My Best Friend

Chapter 1

They say love should be easy. That it should flow like a river. That when you meet that one particular person, Everything falls into place. They tell you to fall for the person that makes you feel safe and secure as they wrap their arms around you, pulling you into their embrace.

They were the ones that were wrong. So wrong.

Love is not easy and as for flowing like a river, Some rivers have very pointy rocks in them and you can easily break a few bones.

It was early. Far too early for 25-year-old Riley's liking. In many people's eyes, Riley was just an average girl. With red hair and green eyes. Has always believed that she is a hopeless romantic in a hookup culture. Though many of her friends think that she doesn't believe in ever after. They are wrong, Riley wishes to have that one person forever. But till she meets that one special person, Riley doesn't plan on sharing the bed as she likes to starfish.

In Riley's life, there is only one other person who knows the truth and that is her best friend, Emma Birchwood. She is known for trying to set Riley up on dates. Each date is more of a disappointment than the last.

As the alarm continues to sound, Riley drags a pillow over her tired face to fight the blaring morning sun. She didn't have an ounce of energy to pull her aching body out of bed. She had been tossing and turning all night. The nightmares were back.

Each one was worse than the last. Far worst.

The most recent dream threw her. Made her question her sanity.

Shortly before meeting her brother-in-law. Riley was in a garden that was in the shadow of a golden temple, Walking with the love of her life. The pair had recently gotten married and were enjoying the peaceful summer breeze when they were thrown apart by a large fireball. As Riley and her love looked toward the smoke. They gasped as a large man made of molten rock emerged. Riley's husband produced a dagger and stood in front of his wife. Demanding want the Demon wanted. The monster wanted to destroy Riley's home. For reasons unknown.

It was unsure how the battle started but Riley's brother-in-law and father-in-law had arrived and had also joined the fighting. Riley was ordered to run and hide. But due to her stubborn nature, She stayed. Riley scanned the battlefield, searching for anything she could use to help defend her family. Riley rushed towards her right as her eyes glanced upon a fallen soldier's sword, grabbed it and joined the fight.

Riley's husband and brother-in-law were knocked back a few feet. Their father was still fighting. And was losing. The Lava Demon had put the father-in-law on his back and was pounding him into the ground, The dirt around them causing a small crater. Knowing that she had to do something. Riley charged forward with a scream. Ignoring the cries of her husband.
"Forgive me, My love" Riley whispered as she stabbed her sword into the Demon's side. Between where the 3rd and 4th ribs to be more precise. The Demon fell to his knees, Lava drooling from the corner of his mouth. Riley was panting as the monster smirked. Before Riley could speak, He punched her ribs. Riley yelled out the Demon exploded.

The battle was over.

With a smile, Riley turned back to her family. Expecting to see happy faces. Riley's husband's face was pale and frightened, His eyes elsewhere. Following his gaze, Riley looked down. She saw the wound before she felt it. The Fire Demon's large sword had pierced both her sides. Once Riley had laid eyes on the wound, She finally felt the searing pain shoot through her body. She cried out as she fell to her knees, Clutching at the sword's handle.

Her husband had just made it to her side and was cradling his love in his arms as she bled out. Shouting for someone to get help. Riley tried to speak but her husband had told her to save her strength. Begging her to stay alive. That help would be there any minute. But she couldn't hold on. She told her husband to be happy and that she would always love him. Using the little strength she had remaining, She placed her hand on her beloved's heaving chest, Right above where his heart would be. But before he could ask what she was doing, her hand fell away and her head went limp. Leaving her husband to scream her name into the wind till his throat was hoarse.

Riley always woke up before her dream heart had given its last beat. She believed from a young age that if you die in dreams, You die in real life.

The name of the husband and his face were still a mystery to Riley as every time she looked at him, The face blurred. Like her subconscious was suppressing a memory. All she knew of her dream man was that he was tall. He was bad but did it so well. He likes to wear a lot of green. His scent was like the smell of freshly cut grass. His skin was like fire and ice combined.

