One Half

Chapter Three

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  "Coltren! I'm going to fall off!" I cried.

A soft chuckle coming from behind me echoed in my ears.

"Don't worry, honey bear. If I wanted to drop you on your ass, I would have already done it a while ago."

My cheeks turned a faint pink at that remark. They quickly turned back to normal, however, when I realized I was holding onto to the rope with all my might.

We, Coltren and I, were placed in a stretching field of wildflowers that were painting vibrant splotches on the green and growing grass. The occasional butterfly danced amongst them, placing a smile on my face.

There wasn't a single cloud in the sky and the sun shone directly on us, like stage lights. I was sitting on a swing and Coltren was pushing me with ease, not too hard, so that I wouldn't fall off. The swing, just a simple wooden plank and rope, was securely tied to a strong branch of a towering oak.

I felt Coltren's steady push on my back, occasionally catching me by the waist to slow me down.

A sudden delicate, yet icy cold, raindrop fell onto my cheek. My eyes darted up and saw a sky filled with gray clouds that were suggesting a storm.

Clouds were speeding above my clustered head. They were dark and full of water droplets. A puzzled look appeared on my face, and in that moment I heard a booming cry of thunder. I shuddered.

"Coltren?" I whispered in a quiet panicked voice.

No reply.

"Coltren?" I repeated, a little louder this time. I turned around swiftly, realizing Coltren's not talking to me at all. Why is he ignoring me?

My eyes widened in disbelief. He's gone.

I looked around the meadow, desperately searching for his insanely tall figure. The once peaceful and serene vibe disappeared when I saw no sign of life.

The grass was a dull shade of yellow, covered in lanky weeds. There wasn't the faintest sight of a flower, let alone a butterfly or any other insect.

A loud gasp escaped my trembling lips, as a blinding light appeared in the sky. It covered the entire heavens, but a split second later it vanished.

I released a breath in relief, one I didn't even know I was holding. Suddenly, a cringing crack alarmed me. The branch I was hanging from broke into two.

My terrified body was now lying on the ground, paralyzed. I closed my eyes, horrified by what was about to happen next.

When I opened them again, I found myself sitting upright on my twin sized bed.

Loud pants were coming out of my twitching mouth as if I ran a good mile or two. Hot beads of sweat were dripping from my forehead and cold shivers were running all over my body.

I closed my eyes and rubbed at them to try and hopefully erase that memory of a dream. Or should I say nightmare?

An uneven sigh left my lips and my hands brushed through my bed hair. Everything in my mind was so jumbled at the moment. I was starting to feel dizzy, and fresh air sounded appealing.

I shook off my covers and got up from the bed, walking up to the single window in my room. It's a french one, or at least that's what people called its type.

I unlocked the window and pulled at its handle, letting the summer breeze flood into my room. I sighed once more, heavier this time, debating with myself. I added a quick nod to back up my decision and quickly rummaged through my out-dated closet. There weren't many options there, but I didn't complain. I actually enjoyed wearing the clothes I owned.