Chapter 2 is finally up. My goal is to update at least once every couple of days because they are so short. R&R plz! Enjoy!
Tara walked down one flight of stairs and turned to the right heading to her one-bedroom apartment. She juggled the salvaged flower pots in one hand while reaching for the key in her apron with the other. After getting the door open she bumped it closed with her foot, turning to slide the lock back into place. After going through so many break-ins she didn't ever leave her door unlocked even if she was just going to the roof.
Guess I won't be doing that again soon, she thought to herself. She felt small tears come to her eyes when she thought of the pile of rubble that used to be her greenhouse. So many beautiful flowers destroyed. Anger replaced sadness when she thought back to the strange man that brought about her greenhouse's demise. Who the hell does he think he is and where did he come from? She remembered his introduction vividly. One of seven protectors from fairies or some crap like that. It was obvious that he was crazy.
She thought back to his velvety voice while he apologized. He sounded genuinely sorry but she had heard it all before. He was not the first person to bring her happiness to a crumbled heap. This strange man had come flying down from the sky looking serene and in control until he bumped the foundation of her greenhouse. Thankfully she had not been inside or else she could have been seriously injured. That asshole almost killed me! The anger came back renewed.
It doesn't matter that he could practically considered beautiful. Dark wispy hair that just barely came down over his ears, considerably bright, grayish eyes, and a strong jaw that suggested he was no longer a boy but a man; none of these things would weaken her resolve. The good looking ones always have to be crazy, don't they?
Tara removed her smock, tossing it over the back of a chair, and proceeded to the bathroom to wash up. She slowly undressed all the way to the bathroom leaving a trail of clothing in her wake. There's nothing better than being able to walk around your own place in the nude. I feel so free! She promptly did a little turn in place, pressing the power button on her stereo, before starting the water for her shower. It would take a while for the warm water to make it all the way up here in such an old building so while she waited Tara turned on a CD. "Dear Agony" by Breaking Benjamin was currently in the player so she let it play. BB's amazing rhythms and melodies could always soothe stressed nerves.
Dancing her way to the bathroom, Tara quickly washed the dirt from under her nails and scrubbed the rest of her body from head to toe not wishing to linger in the hot water for too long. She stepped out wrapping her body and hair in a towel and walked to her dresser to pick out clothes to sleep in. A big t-shirt sounds perfect. After dressing and brushing her hair she went to lay under he big comfortable blanket with a book.
She didn't read for long before she fell fast asleep.
Tara was standing at her kitchen sink washing the dirt and grime from off of her hands and under her nails. She added more soap trying to remove the black stains but they wouldn't budge. She scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed some more. Her motions became frantic and almost hysterical. Her breathing came in fast gasps as she tried more and more to remove the dirt.
"Why won't it come off?" she yelled. Tears were now streaming down her cheeks as she realized the mistakes that she made. Everyone will now about her horrible crime. No one could ever know. She had to get the dirt off.
A hand reached from behind Tara to rest upon her scrubbing hands, stilling her movements "No one has to know. This is just a dream," spoke a deep baritone voice. He reached his other hand to grip her waist and gently pull her back against his chest. "I will protect you," he said. Tara slowly turned in this mysterious man's arms to get a look at her savior. All she saw before she awoke was bright gray eyes full of worry and care.
She awoke with a start sitting up quickly. Her heart was beating so fast that she was covered in a cold sweat as though she had just run a mile. She ran a hand through her hair to calm her nerves. That man from the roof had made it into her dreams. That was so rare. She could not even remember the last time that she had dreamt so vividly. Tara looked down at her hands and found that the stains from the dirt in her dreams wasn't really there and her nails had no grime caked underneath.
She sighed heavily and fell back against her pillows. She turned her head slightly to look out the window and gaze up at the moon but suddenly threw herself from the bed and let go of an intense scream when she saw a figure standing outside her window. He was perched on the small windowsill looking in at her with a smile. He released one hand from the frame of the window to wave and Tara could only manage a tiny wave before losing consciousness.