(And now time for the embarrassingly long authors note…feel free to skip ahead…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…)
Rated PG-13, no actual sex but plenty of wrong jokes.
Harry Potter and all other thing-a-ma-bobs all belong to J.K. Rowling. Kate, Nicole, Molly, Ashley, Jill, Eli, Dana, Peter, Kalli, and all my other friends that aren't even mentioned in this story belong to me! ME AND ME ONLY! I invented Bill and Leah, and I control them. Nicole and I invented Shawn…the reason still remains unclear…please ask before including them in any stories you write.
E-mail me with comments or suggestions at cella001@hotmail.com. I love e-mail, so don't be shy! I'll try to write back to anyone who sends me anything…even if it's a flame.
Well that's about it! On to the show!
Cheating Destiny
Prologue;
"It seemed that something never seen yet long desired was about to happen, that a veil would drop from it all;
But then it passed, nothing happened,
The riddle remained unsolved, the secret spell unbroken..."
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
(Robert Frost)
* * *
The deep-red sun lay just above the horizon, stretching the agonizing minuets before sunset as though silently torturing the earth with its heat. Its hot bright gold's and reds that were normally looked upon as beautiful, even inspiring, now seemed to mock the few people that bothered to look up and sneer.
It had been three tortured weeks sense the heat wave had first struck. Everyone that had raced out to buy warmer clothes for the supposedly cold Fall weather now cursed silently under their breaths as they adorned shorts and tank-tops, pushing their sweaters deep into the closet for next winter.
Under normal circumstances the schoolmates at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would have done almost anything for this kind of "second summer", but three weeks of dragging books and bags all over the burning castle, dimmed their happiness to a dull point. It didn't help that they were still forced to wear their school robes made of heavy black material that clung to their arms and legs when they sweat, making it impossible to focus on schoolwork (although they never did that anyway.)
That's why, on this particularly scorching Friday evening, not one soul was to be seen on the grounds. Everyone was enclosed in the safety of their Dorms (complete with air-conditioning), and no one but the insane ventured out of the castle . . . thus the reason no one could hear the girl's screams as the sun slowly began to sink below the mountains.
Maybe if it was colder someone could have helped her…or maybe this is what they call destiny…
* * *
The sober moon rose slowly from its long sleep, letting crisp darkness descend over the forest. Like a coin suspended in the velvet air it looked down on the almost peaceful stage, watching in silence the scene below, almost hidden by the thick trees.
It's amazing that the moon sees everything, hovering above the earth like a silent watchman, yet it seemed to look down now with a soft understanding. If it could, it would smile; knowing that even from horror spawns a new beginning.
Let us now follow the moons gaze, down through the thick trees, past the awaking birds beginning to whisper their soft music, to a six-teen year old girl resting from the heat. With this girl, our story begins…
* * *
Four days without sleep is prone to cause paranoia…it's even worse if you were paranoid to began with…
The last trace of sunlight was leaking slowly from the air, and she could feel her eyelids began to drop. Every part of her hurt and burned with every agonizing step, but she couldn't stop now. Her instinct told her it was close; …it was so close…she could feel it…so close
"Rest…" her body screamed with each throbbing pain sent through her body. Desperately she ignored the pain, focussing instead on her gasping breaths and the trotting sound of her feet against the hot dusty ground. "Need rest…"
Her knees bent involuntarily and, with a soft noise muffled by the dry floor and a light whimper of surprise, her legs collapsed underneath her, refusing to drag her tired body a step further. Vainly she pushed her self up again, staggering under the unexpected weight of her pack.
It's difficult to move with a willing mind and a limp body; the two never seem to agree. She managed three steps before she stumbled drunkenly and collapsed to the ground.
With a residing sigh barely distinguishable from her ragged gasps, she let her body win, knowing that pushing herself further in this heat was nothing short of suicide. Besides, she needed a good rest.
Her exhausted muscles relaxed as she moved into a more comfortable position; her back resting against an old tree, half bent with age and wood lice, and her legs tucked beneath her. She panted steadily, reaching up and wiping her forehead with her sleeve, her soft beautiful face was worn with a tried expression, the gray piercing eyes half closed above dark circles marking her days with out sleep.
Her hand fumbled to her pack of its own accord, and managed to pull out an unmarked water bottle. The liquid was tinged with grit and lukewarm from heat, but it was better then dying of dehydration.
The lid was quickly unscrewed and tossed aside, rolling to stop at the base of a young sycamore. She lifted the bottle hungrily to her line lips and swallowed half in a matter of seconds. The rest she promptly poured over her glistening face, feeling the cool water slide through her long silver-gold hair. Not attempting to wash any off, she simply leaned back tilting her head to the darkening sky and letting the refreshing liquid slither its own course down her pale features.
