Blinded Sight

Chapter One

I woke up because of the screaming. 

Snow chilled breeze broke through my window that had been pushed open sometime in the night. I pulled my pillow over my head and shoved the window closed which shut out the sound of the wind, but the screaming continued. I reached up onto a small shelf above my bed and pulled a heavy carved stone statuette down. As it landed on my bed I felt my mattress shake slightly and I wrapped around it tightly.

Mum promised that it would protect me if the screaming came back, but the screaming was still there. The screaming never left. I felt tears start to soak into my sleeve as my breathing became short and fast.

Somehow through all of the screaming, I heard my door click open and soft footsteps approach my bed. My mum ran her hand through my hair gently as she sat down next to me. "How many?" I managed to hear her voice as the screaming paused for a second.

Trying to say something my voice died in my throat and I tapped on her hand three times. My mum readjusted herself and placed my head in her lap softly. She began to murmur something melodic underneath her breath and placed her hands on either side of my face. 

Then slowly the screaming started to die down as if a door was being shut on the creatures. Then all at once, it stopped and the silence of the night embraced me. I felt all of the air in my lungs escape in a singular heavy breath. 

"Are you okay sweetie?" My mother's voice welcomed me back to the physical world. I shrugged my voice still not returning. "Do you want me to stay with you tonight so you can sleep?" 

Shaking my head my voice finally returned. "Can't sleep, they return when I am asleep," I explained sitting up and leaning into my mother and she wrapped her arms around me delicately. 

"Will they stay away if I am here tonight?" She asked her hand gently over my back. "Plus, Duke is spending the night, so he can help out as well." 

I shook my head. "It won't help, Lion is gone. He protected me," I felt a tear roll down my cheek which I quickly pushed away. 

My mother paused for a moment I felt her move ever so much as she shrugged, probably at Duke standing somewhere nearby. "Who is Lion darling?" She asked raising my head up to meet my gaze. She liked to do that when asking personal questions. 

"He guards me, I met him in a dream once," I ran my hand over the statuette still in my arms my fingers exploring all of the small cracks and crevices of the carved face. "He was as strong as a lion." 

"That is a good name for him then," A smile tinged her words gently as she brushed my hair out of my face and tucked the thick curl behind my ear. "Why did he leave?" 

I took a deep breath before answering. "He said that he had to go protect someone and that something bad was coming," I shrugged. "I didn't understand most of what he said, but he promised he would be back when everything finished." 

My mother was going to say something but was interrupted by a loud yawn on my part. "Now, can you sleep?" She asked. "You have a big day tomorrow you gotta go to." 

"Okay," I yawned as she laid me back down gently. "Goodnight," I mumbled already half asleep. And as I closed my eyes I felt my mind return to the world I was in before I was rudely interrupted by the screaming. 

The feeling of the cool forest grass covered with a thin layer of morning dew met my feet, the cold wind brushed against my bare arms, and I felt the morning sun on myself as titled my head up at the sun high in the sky above me. 

It was wonderful here. 

I spun around in the small clearing laughing as the wind whipped my long hair around and I fell down onto the grass. Leaning up towards the sky I opened my eyes hoping to see the sun, but only darkness met me. 

Rolling to my side I ran my hand through the damp grass feeling tears gather in my eyes. Trying to push my tears back with the sleeve of my jumper I felt a small nudge against my foot and heard a soft meow. A soft chuckle broke through my tears as I felt a furry little face bump against my hand and let out a small meow. 

"Hello Pebble," I whispered carefully not to break the calm silence of the world I was in. "How are you?" He responded with a squeak and licking my hand delicately. "That is good," I smiled. "It is nice to see you here, usually you aren't in this realm much." 

I felt the sun continue to warm my body as I continued my conversation with the small kitten. Before I knew it I was yawning and my eyelids began to fight to close themselves. I mumbled a quick goodnight to Pebble as I curled into a small bed of wildflowers and moss. Loud purring rocked me to sleep as he slept on my chest and kneaded his claws into my thick jumper. 

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I hope that you guys are liking this story so far! Sorry that nothing really happened in this chapter, but the plot will start to ramp up soonish! 

Word count: 908 words