Riley never told her best friend about these dreams. Mainly out of fear that Emma would send her away, Thinking she was insane. How else can you explain that you dream of a city that was made of gold?

It was a miserable day in the city. Dark clouds loomed over the skyscrapers. Riley sat in her flat's bay window and was sipping her tea. She had just lost her job at her father's work, Quinn Corporation, the previous morning. While she was upset about being sacked, Riley wasn't worried about losing her job as she didn't plan on staying in the city for much longer.

She was moving back to her old hometown up north in a few days. Where all her friends are.
"I do enjoy this view but I can wait to be back home" Riley sighed as she leaned against the cool window pane. It wasn't her idea to move here. It was her father's. He said that his secretary had just left the company.

Normally Riley didn't like to do any sort of favours or anything for her Father. He's not a bad man. He's just never kept a promise in his life. She could finish university. She wanted to work in journalism. Riley had dreamed of the job ever since she was a little girl. But after 6 months of working for her father. she had to drop out. He kept giving her stupid hours that conflicted with her studies. Then a month later, He sacked his daughter for not being committed to the company.

Still, it didn't matter. Emma helped Riley find a small flat back home in the North and it was down the road from her new job. Emma works there too. Riley decided that she was going to be working as a waitress at The Tavern. She had to wait a few months before she could try Uni again but this time around, She could work from home instead of going to the place. Mainly because the nearest uni to her is a good two hours away, and she didn't want to travel that far. Just doesn't seem worth it to her.

As her mind drifted to her dream man, Riley walked over to her kitchen side and saw that Emma was ringing her.
"Hey, Emma!" Riley spoke.
"Hey, girl. All set for Friday?" Emma cheered.
"Yes. Pretty much all packed up. just my clothes to go" Riley placed Emma on speakerphone.
"Good. So Friday night. My boss wants to meet you. He has your uniform and keycard all set to go. I also sent you a picture of him" Emma sighed. Riley sighed as she opened the message "What do you think?"
"Kinda cute" Riley scrunched her face up. Mainly because she was sick of her best friend setting her up but even she couldn't help but notice that there was something about this man. He seems familiar.
"Kinda? Girl, You need your eyes tested. He needs a girl in his life. Want me to set you up?"
"God no. I ain't interested in dating. You know that" Riley rolled her eyes. It was the same every time the pair was on the phone.
"Wait till you meet him" Emma scoffed "Plus you can meet my other girlfriend. Her name is Louise Birchwood"
"Hogun's sister by any chance?" Riley spoke after she downed her cup of tea. It had gone cold. Hogun was Emma's ex-boyfriend and father to their three-year boy, Jack. They spilt when they realised that they were only together because of Jack. They were better off as best friends than partners.
"How did you guess?"
"Surname" Riley shrugged.
"Should have realised that" Riley heard Emma slap herself "Anyway, Me, Hogun, Louise, and her other half, Volstagg, will be there to move your stuff Friday morning"
"I can move my own stuff"
"Sure, Like you can move that wardrobe down 3 flights of stairs"
"There's an elevator and just cause you got super strength does not mean you should always get the heavy lifting jobs"
"Don't care. Besides, I have Hogun. I hear he has that power, You know the one that can make furniture move on its own. Though that is a rumour. If not Volstagg will make him work. Plus there is an extra added bonus, It gets us out of work. Which I really should get back to"
"You're ringing me from work? Naughty" Riley giggled.
"I'm on a break" Emma scoffed. As Riley went to reply, she heard her best friend utter the words uh oh "I gotta go. My break just ended. My boss is standing in the doorway, tapping his foot at me. Later's bestie"
"Later's bestie" Riley smiled as Emma ended the call "How she still has a job is beyond me" Riley placed her phone down on the counter again and went back to her window seat. she grinned from ear to ear. She couldn't wait to move back to her home town.