Author's Note: So, I've finally got the new chapter up. It's not nearly as long as the first, but I hope you all enjoy it, nonetheless. The primary focus is Nina and Fabian (not many other characters are mentioned). This chapter begins from young Nina's POV, and then shifts to young Fabian's POV.(Note that these are not occuring at the same time). Well, anyway, enjoy, and would you be so kind as to leave a review? It would make my day:)
The young teen with the gorgeous wavy hair silently clutched the bulging leg of the wooden desk.
Her rapidly beating heart was completely convulsed with fear, as the menacing figure suddenly crept down and reached over toward her pale hand.
Because her breathing was presently coarse and loud, she was absolutely certain that she had been discovered.
As the long, lurid fingers hastily collided with her frigid body, the horrified Nina released a yelp of desperation.
Snapping her eyes shut even tighter, the wavy haired girl felt the tiny droplets hurriedly cascade down her damp cheek.
She could sense the stranger's husky breaths upon her skin, and the horrid feeling sent chills surging up her spine.
"Nina…I've been looking everywhere for you!" the familiar sound of her best friend's voice beckoned the terrified girl from her ridiculous state.
Her watery hazel eyes locked onto his, and instantly, she felt the ominous fear barricading her heart dissipate.
"F-Fabian?" Nina managed to fumble his name, but it was obvious that she remained completely disconcerted.
Cautiously scanning his handsome figure, the wavy haired girl realized that he was clothed elegantly in a crinkled cloak and his chestnut colored hair was cropped perhaps a bit shorter than she had remembered it being.
Before she could even part her lips in question, the tenderhearted man enveloped her quivering body in his secure arms, and softly rocked her back and forth.
"Honey, its okay, Relax. Now, tell me what happened." His soothing whisper seemed to momentarily lull the torrent that was raging from within a very fearful and confused Nina Martin.
"I…I…don't remember…I…I think Sarah drew me to the attic…but, then, I'm not sure what happened…I must have been out for hours…until I finally woke up…and there was someone coming towards me…I…I thought for sure it was…V-Victor…" the girl relayed her troubled inclinations in broken sentences, her heart pounding madly from within her chest.
"Honey, are you sure you're feeling alright? What made you think I was Victor? Victor's been gone for ages." Fabian spoke melodically, as if attempting to deduce the reasoning behind Nina's erratic behavior.
Since when had Fabian ever called me, 'honey'? That's twice, now…it feels so strange…like something's somehow changed between us…but I can't seem to put my finger on it.
"I don't quite understand. What do you mean Victor's been gone for ages? I just saw him yesterday, remember? You were there…"
The girl with the wavy hair concluded from the man's puzzled expression that her words dumbfounded him. His soulful eyes became enlarged, as if her simple speech relayed some sort of daunting prospect that she remained completely oblivious to.
"F-Fabian, what is it? What's the matter? Tell me. Please…"
It was something about his entire physique that unnerved her. His dark pupils continued to dilate, as beads of sweat slowly trickled down his convulsed forehead.
At that point, Nina noticed his clenched fists; the bluish veins of his hands were perhaps more distinct than she recalled them to be, but truly the eeriest sight was the shimmering golden band that entangled his finger.
What? But that's impossible…I've never seen him wear that before…
By this time, the bedazzled girl had drifted backward slightly, her hazel eyes now carefully scrutinizing Fabian's facial features, as if to search for conformation.
Why was it that he possessed such a radiant love in those immensely blue eyes? In the past, she had witnessed traces of it—tiny sparks flickering at the oddest moments—but never had his irises blazed with such a flame as they did in that instant.
Soon, the bashful man dwindled back into reality because he finally willed himself to speak.
"Nina, Victor's been dead for five years…but if you've seen him and if Sarah spoke to you, then that can only mean…"
Fabian's illuminating deductions were briskly vanquished, when a low cackle began to reverberate through the dusty room.
Welding her smooth hand in his, the brown haired man pulled both himself and his companion in the direction of the crooked stairway.
As an eerie crimson glow began to emit from Nina's mystical necklace, she felt the pulse in Fabian's wrist fluctuate to a greater extent than it had previously.
She could barely make out his humble voice among the ravenous rumbles that had suddenly begun to devour the house.
"No…but it can't be…"
Elsewhere, a bashful young boy held a familiar woman's shivering body tightly in his arms.
Her latest words continued to pulsate endlessly through her perturbed mind.
She called me…her husband…Nina Martin called me her husband…This is mad…I must be dreaming…
His faltering attention was then shifted back upon the perspiring woman.
For some odd reason, her active limbs had finally stabilized, and it appeared that this seemingly older version of his beloved Nina was truly awakening for the first time.
