Red Mage (On Hold)

Chapter 5: Scream

I opened my eyes to the sight of the shadowy figure. Wait, I've seen this before. The choking feeling, the mysterious shadowy figure, the room... I kicked the figure in between what should be its legs. It didn't let go. I couldn't let this happen again, but I was almost out of air. I could feel it. Think, Maddie, think! As I thought, I tried various ways of kicking and thrashing at the figure. No physical attacks would work. What will kill a shadow? My eyes widened as I realized what breaks darkness, shadows, and fear. The answer was light. The only sources of light in the underground room came from the torches. But they were so far away. There was no way I could get to them in this state. However, something told me to close my eyes and try. I took in a final breath, knowing it could be my last. I outstretched my hand towards a flaming torch. My hand shook as I started to lose consciousness. Come on! Nothing happened. Tears started to form in my eyes, blurring my already darkening vision. Please, I don't want to die. I closed my eyes and started to accept my fate. Suddenly, I felt a source of heat come closer to my hand. I opened my eyes and the torch wasn't attached to the cold stone wall anymore, but was in my hand. What?! How did that happen? Right now, the answer didn't matter. I was being choked to death and I desperately needed air. I gripped the torch and thrusted it at the figure's "face." I watched as the wretched being dissolved into thin air. A lingering and fading manly scream was all that the figure left behind. As I inhaled and exhaled deeply, regaining control of my breath, I managed to get to my knees, but unsuccessfully stood up, collapsing. I felt so drained. I had no energy left. I made myself stand despite all the pain my aching body was feeling. The shadowy figure appeared in the same corner as last time. "GET AWAY FROM ME!!" I shouted feeling abused and betrayed.

"Don't worry Madeline. I was just testing you," the figure tried to assure me.

"Testing me?! You almost KILLED ME!" I screamed venting out my anger.

"I was pushing you so you'd experience your power for the first time," it said.

"My power? What are you talking about?" I was absolutely baffled.

"You and your friends will discover the secrets of your past life today on the tour."

"Tour?... What tour? I still don't understand!"

"You will tonight. After today's events happen, and I come to visit you, you will finally know who you are."

I groaned as the alarm clock went off. I didn't want to move and I didn't like waking up early.

"Hey. Miss Boy Crazy! Get up." Felicity said.

I sat straight up. "I'm not boy crazy. I just have crazy boy drama." I rubbed my tired eyes. Why did my body hurt? The aching feeling was almost identical to how my body felt in my dream. But how could that be? A dream can't hurt you. At least, that's what I thought before.

"Listen, Maddie, we've got five minutes to be downstairs for the tours..." Charlotte started while frantically running around the room trying to find clothes. I didn't hear the rest of what she said, though, because I was off in my own little world thinking. Didn't the figure say something about a tour today?

"Maddie... MADDIE!" Charlotte shouted getting my attention. "Did you hear anything I said?" She was now completely dressed, shoes and all, wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, a black band tee, a pair of black leather boots, and a black leather jacket. Her blond hair was in a waterfall braid going from the front of her head and wrapping around the left side. She was wearing tons of gold jewelry including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. I wondered if it was real.

"No, but when did you get so much gold?" I asked. Charlotte didn't usually wear so much gold. She was against wearing a lot of the color. She thought it was "tasteless and tacky." I wonder what had changed.

"I don't know but something was compelling me to wear gold today. Like I used to wear a lot of gold all the time. Other than that, I don't know," Charlotte explained. "Anyways, what I said was, 'We need to be in the lobby in a few minutes along with the rest of our class to start the tours. We are going to a medieval castle, the Catacombs of Paris , and an ancient rose garden . We're being told a historic legend linking all three places.' But now that we've wasted all this time explaining these things again, we have to be down at the lobby right now. So hurry up and meet us down there!"

"Okay, okay," I said. "I'll be quick."

Charlotte and Felicity took off, running out the door and into the hotel hallway. I only got a glimpse of what Felicity was wearing, but it looked like purple canvas with white laces, black ripped tights, a white flared skirt, and a purple long sleeve fandom tee. Her blue hair was in a high pony tail and she had her fake glasses on. I was left in the room scrambling to get some clothes on and look decent. I decided to throw on a sleeveless knee-length black dress. The bust was fitted and the skirt flared out at the seam. I put on a thin glossy red belt around the seam of the dress, a flowy black and white cardigan, and red flats. I put my hair in a bun slightly tilting towards my right side and put a sparkly red bow in it. I didn't know why I was wearing so much red. I darted out the door leaving my makeup behind. Why would I need it today?

I raced into the elevator and anxiously tapped my foot on the ground as I waited for the elevator doors to open. They finally did and I sprinted towards the dining area. Avery, Charlotte, Felecity, Sarah, and Lexi were all at one table. I noticed they saved a seat for me. Aww, how sweet of them. I made my way over to my friends' table. As they were getting their breakfast placed in front of them, I sat down. A waiter came over to take my order. It must've been fifteen minutes before my Eggs Benedict came. By this time my friends had all finished eating their meals. Just as my plate touched the table, Ms. Orabelle walked to the entrance of the dining area from where she'd been talking to an employee at the front desk. She announced to the grade that "we are going to go the first destination on our tour now." My heart literally sank as I looked from the Eggs Benedict that I would never slowly enjoy to the person who ruined my breakfast. I decided to shove as much of the meal that I could into my mouth. I quickly chewed and swallowed, almost choking. I made sure to tip the waiter and the chef for all their troubles.

The entire dining room stood up and made their way to the lobby. Ms. Orabelle made a final announcement saying, "To make things easier, every group will be together in one section on the bus. Today we will be going to an old castle, then the Catacombs of Paris, and finally an ancient rose garden."

At the mention of the old castle, Charlotte, who was standing on my right, held her head in her hands. Her eyes were squeezed shut. She was acting like she had a huge headache. Then at the mention of the catacombs, Felecity who was next to Charlotte, did the same. She was acting the same way. I wondered what was going on until Ms. Orabelle mentioned the ancient rose garden. At the mention of the place, my head started to hurt. It felt like a migraine, except this wasn't any ordinary migraine. As I buried my face into my cold palms because of the pain, an image of a teenager burning at the stake etched itself into the back of my mind. Vibrant flames varying in color from red to orange surrounded her body and burned off a red peasant's dress, scorching the flesh underneath. The girl was in a rose garden. People surrounded her snickering at her pain and torture. They shouted things like, " WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?! YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL!!" and, "WE'RE RELIEVING YOU OF THE BURDEN OF HAVING TO LOOK AT YOURSELF EVERYDAY!!"

Tears streamed down the girl's face as she wailed in pain. Her fading screams echoed in my ears. The last thing I saw before the headache faded and I opened my eyes was the girl's face.

It looked...

Just.

Like.

Mine.

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AN: Hello Cupcakes! Zoe and I are sorry for the cliff hanger. Just kidding we're not sorry. This was a really fun chapter to write and I have no idea why. What do you think? Picture of Sarah on the side.

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~Rosie