Weeping Willows

Chapter 5

Aiden shot awake when the image of red eyes flashed behind her own. She coughed violently as the water within her lungs hadn't completely drained and her body froze when she felt something stir beside her. Her bruised cheek was pulsing. Derek grumbled and turned on his side, his back facing her, as she moved away. She took a sharp intake of air as the memories of the night before ran through her like a movie reel and she clumsily snagged her phone from the rotted night stand. The screen lit up at full battery and the time read; 5:45 am. Derek must have put it on the charger before going to bed. Aiden padded to her dresser and quietly pulled out black skinny jeans, a black thermal shirt, and a gray AC/DC t-shirt with little holes poked through the bottom. She scrubbed her teeth, slipped on her clothes, tip-toed to the bedroom door and gave one last look at her brother. She smiled slightly, yet it faded from her lips as she stepped into the hallway. She drew in shallow breaths as she closed the door behind her and stopped at the top stair, her eyes glued to her father's door. She held the air within her lungs as she slowly tiptoed down the stairs. When she reached the foyer, the floorboards creaked under her feet and her anxiety filled her to the brim. She snatched a pair of her brother's work boots from the bench beside the door and grabbed her thin zip up hoodie. She pulled open the door and inhaled the smell of pine and fresh snow. The moonlight reflected off the heavy snow as it drifted in silence to the blanket of white below. Aiden pulled the door shut behind her, angling the handle down and slowly letting go once the door was in place. She turned on her heel and dashed into the tree line to see the white elk waiting for her. Jewels hung from his antlers and an emerald dangled between his eyes. Aiden pulled her lips into a shy smile as she placed a hand on his neck and walked deeper into the woods.

Aiden continued to cough as her anxiety dropped the farther they travelled from the house. Lukka nudged his snout against her, his glittering eye focused on her. She waved her hand and smiled, trying to reassure him through coughing fits as they maneuvered about the forest. As they approached the lake, the fog surrounded them and tickled the snow around their feet. The water lapped at the shore and Aiden bent closer to inspect it with brimming curiosity. The lake isn't frozen. Lukka formed into a man, standing beside her and letting the brisk waves caress his feet. He was adorned with dark pants, loose ties threaded through and stopped just at his calves, and the pattern of leaves swirled with brown against the black of his pants. He wore a white shirt with puffed sleeves and a dark green, tight fitted vest that had brown buckles stretching from his sides to the middle. The gold chains hung on the top of his head and the emerald bounced on his forehead as he walked forward. She followed Lukka to the cave, wading through the water, and he set upon the fire as she pulled her tangled hair into a messy bun. She turned and watched the fog fill the corners of the lake as she settled herself close to the fire with shivering limbs. His voice cut through the silence like a sharp knife as his eyes sought hers through the flickering flames of the blazing fire.

"I don't remember those marks being there yesterday." He carped as he stood from his crouch and moved to Aiden. She flinched, pulling her hood over her head, and edged closer to the wall as he kneeled on one knee. He stretched out his hand and pushed aside the hood by a fraction and gazed at the bruises around her neck in the shape of fingers. A moment of silence passed between them, weighing heavy on both of their shoulders as Lukka refused to take back his hand. His eyes narrowed, pricking at her bruised skin. His hand moved deeper into her hood, holding her neck and brushed a thumb against the prints. Aiden's heart thud violently against her ribs and her breath came in shallow. His touch was gentle, yet ice cold.

"I don't want to talk about that." She hissed as she smacked his hand away and glowered at her brother's boots that blurred with every passing second, refusing to look at him. She placed a hand where his fingers had touched and leaned against it. Lukka sat down gracefully on the floor in front of her and studied her as she rubbed the palm of her other hand against her worn blue jeans, her boots scraping against one another, and how her eyes reflected the light of the fire. He sighed as he brought his legs to his chest and rested his elbows upon his knees. His hands clamped around his wrists.