Magic

Forever Running

I stared into the darkness, afraid. My heart was pounding, my hands clenched as I squeezed the rose close to my chest. Shutting my eyes, I could feel the intense gaze on me. Suddenly I gasped, all the breath in me leaving. The rose slipped from my hand, and I fell. Down deeper, down into the dark tunnel. I left all my sanity behind me with that rose, the only thing left to hang on to. My eyes were still shut tightly, because I knew that if I opened them now, I would never wake up. A minute later, my eyes fluttered open. Is it over? I thought to myself. Looking around, I realized I was safe, finally.

I got out of bed and started to get ready for school, thinking about my awful dream. Usually they weren't that bad, it was strange. Of course, everything about me was strange, including the dreams. After I was ready, I walked to school alone. I don't have many friends, aside from Amelie who, being her sassy self, refuses to walk with me anymore, after "the incident." It wasn't that bad, I thought, It was just a little neon pink paint on her favorite white dress.

I finally got to school, all of my daydreaming made it seem quicker. The day passed in a blur; homework in math, project in science, and my pitiful lunch hour, without Amelie. It was time for the last block of the day, art, my favorite class. Sitting down, I closed my eyes and placed my hand on my paper, feeling a familiar, warm, tingling sensation run through my fingertips. When I opened my eyes, the paper was covered with swirls, stars, and sparkles. Just like every other day, I thought smiling.

I walked out of school and, being the unsocial person I was, avoided everyone. I was about halfway to my house when I smelled something strange. Turning around, there were scorched footprints in the grass, with shimmering purple smoke. Did I do that? I thought. Sure enough, when I looked down at my shoes, the same glimmering purple smoke flowed out of them. Some of it curled up into the air and suddenly burst into rose petals and fell daintily over me. "No," I said, "No, No, No! This can't be happening!" I started running, going faster and faster as I got farther and farther away from where the smoke was. I didn't know where I was, nor did I care, I just had to get away. I soon grew tired, and I slowed my pace until I collapsed onto the soft, mossy ground. Tears poured down my cheeks, and dripped onto the ground, staining it dark, shimmery blue. "Not again, why is this happening to me!" I yelled to no one in particular. I looked up, a ray of light shining on my face. The wind swirled agound me, whipping the up leaves. I watched as the leaves turned into beautiful flowers, sparkling with such joyeousness I began to smile. I could feel the tears on my cheeks dry and I smiled wider. Suddenly, there was a snapping noise and all the flowers, now leaves again, fell, along with my smile. "Who's there," I called. I heard another rustle. "Come out, I won't hurt you." A girl about my age stepped out. She had long, curly, dark, hair, and chocolate eyes that glimmered gold in the sunlight.

"Help," she said in a whisper.

"What?" I said, confused.

"Help me, there coming!" She yelled, "They will get you too."

"Who?" I asked, scared "Who will get me, who are you?" The wind began to pick up again, but instead of flowers, it was shadows. They swirled up, blocking the sunlight and making everything dark

"I'm-" she started, but was cut of by an ubrupt and ear piercing scream, coming from right behind her. "They're here," she said gravely, "You have to run, run! Get out of here, now!" She then turned and fled from the way she came.

"Who are you," I screamed again, "Who's here?!" I searched frantically, turning in a full circle. Then, I heard it, a blood curdling scream from her direction, then a loud crack and a menacing growl. The sky grew dark, completely, and I was scared out of my mind. I began to shudder, from the fear, from the cold, from the dark. Once again, I fell to my knees, shaking uncontrollably. I shook my head, slowly at first then I sped up, frantically shaking my head back and forth. No, no, no, no. All I could think was no. I didn't want this to happen to me, like my mother, my grandmother, great grandmother, and everyone before that.

The sky was getting stormy, lightning flashed, thunder cracked, and I cried. I looked up, seeing a fearsome face in the clouds, and my eyes rolled back in my head.