Angel Wings

Chapter 2 (Xander)

Xander told me that his father had sent him to find me. "That's how I knew your name," he said, lifting me down from the tree. Apparently I live with the Lucicks, an old money family known for their mysterious ways. Xander explained this as we made the long trek back.
"You really don't remember? You've lived with us since you were little," he said.
I shook my head,"No, but the more you tell me the more I remember."
It was true, slowly I began to remember. Xander and me running through the woods behind a large old house. A birthday party with three boys in attendance, all of them with dark grey eyes. A tree house filled with light and laughter late into the night. I remember the Lucick boys. They were my childhood.

The house was large and weather-worn, with large ground floor windows that reflected the sun. We could see it from where we were on the trail and in the late morning light it appeared somewhat welcoming. A slight shift in the wind brought the scent of smoke and ash to my nose and I froze on the spot. Ignoring Xander's protests, I followed the scent. My feet almost too slow to keep up. Soon I found myself far from the path, trees whipping by  my sprinting vision. Eventually I slowed. The smell of smoke was stronger now. I could barely smell much else. A few meters away the trees opened. In a small clearing lay the blackened remains of a house. Memories overtook me like choking smoke. Fear. Screaming, shrill wails of pain. Then... nothing. Xander was standing over me, "Are you okay?" His hand cradled my head,"Yeah. I just thought I  saw something. " Xander gave me a worried look. "We're almost to the house. It's just a little farther down that trail." He pointed at a thin, nearly imperceptible strip of dirt on the other side of the clearing. "Are you okay with that?" I nodded, but I kept one eye on the remains of the house until it was swallowed by the forest.