Storm & Knight

*Chapter 3*

Hi lovelies!!!! Here I am, with the next update. All the names of  places are imaginary. There are no references or coincidences.

RAVEN'S POV

Phew!! A window seat!! Placing my duffel bag in the compartment above, I plopped down on my seat. An elderly woman, who was in he 50's something, sat next to me. She gave a friendly smile and began reading some book. Atleast I could rest in peace without some old woman advising me on teenage pregnancies. Plugging my earphones, I gazed out the window as the plane took off, soon leaving Australia behind. Closing my eyes, I could feel the familiar urge to cry, but I steeled myself. Don't!! You are a strong woman, Raven!!! My subconscious screamed at me. Finally composing myself, I opened my eyes and saw that the plane was in mid-air. I relaxed a bit and suddenly feeling sleepy, I wore my eye-mask and began to doze off, very much aware that the news channels are busy broadcasting the recent sensational news- The sudden disappearance of famous businessman and notorious gangster, Paul Tebett.

After passing through security-check, I arrived outside Pestallia International Airport. Sending a quick message to Nick that I had arrived safely, I scanned the mass of people until I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Uncle", was my short reply. His familiar brown eyes met my dull green ones. "Hello Raven!! Hope you had a comfortable fight", saying thus, he gave me a hug. I immediately stilled and did not reciprocate his hug. "It's okay, Rae. I know you won't hurt me. I trust you", he cooed in my ear gently. I relaxed a bit and stepped back, offering him a tight smile. "Shall we go?", he picked my duffel bag and began walking towards the entrance. I silently followed him towards his truck. He started the ignition and began driving. We both were silent for about 20 minutes until he finally broke the silence, "So, what were Paul's last words?" Glancing towards him, I saw his lips set in a thin line. "He said that I couldn't be alive because he killed me himself", my lips formed a smirk and uncle too had a similar one. I could literally imagine the words and the event playing out in uncle's mind. His face suddenly morphed into one of anger. "That asshole was meant to die a long time before, in my hands!! Lucky bastard escaped", uncle's face was one of pure anger and rage. He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly, I was afraid it would break off. "He is dead now, Uncle. Did you know how satisfied I was when I killed him?" I could still feel the burning of my fire and his screams. Sighing heavily, he shook his head and glanced at me with sad eyes. "Your grandma won't be too happy about it, Rae". I hadn't noticed that we had crossed the forest and as soon as he said those words, Grandma's brick-red cottage came into view. Groaning internally, I prepared myself for her wrath. But I owe that woman, who shares my mom's, Uncle's and Nick's brown eyes and brunette hair, everything. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING.

I didn't understand what had happened to me. Tears were flowing down my cheeks continuously. I had hurt my cousin, Nick. I still remember the distraught look in Uncle Peter's face when he carried his unconscious kid to the hospital. Mommy was sobbing silently on Daddy's shoulder. When I fell down from my bicycle once and hurt my head, I remember Mommy sobbing o Daddy's shoulder. But he was holding her tightly then. But now, his hands were hanging loosely, rather than holding Mommy. After Nick fainted, I ran upstairs towards my room. My palms were burning as if someone had set fire to it. I crumpled to the floor, vaguely aware of my dad's thundering footsteps up the staircase. He burst into my room and noticing my crumpled form, he reached for me, his hands outstretched. I stared at the vivid green eyes of Daddy and stretched my own tiny hands, which was thoroughly burned. But miraculously, my palms began healing by itself and before I knew, there wasn't even a single scratch. Both of our shock-filled gasps filled the room. Daddy staggered back from me, as if I was a nasty creature, and whispered "No, It can't be." When I began reaching for him again, he bellowed "NO", making me flinch. He quickly rushed down the stairs and out of the house. It had been three days since the incident and I had never left my room. I slept on the floor where Daddy left me and crying day and night. No one had bothered to come and check up on me. 'I am a monster and my family hates me' these were the only thoughts in my head. I was weak with hunger and fatigue and was about to sleep again when my bedroom door opened. Not even looking up, I said in a tiny voice "Please go away, I don't want to hurt you". I heard footsteps and felt the person kneeling down beside me. Glancing up, I saw that it was a woman who looked like Mommy, except she had a few gray hairs and wrinkles around the eyes. She was looking t me with pride, as if I had won the Halloween contest. "Take my hand, sweetie", she stretched her palm and I immediately began shaking in fear. "No please, I will hurt you!", I shrunk back but she clasped her hand on mine. I could feel the familiar burning sensation creep back. The lady closed her eyes as if she was muttering some prayer. When she opened her eyes, the intensity of her eyes startled me. When she withdrew her hand back, I gasped loudly when I saw her perfect burn-free hands. Wide-eyed, I looked at her and asked in a small voice, "Who are you?" Her eyes held so much love and tears were flowing down her cheeks. "I am Martha, your grandmother". "Grandma?" As soon as I said the word, she tightly hugged me and began crying loudly. Grabbing my cheeks with both hands, she looked at me straight in the eye and said, "You are precious, Raven. Remember you are not alone. You have ME and I have YOU". I began sobbing loudly and hugged her tightly. My eyes began drooping and my last thought was, 'I am not alone'.