The Waking

Chapter VI

Chapter VI

     The truck screamed along the road as we blasted south, headed for a remote forest, outside of Flathead National Park. Quinn had walked me through the steps of becoming visible again, and I was thankfully solid, visible, and cuddled up to Brianna in the backseat of the truck. Her head rested lightly on my shoulder, and my right arm was around her waist. I rested my head against the window, closed my eyes, and tried to fall asleep. Within minutes, I was dreaming.

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     A woman dressed in a white gown walked through a lush, green forest. She walked slowly, as if waiting for someone to catch up to her. I tried to move forward, but I was stuck in place. I couldn't control my movement, and I felt as if I were floating, not truly touching the ground. The woman in front of me turned and faced me. I was surprised by her angelic beauty, with long brown hair, and electric blue eyes, much like my own. Her pale white skin reflected the rays of sunlight that bled through the roof of the forest, and her cheeks seemed to glow. She smiled, as if she could see me. I tried smiling back, but my jaw muscles wouldn't budge. She began walking in my direction, her white dress flowing like wings behind her.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark shadow leap behind a tree. The shadow seemed to be following the woman in white. Suddenly the woman in white stopped, and the smile faded from her face. She looked around, not noticing the shadow hiding behind the tree, and turned back to smile in my direction once again.

     Behind her, the shadow dashed from its hiding place, heading in the direction of the woman. I tried to cry out, to warn her, but no words could leave my throat. I was trapped, and so was the oblivious woman.

     Suddenly, the smile vanished from the woman's face. It was replaced by a look of shock and pain. My gaze shifted from her face, and to the blade that was sticking out of her sternum. A red blot expanded from the wound, and blood dripped from the tip of the sword. The shadow was directly behind the woman, and I immediately knew that it was the culprit of the stabbing. The woman fell to her knees, and I noticed that the shadow was in the shape of a man, wearing dark scarlet robes.

     The woman stared into my eyes, and all of a sudden, I recognized her. It was impossible; I hadn't seen that face in a very long time. She collapsed, blood seeping from her wound.

     I raised my gaze to the face of the shadow-ridden man. His hood covered his face, but I saw a pale jawline, and thick lips shaping a smile. He raised his hands to his hood, and pulled it back. All that I saw before the world went black, were his blood red eyes.

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     "Mom!" I cried, my eyes flying open. I looked frantically around, not fully realizing that I had been having a nightmare. I was surprised to see that the truck was parked, and that I was alone. With another quick look out my window, I saw nothing but trees surrounding the truck. I guessed that we had arrived at our camp. I unbuckled my seat-belt, opened the door, and hopped out of the truck. I slammed the old door behind me, and looked around to get my bearings. In front of me, was a wall of bushes so dense I could barely see the trees on the other side. To my left, there was a range of mountains in the distance, beyond yet another sea of trees. Behind me, on the other side of the truck, was a rocky cliff that rose nearly thirty feet above me. I spun to my right, and saw a clearing, with two orange tents next to a small campfire. Next to the fire, were two people, one tall and dark haired, the other short and blond.

     I jogged over to where Brianna and Quinn were standing, and they turned as they heard me coming. Brianna touched my arm as I reached them, and Quinn patted me on the shoulder and winked.