Crimson Skies -PREVIEW

Chapter 4. K A T E

I woke up in a different room than I had fallen asleep in. the walls were switching between neon green and purple. The floor was changing between a scratchy rug, furry carpet, and hardwood. I slowly got off the the bed and put my feet on the shapeshifting floor.

"Kathrine!" A voice screamed behind me. I whirled around and saw my mother. Her face was blurred but her short, brown curls gave it away. One thing seemed wrong though, i could sense a difference about her.

"Mom?" I asked. I rushed over to her, breaking into tears. As soon as I touched her, a chill ran up my spine. I back away slowly.

"Kathrine... you need to go. Go to your room." Mom said, I could hear the fear in her voice. A smaller figure appeared next to her, their face was blurred as well. "Go to your room kathrine," She repeated. The smaller figure started to cry.

"Mom?" I whispered.

"Mommy, I'm scared." The figure cried. I realized it was me, from a long time ago... There was a bang and mini-me jumped into her mother's arms.

"Go up stairs..." I watched myself run up halfway up the stairs. I walked slowly over to my mom, wrapping my arms around her blurred figure.

"Mom you have to go." I whispered into her ear. "Mom, you need leave!" I screamed but it was too late, and I pushed away from her. My father formed out of the shadows and grabbed my mother. He held a glowing knife to her throat. "MOM!!" I screamed desperately. A slow smile spread across the mother's face, and she began to laugh.

"Oh kathrine," She chuckled "Look at you, you're all ready to save the day."

"What-"

"Ready to be the hero? It's not as easy as it looks." Mom continued.

"What are you talking about?" I cried. My father yelled and cut across my mother's throat with the blue knife.

"NO!"

My father disappeared into the shadows. My mother collapsed onto the ground, and i crumpled next to her.

"Mom?" I whispered, pressing against the wound on her neck. My mother's eyes fluttered back open. She smiled when she met my eyes.

"My little princess..." She murmured, bringing her hand up and stocking my cheek softly. I tried to smile. "Do you remember her? Do you remember her song?" She asked.

"Who?"

"Two little princess twirling on their toes," She began to sing softly. I sat puzzled for a moment. I sniffed and began to hum softly with my dying mother.

"Music notes spinning in sweet little rows." I sang back. A single tear slipped down my cheek.

"Only one can take the throne," Mom whispered to the tune. She clutched my arm, "Kathrine it has to be you." I stared, confused, into her eyes as they became lifeless. Suddenly she burst into flames. I screamed in agony as the fire licked at my face and arms. I dropped my mother just as the rest of the room caught fire.

"HELP ME!" I screamed as my shirt caught fire. I felt my skin began to fry-

*Chapter 4; Part 2, KATE*

"Woah, woah.." Sarah whispered as she dabbed a warm cloth to my head. I had shot out of bed, nearly knocking her over.

"What happened?"

"Well I woke up to you screaming at nothing in the middle of the night, which is strange considering you haven't seen anything worth-"

"My mother." I said bluntly, cutting sarah off. Sarah looked confused. I had assumed she had already known.... "I saw my mother die. I... I watched her be murdered. In my- my dream and... and when I was small... well, smaller. She was in my dream and... " Sarah sat back as if she were prepared to hear a story.