleaded. Tears stung her eyes. "Don't hurt me."

"I'm not going to hurt you, love," Enyalius said with a shake of his head. "I'm not one of those spineless creatures that preys on women. But, I will be taking your life."

The breath caught in Vatra's throat. She wanted to scream, to thrash and fight for her life, but the moment the will to survive fired in her body, Vatra felt a sharp pain on her temple. Then, everything went black.