Heritage

Heritage (Chapter 47)

Chapter 47: Leon

I'm on a hill. The grass is a deep shade of green. It smells sweet as the wind kicks it up. I breathe deep and there's a sense of peace that I haven't felt in a long time. I open my eyes and see a figure standing several feet away on the edge of the hill. I see her long hair blowing in the breeze underneath a white, brimmed hat. A navy-blue ribbon wrapped around it. I feel myself give a smirk and I walk beside her. I look down and see myself grabbing her hand. I look up and realize that it's Stella staring back at me. I smile wide. She does the same as she leans in close and kisses me. I close my eyes, embracing it. As our lips part, I open my eyes and see a very different portrait of a person standing in front of me. It's no longer Stella, but Katie. Fully grown as she was while the vaccine was running its course. Long black hair flowing in the wind. Pale white skin almost like that of white ash. I feel a fear grip me and before I can react, she places a hand on my face and smiles.

"It's alright my dear. You and I have had our little dance. I'll admit that I'm disappointed that another one has gotten away,"

She stares out into the horizon. A sphere rises up into the sky and Katie reaches out to it. She looks back at me, a more sinister expression paints her face.

"I want to show you something love," She says before snatching me by my arm as we jettison into the sky, careening towards the sphere.

As we grow closer to the object, I realize that it's a planet before breaking through the atmosphere and landing on to the terrain below. The land is familiar, yet foreign at the same.

I look all around "Is this...Earth?"

Katie chuckles "Not at all. This...is the land of the green children,"

I tilt my head in confusion "Green children,"

"You would call them Sekrid. That is what their name means." She explains.

I nod while taking another look at my surroundings.

"I want you to do something for me Leon," She says breaking me from my curiosity.

My eyes snap to hers.

"Why would I do anything for you?"

She smiles small and strides over to me, coming inches from my face.

"Because...you've grown attached to me Leon. Like it or not, you found it difficult to bury that knife in me while you laid on that table,"

"That wasn't real! And neither is this!" I say turning away, waving a hand up.

As I turn, she appears right back in my face. I jerk my head back, startled.

"Oh, you have so much to learn love. I. Am. Real. Just...up here," She taps my temple with a finger.

I only grow more confused at the statement. Katie waves a hand and turns away, lightly walking across the rich dirt below our feet. She turns back to me. She gives me a look of love...or lust, of which I cannot tell. And like a flash of lightning she returns to me. I freeze as she wraps her arms around me, pulling me closer to her face...her lips. My face flushes, feeling oddly embarrassed at the moment. I divert my eyes, ignoring the queer attraction I feel for her.

"Oh Leon..."

She takes a finger and traces it down my jawline, underneath my chin, holding it there for a moment before returning it around my neck.

She smiles, this time showing teeth that are surprisingly normal as compared to my father's visions of her.

"There's really no reason to be embarrassed. I'm quite flattered to be honest. I wasn't sure whether this form would be attractive enough," Katie says smiling even wider.