The fall

Chapter 30

Penelope

I practically begged Blake to come with me. Not that I expected him to say yes right away. He was always so busy these days to become the next commander—too wrapped up in training. But I so wanted to watch the sunset, like we used to when we were kids, so I really wanted him there instead of going alone.

"Blake, Please?" I'd said for what felt like the hundredth time, my voice more pleading than I intended. "It'll only be for a little while. You always say you love sunsets. Just this once."

He groaned, clearly annoyed. "I don't know, Pen. I've got stuff to do."

I gave him my best pleading look, the one I knew would break him eventually. I'd seen it work before. "Come on! It's not like it's the end of the world. You used to love it up there."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck like he was already exhausted. But then he looked at me—really looked at me—and his resistance softened, just a little. "Fine. But don't expect me to get all sentimental about it."

I grinned, victorious. I had won, again.

We left the house and walked up to the hill in silence, and as we climbed, I could feel my excitement building. The air was warm, the kind of warmth that made everything feel just right, like it had been waiting for us.
When we reached the top, I let out a long breath, standing for a second just to take in the view.

The sky was already starting to change, the colors stretching across the horizon in soft oranges and pinks, a few streaks of purple creeping in at the edges. I sat down on the grass, pulling my knees up to my chest and resting my chin on them.
The scene infront of us was breathtaking, and I could already feel the sense of peace washing over me, the kind that only sunsets could give.

"Look at that," I said, my voice full of awe. "It's like the whole sky is painted in layers of different colors. Isn't it beautiful?"

Blake didn't answer at first. When he just lets out a small "Yeah, it is." I glanced at him, expecting him to be looking at the sky too, but when I caught his eye, I realized he wasn't looking at the sunset at all. His gaze was on me—more specifically, my face. I felt my heart beat a little faster, a confused flutter in my chest.

"What are you...looking at?" I asked, tilting my head slightly, my brow furrowing.

For a split second, his expression flickered, and then he quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged with a faint pink "Nothing," he said quickly, his voice suddenly a little too tight. "Just—yeah, the sky is good. Really good.."

I waited for him to say something else, but he just shifted awkwardly, suddenly staring at the ground like he was searching for something in the grass.

"So," he said, a little too casually. "Are we heading back soon?" It's getting late."

I felt a small, unexpected disappointment and before I could respond I heard a voice behind me. At the back of my head.

Wake up. Wake up, Penelope—wake up.

I cover my ears to prevent the voices ringing, Blake disappears into thin air before I even can reach out to him. It suddenly starts raining heavily—the rain hitting my skin before it turns into thick drops of blood that sticks onto me.

I breathe heavy panicked breaths as the blood soaks up in my hair and clothes, I look around frantically but I'm not on the hill anymore. It's another endless field, my gaze goes down to my hands who are now drenched in blood.
I look up from them immediately and my eyes widen at the gruesome sight of dead bodies. Each one of them almost slashed apart, limb from limb.

My breath hitches and I shake uncontrollably, reaching to cover my mouth as I feel myself about to vomit.

Wake up, Penelope. Wake up.

I shake my head, reaching to cover my ears once again at these loud voices. Loud screams, demanding I wake up. Just leave me alone.