From Heaven Through Hell

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Beep.Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. I shot up, the sheets tangled around my legs and sweat still damp on my face. It was all a dream Skye. Nothing to worry about. I smacked my hand down on the alarm and stretched. Time for a shower.

Mechanically, I turned on the shower, letting it steam up the tight room before letting the searing water relax my tight muscles. I guess I could skip practice just this once. I grabbed a towel and texted Caroline.

home sick. wont b @ practice.

Skye

I headed downstairs for breakfast, doing the Sudoku in the paper. Then grabbing my bag, I headed out to my car not sure where to go. I decided to drive down to the park and get some fresh air. I parked close to one of the trails and walked the short half-mile to the pond. I spied my favorite bench under a lone willow overlooking the water. I just sat there for a while staring out at the ripples the wind was making. Everything was the same, old and boring, hardly changing even with the seasons.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” I looked up to see a guy, about my age maybe older. He had slightly shaggy brown hair with beautiful clear blue eyes. He smiled down at me as I looked to where he was gesturing.

“Oh. Um, no I’m alone. Well, I mean, no one is sitting there…Go ahead.” I flushed as I tried to hide. I ducked my head down and turned away. Keep cool Skye. It’s just some random guy asking to sit next to you. Yeah at six in the morning on a Saturday.

I waited, wondering if he was going to speak. He just sat there, looking around. After several minutes passed, he pulled out a camera. It was one of those huge expensive professional cameras. I watched out of the corner of my eye as he pointed and aimed it at the clear water. Then turning he took one of the tree. I watched him like that until he stood up and walked out from under the tree to take one of the clear sky.  

Curious, I turned and looked at him full on. He smiled, still peering through the lens, almost like he planned for me to acknowledge him. Putting it down he looked at me with a smile on his face, his eyes full of life.

“Hey, I’m Darake Woodlocke.” He stuck out his hand. I looked at it, and then stuck mine out shaking his. Looking back up at his eyes, I just sat there staring. He quirked an eyebrow still smiling at me. “And you are?”

“Oh!” I blinked, looking at our still joined hands that had stopped shaking. “I’m Skye.”

Feeling foolish, I took my hand back and looked at my watch. Noticing the time, I looked back up at him, slightly confused. I had been there for over an hour, when in reality, it should have only been a few minutes.

“Umm, I really should be going now.” I stood awkwardly. “It was nice meeting you.” I smiled at him and took off at a brisk walk. I had a slightly uneasy feeling and knew I should get home before Leon and Caroline did. They were bound to be on my case as soon as practice ended.

“Hey, Skye! Wait up!” I glanced back and saw Darake jogging to catch up. What did he want? I don’t even know him. He caught up and paced himself with me. His long legs easily kept up, even though I was going fairly fast to even call it a walk.

I looked at him again and then continued to stare ahead, searching for my car.

“So, do you go to Woodside?” He asked as we continued up the trail.

“Yes. Why, will you be going there?” I looked at him then, wondering if he was new and only trying to be friendly.

“I will be starting Monday.” He smiled like it would be great.

“That’s cool. It is a nice school, you will like it.” I said as we walked into the parking lot and I unlocked my car door. “Well, Maybe I will see you at school.” I smiled as he stepped back and waved.

“See ya! And I hope we have a class together.” He smiled and turned, walking away, back down the trail. Starting up the car, I pulled out and drove home.

I trudged up the stairs and into my room. As I shut the door I heard the inevitable ‘E-hem.’ Without looking I felt the glares from Leon and Caroline trained on my back.

“Don’t ask.” Was all I said before sitting down at my desk. I looked at them waiting for the bombardment of questions.

“So, what happened this morning? You were the only no-show.” Leon smirked at me.

“I know!” I turned and looked at my computer. The screen was black as it sat off, dead to the world. “I had another dream.” I sighed.

“Skye! Why didn’t you say so before! We would have been here right away!” Caroline threw herself at me, hugging me like I was about to leave forever. Funny, how that happens in my dreams. Although I wouldn’t call them dreams, they are more like nightmares. They started after my parents were killed.

“Caroline, it’s okay. I just needed to get away from the world.” I looked at Leon for help.

“So, what-ch-ya do instead. You were gone when we showed up forty minutes ago.” He gave me a look that said I couldn’t hide anything.

“I went to the park and sat there….” I let the sentence hang open, hoping vainly that they wouldn’t ask questions.

“And?” Leon smirked, sensing my discomfort.

“Oh all right, some guy came over and sat down next to me and claimed to be new to our school.” I said sheepishly, a blush creeping up my neck.

“Ooooo! What is his name!!?” Caroline pulled back from me and looked me squarely in the eyes, hers sparkling with interest.

“I think it was…hold on…” I thought back to the encounter. “It was Darake. Positive.” I smiled, pleased to have remembered.

“That’s a creepy name. What did he look like? Tell me everything!” Caroline bounded up and plopped down next to Leon. So I proceeded to relate the mornings encounter, going over every detail until Caroline was satisfied.

Later that night, I sat awake in my room, again replaying the encounter. What was his last name? Why was there an uneasiness when I thought about him? Questions buzzed through my head until I started to drift off.

I was running, heart pounding, and the blood rushing in my head, a faint buzzing sound ringing in my ears. Feet pounding out a rhythm, I can’t stop. Instinct says to go on. No stopping, no looking back.

Trees go by in a blur the darkness penetrated by few stars surrounding a red moon. I keep running, not holding back, not going back. The end was coming, but I wasn’t ready to stop, wasn’t ready to end it.

The light blinds me. I stumble to a stop, unsure of where I am or why I stopped. I look around at the field, peaceful, calm. I sit and close my eyes to the world, my unease fading, a lost thought.

I jump as a hand comes down on my shoulder. I look at my clock, back in my room.

“Wake up Angel. It is time to go.” I look up at Him. His blue eyes penetrate me, straight through. I reach for his hand and follow. “The end has come, we must hurry.”

He tugs me toward the light. I follow, walking through a misty glow. Slowly, it turns to red, his hand burns my skin. I pull away, clutching the blistered hand. I take a look at him; his eyes are the same strange, mesmerizing blue. His hair glows, combusts into flame. His body contorts, flesh ripping, revealing a beast. The beast. He smiles, teeth jutting out.

“Time to go Angel. The end has come. Your blood is mine, scarlet red.” His eyes glow and fade to a burning black. He lunges, I try to scream. Darkness surrounds me as I float away into oblivion.