The Dark [2]

survivors and dreamers

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WHO'S IN THE SHADOWS?

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THIS IS A WILD GAME OF SURVIVAL

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ALL she wanted was death. Is that too much to ask for?

Sophie's mouth was dry and all her tears had run out. Her heart was numb and her mind blank. There was nothing else for her.

You're weak, a voice spat.

And she'd been hearing voices.

"You're not real," the dirtied girl whispered.

I'm as real as you make me, and right now? I'm pretty real.

"What do you want?"

To see you succeed, it hissed.

"And why do you want that?"

Not important.

"Go away." Couldn't she die in peace?

Get up.

"What's the point? There's nothing left for me!" Sophie yelled, a spurt of energy coming with her frustration.

Then make something. You're a survivor. You always have been.

She laughed bitterly, raking her nails across the floor. "You don't even know me."

Sophie heard soft laughter before the voice spoke again, this time stronger.

Get up.

Sophie got up.

You are a commander.

Sophie grabbed the coat lying on a wooden chair in the middle of the room.

This is no time to be weak.

The blonde grabbed her bow and arrow, throwing it over her shoulder.

You are not dying today.

She tied her hair up.

Because only the good die young.

And my dear, you are not good.

Sophie walked out the door.

KEEFE grasped his chest, breathing heavily. It took a moment for him to catch his bearings but after a moment, he understood he was still in the comfort of his silk sheets. He groaned in frustration, flopping back down.

He stared at the ceiling, trying to understand his dream. He'd had it so many times you'd think he'd be able to by now.

He remembered every detail, down to the numbers on the clock, thanks to his photographic memory, and still had no idea what it meant.

He'd been avoiding Fitz because of it. Keefe felt terrible, especially because Fitz was under a lot of stress, but it was just too weird.

It always started the same. Keefe in a forest chasing after a girl's screams only to find his dad standing there. "You're not worthy," he would say over and over until the scene switched.

Keefe would be standing in front of Biana holding a bloody sword and she would be grasping her stomach, crying before she fell to the ground. He never saw it but Keefe knew he was the one who stabbed her and all he could do was watch as she died. Then it would switch again.

He'd be running through the forest, this time in chains as the sound of horses grew closer. He'd stumble into a cave where his mother would be sitting next to a fire. She'd say, "I always knew you'd end up bound," before turning to face him with scars all across her body. He'd try and run only to find his dream switching again.

Fitz would be standing in the middle of a golden room wearing a silver crown and holding a gold clock. "Your time's running out," Fitz would say blankly, and the ticking would get louder until everything turned on its side and Keefe fell into the clock screaming.

Then he'd wake up.

The first part wasn't all that weird except for the screams. His dad told him he was a disappointment during the day time so that was pretty normal, but those screams followed him everywhere.

The second bit freaked him out the most. The thought of him killing Biana made him want to chop his hands off so he'd never get the chance.

The third segment was the most frustrating. He never wanted to see his mom again after she joined the Neverseen and now she was showing up in his dreams? Not cool.

The part that confused him the most was the last part. Fitz had never looked at him blankly and the fact that he did scared him more than he wanted to admit. What does "your time's running out" even mean? Was he going to die soon? He's too pretty to die!

He looked outside. It was still dark. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a figure running across the grounds but when he turned there was no one there. He played it off as sleep deprivation.

Normally when he couldn't sleep he'd go out and wander the castle grounds but for some reason, the thought of doing that made him shiver so he stayed in bed with nothing but his thoughts.

He'd regret that decision in the morning.

KEEFE had eventually fallen back asleep but when he woke up he could hear voices shouting.

He pulled on a tunic and walked outside his room to find servants rushing to and from carrying various things.

He headed towards the throne room, figuring that'd be the center of all the commotion, and he was right. As he approached the doors, he heard Fitz and the king arguing, a common occurrence nowadays.

Keefe bowed as he walked in and the voices stopped. He quickly noticed Alden's worried look and Fitz's fearful one. They both looked as if they had rushed out of bed, Alden wasn't even wearing his crown.

"What's going on?" Keefe asked, coming to stand next to Fitz.

There was a pause before Fitz answered quietly, "Biana's been attacked."

~

Word Count: 845

Originally Published: June 5, 2020

I really love my cliffhangers don't I? Y'all are probably sick of them by now lol. Short chapter compared to my others but I'd say it was pretty action packed. School's out now so expect quicker updates!! That is if I don't fall into writers block... I'm sorry I put that into the universe. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and I promise it won't always be all doom and gloom, just most of the time! Kidding, kidding... *nervous laughter* I love you!!

XoXo,

S