In the Centre

1

   The boy let out a startled cry. He leaped over a log, speeding through the forest. He could hear the thing racing after him and pushed himself harder. I can’t die, he thought, his eyes watering against the wind. Not like this.

   But the boy couldn’t control these things, and there- fore, could easily die right then and there. He could hear the thing roaring. Louder than before. It was catching up

   The boy tried to run faster, but his energy was seeping out. Running low. He knew that he couldn’t run for much longer. The boy briefly considered climbing one of the trees around him. But soon thought better of it as the thing could climb quite well.

   No. he thought just as his legs gave way beneath him and he fell to the ground. A wave of pain shot through his arms and legs as the forest floor scraped his skin. I can’t. No! No. My family. It’ll kill them. 

   He attempted to drag himself forward, but couldn’t as he’d been running for quite some time.

   The boy cried out as the thing leaped onto him and began clawing his back, probably attempting to lacerate it.

   The boy knew he would never survive now. Therefore, his family probably wouldn’t either. No. he thought just before the creature sank its claws into the back of his neck and the boy fell into darkness, never to see the world again.

Jareth Whelani woke with a jolt, heart pounding. It was only a bad dream. He thought, putting his right hand to his chest. Only a dream.

   Except it wasn’t exactly a dream. More of a nightmare, really.

   Jareth climbed out of bed, still panting slightly. He looked outside. Judging by the sky, it was probably around five thirty. 

   He quickly got dressed before going downstairs for breakfast, which was porridge.

   His mother, Kaily, looked up from the bowl she was currently pouring porridge into. She was a fine, learned woman with well manners. Her hair was a dark brown whereas her eyes were hazel. Against this, she had olive-toned skin.

    “Ah, I see you’re up.” she said cheerfully.

    Jareth smiled back at her, trying to hide the effect that his dream had had on him.

    Jareth didn’t look much like his mother. He had darkish strawberry blonde hair and gunmetal blue eyes. And his skin was pale.

    He didn’t look too much like his father, Ninnidh, either. His father had dark red hair and green eyes. Ninnidh’s skin was lighter than Kaily’s, but still not nearly as pale as Jareth.

   Jareth was always told that he held a great resemblance to Ninnidh’s father, who was dead.

   “Yep.” he said, eyeing the porridge.

   Kaily smiled and poured the last of the porridge into the bowls. She put the pot away so it could be cleaned later before going upstairs to wake Jareth’s father up.

   Jareth sat down at the table and took the bowl with the most contents. 

   It didn’t take long for Kaily to get Ninnidh, and they were soon eating happily.

   “There’s going to be another battle soon.” Ninnidh said grimly.

   The Deceangli tribe and all the other Celtic tribes had been fighting the Romans for a while.