I stand in the beautiful meadow, covered with grass long enough to tickle your ankles and sunlight that streams through the trees. A faint wind blows, rustling the leaves, and as soon as it stops, I at once become aware of the silence. In a meadow like this, the birds should be singing and the bees should be humming lazily from flower to flower. I spin around, searching for some other life form. As I wheel around, I spot a boy emerging from the trees. He's tall, with tousled dark brown hair and strong forearms from pushing cattle around all his life.
"Adrian." I say, and stumble forward to him. He comes slowly to meet me. I stop just in front of him and survey him and his wary eyes.
"Adrian?" I ask tentatively.
"Shimmer." he says, and at once a flood of emotions pour through my soul as my name crosses him lips.
"I'm sorry." I say. No matter what else, I will always be sorry.
"It doesn't matter." he says.
"Everything matters." I whisper.
"None of it does."
"How can you say that?" my voice is still a whisper.
"Because it's true."
"Why are you doing this?" I ask him, unable to keep the pain out of my voice.
"Shimmer." He says, and as I look into his eyes I see hard emotion that I can't quite place.
"Yes?" I say.
"There's a storm coming." I look up at the cloudless and sunny sky.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean," he says, his voice full of implication, "that it would be best if you stayed here with me."
"I can't." I say, wishing for all the world that I could.
"You can." He says, and at once I am aware of the knife in his hand. With it's sharp edge and distinctive ebony and gold handle, there is no way I don't recognize it.
"Adrian. Please." I say, backing away slowly.
"You aren't sorry yet Shimmer. But you will be. And besides, you owe me." he says, and at once I turn and sprint away. It doesn't make any difference though, as I hear the whoosh of air before the knife lodges in between my shoulder blades. I scream as I fall, and I am still screaming when I wake up.
I have had this idea for a while, and while Fred and Aurelia argue I decided to write this preview of the story. I have her whole backstory plotted which was originally going to be the first part of the story, but now I have decided to incorporate it into the story as flashbacks in order to show her fragility. This story takes place during the events of Catching Fire, and I hope you enjoy it. While you're waiting for the first chapter, if you haven't already read Gold Heart, a Harry Potter fanfic of mine, I suggest you head over to check it out ;)
Much love, Tarquin.