Running From Time

Chapter 12

Thalia pulled away, far too quickly. Her face was filled with shock and disbelief. Then she was gone. She ran into her bedroom, slamming the door, and I heard the lock snap shut. Well, that hadn't exactly gone as planned. I made my way to my bedroom, feeling like my heart had been ripped from my body, and got ready for bed. It was going to be a long night for me.

The next morning, I opened my eyes to see rays of sunlight hitting my bed. The sadness from last night hit me again and I sighed unhappily. I walked to the window and looked out, admiring the view that I woke up to every morning. The treehouse was in a small clearing, with trees surrounding it on every side. Birds tweeted all around me and it added to the peaceful tranquility of the atmosphere. I looked down at the ground directly below the treehouse and jumped out of my skin. A wolf was standing there, looking straight at me. Its bright blue eyes bored into mine. I frowned and growled under my breath. This had to be settled, once and for all. I had to find out why these animals with bright blue eyes appeared to be following me. Carefully, I clambered through the window of the treehouse and sat on the window ledge. I closed my eyes and felt myself become weightless. Drifting down, I opened my eyes and watched as the wolf started to snap at me from below. I held out my hands towards it and it started to rise up, legs kicking the air. Using my power I brought it up so it was at eye level with me, at a distance. It snarled at me and I narrowed my eyes, knowing that it was helpless. Suddenly, a smoke tendril issued from the wolf. It spiralled down until it took the shape of a person. Just like in my dream. My eyes widened in horror as Lydia stared back at me, grinning evilly.

"Hey, Chrissy pooh!" She exclaimed sarcastically, looking up at me from the ground. I slowly levitated the wolf (which now had golden eyes) back down and it ran off into the woods, terrified.

"How did you...?" I asked, slowly levitating myself down to the ground. She just laughed.

"Oh, that? Just a gift Serpius gave me." She said with a grin and her blue eyes twinkled dangerously.

"So you can morph into animals?" I asked, remembering the dog at the cinema.

"No. But I can take over their minds and gain all of their senses."

"You can possess animals?!" I exclaimed in horror. Not only was this terrifying to me, it was inhumane to the poor animals.

"Yup. I'm so pleased I finally found you, Chris. That wolf's senses were strong enough that I could track you down." Her psychopathic grin sent chills down my spine and I shuddered, fear racking my entire body. I started to run back to the treehouse when her voice came from behind me, sharp against the quiet surroundings.

"You know...I've only taken over a human mind once before. Maybe I should practise." I turned, too late, and saw a smoke tendril coming straight for me. As it hit me, I felt my mind go blank and my vision go dark.

Thalia

I woke up and the events of last night hit me like a brick. Chris had kissed me! I couldn't believe that he felt that way about me. We hadn't even known each other that long. But did I feel the same way about him?

Before I could do anything else, Chris barged into my room clumsily, looking at me in...anger? I looked up at him in confusion and embarrassment.

"Good morning." I mumbled and he laughed. But it sounded different somehow.

"Oh, it is a good morning." He said happily and my expression became puzzled.

"Er...I'm sorry for pulling away from the kiss so quickly last night. It just took me by surprise, that's all." He sat down next to me and smiled. But it was forced.

"Oh, that. Yeah, sorry I don't know why I did that. I guess I was just missing all of my other girls and felt like I had to kiss someone." He said, grinning. I frowned and narrowed my eyes.