Chapter Two: In the Woods Alone with You

The dawn peeked its head through the window. It extended its warm rays and bid me a chirpy "hello". She raised her hand to wave back to Aurora, but she felt something heavy dangling from her wrists. It was metal, cold, and heavy. Each link was masterfully crafted and done. Oh, why was she complimenting the person who built her level one prison? Perhaps it was too early in the morning or she was loopy from lack of sleep. She was insane either way. Her eyes traveled up and down her body that was draped in a filmy nightgown. Her wrists and ankles were shackled. Gasp!

The room was lit by candlelight. Even among the flickering sparks, she could see everything clearly. There were no windows; the gauzy curtains of my luxurious five-poster bed were drawn back. When her bare foot touched the floor, they jerked back. The tile floor was absolutely frigid! Along the walls of her room, there were stuffed animals of every kind: Bears, hippos, bunnies, dogs, cats, etc. Their little black, beady eyes peered back at me lifelessly. Only then did she catch her reflection.

She screamed, horrified at the person staring back at her. She stroked the frosty glass and gazed at the woman-child with sunken, gray eyes, a too-gracious mouth and thin hollow cheeks. Her body seemed wraith-like; it was willowy and looked fat too old for the soul inhabiting it. She croaked, yearning for some words to come out. Her chains rattled fearfully and were dragged across the floor with her.

"Lucia", the voice murmured. "You're awake". The voice seemed surprised. She uttered naught a word; she simply shook my head so a curtain of dark blonde tresses would hide her face from him and herself.

The person pushed aside the floating mirror, the mocking stuffed animals. Two pale and cold hands cupped her face and drew himself closer until they were eye-level. His eyes were perhaps the most beautiful she have ever seen. They were a cerulean color, misty like the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. She could never see the bottom of the oceanic orbs. They were too complex, too many layers that she did want to explore.

"Oh," she gasped. It was all she could manage to say. He laughed at her response. It was light, carefree. It filled the vacant space of her chambers and made the candle flames dance. She glanced at him from behind her veil; an agonizing expression was etched on her face. His smile faded quickly and his sapphire eyes grew round with sympathy and—love? No, how can it be love? They barely knew each other. So, was it concern? Yes, that must be it. Concern.

"Lucia," he pleaded, his voice strained. The flames kept dancing; their orangey-red spirits wavered to an unnatural breeze. Did she hear singing? Someone was vocalizing. The stuffed animals seemed to snicker mockingly at her. Damn it, why was everything poking fun at me? Wait—today?

"Lucia, wake up," the voice begged. She thought she was awake. Everything felt so real. Every sensation, every smell, every person. If she woke up, the person holding me would disappear. His velvety would fade and she would alone. she would go back to curling up into a pitiable ball on the lawn. The person holding me seemed real. This was real, she reassured herself. She could feel his hand stroking her face, his warm body pressed hard against hers, his tears burning her skin. Oh, do not cry! I should the one crying.

"Angels should not cry", she whispered, wiping away his tears with her hand. She wish that somehow both of our sorrows could be stopped. She shook my back hair and gazed at him fully.

"Believe me. I am not an angel", he answered sadly. For a moment, he looked just like Darian.