Take Me Away
Chapter One
I was absolutely surrounded by noise. Young boys ran about, screaming and dancing around the bonfire burning in front of me, but they were all a massive blur. The only things there were to really focus on were the fire itself and the boy sitting beside me. He was tall and lean, with light brown hair and dazzling blue-green eyes with a hint of grey. He smirked at me, something dangerously mischievous about him. I sent him a glare before pointedly staring at the fire. I didn't like that smirk of his. It always meant trouble for me.
After a minute of tense silence between the two of us I glanced back up to see him looking at me, clearly never having stopped.
"Let's play a game," I offered suddenly. He quirked an eyebrow, silently letting me continue. "I'm in the mood for a round of hide and seek."
He smirked, leaning over and looking me in the eye. "What are the rules?"
"It's just you, me, and the island. No magic, no help from outsiders, no interference from outsiders, at all. I have thirty minutes to run, and you have an hour to look for me. If you don't find and catch me in an hour or less, I win." I let out a breath, hoping he would buy into the game. He nodded, mulling it over.
"The stakes?"
"If you win, you get whatever it is you want from me. If I win, you take me back to my sister. You let me go. I never have to come back here unless I choose to come back of my own free will. Do we have a deal?" I bit my lip, knowing I was raising some pretty high stakes. If he got whatever he wanted, well, I was screwed. Anything he wanted was usually vile.
He leaned in farther, our noses touching and our eyes locked in a stare-down that made breathing difficult.
"You won't like it when I win," he growled. "Now run."
Without thinking, I shoved him back and bolted as though my life depended on it. Considering it did, I ran as fast as I possibly could.
Before I disappeared into the forest I heard him call after me.
"Don't think I won't find you, Marisol! I always do."
My eyes flickered open, sunlight streaming into the room of my sister's apartment. It took me a second to gather my surroundings, but once I did I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief. Whoever was coming after me hadn't found me. I was okay.
Wait, I thought to myself with a shake of my head, nobody's coming after me. It was just a dream. I thought this over, sliding out of bed to get ready for the day. It was just another weird dream. I had them all the time, it was no big deal. I was okay. But I couldn't get his words out of my mind.
Don't think I won't find you, Marisol! I always do.
Well, I thought to myself, whoever you are — you haven't found me yet. Let's keep it that way.