Destined- A tale of epiphany

Dreams and Nightmares

Home- she dreamed of home.

A setting sun, dipping into the horizon cast off lights and vivid shades of warm hue. Tint of red, orange, pink spread across the sky, its reflection giving the sea a look of lava resting and shinning with diamonds and pearls. The wind blowing from the sea to the upraised road sent in cool breeze and the salty smell of the sea. The edge where the white foamy rolls of the sea ended, started the land that had soft clean sand which on looked to the green big oak trees, shrubs and herbs that gave an artistic view of greens and brown of the land, giving the whole island an ethereal view

The boats were arranged on the docks after returning from the day's work of taking the families and visitors on a tour at the sea. The fisherman rolling their nets and counting the bounty they captured at the sea, their boisterous voice booming along the shore. The laughing children, their parents with a picnic basket and holding each other's hand were a usual sight. Few families sat scattered around the beach, basking the sun that came out rarely at times now.

Artemisia Island was connected to the main Connecticut city through a bridge of fifty kilometres. The island had just about everything that was there in a city it could be a school, a hospital and even a massage centre. It was a growing tourism place with a view to behold. The island was named after the Greek goddess. The legend says that she was the one who saved the island from sinking aeons ago by pulling it out with her arrow. So the people of the island, so as to pay homage to her, named the island after her.

Eden longed to become a part of this island. When she had shifted here with her grandmother after her grandfather passed away she was holding on to the tension in her gut about how her life will turn out to be after this huge shift from the city to an island. In an island everyone knows each other, the people of the island are said to be a close family, or at least that is what she read on the internet. Her apprehension and anxiety uncoiled when she saw the island from the bridge. The setting sun cast a glow upon it and it looked like the city was on fire. It looked like something out of fairy tale.

The dream shifted to a dark room, she was feeling hungry, mommy had brought cookies for her but daddy said she is not supposed to have it, but the little girl is too hungry to sleep, mommy and daddy had gone to their friend's house and had forgotten to feed her again, when they had come back, mommy just gave her an apple and went to sleep saying she was too tired.

Eden slowly rose from her bed and tiptoed to the kitchen. She switched on the small light above the door and placed the chair near the refrigerator and slowly climbed up. standing in her toes she tried to reach for the jar that was placed above the fridge, her tiny fingers wiggling to take hold of it.

"You piece of shit," her father's voice came out loud and full of anger that startled the little girl, causing her to fall down the chair and twist her ankle, she gingerly tried to stand up when she saw her dad coming at her with anger. she shrunk in fear.

"What have I told you about stealing things huh?"Her father shouted.

Eden was scared, daddy would punish her now, she should have stayed in bed.

"But daddy I was hungry...." the little girl replied her voice so soft that it could be barely heard.

"If you've grown up enough to answer back then you can control your hunger too" her dad replied shaking her tiny frame forcefully.

Her father took her near the stove, lit a fire on it and placed her hands above it.

"This will teach you not to steal anything, got it, you shit?"

"Daddy it hurts, I won't do it again" promised little Eden "I won't be a bad girl anymore" her tears gushing out because of the pain, the fire was burning the soft skin, her mother rushed out of her room to the kitchen and pushed her father away shielding little Eden from her father and taking her into her arms.

"Teach your daughter to obedience, she is just like you, good for nothing and a piece of baggage." he left banging the kitchen door forcefully.

 Eden flinched -the pain was making the little girl dizzy as she slipped into oblivion, she could hear her mother whispering her name "Eden!" "Eden!" and then started shaking her while shouting "Eden!"

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Eden came awake with a start. She was lightening fast as twisted her body, brought her knees up, pulled the knife from her knee pocket and nearly plunged it into her commander who she had pushed away when she woke.

Blade caught her hands and stilled it before it could touch him but she was fast enough to break the skin and drops of blood trickled down his neck. She was breathing heavily when she realised where she was and that, she nearly killed one of the officers.

"Easy there tiger!" Blade said as hoped to calm the wild look in her eyes.

"Bad dream Exodus?" Rocco asked when he saw how close to death his commander had just been and within a second, even before he could move a finger it was all over. 'What was she?' Rocco wondered.

"Sort off" Eden replied, tiredly rubbing her face. No matter how far she ran, her nightmares always caught up with her. She must have been really tired to sleep on a damn chopper "I apologise for nearly offing you sir, I would understand if you would like to file a complaint on my misconduct" she said standing up.

"No harm done Exodus, you can relax, all of us are having a hell of a day." replied Blade. He understood inner demons and nightmares. Even the strongest of the soldiers can develop chinks in their tough armour, and that's what makes them more human.

"Yes sir" she answered, still mortified that she had let her guard down.

"Exodus get that wound treated and report back everything in the office tomorrow morning" Blade instructed while they walked away from the chopper

"But sir-" Eden was ready to give her report now. She didn't want him to think that she was growing weak because of the stupid wound.

"No buts officer, I hardly think there will be anyone who would be present to take the report from us"

Eden noticed the time, it was ten, and the night sky was a brilliant shade of dark blue.

"We all could use a good night's sleep." The commander said tiredly.

'Yes they could use some of that' Rocco thought 'some more than the others, six months sting operation finally came to an end, they could finally sleep' he thought staring at the ambulance taking the civilians to the army hospital.

"Thank you Rocco for everything you did out there" came a quiet voice "will you thank Justin and the others for me?"

Rocco turned and smile at the tired woman "sure" he replied "you just come back better"

She smiled and turned away.

'Better?' she hoped that too. 

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Author's note : Hey guys!!!!! Hope you are doing good!!! stories are the best place to lose yourself, the alternate world becomes a solace when we go through difficult times. 

Well next chapter would be Eden's past and Ethan's present, so stay tuned all you lovely people. If you enjoyed these chapters, please support by voting.

Thanks for reading. Suggestions and feedback are always welcomed.