Destined Part I

Creation

The place in my dream seemed so familiar.

Even though the air was foggy, causing my sight to become diminished, the scene still stirred something from deep within the crevices of my memory.

The wind whipped angrily at my cheeks as I pulled my smock tighter around my chest. I had forgotten a jacket today.

When I inched closer to where my feet were taking me, I blinked the fog away, realizing I was back in Austin behind my apartments.

I was making my way toward the clearing in the woods, and there were tears dripping down my cheeks, chilling my skin.

I remembered why I was crying. I had experienced my worst day of work since I began there, and I wanted to walk it off before I went inside.

I often walked down the trail when I felt like escaping momentarily. Trudging across the path, I would go until the gravel ended. By then, the exercise had typically proven effective, so I could go inside without the worry weighing on my mind.

Tonight, I stepped between the trees and onto the trail and strolled slowly, attempting to calm myself down. So many customers had screamed at me today, surpassing my usual count of mean people that came through the store. One man even resorted to calling me names because we had sold out of a new release before he could make time to come buy it.

As I moved deeper into the woods, the wind was intercepted by the blanket of trees, so the chill on my arms was subsiding. I kept thinking that I heard footsteps behind me, so I turned a few times, but was unable to see clearly since the fog was so dense.

Once I reached the end of the path, the day’s damage had begun to fade, and I was actually able to focus on the humor of the situation at work.

I turned around, ready to take the hike back home, and caught a glimpse of what was following me.

Three cloaked figures were behind me, walking steadily up to where I was standing.

I didn’t feel afraid, only slightly frustrated that they were blocking my path.

Two of the figures pulled their hoods off, exposing their faces to the night.

They were beautiful, breathtaking. Their skin was like marble and their eyes shimmered seductively. I was drawn to them, curious, as they approached, and I stepped closer so that I could make out their features.

Before I could focus, the two uncovered figures grabbed my arms, pinning me down while the other stood over me, massive with height.

I struggled momentarily, without success, and turned my face to plead with the one that was holding me immobile. Just then, recognition shot through my gut with an electrifying sting.

The one that was forcing me still was Haiden.

I shot up in bed, blinking away the dream, my heart pounding audibly in my chest. My breath was scattered and heavy, making me dizzy as I turned to look at Haiden, who was sleeping peacefully next to me.

I scrambled out of the bed, standing upright next to the mattress, and covered my mouth to stifle the cries. Tears flowed freely now, as I stood staring at him, disbelieving.

I knew that the dream was not fiction. It was a memory, finally resurfacing from being held down for so long.

Haiden flinched strongly, and sat up in bed, clutching his chest. His breathing was ragged as he turned to see me standing across from him.

“Adia?” he demanded, “What? What is it?”

He raced across the bed to try to hold me, but I jerked away from him. I watched the hurt from my rejection shine in his eyes. He stood back from me, searching my face for some sort of explanation to the feelings that he was reading.