“Go away!” I screamed at them, “Leave me alone!”
“Don’t yell at my sisters.” The dead pan voice of another child sent my mind reeling as I took in the emergence of two boys; one ghostly white, and the other covered in blood like his sisters. They backed me into a corner, staring at me with menacing eyes and hateful frowns.
“I didn’t do anything to you. Leave me alone!” I yelled at them, but they continued to approach slowly and methodically.
“Stasia!” I looked behind the dead children to see that Bianca had appeared.
“Bianca! Help me!”
“You’re stronger than them! Use your abilities!”
My heart was beating out of my chest and I had lost control over my arms and legs. I couldn’t think straight enough to figure out what to do with my abilities. Frozen to the spot, I could only watch them advance.
“Bianca!”
“Say you’re sorry,” one of the girls demanded quietly.
“Bianca!” I met her gaze across the room and saw that she was crying.
“I can’t! She’s pulling me back! I’m trying to fight her….” I watched in horror as Bianca faded.
“Say you’re sorry,” the other dead girl repeated, louder and more forcefully; bringing my attention back to them.
“No!” I yelled at them, hysterical with fear. “Get away from me!”
“Then you must die,” the sickly boy said plainly, as he produced a knife and plunged it into my heart.
Chapter 30
I was floating. It felt so effortless and peaceful, I could have sworn that I’d been air born my whole life. The freedom was liberating and soothing. Well, except for that awful rushing sound. It was so loud. Not to mention, it sounded like it was coming from inside my head. But that couldn’t be right. Maybe if I tried hard enough I could make it stop. Not only did my attempt not work; the rushing noise actually kicked up a notch. I decided to give up and resume my peaceful floating instead, as the numbness in my mind scrambled my thoughts and confused my memory. I couldn’t figure out why I was floating or how I got here; wherever ‘here’ happened to be. When I tried to open my eyes, a blinding light pierced my sensitive retinas and I snapped them back closed immediately. The darkness was less painful. Darkness. A pair of bright blue eyes flashed in front of me and I smiled. They were a startling mixture of light blues and grays; captivating my every thought. They blinked and disappeared. An intense sadness washed over me and knocked against my recently frozen heart.
I was so lonely. Empty. I wanted the eyes to come back. They brought warmth. Comfort.
Happiness. He was the only one who could save me. Bring me back to the whole person I once was.
Now I was shattered; pieces scattered about, never to truly be complete ever again. The lines had been drawn. The damage had been done. It was a cruel world, indeed, that would manifest the only cure from the very source of the pain and agony. I needed his touch; the warmth of his skin and the strength of his arms. I needed to hear his voice; see his heartbreaking smile. I desperately needed to feel the security his dark embrace always brought with it. He was my salvation as well as my inevitable undoing. In his capable hands; my heart had craved acceptance and love, only to be crushed beneath the pressure of his betrayal and lies.
The dizziness took over and I squeezed my eyes shut. Next, I was sinking and finally…a lightness. I opened my eyes only an inch; anticipating the now familiar blinding pain that sunlight produced. But thankfully it was dark and the moon provided enough light to make out my surroundings. Four earth toned stone walls caged me inside, creating a perfect square. The walls reached impossibly high; allowing only a small view of the night sky above. No sounds penetrated its solid walls, but I could sense the ocean was near. I felt its promise of security calling to me. Where was I?
As my eyes adjusted to the shadowed features of my prison, I began to make out distinct shapes. A chest. A chair. A desk. A bed. A very comfortable looking bed. My tired mind and body ached to lie down and escape into the world of pillows and blankets that awaited. Then I realized that the mound on the bed was moving. Immediately on the defensive, I held my breath and pressed against the wall nearest to me. When the mound of covers didn’t sit up or make a noise, I relaxed slightly; eyes still fixed on the bed. I could hear someone breathing. Were they sleeping? I tiptoed carefully to the side of the bed and peered over at its contents. At least eight pillows protected the sleeper from the stone wall next to the bed, and a fluffy white down comforter blanketed the bed’s owner.
As curiosity won over logic, I carefully moved the covers back to where I assumed a head should be. I found a foot instead, and the roughness and size told me it was a guy. The leather anklet holding four black beads told me which guy the foot was attached to. I jumped back, clamping a hand over my mouth to prevent any hysterical sobs from breaking loose. Monstrous tears immediately blinded me and continued to roll down my cheeks, as I allowed my eyes to release the feelings I couldn’t vocalize.
Not realizing the toll my restraint was taking on my body, my legs failed beneath me and I slid to the floor. I leaned against the cool stone wall, taking deep breaths and crying for what seemed like hours. Finally, the tears subsided to a slow trickle and I was able to get to my knees. Unbeknownst to me, he had wrenched back the covers during my breakdown; revealing his bare torso and painfully handsome face. The need to look into his eyes was comparable to a punch in the gut, taking my breath and causing me to collapse back onto the hard floor. The desire to crawl in the bed with him and wrap myself up in his body shattered my heart again and again.
I held my breath as he mumbled something in his sleep. The tenor of his voice reverberated through my soul and I lifted myself back to my knees; allowing my eyes one last guilty pleasure. I knew it would hurt me later tenfold to even entertain this moment of weakness, but the void in my heart yearned to be filled; even if only temporarily.
“Stasia, please….” I heard him mumble, bringing back the tears in earnest. Holding back the sobs that continuously racked my tired body, my entire being became numb with pain. Too weak to resist, I reached out and touched his hand ever so tenderly. Still asleep, he moved his hand to lay on top of mine, filling me with an instant and overwhelming joy. I let it consume me and warm my heart.
My eyes eventually grew heavy and tired, so I rested my head on the mattress beside his arm and closed my eyes.
“I think she’s waking up,” a voice said; sounding very far away.
“Give her a little room. She’ll be confused when she regains consciousness.”
“Why is she so pale?” another voice asked.
“Her energy will soon be restored. As soon as she wakes up, her body will begin the regeneration process immediately.” I didn’t know who they were talking about, but it didn’t sound too promising.
“I hope so….”
“Stasia, honey?” My stream of random thoughts perked up at my name. “It’s time to wake up now; time to wake up.” Wake up? Why in the world would I want to do that?