Signs of a Storm

Chapter Forty

Chapter 40: Decisions To Make

I shuddered as the goddesses' words went through me like a piercing dagger. I wanted to run away and leave, I wanted to get away from the cold. This time was unlike the last two experiences with her. I could feel the cold making its way through my veins and body, the cold and ice was overtaking me. I had no clue how she was able to do this.

"H-how are you m-manipulating my body t-temperature?" I sputtered as I tried to wrap myself in my own arms, without letting go of Nico's hand.

He didn't seem to be bothered one bit by the frosty air. He grasped me into his arms, trying to keep me somewhat warm. Despite his efforts, it wasn't working. I felt like my lungs were capsizing and scrunching together around the last warm breaths, before they gave out and I would be nothing more than one of her pawns. She was trying to kill me, but I wouldn't have it. I needed to live, and she wouldn't be my fatality, no way.

I tried to fight back and not cave in, but she was making it difficult. "Just let go of all the hurt, child. Die." She hissed in my ear.

"Tara, don't pay attention to her! Focus on me, and calm down." Nico tried pulling me from my deep thoughts and decisions.

A pain erupted in my stomach, like a sword had struck me right in the gut. I doubled over, but Nico tried to keep me upright. I knew she was doing something, the feeling was isolated and freezing. Maybe she had spawned ice cubes to explode in my intestines or something. But whatever she was doing, I wanted it to stop. My face clenched in pain.

"Oh, dear. Am I hurting you? Never occurred to me. I'm just giving you a taste of true cold. You were foolish to come seeking answers, child. Now I will grant you that and more!" She yelled cruelly. I was confused as to what she meant by, 'give me what I want?' Maybe she was trying to trick me into wishful thinking. But it wouldn't work.

A giant burst of icy winds flew by me and Nico, picking us up. I struggled and tried to get free, but I lost Nico's hand, and the force was too much strain on my part. I could feel myself losing consciousness. And then suddenly, I blacked out. It was for a brief second, and the last thing I saw was her smile freezing its way through me, making my bones chilled and legs weak.

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

When I opened my eyes, I was laying in the grass, and it still smelled freshly cut. I rubbed my head and tried to remember what had happened. As I groaned and got to my feet, I heard a faint voice call out to me. My ears were ringing with the last thing I had heard before I blacked out. It was cruel laughter. And it could only belong to Khione.

I glanced around, looking at a nice neighborhood. People were milling around, walking dogs, and doing chores. It boggled me as to why I was here. It didn't look like anywhere I knew of. As I turned around, I realized I was in someone's yard.

A big house was looming before me. The house was a strange Victorian house, with three stories. Its color was a pale white with red trimming. Overall, it looked completely separate from the rest of the houses on this street. Even its whole structure looked old and like one of those creepy, creaky, houses in horror movies.

And then I noticed the address.

I did a double-take, and even a triple-take. It had to be a coincidence. It couldn't possibly be... But yet here it was.

My uncle Dillon's house.

With my mouth still agape, I began to walk up to the house, when I remembered I had a companion with me. Nico.

I turned in a 360 rotation, looking for him. I called out only once, "Nico?" And there was no answer. I continued to scout the area, when I finally saw a dark shape under the shade of a tree across the street. I quickly ran towards it, but when I reached the figure, it turned out to be a stray black jacket. Panicked, I looked back at the house. I noticed the slowly sinking daytime, around possibly 5 p.m. In the light that was casted upon the earth, I saw a small light flickering inside of the house. It gave me hope that maybe my uncle did live here.