Harsh Beauty

My History

I opened my eyes to sunlight. Apparently, I fell asleep as soon as I set Pac down. I open my eyes to see a very confused Erin standing there, looking down at me. Finally realizing he was trying to talk to me, I forced myself to sit up listen.

"What?" I rubbed my eyes. How long was I asleep?

"Pac drew symbols in the snow, and we have translated it, and you might want to know what he said." Before he was even done speaking, I jumped up, and slipped out of the door, already fully clothed in my Snow White laced up boots, thick pants, and my hooded white trench coat that flows in the wind better than it does it's job, keeping my legs warm.

Then, I realized I didn't even know where I was heading for my answers. Turning around, I saw Erin right behind me, with a worried expression. So, what Pac had to say wasn't good news.

"Which way to him?"

"I'm worried about you."

"All I want is to know what I asked for, and that's it. Now, where is he?" He looked hurt, and pointed down the street.

"The dining hall. They have the note in there." Turning around, I sprinted right into the crowded building. There were people surrounding one table, and Pac was sitting on an unlit torch above the crowd. Moving through to the area, and pushing through the crowd to the table, where a piece of paper lies. Yanking it from its spot on the table, I began to read.

"She has an army. She's after you. Seeking revenge. If location is given to her everyone is in danger."

Not a lot, but enough to know what's going on. Everyone followed me to the door asking questions, but went no further. I shoved the note in my pocket, and broke out into a full sprint, to the end of the street. Past the street. Into the woods. I had this feeling that if I ran far enough, I could disappear for good. But no, the trees were still passing me, and the cold air still burnt my lungs.

Stopping, I sat down by a tree huddled up, and cried into my knees. I knew that her reign of terror would never end. Even if I disappeared, she would still kill anyone she could find to get to me. Sitting down for so long made me drowsy, I curled up and fell asleep, the snow crunching under my head.

It's a warm sunny day, and I'm walking through the forest in my cute green summer dress I made with all of the allowance from last year. There was a weaved basket in one of my hands, and I walked around, picking berries for dinner, and putting flowers in my braided hair.

I walked back home, where my mom was preparing dinner, Evelyn my sister, and Erin her boyfriend were giving each other mushy looks as they sat so there was no space between them. Eww, love is so overrated. I took the basket of berries over to the counter, and sat down in a chair across from the two love birds, and shoved my face in this book I was reading that mom saved.

"Uhh. . . Rachel?" My mom asked.

"Yes mother?"

"Were there berries in here at one point, because there aren't anymore." I look up to were my mom stands staring into the empty basket.

"Nice going genius," Evelyn comments.

"Oh, right! I grabbed the basket with a hole in it. I'll go get more," I said, getting up and walking to the closet with the good basket in it,"I'll be back soon!" Shutting the front door, I run into the forest in the direction of the berry bush. It was almost dark out, I might have had at least fifteen minutes of light left until I'd be sleeping in the forest, which I didn't mind.

"There you are!" I whispered to the berry bush. I tried to pick one at a time, but it took to long, so I just took whole branches at once. Although I couldn't see my basket, I was pretty sure it was full. Then, I turned and started walking to the house. Swinging around the tree, I ran into something, and almost fell back, but an arm wrapped around my elbow.

"Woah there, don't fall and hurt yourself." It was Erin, but why? Oh no, I'm dreaming of my past.

"Well, if I could see you, it would be easier to walk, why are you out here anyway?" I asked.

"Because I volunteered to help you get home. Are you okay?"

"Yes. Why do you care?"

"Because your fragile."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because pretty girls are always fragile." Before I could process what was going on, or fight back to his response, I felt a hand caress my cheek, and something press against my lips, and breathe on my face with heat. Is he kissing me? It was fascinating, and I let him. I couldn't tell if my eyes were shut or not, all I know, is it's dark, and I like the feeling of having no space between us.

When I see light in my eyes, I know they're shut, so I pry them open, and there she is. My sister right there, staring at us, with pure hate and betrayal in her eyes. Erin turns around and sees her standing there.

"Oh no, Rachel, wake up," he practically shouted.

"What?" I asked.

A bright light hit my eye lids, and I sat up screaming, thrashing, hitting a person. The cold comes back, and someone grabs my arms.

"Calm down! It was just a nightmare!"

"Who ever you are run, it's my fault you're going to die!"

"What? Rachel, look at me!" I opened my eyes and saw Erin, then screamed some more, and tried to crawl around the tree and away from him.

"It's your fault! It's all your fault! You put me here, this is your doing!" He grabbed me by the arm, and tears started flowing out.

"Rachel, get a hold of yourself, please! Calm down!" He was pleading to me.

"I will never calm down! You ruined my life! You put me here! I'm dead because of you!" he released his grip a little, and I got loose, stood up, and started running. Turning around, I see him crying into the ground. He's just as fragile as me, and I have to protect him, because he's all I have.

I walk back to him, and sat next to him, and heard him cry. I soothed his hair down, and hugged him. He hugged me back, and we lied down on the ground together.

"I'm sorry. I had a dream about us, and Evelyn," I soothingly comforted.

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't kissed you that night, but you were so beautiful with that new dress you were wearing, and the flowers in your perfect hair, I couldn't help it."

"No, don't blame yourself. If you didn't do that, I wouldn't be as happy as I am today with you and everyone." He sat up.

"I read the note," he said sternly. It's still in my pocket.

"Yeah, that thing."

"What are you going to do?" Then, I stood up, brushing the snow off.

"I don't know yet." He stands up, and interlaces his fingers with mine.

"What ever you do, I will be right by your side." He kissed me, and I flinched and pulled back.

"I'm sorry. It's just the dream, and. . ."

"No I understand. Your going through some stuff, and you need space."

"Thanks for understanding." What am I going to do? If I stay, I risk my loved ones and if I go, I could die anyway. Why is she still mad at me? It was three years ago. I walk alone back to our village, and take another nap. Sleep seems to help in all situations, and I've already had two other naps today, but it's dark out, so I went to bed.