Falling for your Fate

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

My only thought was to run. My vision was tinged red with the memory of his eyes and the knowledge that it was his footsteps that were following me.

I didn't dare look behind me, knowing it would only slow me down. He would reach me soon enough so why should I make it easier for him.

Nondescript trees and repetitive, generic landmarks passed me by and I felt like I was getting nowhere. As if I was just running in circles, over and over again.

Just as I passed the tree with the four claw marks for the fourth time, the scene changed. I was falling down a long tunnel. Falling or floating towards a pinprick of light beneath my feet as the darkness swirled around me. The darkness brought silence but it only served to increase my discomfort and nervousness. What awaited at the end? What or who was hiding in the darkness?

Suddenly, the silence was filled with familiar screams and tears. I glanced around anxiously for their source until my eyes rested again on the pinprick of light that was growing larger the further and further I fell.

Finally, I could make out Kora, in her purple glitter dress, her body trembling in my narrowed view. It was an all too familiar scene as her screams continued to fill the darkness.

I tried to get to her, to fall faster but nothing I did could get me there any faster. I heard growls start to take over her terrified screams and sobs.

In the blink of an eye she was gone and in her stead was darkness. My heart raced in fear, wondering where she had gone until suddenly it wasn't darkness I saw anymore. I realised I was not looking at darkness but intstead the pelt of a black wolf.

I felt myself start to fall at a terrifying speed, closer and closer towards the wolf. I scratched at the darkness trying to find purchase but coming up empty.

Without warning the wolf's head snapped in my direction and the darkness was filled with the glow of red eyes. A terrified scream started to build within me until there was no other option than to let it escape into the emptiness as I continued to fall faster. I thrashed in the air, my screams growing more and more terrified as the wolf opened his jaws in anticipation, a growl erupting.

Hands were wrapped tightly around my shoulders, pinning me down as my eyes stayed firmly shut. My body thrashed as someone called out to me over my screams but my body and my mind were unresponsive.

'Leora, baby, please,' they begged, my movements slowing as consciousness started to creep in. My eyes shot open, darting around the room until they settled on Breadon's worried ones. He hovered over me, keeping me pinned to the bed as my body started to come down from the hysteria.

'H-he...he's c-coming. He knows...he knows where I am. He's... he's coming,' terror filled my mutterings as I tried to curl in on myself, but Breadon held me still.

'Baby, look at me,' he pleaded and reluctantly I found my eyes trained on his. He made sure I was fully focused on him before he spoke again. 'He is not going to take you away from me. I would never allow him to take you from me, never.' Absently, I nodded in response but my eyes quickly fell away from his. I heard him release a heavy sigh before suddenly my body was pulled from the soft covers and instead I was cradled in his lap. I was pressed tightly to his chest, my head tucked beneath his chin as he sat on the chair beside his bed.

'You can't stop him,' I whispered, my eyes already becoming heavy again as he pressed me closer.

'Why is Aunt Leora sad?' At the sound of her voice I was on my feet, my body humming as the forest started to descend around me again.