the secrets of ocean shores - a paranormal murder mystery

Chapter 23

Chapter 23. Kella

I could see my breath, soft and floaty, and yet it did not seem to be cold out. The air was thick, fluffy clouds of misty scent. It was not quite foggy- foggy implied a gloomy atmosphere. It was more of a haze. The kind of haze that you could reach up and stroke, as if they were a light cloud slime dancing beneath your fingers.

The trees were draped with wispy leaves in a rainbow of lavender, weeping over the ground, letting their leaves sink down low enough for me to reach up and brush my fingers against them. The foliage shimmered with a sumptuous grace, each leaf a masterpiece of nature's own haute couture, crafted with such meticulous care and finesse that it seemed as though the very essence of opulence had been woven into their delicate veins. They fluttered gently in the tender embrace of the zephyr, showcasing their vibrant hues and velvety texture as if they were the latest creations from an avant-garde atelier, designed to captivate the senses and whisper sweet secrets of the earth's boundless beauty. Their softness, akin to the gentle caress of a thousand silken threads, beckoned to be touched, inviting the beholder into a realm where the ordinary and the extraordinary intertwined in a symphony of organic splendor. The leaves, in their quiet grandeur, bore witness to the artistry of the seasons, a testament to the eternal dance of life and decay, rebirth and renewal, that painted the canvas of the world with a palette of unrivaled hues. They were not merely leaves, but rather living sonnets, swaying upon the boughs of the mighty oaks and whispering sonnets to the breeze, each one a verse in the grand poem of existence, inscribed with the tender strokes of time and the warm kiss of the sun. Their luxuriousness, a silent declaration of the divine hand that had shaped them, offered a sanctuary for the weary soul, a place to rest and marvel at the majesty that could be found in the simplest of forms, and a reminder that amidst the chaos of the world, there was always beauty to be discovered, if one but knew where to look. And, despite my overwhelming rushes of confusion and hesitation,  I soaked the beauty in, a sponge waiting for water to sit and wallow in it. 

It was gorgeous, yes, but as much as I wanted to get caught up in the vines of promising wealth, I knew that I had to get out of here- wherever I was. I traveled through, stumbling occasionally over the thick tree branches adorning the soft ground. My feet danced throughout the floors, grazing the soft grass, until something sharp touched my foot.

I shuffled it with discomfort, and looked down to see a patch of mismatched dirt in a pile on the ground. The thick, brown dust sat like a fresh layer of snow on the ground, but definitely didn't look the part. The smoky chocolate powder had chunks in it, the way that dirt did, and small blades of grass, almost out of place with their vibrant green against the dusty color of the rest of the little circle. I ran my fingers over it, and felt the same little sting from the sharp grass strings. It really brought a new meaning to blades of grass. I was confused, but my happiness soon settled back in. It was like I couldn't escape the joy that I felt here in this almost angel realm, with a light song playing in the background, a melody perfectly fitting my content feelings. 

Just as I took another step forward, staring at the wide clouds that nearly stared back at me, I felt myself slip. A  scream escaped my mouth and I clawed at the air, but I was a second too late. I was falling into blackness below me. My entire body went numb at the force of the air, at the strength of the wind pulling at my skin and my clothes, whipping into my hair, forcing me to take a big breath. I grasped again, but nothing came even close to my reach, and I knew it was pointless to fight it. I relaxed my grip, and let myself fall. Let the rattling wind whip me. Of course. I had to have known that the perfect world I had found myself in wouldn't have lasted forever.  

Carolina's POV

"Give me just a sec." 

The redhead boy pouted just enough that I could sense it- but left me to my own troubles. He panted slightly, out of breath from our unheeding relationship. The mop of red hair fitting perfectly over his pale skin was drenched with sweat, droplets braiding down his locks. His startling blue eyes shot gentle lasers through my unprotected skin as I lifted the phone up, fingers lingering over my rectangular phone, until they  eventually grazed the flashy lime button