In My Eyes

Ch•19- A Dark Shadow

          Vivid colors swirled around me, lights coated my skin in a kaleidoscope patterns. Warm summer heat filled my body to the brim. The smell of the ocean drifted in the perfect air. I couldn't tell exactly where I was at first because of the brightness, but little by little my eyes adjusted.

          My body was covered in a yellow sundress that reached my knees, and my feet were bare. My brunette hair blew free in the lazy wind.

            I blinked through the sunlight, finding myself on the grassy edge of a cliff that over looked the Pacific. Even though that drop was close, I felt not fear or anxiety. My mind was at peace for once. I tucked some hair behind my ear, feeling a presence.

            I turned my head to the side to see my Father sitting with one of his knees pressed against his chest, the other laid flat on the grass. He wore a clean white t-shirt with blue jeans. He looked well rested in stress free. A women sat beside him, she leaned against his arm. She had strawberry colored hair and freckled skin. I marveled at her beauty. It was Pepper.

            "You like it here Jessi?" My Dad asked, gesturing to the bliss surrounding us. There wasn't another person in sight, of a city. It was just grassy fields to the back of us, and the ocean ahead. A mountain range did dot the distance.

             It took me a moment to process his question, I opened my mouth but barely any words came out "y-yeah, I do"

            "It's so peaceful" Pepper sighed. I had almost forgotten what her voice sounded like. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and Dad leaned against her "come sit with us Jes Jes" she waved her hand to me.

           I smiled, taking a step forward. But then... I couldn't. My legs wouldn't carry me to the picture perfect scene. This wasn't real. I'm not in the sunshine overlooking the sea, I'm not with Pepper once again, and I'm certainly not with my Father.

           My brain pieced the information together little by little until something clicked "this isn't right" I whispered, looking down to my hands. An orange liquid was roaming around through my veins and up my arms. I could feel the subtle sting.

          "What's wrong Jessi?" Dad asked, looking towards me with concern. Pepper lifted her head from his shoulder "you okay kid?"

           "You..." my voice trailed off. Suddenly, a large Cumulus cloud drifted in front of the sun, blocking out the light "This isn't how it's suppose to be" I went on "you hate me" I couldn't bare to look at the extremis in my body anymore, I hugged my arms to my chest "and you" I looked to Pepper "you're not here... you... you hate us!"

            "Why on earth would you say that Jessi?" Dad asked, standing up from his sitting position. I stepped back in fear.

           "Tony stop" Pepper pulled herself to her feet and took his hand "let me talk to her" the clouds above grew thick, it was about to rain. My chest was rising and falling at a faster pace now. Pepper approached me, a sympathetic smile rested on her face "life's hitting us pretty hard, huh?"

           "How could you? How could you leave me" my voice broke "you didn't even say goodbye. Was it something that I did? What could I have done to fix this?" Pepper brought her hand up to my cheek and wiped away the tear.

            "There was nothing you could have done" Pepper shook her head slowly just as a bolt of lightning struck close to where I was standing. I jumped in fear. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my throat. Peppers eyes went Raven dark "you can't fix it because you're the one that ruined it"

           I gasped for air, feeling her fingers tighten "Pepper" I coughed "Pepper no-"
The world around me fell apart, the ground fell away and I was left floating. Pepper had disappeared and so had Dad.