Semblance

Chapter 1

Readers,

I just want to say thank you for giving my book a chance. It means so much to me! This is my first book I have posted, so be patient! Feel free to give me constructive criticism, but no flames please. I'm really excited for my book, and I hope you will be, too. Thanks again :)

Yours, Kayla A.

I was running. I didn't know why or from what, but I did know that my lungs were burning and briars were grabbing at my clothes making an effort to hinder my escape. Sticks and stones were stabbing at the bottoms of my bare feet. I would wince in pain, refusing to make noise in fear of being caught. I heard heavy footsteps close behind me. I quickly looked over my shoulder, and then back in front of me just in time to trip over a root that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I face-planted into the muddy ground, and if I wasn't terrified for my life, I would have laughed at my crappy coordination. A sharp pain shot up my leg. I look down at my ankle when I saw something in the corner of my eye. I slowly looked up.

"There ya are, princess." A hooded figure stood over me. I couldn't see his face, but I didn't need to. I knew exactly who he was. My shill scream sliced through the air, startling the crows above in the tall trees.

--------

I shot up in my bed. A thin layer of sweat coated my forehead, my heart was beating so hard in my chest that I feared it might burst through it.

"It was just a dream, Rowan, " I muttered to myself.

"You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity, " my best friend, Cayden, stated as he leaned against my door frame. "Another bad dream?" He moved from the frame and sat beside me on the bed, as I layed my head back on the cold headboard.

"It's always the same stupid dream."

He paused. "What happened?"

"I was running-running from someone, and I had this feeling that this has happened before! But I don't know. I just...don't know." As I was speaking, it felt as if the dream was happening all over again. I closed my eyes as a shudder went down my spine.

I felt Cayden's arm slip around my shoulders, I thought he was going to say something comforting, but instead he smiled sadly, and said that I should take a shower because quite frankly, I smelled.

--------

After my shower, I felt only slightly refreshed, but I still could faintly feel the briars whipping against my skin. I shoved everything even remotely related to the horrid dream to the back of my mind. I went downstairs to grab a plate of my mom's famous french toast and a glass of milk. My dad sat at the end of the table, his nose in the newspaper, Cayden sitting to his left. I sat in my usual seat which was to the right of my dad, and across from Cayden.

"There's my princess!" I grimaced, the image of the hooded figure crossed my mind before I scolded myself, and pushed the memory back once more.

"Dad," I exclaimed solftly, "I have told you for the last four years not to call me that!"

My dad slightly smiled, the crows feet at the corners of his eyes becoming more defined.

"Of course, how could I forget," he laughed, but I could still see the longing in his eyes. The longing to be able to call me the petname that I started to reject four years ago. I wanted to tell him that I missed the times when enjoyed it, but I didn't.

My mom entered the dining room. Her blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun at the top of her head, and her blue eyes were alight with happiness. She walked behind my dads chair, and pressed a kiss to his head full of graying blonde hair.