Restless

4: The Broken, Breaking Seas

AN: Thanks so much for reading! And so the story continues... more dream scenes. Tell your friends :D 

EDIT: I went back to Chapter 3 to change a few details, so go reread if this makes no sense :)

"I am the broken, breaking seas, even my blood finds ways to bleed"

This time was different. She spoke. She sang. Even when she just sat there and thought, I could hear her heartbeat, pounding out a unique beat. I found my self gravitating towards her, slower and slower, closer and closer. I could hear her breath, the cogs in her mind turning. Always dreaming, always thinking... I was just behind her, I watched her painting the river, the way she captured the flowing of every turn, and every rock it skipped over. I reached out to hold her hand, and she flew into the water. The water turned black, and started to roll and rumble like the rough seas I was so used to sailing on. It felt like hours that she was underwater, which may have well been true, but I saw her hand come up to the surface... She was waving goodbye to me, and I knew she wasn't coming back. The sea turned to fire as it enveloped her, swallowed her whole. I thought I saw a shooting star that night. I wished for her.

Being asleep was an escape from reality, but it truly felt like a living hell. One minute, it would be a lovely dream, I could finally get close to Her, but it always took a turn for the worst. She always died, and it was always my fault. Was it though? Did I really cause Her that much pain? I decided that, next time I dream of Her, I would save her. Once and for all.

I dared myself to fall asleep again, full well knowing that I was bringing it upon myself.

-

The fire, and the water. That's all there ever was. I screamed my dad's name, and I saw him fall. I heard the crack of his bones as his body hit the floor. It broke my heart, it did. Over and over again. I cried, and the tears cooled my face. I eventually ran out of tears to cry, so I ran. I ran out the barn door and into the pasture. The sheeps and horses had fled, leaving me and the sun. The sun that landed on earth. The sun that killed the best man there ever was, and ever would be, my father. My father could've extinguished the fire, had he been on the outside. But he wasn't. He was inside, always inside, couldn't run, couldn't hide. I felt cool breath behind me as I imagined the scene as a painting. Would I make the sky blue, as it actually was, or black, as it felt? Would the fire be raging and out of control? Or would it be tame, a silent killer?

His breath soothed me, saved me. My only comfort. I knew it was him, it was always him. But I couldn't turn to look at him, or it would destroy me. Quite literally.

I always turned.

I woke up before I could see his face. I could just see his shoulders, broad and slightly muscular, filling out his tee-shirt. Then I'd go black, and wake up. I never got the chance to thank him.

I yawned and stretched, and when I opened my eyes, I nearly fell out of bed. Maryland, nice to meet you. I'm Alice, you suck. I wanted to be back in the country, but at least in California. It wasn't so bad there. To cheer myself up, I made chocolate chip banana pancakes. My favorite, nobody else's. And I liked it that way. 

Mom strolled into the kitchen and said, "Mmmmmmm, my FAVORITE," sarcastically, of course. She rolled her eyes and grinned at me. She asked me to make a batch of plain chocolate chip, and I agreed. "I heard somewhere that it's best to deliver news over a meal," she said. This can't be good. 

"Mhmm, and what news would that be?" I asked, handing her a plate of very plain chocolate chip pancakes.

"Northeast? You, me, boat, friends?" She looked at me hopefully. I could tell that this woman didn't like standing still for too long.

"Umm, no offense, Ma, but what friends?" I asked. We just moved here. How could she already have friends? I haven't spoken a word to anyone, practically.

"Old friend. He invited us up to Martha's Vineyard a little while back, so... I rented a house on the island," she glanced down, as if ashamed. "And... I said we could all stay there together for a week or so."

Are you kidding me? This is great! I needed some relax time to myself.  "So just the three of us?"

"Actually, he has a son, your age. Apparently he wants to meet you." Who would want to meet me?

I masked my excitement. A boy. "Uh, sure, I guess that's fine." I ran back to my room to pack.

-

We took  a train up to Massachusetts, and drove to Cape Cod. We ferried over from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs. The sun was bright out, but it wasn't nearly as warm as Maryland. Or California. I decided that, instead of unpacking, I'd go to the Country Store. I told Mom to drop me off and that I'd call her when I needed a ride back. 

I dawdled through the the aisles, wanting nothing in particular. The store was like any other, but there were some things unique to the island. Jaws-themed trinkets. Straws filled with honey, according to the label. Homemade Martha's Vineyard fudge. Mmm, that's the stuff. I bought a quarter-pound of fudge and exited the cute little shop. For some reason or another, it was energizing to be there. Like I needed to be there. 

I almost bumped into some kid on the way out. He was holding lemons and sugar. He looked up at me to apologize, but couldn't seem to find any words. "Cat got your tongue?" I asked, giggling. He just sort of, gulped, and nodded. I kept talking to ease the silence. "Lemonade, eh? My favorite. Better save a glass for me!" I joked, and he smiled and jumped on his bike. Mysterious fellow, and the island is small... Just my luck if I see him again.

AN: I think you see where this is going. :D