Her hazel eyes gazed directly into his, and she was no longer hyperventilating.
It was obvious from the miniscule amount of light that had seeped into her sullen face that she had successfully identified her quiet counterpart.
"Fabian," the woman rasped, her shaky hand outstretching to stroke his burning cheek.
"I'm here." He leaned in closer to her, his soft whisper appeared to be reassuring, despite his own uncertainty and disbelief.
Before he could raise any further inquiries, her beautiful lips suddenly danced atop his.
As his body burst with passionate emotions, Fabian became awestruck by the incredible notion that she kissed him with such an unusual familiarity, in fact, the embrace lacked so much as a glimmer of the typical teenage awkwardness.
When Nina drew back, Fabian found that he was scarcely able to breathe properly, as he had never before experienced an ordeal of that sort.
"Sweetie, what is it?" the wonderful girl was concerned.
That's rather odd…Nina's never called me 'Sweetie,' before.
Placing her body in an upright position, the wavy haired woman wrapped her wobbly arms around his torso, her mouth veering towards his ear.
"It…It was so terrifying, Fabian…I was so scared…" her quivering words were barely distinguishable, but the bashful boy was able to comprehend her message without difficulty.
"Nina, what's happened? I haven't seen you since yesterday…I've been worried sick," the dark haired teenager decided that it was not a great time to ask the terror invoking questions that were truly plaguing his mind.
"It's all a bit of a blur…I went to the attic for some strange reason…I know I should have woken you…but there was no time…I just had to get up here…then, I saw it—what we've been freaking out about for months…I'm afraid it's worse than we feared…I was about to get you…but there was this light…it was oddly familiar, I was trying to remember where I'd seen it before, when suddenly, it felt as if something was strangling me…I couldn't breathe…and there was a laugh…a terrible, terrible laugh…I…I thought I was going to die."
Those final words pounded through Fabian Rutter's mind, causing a tantalizing wave of alarm to surge through his body.
He silently scolded himself for allowing Nina to come to such harm, regardless of whether this was the version of her that he was associated with.
"I'm sorry, Nina, I'm so, so sorry," The bashful boy dug his hand through her wavy locks, in order to castigate her horrible fears.
Once her abnormal heart rate had slowed, Nina was all of a sudden intent on providing him with additional evidence of her greatest worries.
Shuffling to her feet, after a brief hiatus, the wavy haired woman stumbled across the musty floorboards towards a tiny cupboard.
Unfortunately, her hopeful expression quickly soured.
"No! But…it was here…I saw it…wait…what's this? These books…I haven't seen them in years…Fabian, I thought we both cleared them out ages ago."
It was at that precise moment that Nina Rutter had begun to realize just how young her husband really was; his convoluted state was beginning to seem justifiable.
"Fabian, what year is it? I know it sounds like a ridiculous question…but I really need to know…because both of our lives may very well depend on it."
Fabian estimated that she was finally grasping the horrifying truth of the situation.
"It's—"
Before the bashful boy could enlighten her, a gentle creaking of the ragged stairs caused them both to prop themselves upon the cold, hardwood floor.
In a matter of gut wrenching seconds, Fabian was greatly relieved to hear a familiar feminine voice.
"Fabian…Nina!" the caring blonde nearly raced over to her two best friends.
The saggy circles beneath her normally polished eyes revealed the extent of her concern.
Nevertheless, Amber Millington had to listen to reason.
"Quiet, Amber!" Fabian shushed, his hand practically smothering her mouth.
Turning to Nina, the boy watched as her hazel eyes grew terribly wide in astonishment, as if the sight of her other best friend had become a rarity.
That settles it. This is definitely not the Nina I know. But what other explanation is there? Could she be from the future? Is that even possible?
The wavy haired woman had almost separated her parched lips to speak, when suddenly a gruff, male voice prevented her from doing so.
Acting instinctively, Fabian Rutter motioned for the two shell-shocked girls to follow him toward a lone corner closet.
Hastily maneuvering the ancient wooden door open, the three of them quickly closed it, hiding themselves in the looming darkness.
As much as they all desired to converse, the stern, echoing voice restrained them from making even the tiniest sound or movement.
"Children…I do hope you all know that the attic is off limits to students…For this infraction you all will be punished on the most severe terms imaginable…"
Note: I know I left on a cliffhanger, but I really can't help it. I probably won't be able to post anymore for a couple of weeks because I'm very busy(I also have other stories to update). It also depends on the feedback I get; if I recieve enough positive reviews than I might just have to post sooner:) Meanwhile, you can check out some of my other stories(posted on my profile). Remember that reviews would be greatly appreciated!
Have a wonderful President's Day(if you're in the US, but if you're not, then have a great Monday, anyway.)