Talon Academy

Chapter Ten

I stood in front of a dark blue door with a big grey bag in my hand. A women had answered the door. Her dark green eyes sparkled as she smiled and welcomed me in. As soon as I stepped into the house I was engulfed in a huge bear hug. I started laughing.

"Sarah, I can't breathe."

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, "Come on in. Sam isn't here yet."

I walked deeper into the house following Sarah's lead. She took me into the living room. There were big black leather chairs and a glass coffee table in the middle of the room. A large TV sat upon a black table inthe corner. The walls were a creamy white colour that contrasted with the black sofas. A beautiful painting of a single blue flower in a vast field of lush grass was hung on the wall. The painting seemed sad and meaningful as well as delicate and beautiful.

"I painted it myself," Sarah said with a smile.

"It's beautiful," I reply in awe.

"I painted it a while ago. I think it has been a one or two years now..." a look of concentration fell over her face as she attempted to remember. She frowned slightly, her eyes hazing as she figured out when it was. I couldn't help but laugh. "I think it was in the middle of last year. Sometime during the holidays."

Smiling I said, "Well one thing's for sure. You, Sarah Blackwood, are very talented."

"Why thank you, Elizabeth Wright," She replied with a laugh.

"Actually my full name is Elizabeth Kate Wright."

"That's a really pretty name. My full name is actually Sarah Rose Blackwood."

"That's a very pretty name too. Let's try this again: Sarah Rose Blackwood, you possess beautiful talent for that is a beautiful painting."

"Thank you, Miss Elizabeth Kate Wright, for those kind words for both me and my painting. I am truly happy about hearing such flattering words." Sarah did a small bow while laughing.

"I only told the truth," I said looking at the painting again. It was amazing; simple yet so meaningful.

I realised, after a second, that something had changes. This time the painting looked different. I squinted to figure out what was different. Then I saw it. The flower was changing colour...the blue was changing into a dark purple...then a bright purple...and then...blood red. I gaped at the painting. "Sarah, what's ha-?"

I turned around only to stand before a hooded figure in a long black cloak. We were no longer in a living room; instead a bright green field stretched underneath us. I whirled back around to see the painting, hoping I could make some sense of what was happening. However when I looked behind me I could only see grass stretching far and the faint outline of trees in the horizon. A bright flash of colour caught my eye and I looked towards my feet. A single flower was there - it was blood red.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" A voice broke into my head. The same voice as my dreams.

As I spun around I noticed that the figure had stepped closer to me. The black cloak he wore was not solid black. It had black embroidery of flames and swirls; the embroidery was even darker than the cloak. I searched under the hood in attempt to at least see the outline of a face underneath, however, I saw nothing underneath. I realized quickly that I was searching helplessly for something that was nothing. Something that was darker than darkness.

A cackle filled my head as he stepped forward slowly, causing me to take several steps back until the red flower was between us.

"Get out of my head!" I screamed out loud. My voice cutting into the silenced air.