Semblance

Chapter 5

Everything happened so fast, the only thing I could hear was the soles of our shoes slapping against the pavement, or maybe that was my panicked heart pounding against my ribs. I couldn't tell anymore. My whole body was working purely on adrenaline, and my mind seemed to be thinking without me as I ran from this terrifying man. Killian was still by my side, his eyes were darting side-to-side looking for something. That something was an escape, I realised, as he turned sharply into an alley. Killian seemed like he had done this before, and a part of me was hoping that he had. He looked behind him once more, and then ran to stand in front of a brick wall at the end of the alley.

"It's a dead end?! Wow. How freaking perfect!" I continued my distressed rambling, my arms flailing around me.

I could see Killian pulling out some kind of wand thing, although it was too thick to be a wand. He touched the tip of the object to a single brick, and as soon as he did: it glowed.

I could already feel my features shape into a look of disbelief. I could see Killian forehead crease in concentration. The object expelled ribbons of color spiraling of the end, beginning to form a certain image that was unknown to me.

"I think I'm gonna be sick..." I muttered quietly.

Before I could take a proper glance at what it had formed, Killian hurriedly grabbed my upper arm.

"We have to hurry, it won't be open long."

His hand slid down the length of my arm until he reached my hand, entertwining our fingers. I could feel my heart speeding up, but I blamed it on the intensity of the circumstances. I looked behind us for a split second, just in time to see the cloaked man catching up to us. He was close enough to us that I could see that his eyes were as black as night and that his skin shined with sweat. That was the last thing I saw before I was falling into the unknown.

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I have always loved rollercoasters, and this was no different. Well, just minus the fact that I have no idea where I'm going, but still. The fall seemed to slow down in my eyes. I could see different places and time periods as we passes: Ireland, the 1920s, Anchorage High School, Madison Square Garden, you name it. It was all beautiful, and I found myself completely mesmerized by all the sights. As soon as the fall had begun, it ended just as quick. Before I knew it, we had come to a stop and belly-flopped onto the soft carpet. From the groan below me, I could tell I landed on Killian.

A string of apologizes flowed from my mouth as I quickly got off of him. With a rush of dizziness that coursed through me, I sat down on what seemed to a bed, and from the amount of books and pictures that surrounded us, I could tell we were now in my room.

"Easy now, are you okay?" Killian rushed to my side, grabbing the sides of my face to level my eyes with his.

"I'm fine, really. J-just dizzy, that's all. Give me a moment.." I trailed off, enjoying the feel of his cool and caloused hands on my feverish cheeks. We sat there for a moment in silence until we heard footsteps walking up the creaky stairs. Killian stood up, immediately taking a defensive stand; ready for anything.

"Ro, sweetie, it's like 11:30. You need to be quiet." I heard the soft voice of my mother call softly from outside the door. I jumped off my bed, ignoring the stab of pain in my temples.

I shrugged off my jacket and pulled off my boots. On my way to my closet door, I grab Killian's wrist. I ignored his hesitating protests as I shoved him into the small space that my dresser didn't occupy. After I shut the door, I rushed to my favorite chair that my robe was on, and wrapped my body in it. Just in time for the door to open.

"Rowan Jane, do you have any idea what time it is?" You hardly could have told she was tired because of the way she put her hands on her hips and how she is giving me a look that all mothers seem to come with naturally.

"Sorry, mom. I didn't realize how loud I was being." I looked down my hands that were still shaking from the nights earlier events.

My mother sighed tiredly. "It's alright...just go to bed. And, next time, try not to make as much noise," she said, "I know how difficult that can be for you." She left, chuckling at her little joke, while I smiled uneasily at her.

When I was positive she was gone, I looked towards the closet. "You can come out now." Those seemed to be the magic words, because he burst out as if he wanted nothing more to be free of my closet. I smirked at him as he brushed off the invisible dust bunnies off his attire.

"Don't give me that look. I'm claustaphobic." He said when he met my eyes. I held my hands up, defensively, letting go of the topic. Killian then made his way over to my side, and sat down next me. "Do you know who that man was?"

"No, I was hoping you could tell me." Killian sighed in frustration. There was a pause of silence.

"You know, we never did get to the 20 questions thing." I turned my body to look at him, folding my left leg under me to get a better view.

"No, I guess we didn't. I have a question for you, actually."

"Well, shoot!" I exclaimed, attempting to lighten to mood.

"Do you know who you are?"

I gave him a blank stare. "Uh, yeah? My name is Rowan Jane Emerson. I am 18 years old-"

"No, that isn't what I mean!" He interupted. "I mean, do you know who were suppose to be?"

"Okay, now you've lost me. I officially have no clue what you are talking about."

"Have you paid attention in Mythology at all?" I could hear the irratation in his voice growing each time I said something he wished not to hear.

"Just...wait, until next class. Orien could explain it better than I could. I mean, he's basically an expert at this."

"Would you mind enlightening me on what the hell you are going on about?" I was beginning to become annoyed at all these riddles and everybody seeming to leave me in the dark.

"Just, listen to him. It will all make sense soon. I promise." He stood up straight, turning to my window, his slim fingers working to unlock the rusty latch.

"Killian-" I started.

He rotated him hips to face my direction.

"Ro, do you trust me?" He asked.

He asked a question so simply, but it questioned for something so easily broken. I pondered this, not wanting to rush my answer. I went over the night's events. He saved my life. That deserves at least some trust, if not all, right?

"Yeah, I do." I finally answered him, quietly.

With me answering his simply asked question, a smile stretched across his face, lighting it up, and then he went back to my window sill. He leaped onto the vine fence screen, that was hugging the side of my house, and climbed down it with such grace that I knew I could never achieve.

I stood for a few seconds staring out into the night sky, enjoying the peace. Before, I made my way to my bed, stripping off my clothes, pulled my comforter back, and then climbing in. Ready for a well deserved rest.