This story was written for the Ariasink 5W Redux challenge. In short, a picture is provided, and the challenge is to tell a story in five hundred words or less that will give the reader a sense of the 5W's – who, what, when, where, and why. I'll post the answers at the end of the story. I hope you enjoy it. Please tell me how I did!
By the way, here's a link to the picture: http://ariasink .com/myimg.php?426
The cold seemed to drift off the stone steps, seeping into her bare feet and causing a chilled shiver to course through her body. Her thin, white nightgown didn't begin to provide enough protection against the bitter breeze that whistled through the barren trees and over the desolation of her dank surroundings. The entire place seemed to be painted in shades of black and gray.
The staircase whirled steadily downward into black oblivion, and she slowly started on her descent, unsure of what lay in wait for her at the bottom. The stark white of her nightgown seemed to be the only color in the place, and if she didn't know better, she would say that it appeared to be glowing. Her black hair softly whispered against it, casting wicked shadows on the stairs.
She rounded a curve, and a brilliant flash of color halted her steps. A bright red cape lay draped deliberately across the stone steps, nearly blinding in its vibrancy. A few more steps revealed a man, his back to her, blond hair tossed by the wind. Her soft, indrawn breath had him turning around. Laughing green eyes gazed lovingly into hers.
"This is a dream." It was a statement of fact, her voice controlled as she said it.
"Yes, of course," he said, a grin crossing his handsome features. Her violet eyes showed no sign of emotion.
"You're dead. I know you're dead. You have been for some time, now." Her voice was carefully neutral. His grin widened.
"My body may be dead, but my spirit lives forever." His answer seemed to infuriate her.
"Waxing poetic, now? How dare you invade my dreams! Is nothing sacred to you?" Her eyes fairly glowed with anger, and her hands fisted at her sides. He stopped her protests by climbing the remaining stairs that separated them, and taking her in his arms.
"Does it really matter how I've invaded the sanctity of your dreams, as long as I'm here now?" His voice was softer, serious now, and his gentle hands stroked her hair, her back, any part of her body that he could reach with his arms wrapped so tightly around her.
"No," her voice was different, too, husky with feeling. Her hands fisted in his hair, as if refusing to let him go. "Don't you dare leave me again."
"Darling, I will never leave you. I will always be by your side." He kissed her forehead. Sweeping the red cape from the tile steps, he wrapped it around her delicate shoulders. His lips were soft and warm on hers, and she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation. The red velvet warmed her, and she could no longer feel the wind, could no longer feel his arms around her.
Her eyes opened, and instead of his handsome face, she saw only the furnishings of her own room.
And the red velvet cape, draped haphazardly across her bed.
Did you get all five? I hope I didn't make it too difficult.
Who: Rei and Jadeite.
What: Rei and Jadeite's reunion.
When: After Jadeite's death.
Why: Their love has survived Jadeite's death, and he was determined to find a way back to her.
Where: In Rei's dream world.