The Girl of Shadows [COMPLETE]

Seventeen

["Put your hand on my heart and feel how it beats for you. Feel how with each pump of my blood, my veins sing to your soul. Beating to the rhythm of our love, echoing in eternity." -Elise]

Riding the public bus back to the hotel during the evening was terrifying. People started endlessly, whispering sweet nothings to their friends beside them. That left me insecure and vulnerable, fidgeting with my hands as I faced the floor to try and ignore them.

Every murmur set me off, pushing the impulse button. I guess it didn't work because I never moved. Well, maybe I'd switch a leg as I crossed them to become more comfortable, but that was pretty much it. Most of the others stood awkwardly, trying to evade even the most sudden touch by another person. We undoubtedly stood out more than a sore thumb in this vehicle of A's and B's. Being C's we feared for our lives, even doing the utmost simple thing as returning to our shelter. What a shame this world was, and it needed some improvement for sure.

Once we stepped off, me being the last, I could hear faint sighs of relief from the remaining passengers. How rude they were to be so silent, leaving the issue unattended. Then again, I didn't blame them. I would if I were them too. Our footsteps clicked against the sidewalk, louder with each step. I walked particularly slow, full of physical fatigue for the first time in weeks. It felt exhilarating to be able to escape for just a few hours.

After performing my nightly routine, I flopped onto the bed as I had every night. But this time I actually left the real world and went to my subconscious, full of curiosity and trauma. I felt the blanket against my cold skin, warming it after a few seconds of staying the same.

* * *

The world lay cold as the ashes reached my fingertips, piling up after a few moments of stillness. Wonder filled my mind. Where the hell was I?

Fire burned in the corners of the dimension. And screaming was heard, echoing on a loop. The sky was a dark crimson, almost like dried blood but everywhere - still over the horizon beyond me. Everyone I loved was gone. I was alone with nothing but suffering. Is this what I had wanted? Even if it was, I still didn't know where I was placed.

I had a long cotton high-low dress on. The train flew in the chilly wind filled with more grey ashes, falling onto my head once more. My shoes were black, going with the dress, and were shiny to the touch. I saw my reflection and flinched. It was so surreal to see myself with smoky eye make-up and a heavy crown bestowed upon my hair. The brown locks I was so familiar with were braided into a half crown that sat behind the jeweled crown. The corner had a scythe, which was enormous in size and called to me mysteriously.

'The Scythe of the Queen,' was its name, matching beautifully with the monochrome outfit I was in. My shoes ticked against the stone bricks that sounded so captivating. Though the looks of it told me otherwise, the scythe was light as a feather. It whipped in the air with a swoosh sound.

The doors behind me opened to a large bedroom, fully visible from the balcony, though much clearer through the tinted glass windows. The bed was made perfectly, the closet was stocked with luxury, and the bookshelf held thousands of books that were calling for me to read. I ignored their desperate summoning and made my way out of the double doors into a long hallway. Vases and flowers sat upon pedestals made of black marble, contrasting to the white marble flooring. The walls were a dark paneling, possibly dark oak or spruce, making the room have less of a dead vibe.

I felt so satisfied with the decor. It enhanced my senses somehow and brightened my mood. I strutted down the corridor until I met a landing near a shimmering staircase. The railings matched the steps and the carpet was a simple black hue. My stilettos were no longer emitting noise as I made movements down the soft stairs to the floor below me.