The Winters

Don't Die

Lauren's POV:

"You idiot!"Cassius' voice was harsh and fully woke me from whatever unconscious state I was in. In our little virtual world, we're standing in the fields of Elysium, surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees and happily chirping birds. My mood didn't match the scenery.

"I was only trying to help you!" I insisted, biting my lip.

Cassius glares at me but doesn't stop his pacing. He doesn't speak for a few moments and then, "They're letting me out in a few days' time."

I smile but I don't really feel it inside, I know something else is coming. Something so much worse. "That's good... right?"

Finally, he stops walking and turns to face me. The pain is clear in his eyes. "They're taking me out of here to kill me, Lauren."

I can't contain a gasp, my hands flying up to cover my mouth. Surely they wouldn't actually murder him? He's innocent! I wished more than anything to run to him and hug him and keep him safe from everything. But I'd learned long ago that life wasn't that easy. I set my jaw, refusing to give in to weakness.

"Well, that'll be a perfect time for us to rescue you!" I smiled bravely.

Cassius glared at me. "Zeus will have gathered most of the gods to guard me. No way in Tartarus are you getting me out of there. Not alive, anyway."

I hated the way he threw that around so casually. "Well, we can certainly try!" I spat. "I'm not going to simply watch from afar as you go to your death!"

Cassie walked up, right in front of me, his face full of anger. "Yes, you are." He hissed. "Because I refuse to have your death be on me."

I would've smiled if his life wasn't on the line. So he did still care about me. Then I once again noticed his crazed expression and grimaced instead. I opened my mouth but no words came out.

Cassius went back to pacing. He looked so upset, and rightfully so, but it scared me. He was supposed to be the protector. He was my big brother, I didn't want to believe that he was just as mortal as everyone else. He couldn't die— not yet, anyway.

Once more, tears in my eyes, I told him. "You can't stop me from trying." My voice is so small, so quiet I doubt he heard me.

But then he turned, anger burning in his orange coloured eyes. "Yes. I can." And with that, the dream faded.

---

When I woke up I couldn't focus. My head throbbed like a thousand drums in my skull. I groaned and tried to think. Where was I? What had happened? It all came rushing back and I wished I were unconscious again, wished I could block out reality for a few moments longer.

I opened my eyes, relieved to find darkness, because my head still pounded. I couldn't quite get my bearings. I seemed to be in the corner of a dark room, but I could hardly make out the seams where the walls met the floor.

Cold seeped into me. A deep, bone-chilling iciness that swept over me and left mefeeling empty and frozen. I groaned, tucking my knees up under my chin and wrapping my arms around myself.

They were going to kill him. They were going to kill my brother and I was powerless. I didn't want to believe it but I had to accept the truth.