Chasing Dreams

Chapter 1: Rowan

"I hope, or I could not live" - H.G. Wells

The girl finally made her way to the wooden door. Her eyes watered against the unforgiving cold air as she reached for the door knob, not bothering to knock.

"Celine?"

She turned her head to the sound of her name. An old man stood by the bedroom door. His hair was gray and unkempt and he was wearing overalls. His eyes widened in concern as he witnessed the girl shiver with her red nose and hands.

"Grandpa." Celine sighed.

The man wrapped the warm fur coat around Celine's shoulders and gently led her to the burning fire. Celine's eyes stared into the flames and began to shimmer. She wept while her grandfather stroked her hair and pulled her close.

"What happened?"

Before Celine could reply, she fainted with exhaustion. Grandpa gingerly caught her and gently picked her up. He stroked her soaking wet hair and placed her on the coach.

Celine looked so peaceful, but her mind was racing as she slept. Her dreams were plagued with dark memories of the past few months as she relived the worst moment of her life...

...

Time seemed to stop as Celine watched Rowan's sword plunge into Kole.

"NO!"

Celine felt her heart jerk as Kole crumpled in a heap on the floor. How could he?! How could he? Rowan, her best friend since they were born, and Kole, her boyfriend, had always been at odds. But this. This was beyond her understanding.

Celine ran to Kole. Tears had already begun to role down her face when she reached him.

"Kole!" She screamed at the sky.
"Kole, please. Please. You're not dead."

Kole's eyes seemed to focus on her for a moment. He reached his hand out to her face before it dropped to the ground.

As if a flip was switched, her sadness turned to rage. She roared as she lunged at Rowan. She was going to kill him. She didn't care about their history. She didn't care. He had killed Kole. Kole. She had loved him with every ounce of her being. And now he was gone. She had seen his eyes glaze over; she had watched him die.

She swung her sword at Rowan. Rowan kept his face a mask of no emotion. It pained him. It did, to see Celine in this state. But Kole had deserved it. The bastard had betrayed their location and he was about to break Celine's heart.

"He betrayed us." Rowan said.

"He did no such thing! I'm going to kill you," Celine snarled, "How could you?!"

Celine lunged again. Rowan believed Celine didn't mean what she said. He believed because he hoped that Celine would forgive him. It would take time, but Celine would forgive him. All that was needed was time.

Celine's mind was scattered. When she said she would kill Rowan, she meant it. Oh, she meant it. All she could think about was Kole's body laying a few feet away and the person responsible, standing in front of her. Alive, breathing. While Kole was dead. Dead. It hasn't sunk in yet for her. She doubted she would ever live happily again.

Celine sword met Rowan's. Their swords clashed in the field. The battle was still ensuing around them. No one took notice to the fact that Celine and Rowan were fighting each other.

Rowan was stronger and faster than Celine. Rowan would always beat her when they used to train together. Occasionally, Rowan would let Celine win. But not this time.

Rowan kicked Celine's legs, causing her to land on her back.

Celine spat at him.

"Kill me. Kill me like you did Kole."

Rowan's eyes stared at her. The cold blue eyes met her pained green eyes.

"Do it! You coward!"

Celine's face was red from the tears. Celine didn't care anymore. Kole was gone. Kole was her family. She had nothing now.

Rowan shook his head.
"Celine, I'm sorry."

Rowan kept his sword pinned on her chest.

"I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I have always loved you. Kole didn't deserve you."

Celine sneered, "I never loved you."

Rowan's eyes hardened but he didn't move.

"I don't believe you."

At that, Rowan hit Celine's head with the back end of his sword. She collapsed, unconscious, on the ground.

...

Celine jolted awake. Her face felt wet as she realized she had cried in her sleep. She covered her face with her scarred hands, pretending that that would be enough comfort to escape the past. She sighed; she would explain everything to Grandpa in the morning.

Thanks for reading! If any of you read my other novel, Scattered Stories, you'll realize the dream is one of the stories in that book. If you want to know a little more about Rowan's thoughts and POV at the end, read it!

Please comment or vote if you enjoyed!