Fated

Part I

I could tell the second I overcorrected. With dread speeding through my veins, my stomach lurched as my whole body moved with the mass of steel it was strapped to. Like dance partners, we flipped through the air, finally losing purchase on the sheet of ice that had acted as a catalyst for fate.

The sickening scraping that resounded from metal on pavement seemed to echo in my head before I recognized the current stillness. Suspended in my seat, dust from the airbag fell within the vehicle mimicking the snowfall outside, illuminated by my headlights.

Breathing shallowly, I hung stunned silent before I heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow outside my window. Turning my head gingerly, I watched as the driver door was opened with such force it jerked the whole frame of the vehicle.

A figure crouched in the opening and smiled. "'Bout damn time."

With red hair and freckles, the warmth of his palette called to me, as if offering comfort in this moment of chaos. But gaunt features made me weary of his smile. Not in a position to be picky, I reached a hand out towards him anyway.

In a blink, his body was in my space as he reached up to unbuckle my seatbelt. Lanky arms helped shift my weight onto his shoulder as he angled himself awkwardly to support my limp figure.

But as he retreated, my eyes grew wide in terror as I watched my body remain dangling in the driver's seat. Dark blond hair hanging in the way, I struggled to catch sight of my face. Spotting vacant eyes and slack features, I groaned with sorrow and confusion.

I started to lose sight of the other me as the stranger clutching me stood, causing me to cry out.

"Wait!" My voice was shrill with panic as I tried to escape his grip to no avail. Every muscle screamed at me for attempting such a thing as my captor chucked.

Moving steadily through the snow, I watched my vehicle grow smaller as he trudged on. We were heading into the treeline. Whimpering with exhaustion, I let my head fall against his shoulder blade, taking in the warmth that emitted through his outerwear.

Humming a pleasant tune, the body supporting me continued to ignore my plight. I watched his feet for a moment; his black jeans and combat boots taking deeper steps as we ventured into the blackness of the woods enveloping us. Then I closed my eyes in slumber.

***

I rolled over, groaning as the movement strained my bruised muscles. Eyes peeking open, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with gentle fire light as my head ached. "What..." My voice trailed as I tried to recognize anything about my surroundings.

Finally recalling the accident, my heart began to race as I remembered being carried away from my body. I lifted my right hand and stared at it. Wiggling my fingers, I turned my hand around to inspect my palm.

Whose flesh is this?

Tears brimming in my eyes, I took a shaky breath and looked myself over. I was still fully clothed, aside from my boots, and was laid out on a neatly made bed. The warmth of the fireplace combined with my winter coat made for a toasty awakening. Leaning forward, I pulled my arms from the sleeves and pushed the thigh-length pea coat off to the side. The maroon wrap dress and black leggings I had worn to work were warm enough for... wherever I was.

A lightning strike of an idea hit me as I frantically dug through the pockets of my coat. Frustrated, I accepted defeat when I confirmed that I had left my phone in my car. Along with all of my other belongings- including the one most dear to me.

A shiver passed through me as I saw my own lifeless face again. I was sure the memory would haunt me.

Flopping back onto the bed, I winced, closing my eyes, as I felt my torso collectively protest to the thoughtless movement.

"Are you going back to sleep?"

My vision filled with warm tones as I stared up at an upside-down, yet recently familiar, face. I would have sat up but his features hovering directly over mine trapped me against the cushioned surface beneath.

"You must be healed by now, right?" Bright eyes watched me questioningly without reprieve before roaming my body.

After a moment of inspection, he let his weight collapse to my right. With the fire light on my left, I could see his features clearly now but his eyes still looked colorless; just inky black.

Holding his dark gaze, I finally found my voice. "Who are you?"

A sly smirk lifted his lips as he leaned forward, causing me to shift backward to keep our minimal distance from shrinking.

Voice low, his eyes flicked to my lips as he spoke, "I'm your soulmate, honey bun."

Rolling my eyes, I attempted to sit up again but was stopped by a firm grip on my forearm.

"I'm not joking." My captor looked up at me, posture lazy, but gaze more intense than the flames roaring away in the fireplace. "I've waited a long-ass time for you to die so don't expect me to beat around the bush." Grip shifting down my arm, he entwined his fingers with mine before bringing the back of my hand to his lips. His eyes closed slowly, as he seemed to savor the moment, before humming against my skin. Eyes opening, he continued, "You belong to me now."

I shook my head dumbly. "I don't- I don't think you know who I am- I mean, you have me mistaken for someone else." Stumbling over my words, I looked around the dimly lit room, suddenly more concerned about being alone with this delusional man. Before I was able to spot an exit from within the shadows, my attention was grabbed once again.

Still clutching my hand, he waved it between us. "Do you feel it?" he asked, searching my features. "Do you feel your soul reaching for mine?" He was patient as I let the silence stretch. I was distracted to say the least, but I was also scared he was onto something.

The way I hadn't recoiled from his touch, the comfort I immediately felt from his presence, it went against every reaction I thought I should be experiencing. "I'm feeling a little slow at the moment; maybe you could back up to the part where I'm dead."

He smiled. "Well, that part's obvious- you died, so I came to collect you." Thumb moving idly across the place where his lips had met my skin, his gaze locked onto one spot, then another as he seemed to be attempting to memorize my features.

"So you're 'death?'" I asked, growing more and more distracted by his touch.

Thumb stilling, his eyes narrowed as he scoffed. "Death can keep her big nose out of it, sweet cheeks. She has no business touching what's mine." His eyes met mine, softening. "And you are mine."

"You've mentioned," I replied hesitantly. "You seem to know who I am. How?"

Shifting his gaze upward, he sighed before answering, "I may have a sort of... semi-omnipotent ability, Kailey Elise Summers."

"Knowing my full name doesn't prove much in the modern age," I stated, unimpressed.

Smile widening, his tone became more condescending. "What about knowing exactly when and where you were going to bite the big one? I can't be everywhere at once, you know."

My jaw stiffened, irritation growing, as he played the role of the world's most enigmatic kidnapper. "Cool, so you get to know all my gritty details but I can't even get your name?"

After a moment of quiet contemplation, I was finally given a useful answer. "You're right. My name is Avaron. I owe you that much, at least."

I waited a beat. "So, that's all I get?"

"For now," he said, pulling my hand closer before sharp teeth nipped the tip of my finger.

"Ow!" I struggled against him for a moment before he used my disrupted balance to pull me forward, almost landing me right on top of him. Using my free hand to brace myself, I gripped his shoulder and tried to regain some distance.

Face to face, I could see the onyx of his irises overtake the entirety of his eyes. "You seem to be getting hung up on the wrong details." Switching his grip, he pulled my captive hand across his body and our chests met, making my rapid breathing painfully obvious. "I need you to understand that I've been waiting millennia for you." His eyes closed as his nose grazed mine. "And I'm not a patient man."