keep reaching for the stars. | 1

[ prologue ]

DISCLAIMER!!!

if you get easily offended or sensitive to 'gory' content or get uncomfortable with certain scenes, this book is NOT for you. if you enjoy reading this book but do not enjoy reading those certain scenes, I will put a warning a couple of paragraphs above that scene.
there is a small (sad) gory scene in the prologue!
thank you, savvyan

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

prologue

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

13 months ago..

the leaves crunched underneath our feet as we trailed through the woodland. James looked over his shoulder to me, his goofy smile showing in the dusk light. long shadows of the pine trees towered over us.
"Are we there yet?" I asked, a small giggle hidden in my voice.
"No patience, Elise?" He smirked, slowing down to match my pace.
the sun set farther down into the ground, melting in a pool of yellow hope of tomorrow. the trees shuddered as the world struggled to keep its eyes open.
I forcefully exhaled, blinking rapidly to was the sudden urge to cry. My eyes watered, nose running slightly. The ball in my throat and not grew larger, trying my best to push it down.
James glanced towards me, his smirk dropping, turning to a concerned frown.
"Elise, what's wrong?" He asked. The small break in his voice made me chuckle.
"Nothing," I responded. All of that urge washed away with a last gulp.
Underneath his diamond eyes, I saw he didn't believe me. He just continued to trek on.

— ( disclaimer - gory )

We arrived at the makeshift camp at around eight-thirty. James kept going on about his grandmothers brownies, just until I made a joke about those special brownies.

I set up our tent, shifting the double sleeping bag to fit the tent perfectly. I leaned back, inhaling the sweet thick scent of pine and fire.
Exiting the tent, I averted my eyes from James to the forest. A chill ran down my spine as I heard the trees shake in the wind, masking another sound I couldn't make out.
Choosing to ignore it, I moved my attention to James.
"If you don't get dinner ready, my stomach will start eating itself!" I joked, the small hunger twang hitting my stomach. It let a loud growl.
"I can hear that.." James smiled, glancing up to look at me.
I made myself comfortable on a shortened log that faced the fire James was struggling to make.
After moments of silence between us, I zoned out. My eyes couldn't leave the crackling fire as they started to leap in the sky. The rising orange specs of ashes and fire decorated the night sky.
James got up from his knees, "Finally. Some actual warmth." His voice sounded exhausted, tired from the miles we trekked in the long forest. He sat down next to me, making himself comfortable, his thigh touching mine.
My eyes caught something move in the distance. Between the overthrowing brush and darkness consuming the woods, two little beady eyes peered from the growth. They were slanted, as if they were leaning in something.
My heart started beating faster and faster, my scratchy throat making it hard to pull out the words. The only thing I could say was 'gun.'
James leaned forward, confused by my frightening tone. As soon as he covered my vision of the person, or whatever was there, a long and loud shot echoed through the trees. James's head had a perfect hole straight through, the bullet protruding out of his forehead slightly.
Tears escaped from my eyes as his blood trickled down his face and into my hands. He fell onto my lap, soaking my black leggings with blood.
The scream I let out was chilling and toe-curling. Whoever shot the gun bolted through the trees, my blood running to ice. I couldn't feel anything. My first reaction was to throw James off of me, but I resisted.
Red velvet liquid turned to a cracked maroonish color on my tied shirt.
The sobs escaped from my mouth as I shoved my face in my hands. Blood smeared on my face, the metallic scent overwhelming my nostrils.

[ ight' next chapter will
be chapter one. peace ]