"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
The wind danced around me the tree swaying in rhythm as the dead autumn leaves twirled in the wind. I stood there with my eyes closed the smell of the rotting leaves mixed with a vanilla scent flooding my nostrils. Over head I could hear the geese honking in the sky and the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. The soft skin brushing against the back of my hand the other placed on my upper abdomen keeping my body up straight.
I could feel the warm breaths on the back of my neck, our breath matching as we stood in silence. Slowly I opened my eyes lifting my head up straight, my eyes narrowing on the target pinned the tree a good 60 feet away. The hand touching mine gently started raising mine with bow and arrow in hand. I held the bow and arrow out in front of me , the hand that was once on my abdomen moved up to the my arrow hand the soft flesh wrapping around my fingers.
"Now focus, think of where you want the arrow to hit" Allison's voice was barely above a whisper in my ear
Taking slow deep breaths I adjusted the bow pulling the arrow back, Allison kept her hand on mine guiding me. I could hear and feel my own heart beating in my chest. I could feel Allison lightly adjusting my stance from behind me before settling once more.
Alright now take in a deep breath and when you breath out I want you to release the arrow"
I did just as she instructed me to I took in a long slow deep breath, focusing my aim an steadying my body. As I let the breath out I relaxed my fingers letting go I the arrow the string snapped back into place rocketing the arrow towards the target. The arrow cut through the air like a knife through butter as it collided with the target a loud cracking sound echoed through the trees. My eyes grew wide in shock as the arrow stuck straight out of the center of the target.
A small almost silent gasp escaped my lips as I slowly turned around to far Allison. Her honey brown eyes shining brightly as she stood with a proud joyful grin. I gently dropped my hands letting go of the arrow as she pulled me into a warm hug. As I wrapped my arms around her harrying my head into her hair the scent of vanilla and hibiscus flowers surrounded me.
" See I told you, you could do it Quin!" I could hear the pride in Allison's voices as she praised me
I pulled away from her she still had her wide toothy grin framing her heart shaped face. I smiled at her I was still amazed that I had hit the target so exact. We had snuck out telling the guys we were going to have a girls just Allison and I. Little did they know that the two us were sneaking out into woods so she could teach me how to shoot a bow. Stiles would of had a cow if he'd known what we were doing he was so determined to try and keep me out of the fighting.
I could hear a low rumbling like a stampede in the distance.I turned my head looking around me, for the sources of the sound. the trees rocked but the wind had stopped the air was dead. I could feel my body starting to vibrate as the ground below shook.
I quickly turned back to Allison in a single heartbeat her body was ripped from my arms. She flew through the body back arched arms still out stretched as she screamed. A dark fog emitted from the the forest floor as I called out after Allison. I ran after her the fog growing denser as rose and soon Allison had disappeared into it as it clouded around me engulfing me in a pit of darkness.
I ran around blinded in the darkness calling out for Allison, I had to find her I needed to find her. I stumbled around in the darkness trying to find her, I couldn't find anything. There was nothing in the black void that surrounded me. Once again the world around me started to shake this time more viciously than the last I could feel my body tipping as I tried to stay balanced.
As the fog started to clear from around me the night sky was visible the walls of fog started to drop revealing the buildings around us. As the fog dissipated my heart stopped as the familiar area surrounded me, my heart stopped as I turned around slowly. No, not here, no again . The sounds of metal clashing together rang through my ears. Behind me the battle raged on the pack vs the Oni; my heart sank
"Quin look out!" Allison's voice rang in my ears.
I turned quickly to face the direction she had called from and Oni burst into rays of light a few inches away from me a single firefly escaping from it. I looked over up at Allison the smile on my face to thank her, it faded instantly at the site of the Oni behind her.
"Allison!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
It was to late, she had turned around to shoot another Oni and it shoved its blade right into her chest. Blood splattered back against the wall as it dripped down the blade sticking from her torso. Allison's mouth dropped; the Oni lighting up and bursting into ray's before a fire fly escaped. As Allison's body dropped Scott caught her, and in that moment there was no denying I had a heart, because it had shattered into a million pieces in that second.
I could feel my body shaking my chest tightening as tears stung my eyes, Lydia's scream piercing my ears. I took small steps forward still in disbelief my eye's on her body as Scott cradled her.
"Quin" a voice echoed through my head. "Quin" it repeated
The world around me started to shake, buildings started crumbling as darkness filled the gaps before, Allison and Scott started fading away. I screamed out there names but nothing escaped my lips and the darkness overtook me.
I shot up up straight my chest tight as raspy breaths escaped my lungs, my body was shaking my mind racing in a panic. I could feel the warm salt water drops cascading down my cheeks. A voice spoke softly but it came out as mumbles in my ears. I could think I could breath all I could see was Allison's body, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as panic consumed me.
I pair of large warm but rough hand gently cupped both my cheeks turning my head gently. I came face to face with the familiar bright blue eyes of Liam Dunbar. His thumbs gently stroked my cheeks brushing the tears away.
"It's okay Quin, I'm right here just breath with me" He said softly pulling me to his ches
Liam wrapped his arms around me letting me burying my head in the crook of his neck my hands resting on his chest. I let out small whimpered cries as he held me to him gently stroking my hair.
"Just breathe" his voice said barley above a whisper in my ear.