The Soul Tracer

Realisation

There's moments in life, that you wish you could capture. To keep in your memory, protected from scratches and stains that time brings forward. Moments that must stay as they are or be forgotten. Where your minds clear of sorrow, and is free to wonder. Moments when you can get away from the outside world, the world full of grief, and enter an entirely different land. A land that's perfect, and just the way you want it to be.

"What's going to happen now?" Ivy's gentle voice, drifts all so carefully into my perfect world.

Ivy is the only person I allow into this world. She's the only person who doesn't scatter the leaves, she just fits. Similar to a puzzle piece, clicking into place. As though she's come from within.

"What ever do you mean?" The sun bursts through the thin layer of clouds and scatters around us. I close my eyes and soak in the warm sunlight.

"Now that Mama's ill."

I turn to look at her. Squinting as the bright gold sun, shines in my eyes. Ivy looks more beautiful than ever, concentrating on a large golden leaf, she tears off little pieces of the leaf, ever so carefully. Ivy is a magnificently beautiful person. No other 16 year old could match her.

"Ivy, Mama's been ill for ever so long. She's in good hands now. Just imagine the great joy we can have without Mama watching our every move."

An alighting smile grows on her face. Hastily she pulls out her braided bun, the wind catches her thick, wavy, brown hair, playing with it. The braid that once was her fringe, slowly falls out, leaving it in a beautiful loose plait. A laughter, similar to a choir if angels, bursts out her mouth. The birds stop sing, as if to listen the magical sound.

"Come on Ada," she hits me playfully on my forearm, "be a little rebellious. Mamas not here. There's not a soul around, no one will see."

"Ivy...." I contemplate on it for a period of time.

"Oh please Ada!" She pleads. "We can have a little fun!"

"Fine, but I let you know this goes against all my instincts." I say as I take out Clara's masterpiece, that is my hair.

The wind picks up the leaves, turning them into small tornados. A small fluffy white cloud covers the sun, sending the land into a large shadow. When the sun appears again, the light shines through the leaves of the forest. Under a tree, nearly directly in front of us, I notice the handsome gentleman, standing with his back to us. This time he's wearing a tall black top hat. I turn to take a proper look at him. There's something different about him, something I just can't put my finger on. Uncontrollably, I begin to walk towards the man. The wind blows my hair around my face. I can just hear Ivy calling something from behind. As I walk closer to the gentleman, he slowly turns around. He smiles at me, a smile much like Ivy's, but more magical. An amazing coloured butterfly, flies pass me ever so slowly. As if time has slowed down. It perches itself delicately on a large green leaf. Gently reach a finger out to touch its silky peach wings. Never have I seen a butterfly quite this colour before. Gold sparks escape from under my finger, then disappear behind me. The butterfly gracefully starts flapping its wings then takes off, it's wings now a glimmering gold, almost like the sun. I watch the leaf as it changes from a grass green, to a deep red.

The gentleman is still in the same position. His arm is outstretched in front of him. Cautiously I place my hand into his large hand. I look up at a magnificently beautiful face. His lips are rosy red, and his skin is flawless. The most stunning feature, however, is his eyes. An amazing mosaic of colours, the most beautiful of colours, dozens of them. His eyes seem to tell a story. When you look into his eyes, it's as if he knows everything about you, and you know everything about him. A small gasp escapes from my lips.

Suddenly leaves start rapidly falling off the trees, and the trees begin to die. The sky darkens, a cloud of dust and smoke covers it. A dreadful smell of rotting corpses fills the air. I pull my eyes off of the magnificent man and force them to look around. The once beautiful rolling green hills, with rows of trees, are now piles of soil and sandbags. Fallen burnt trees, act as bridges across, rows of deep drenches. Cheston Manor is no where to be seen. I let go of the mans hand, and spin around taking everything in. Bits of glass crack under my feet. Loud planes fly over top, lights beaming from them, scanning the dark ground. I turn to face the man, only to find he's disappeared. A huge bang rings through my ears, followed by an intense heat. The shockwave, carrying large bits of rubble, hits me hard, forcing me to the ground.

"Charge!"

Suddenly, a huge group of men, dressed in English army uniform, burst out of the rows of trenches. Lead by a handsome man. Shock sweeps though me as I realise who he is.

"Papa! No Papa!" I scream. Over and over again, until my voice is hoarse. "Please Papa!"

It seems as if a hundred planes cover the sky. Explosions, shoot rubble from all around the battle field. The whistle of a nearby bomb, is followed by another deafening explosion, that sends more pieces of rubble my way. I curl up in a ball, protecting myself from the pieces of brick, metal, glass, and even limbs. I peak through my fingers, to look for Papa, only to find a huge crater where I last saw him.

"Papa!" I scream, in agony. Tears stream down my cheeks. My whole body is shaking, in sorrow and fear.

"I want to go home!" I cry, hoping that the mysterious man will appear, "please I need to see Mama!"

The unmistakeable smell of blood, fills the night air. A body rolls on top of me, soaking my beautiful dress in blood. I push the body off my back. My hands are covered in blood and dirt. I dig my fingers into the dirt. Feeling a cold metal surface under my right hand. My whole body freezes. Thousands of thought rush through my head. The worst, however, is the fact that I left mama in words of hate. I lift each finger of the metal disc individually. Then slowly I lift the palm of my hand off. The rest of the world is distant, I see the bombs falling, and the guns shooting. The innocent men dying, serving their king. An intense heat grows around me, until I'm covered in flames.