Beyond The Sea Blue Light

Welcome to the sequel of A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes!

SPOILER ALERT!! There will be spoilers (obviously), so if you haven't read the first book, I recommend you do so. If not, proceed at your own risk. You have been warned.

This is also on AO3 as well. I try to upload every day. 

Please enjoy! Feel free to comment/vote. It would mean a lot to me if you do.

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The darkness presses closer and closer around the edges of my vision. He pulls me through the forest, his iron grip never letting go of my wrist. I struggle to make sense of anything through the haze in my mind. I'm not sure where we are going, just away. Away from the walls that held us for so long. Away from the gunshots and the blood. Away from him. I can only see a few feet in front of me as we run, dodging around trees, jumping over patches of thorns, trampling through bushes, our hearts racing. Our footsteps pound through the forest, as we crash through the undergrowth, the twigs cracking and leaves crunching beneath our sneakers. Mud splatters with every footstep, water soaking into my sneakers as I run. Branches lash my face, leaving stinging cuts along my cheek. There's a stitch in my side as my chest aches. My muscles are cramping, my lungs burning. My vision spins, my legs begging to give out. I desperately want to stop, want to slow down, and catch my breath but I can't.

Muffled voices sound from behind. Hollers and yells echo through the forest followed by heavy footsteps. Someone—several people are trampling through the forest, right behind us as we race ahead. They're closing in, the voices growing louder and louder, as we struggle to move forward. Punctured gunshots break through the sounds of the forest, the wood of the trees around us splintering as bullets crash through the undergrowth. Loud, gruff voices call as more gunshots break through the cover.

The sun has started to rise, peeking above the horizon—I can see the glow from through the trees. Branches stretch up toward the lightening sky, small leaves blocking out most of the rays from reaching the soaked forest floor. I want to turn back, but the grip on my wrist tightens until it's painful, tugging me forward.

"Wait!" The word slips from my lips as I gasp for breath. But he doesn't slow down, tugging me forward with him.

Finally, the footsteps and gunshots fade away. We slow our pace down from a blinding run, allowing me the chance to catch my breath. He doesn't stop moving forward, keeps his grip on my wrist as if he's afraid I'll try to turn back. I can't say I'm not tempted to, to break free and run back to the field without stopping. I want to be with him, in any way I can. The guilt of leaving him behind on the field weighs heavily in my stomach as I'm pulled farther and farther away from him.

"Get down!" He hisses, the sound cutting through the silence between us. He suddenly lets go of my wrist, pushing me down behind a tree. Gunshots rip through the air, thudding into the tree just a few feet above our heads as we press ourselves into the dirt.

I crouch behind the tree, my hands pressed to my ears. Something burns against my arm and I reach over, my fingers coming away wet with blood. The footsteps grow louder and louder, the heavy breathing growing closer and closer. He pulls me with him as we crawl through the undergrowth, sticks scraping our faces and arms, dirt caking beneath our fingernails as we slip away from the gunshots.

I can hear the sound of running water nearby as we stumble out onto the banks of the river. Without hesitation, he pulls me with him so we plunge into the ice-cold flow. Bullets rain down over our heads, flying through the water as we let the stream carry us down, away from the men and the guns. Rocks scrape against my skin as the current rushes us farther and farther away.

At last, we climb out onto the bank, shaking, teeth chattering, soaked to the bone. Still, we keep pressing forward, sprinting away until the footsteps and the gunshots have faded away. We keep moving, our clothes slowly drying off as beautiful oranges and reds streak across the now darkening sky, stars shining faintly through. With the last of our energy, we stumble through the woods until we see the shape of a large house looming in front of us through the trees.

We make it to the edge of the lawn, stumbling onto the green grass. "Holy—" I hear a voice gasp in relief as someone rushes over to me, wrapping something over my shoulders as my legs give out, darkness clouding over my vision.

Just before everything goes dark around me, I swear, I see Vic standing right there, his hand outstretched to me, but that can't be right, unless I'm already dead.