The soft rhythmic sound of sweet bird song played through the air around her, capturing her in a gentle lullaby. It was so heavenly perfect, an earthy captivating sound that engulfed her mind, leaving her body to a well-deserved rest.
She barely noticed as her eyes began to close, or when her head nodded lightly forward, allowing her thin hair to sweep over her face. Her mind slowly began to drift away, leaving the body and entering a world of sleep. A world devoid of her problems, of her mission, a world of peace and bliss…
The sound of a breaking twig echoed strangely in the night air, slashing through the gentle forest noise in an eerily and unnatural way and plunging the forest into a nervous expectant silence. The birds stopped, the final crisp note extending into nothingness.
The girls eyes snapped open at the sound, but she remained still her head lifting only slightly and breaking her stupor. Her eyes widened; whether from fear or shock is hard to say, but her quivering limbs gave the impression of a scared child.
Her shoulders hunched unnoticeably under her light cloak and her pale hand reached up to push the stray hair slowly from her face.
All warmth had left the air, fading like the sunlight had. She became increasingly aware of the storm clouds billowing above, making the night feel even darker.
Slowly, cautiously, her eyes and head turned slightly, scanning the underbrush for movement.
Silence.
A forest is never, ever silent.
Her unmoving icy-gray eyes watched intently, not one muscle moving. A small bead of sweat slid down her cheek…but not from heat.
Complete, ghostly quiet…
A bird rustled nearby where her eyes bored into the woods. It took off with a shrill warning cry, its sudden movement and fearful call cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife…a knife that sent a wave of chill down the girl's spine.
"Oh, shit…"
Abandoning her bag she took off, forcing her body to move not at a slow trot any more but a full out run. The deadly silence now filled with her agonizing painting and squeal of panic. Thunder crashed directly behind her, and was followed by a long flash of light ripping into the darkness.
Far behind, nestled in the shadows, a sound quite different then the frightened bird's call filled her terrified ears; the sound of footsteps. Not dashing as she did, but a slow, sure beat, like a cat when it knows it has its prey cornered, and never bothers to waste its breath with a needless chase. She was nothing but a mouse, waiting to get eaten making a vain and unnecessary attempt for freedom.
Her helplessness turned to anger and she forced her screaming limbs to go faster, knowing her life, and several others, depended on it.
"The castle's around here somewhere…I know it is…it has to be…"
The storm grew more intense, blocking out the heavenly sound of an empty forest and plunging the night into fear. The first rain drop splattered onto the dusty ground, and was swallowed by its starved hunger. Another followed. Then another. Soon rain poured from the sky as if from the gods themselves, covering the thirsty dust, and turning the forest floor to mud.
The girl stopped momentarily, leaning against a tree and gasping for breath, her eyes darting down the forked path ahead.
Left or right.
Right or left.
"Goddamn it, just chose!"
she thought angrily to herself, feeling her wet hair stick unpleasantly to her neck, soaking the front of her robes and cloak. She paused a moment longer to pick the left path, and pushed herself away from the tree supporting her dead weight.She never got to the path…she never even got close…
The moment she stepped forward, willing herself to a sprint, she felt a strong hand wrap firmly around her narrow wrist, holding her tight. Thunder crashed above, unnoticed by the struggling "cat and mouse".
With a strangled gasp she tried to fight forward.
Something cold and silver glinted in her pursuer's hand as he raised it high, bringing the thin knife to rest deep in her side.
A scream of pain,
A snicker of triumph,
A sob of defeat,
A flash of lightning,
And he was gone.
All trace of the once hot air left the forest as mid-night set in, the hour tolled rhythmically by an owls hunting call as it echoed in the dark. The storm slowed to a stop, bringing an end to the heat wave and the forest suffering.
A large red stain covered the cold earth, pooling around the young girl where she fell. She didn't bother trying to pull out the knife, she didn't bother moving from the place she heavily landed, and she didn't bother to wipe the salty rivers streaming from her half-closed eyes. Even if she had the strength to move, she still wouldn't have bothered.
Her eyelids began to flutter, as a voice echoed above her, cracked with fear and sympathy. She ignored it, wanting nothing more then to rest. She'd failed, and there was nothing left to do but sleep. The cold would bother her for only a little longer…
The last thing she saw before caving in to blackness was a strong pale hand touching her wrist, checking for a pulse…then her eyes shut tightly, and she passed out.
* * *
The End…for now…
Sorry that chapter was so short, the others will be LONG! Also sorry that it sucked so much :sigh: please boost my ego by acting like you loved it.
Friends don't let friends not review! Tell me what you hated and loved (if anything) so I can make the next part even better. Love ya!~cellamonder
