The ocean breeze flooded through Thea's senses. She could feel the wind brushing up against her skin. The taste of sea salt lying on her lips. The sound of the crashing waves, beating to the rhythm of her heart. The smell of fresh smell of freedom in the ocean. But most of all, the dashes of color that littered the sky. It was a sight to behold. To feel.
She wasn't supposed to be out here. She was supposed to be in the room with her mom and sister, but something was calling to her. Dragging her to watch. Lifting her arm out, wanting to touch the sky, she saw as her veins-
"Thea!" A hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking her back. "What are you doing?"
She came face to face with her sister, Sophia. She had just turned 15. Four years older than Thea, which she loved to bring up all the time.
"Hello, Earth to Thea? What are you doing? You know you're not allowed to practice out here." Sophia snapped, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and annoyance.
Thea shook her head in denial, "I wasn't. I just wanted to-"
She didn't get to finish her sentence before her sister started to drag her into the tiny house. She didn't bother to try after because she knew it would fall onto deaf ears. As they walked through the back door, she could see her mom writing something down on a piece of paper, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Found her." Sophia announced to her mom, dropping Thea's wrist. "She was outside. Practicing."
"No I wasn't." Thea denied again, crossing her arms, tilting her head down.
Warm hands cradled her face, bringing it up, her eyes connecting with similar ones. Her mother's voice was soft as she spoke, "Were you practicing Thea? It's okay, but-"
"I promise I wasn't. It- something. I know the rules but mom, it felt like I was being called out there. And I just walked. I'm sorry."
Her mom pressed a light kiss to her forehead, "You don't need to be sorry my love. Just be safe. I know that it can be hard sometimes to silence the voices, but we can't give into them. Okay?" Thea merrily nodded in understanding, the familiar scent of her mother's lavender perfume relaxing her.
"Are you guys hung-" Her mother's voice trailed off as she looked out the window, her eyes widening in response.
"Mom?" Sophia asked, her tone filled with concern. "What is it?"
Her mom never got to answer as a loud explosion echoed throughout the forest, coming from the front yard.
The next second, they were attacked. Their mom was pushing them through the back door. Sophia's hand was intertwined with Thea's, her grip tight and unyielding. Everything was happening in a blur. Their mom was screaming at them to get to the car, passing Sophia the keys with trembling hands. Fire followed in their wake, its roar mingling with the sound of breaking trees. It was consuming everything. And everyone. No one was safe. Not even their mother, who was being dragged under with the others.
"Mom!" Thea screamed, her voice breaking as she was dragged to the car, watching as her mother was left behind, mouthing to run.
Thea sprang up with a gasp. Her heart felt like it was about to beat out of her chest. She couldn't catch her breath, her lungs burning as if she had inhaled the smoke from the fire all over again.
It was just a dream. Just. A. Dream.
If only.
It was a memory. One of the many that have haunted her for years. Playing over and over like a broken record. Picking up her watch that rested beside her on the floor, it was almost 7. A knock coming from her door startled her.
YOU ARE READING
The Runaway - Paul Lahote
FanfictionWho knew that being on the run would lead to finding someone who makes you want to stay. When Thea and Sophie Lawson end up in Forks, Washington, it's meant to only be for a month or two but instead they step into something that they never should ha...