We claw at the stone wall. Bit by bit, it crumbles onto the velvet ground, burying the sickly sweet scent of blood and dirt.
The past is dead, Raven's words resurfaces in my mind. It's gone, blown away, buried. Just like Raven herself.
For the first time since our breakthrough, tears meet my eyes, and I am surprised by the sudden urge to wrap my arms around mum, to sob and cry until all the tears are dried out from my body.
I look at Grace. Her nails are clipped with dirt and cement, rigid and trickled with blood. Her palms are cross-crossed with cuts and scratches, and her once pearl white shirt is smudged with mud.
But she is smiling. Her eyes are beaming with excitement, her lips are curled fierce with concentration, and I just know she is summoning all her will power not to scream with pleasure.
She belongs here. A thought struck me, leaving me breathless. Then regret flows into me, striking a dull ache into my heart.
If I had brought her with me, she could've been happier soon.
If I hadn't been such a coward, I could have woken up everyday to her tooth gap smile.
If-
"Lena!" A masculine voice calls out. My heart explodes in joy. Alex.
Alex, with his ever smiling eyes, kindness overflowing heart. He is the boy I never stopped loving.
I turn around from my crouch position, my body buzzing with love. I rush into his embrace, wrapping my arms tightly around his lean torso as if my life depended on it. I lean my head on his collarbone, expecting his minty scent to overcome my mind. Only, it isn't minty. It smells of lavender and smoke.
I glance up to meet a pair of crystal blue eyes, so clear with happiness, so sure on love.
"Lena." Julian whispers, his face relaxing into a dazzling smile.
My heart falls. How could I be so stupid? Of course it's Julian. Of course of course of course.
He frowns. "What's wrong?"
I force my lips into a grin. "Nothing's wrong. Everything's going perfectly."
He place his slender hands on my shoulders, his face a mask of doubt. Instantly, I regret saying it. The cure is perfect, what the DFA believes is perfect, but the world is never perfect. I brought Julian here to the wilds, and now I'm talking as if I'm from Zombieland.
He knows I'm hiding something, but he doesn't push it. Instead, he places his lips on mine.
His lips are soft, but there is an urgency to it. A reassurance, a doubtful statement. Almost a question.
We're okay?
I will myself to kiss him back, and I do. His lips feels familiar, but at the same time, it just doesn't feel right.
He pulls back, eyes frantically searching mine. I don't meet his eyes. I turn back to Grace and start digging again.
Bury it all.
Author's notes: Thanks for viewing my story, and I hope you liked the super short first chapter! Please do feel free to pm me or leave a review, it would mean THE WORLD to me ;) Happy new year guys!
ps. I don't mind constructive criticisms, do improve my writing!
