Lightning Skies

Chapter 24

I stood up suddenly, and gazed around at all the eyes that were now on me.

"No!" I cried "I swear I didn't kill her!!" A few people started getting up, and walking toward me. This started a chain reaction, and soon the whole church was after.

Then I ran.

I pushed through the front doors to the church, and set off down the grassy cemetery hill. I looked behind me, and saw they were still pursuing me. The gravestones whipped by me, and I was afraid I would trip over one, and that's exactly what happened.

A small gravestone hidden by moss sent me flying into another gravestone. My knee and head were now badly bleeding, but I knew I had to keep going. I slowly got up, and despite the throbbing in my head and my knee, I ran faster than before.

After the cemetery, came the Radley Forest. I had just reached the edge of it, when something pulled me into a thick bush. They clapped their hand over my mouth, and I wrestled around to see who it was. I ripped his hand off my mouth.

"Daniel?" I hissed. He put a finger to his lips, indicating me to be quiet.

"Where is she?" I heard someone ask.

"She's probably way ahead! Keep going!"

I gasped for air when they had left, not realizing I had been holding my breath. My relief soon turned to anger as I remembered that Daniel was sitting right beside me. I slapped him across the face so hard, it left a red hand mark.

"Daniel..." I stuttered "I-I I'm sorry..." Daniel stayed quiet, but I saw the pain in his face, and I watched him touch his face, trying to stop the stinging.

"I-I deserve that..." Daniel said softly. He bit his lip, and I saw a tear escape his eye.

"No Daniel" I whispered to him "You didn't deserve that. You did nothing wrong."

"Yes I did" he said, crying a little more now "I'm a horrible person..." I sighed, and lifted Daniel's chin up with my fingers.

"No, you're an amazing person" I said sincerely. Daniel smiled, but soon it turned back to a look of sadness.

"I'm not..." But before he could finish, I leaned over, and kissed Daniel. I was afraid he would pull away, but he didn't. My head was filled with a thousand fireworks, until Daniel abruptly pulled away. I tried not to look surprised, but  I guess I did anyway.

"I-I can't kiss you" he muttered. I looked over at him, with sadness in my eyes.

"Why? Why can't you?" I prodded. Daniel bit his lip, and looked at the dirt floor we were sitting on.

"Juliette, you're bleeding" he pointed out. He took out a vial of blue liquid, and poured a drop on my knee and on my head. The blood seemed to curl back inside the cut, which shrank down to nothing.

"Thanks Daniel" I smiled "Now can't you just tell me why you can't kiss me?" Daniel stood up, and walked to the middle of the path. I followed, not getting too close, because I was scared.

"I-I... I did kill Annaliese!" And then he vanished. I was so mad at him, I wanted to kick him, but I settled on kicking the dirt where he had just been standing. Tears ran down my cheeks like rivers, and I gazed down sadly.

There I saw a crimson red rose, with a note tied to the stem. I picked it up, and read the note.

Dear Juliette,

You are my life, my love

A sweet angel from above

I wanted to keep you safe

I wanted you to keep faith

But now you know my secret

And I really hope you'll keep it

You are the sun to my set

The money for my bet

I love you Juliette

"Juliette is the east, and I am the sun."

Daniel