The Eyes of the Dark

Twelve

I can feel my bones twitch as I'm running through the darkness. I hear a cry for help, so I come to a stop. The pitch-black air surrounds me. I can barely make out the trees. My heart hammers against my chest. Sweat builds on my forehead and dries on the pillow underneath me.

Help me. The girl screams. I take off running again and this time I hear her screams get louder as I get closer. My feet skid to a halt when I reach a clearing in the woods. Katie lies on the smooth grass screaming. She is looking straight at me. I crouch down towards her.

Shh it's okay Katie. I touch her arm and she lets out a howl. I look down at her arm to see it turning black from my touch. I stumble backwards and hit the grass. Her screams are swallowed by the dark shadows from my touch until she is nothing. She is gone. I stare at the air in disbelief.

You could never have saved her. I watch as Max emerges from the forest.

You can't save any of them. You're a monster. My eyes widen as he runs towards me and then I am swallowed by darkness.

A gasp chokes in my throat as I sit up in my pool of sweat. My room is dark, and it reminds me of the forest. I quickly reach for my lamp and switch it on. I place my hand over my heart and breath in and out to slow my heart rate down. I wipe the sweat under my nose and shove the covers off of me. I glance at my clock. It's not even sunrise yet. I run my hand through my sweaty hair and get up to take a shower. As I do this, I see something white on the floor. It is a piece of paper. I pick it up and read it. Midnight- S. I breathe out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding in. I can't wait for midnight.

After I wash all the sweat off my body I get dressed and then lay on my bed. I stare at the ceiling until someone knocks on my door. Max walks in and pauses when he sees me lying flat on my bed.

"How long have you been up?" I sit up and he closes the door.

"I had a bad dream," I say not answering his question. He sits beside me and puts his hand on top of mine. You're a monster, echoes in my head.

"Hey," he says getting my attention. "Are you alright?" I nod and put on my reassuring face.

"You're supposed to be fitted for your wedding dress today." I press my lips together and lay back on my bed.

"I can't want till this is over," I breathe.

"Me too," he admits. I smile as he leans down over me and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me. He grins on my lips. His arms link under my back and pull me up to level with him. We pull away and he strokes my hair.

"Come on. We don't want to be late for my mother." I manage a smile even though all I want to do is to stay in my bed with him the rest of the day. Instead of protesting, I follow him out the door.

When we get to the fitting room Joanna and Cedric are waiting near the podium with Sybil. Max walks beside me towards them. I see my wedding dress hanging on a rack near Sybil. I picture myself wearing it at my execution when they find out I'm the one they want. Max squeezes my hand and it makes me shake off the thought.

"Sybil," Joanna says gesturing to the dress. She grabs the dress and tells me to follow her. I walk into the dressing room and strip out of my clothes. She helps me into the dress. I stare in awe at myself. Sybil pins my hair up and out of my face. I turn around and examine my exposed back. I hate it. I should like it, but I hate it. I hate it so much. Rage fills my veins as I feel my body tense up.

"I need a minute," I gasp. Sybil takes that as her cue to leave the room. I suddenly let go of the rage building inside of me and exhale it through my skin. My eyes drag up the mirror to the black shadows stretching from my body. They flare around me and move like smoke. My shadows. Tears stream down my face from the sight. I don't feel like a monster. I feel powerful. I yank the shadows back towards me. They fall back and absorb through my skin. I wipe my tears off my face and take a deep breath. I open the doors as a huge puff of air hits my exposed back. I keep a straight face as I walk towards them. Max looks at me in awe and smiles. He helps me up on the podium and I look at my reflection. Max stands on my left and Cedric comes to stand on my right. I meet his eyes, which are soft and sympathetic. Joanna comes in front of me.