EXO A New War

Chapter 2 : HOPE

 A horn blared in front of her. The lights were blinding. Kat could hear the sound of brakes locking, and tires squealing. Her friends screams rang in her ears. She closed her eyes and braced for impact, only it never came. Time seemed to stop as everything became quite and still. The sound of a calm stream and the smell of damp grass caught her attention. When she opened her eyes, she saw a pink sky with fluffy white clouds and a setting sun. She looked around taking in her surroundings.

She was in a familiar meadow. The water level of the creek was down and she could see the rocks. The grass was not as green as she remembered and the flowers were less vibrant. But was no mistaking it. This was the place from her dream.

A noise next to her caught her attention. She looked in the direction of the noise and saw her friends standing there. They each wore a long ivory dress with copper leaves in the same style as the one from her dream.

"Are we dead?" Ally asked, looking to her friends

"I don't think so. I mean, I don't feel dead," Kiona answered her.

"Um... Kiona? Do you even know what being dead feels like?" Emma asked sarcastically as she twirled in her dress.

"No. Do you?" Kiona shot back.

"We're not dead," Kat said staring off into the distance.

"Kat, what is it?" Kiona asked walking toward her.

"It's changed," she said looking to her friends, as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"What's changed?" Ally asked.

"We need to go this way," Kat said as she started walking.

"Kat! Stop!" Kiona said as she grabbed her by the arm. "What's going on? Where are you going?"

Emma and Ally walked up next to Kiona. Kat looked at them and sighed.

"I've been here before, but it's changed somehow. It's almost like some of the life has been sucked out of it," Kat said.

"Please tell me this has nothing to do with your dream," Ally said

"Okay. I won't," Kat said giving her a smile. She turned back in the direction she had been walking. She could feel something pulling at her.

"So are we dreaming then?" Ally asked.

"I don't think so. I think this might be real," Kat said.

"Well... since you have been here before, lead the way," Kiona said giving Kat a smile. She nodded and started to walk. Kiona had a look of amazement on her face as she looked around.

"This place is amazing," Kiona said.

"I know, right?" Ally said smiling at Kiona. She stopped and gave Ally a puzzled look.

"You know what?" she asked.

"That this place is amazing," Ally said giving Kiona a funny look. Emma and Kat watched their friends intently.

"I didn't say that. I thought it," Kiona told Ally.

"First shared dreams and now telepathy. What next?" Ally asked throwing her arm in the air.

"How about two hobbits asking for directions to Mordor?" Emma teased. They all looked at one another and started laughing.

"Why hobbits?" Kat asked

"Well, the dresses remind me of Lord of the Rings," Emma answered her smiling.

Kat shook her head and smiled. She looked back toward where she had felt the strange pull. Her eyes went wide when she saw a tall tree in the distance. Its leaves gently swayed in the wind, as if it was waving to her.