Hmm... that is so strange. How did I get here? Sunlight shimmers and shines as I escape the canopy of trees. Resting upon the hill above is my cottage. My sweet little cottage. My home. My feet shuffle to a stop. Is this... real? I take in a deep breath. The smell of wood and damp morning die fills my nostrils. My lungs have that tingling burn when the cool morning mixes with the heat within me. I reach down and gently pull on a blade of grass. It burns slightly and when I look at my finger, a thin cut is there. A red line begins to form as blood starts to come towards the newly made exit.
How can this be? I was just on a trip to Collin's home town. I've been gone for a few months, so how am I here? If I'm here now... Was everything before a dream? Collin? Jason? Theodore? Did any of it happen?
I squint towards the cottage and slowly begin walking again. A swift breeze of wind lifts my hair and I tuck it away. The cool air is starting to heat at the sun rises into the sky. I hop over the little stream at the bottom of the hill and begin to climb up it. This feels... surreal.
My heart thumps on my chest as my stomach burns with an intense feeling of peace and excitement. A smile starts to pull onto my face. I'm home. I'm really home! I giggle as I come to the top of the hill. Just as I begin to head for the door, it creaks open. My steps halt as I stare ahead. Out form the door, long legs stretch out, covered in a light blue skirt. My heart nearly stops. I look up slowly towards her face. Her beautiful, unparalleled face. Her eyes gleam and I step back. Instantly I am falling down the hill.
Tumbling ungracefully. My cheeks burn as rocks cut and scrap against my skin. My shoulder pops and screams in pain. I try to let out a scream but it doesn't work. It would only get covered by my face hitting the ground again. My body comes to a rather abrupt halt. Slowly, with ears ringing, I raise my head to see night nearly falling. Had I been falling all day? I find my feet and stand only to see her standing on the hill. I blink towards her. The ringing in my ears slowly subsiding and a chill is sent down my spine from her deranged voice.
"Get away from here!" Her voice sounds feral. Rapid as she lets out guttural screams. "GO!" I turn to run, but I am faced with the woods. The dreadful woods. My heart hammers as I step away from them. It doesn't help. Her screams only get louder.
Back and forth I go. Towards the woods, towards her. Each step towards the trees, the branches seem to reach out like grasping arms. Each step towards her, her voice becomes more and more gurgled and insane until it sounds like she has shredded her vocal cords to essentially nothing but strips of meaty flesh. The twisting and turning makes me dizzy. Her screams make my head pound. I crouch and cover my ears hoping it will go away.
Stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stopstop stop-
"STOP!" I shriek as my body lurches up from the bed. I take in ragid breathes as I look around expecting the never ending cycle of pain. However, there is no such thing. Just the cliff side room that has been my "home" the past few months. I take rapid looks around the room just to be sure. My chest hurts as I take in a ragid breath. Is this... real? I begin to stand when the door swings open. I whip my head around to see a furious looking Bronson and McQueen run into the room.
"Where is the threat?" Bronson shouts out as McQueen quickly paces around the room, checking every nook and cranny.
"No. One. Here." McQueen responds as they take turns clocking the room. I watch them fidget with on another. Yeah, this is definitely real. I blink as Bronson hurries over to me.
"Are you alright Miss Burks?" He says and I nod firmly.
"I don't think anyone is here." I say loud enough for McQueen to hear. He cuts his eyes over towards me, but continues to look around the room. "It was a bad dream." McQueen walks into the bathroom as Bronson lets out a sigh of relief.
YOU ARE READING
The Afflicted Hearts (The Unwanted Bride Series: Book Two)
Teen FictionAfter being told that she will have to endure the rest of the season with three not to thrilled bachelors, Juniper continues her journey through the Marriage Process. Every week, she finds herself in the company of people who seem to wish her gone...
