Chapter 3: Dreams of Things Past…

I look up from my new position on the dirt ground, into a pair of painfully familiar dark brown eyes…

"David?" My hoarse voice questions. Urgh, the fact that my voice always sounds this way first thing in the morning never fails to piss me off…

He just looks at me. I think he's just as startled as me… Then, his eyes trail across the ground from me – to something else. I glance to my left… and wince. I managed to drop the money when I fell!

"Umm… Ok," I begin quickly, panic rising like bile in my throat – "Just, let me – here…" I scrabble to pick up the money to my side, but he stops me with his words –

"Don't bother," He sounds hurt… "I know what you're trying to do." I freeze… well, obviously he knows what I'm trying to do – he's a pretty smart guy for an ex-jock – and we were childhood sweethearts… God, that seems so long ago, but it could only be about 5 years ago… I straighten up, looking him in the eye.

"You're trying to get out of here, aren't you? You're gonna just run away and hope this never catches up with you!" He reaches down, and for a brief moment I flinch, thinking he'll hit me or something – one of Malachi's favourite past times. But, instead, he simply grabs me by the collar, and hauls me to my feet roughly.

"David, please -" I attempt to implore – "You don't understand -"

"Is the worship of Him no longer upon you?" He cries, and I step back, surprised at his sudden outburst. He used to be a pretty soft-spoken guy. "Is that just it?! You should go to Isaac with your troubles, not just run away from them -"

"David, listen to me!" I cry suddenly, cutting him off. He sees how desperate I am, but before he can continue, I open my mouth again. He stills… "Please, please, David just hear me out!" No interruption, good…

"I have never had the worship of Him -" I spit out that word like it is the most vile thing I can think of – which right now, it is. "- Upon me! Ever!" He looks shocked, but I press on. "David, can't you see that this town is no good for me? Can't you just try to understand?" The sad thing is, he has been so taken over by this that I don't think he can… I try a different tack – "Ok, look – there are many different religions. That is a fact. This is one of many – and -" He opens his mouth to contradict me, but I speak over him – I can't let him speak right now – "and, maybe this isn't the right one for me."

I think he is in shock. His eyes are glazed, his jaw slightly slack, and I feel so, so sorry for him… "David?" I take a step closer; no change. Oh, shit… I made my childhood sweetheart go comatose!!

I gently bring one hand up to touch his cheek softly. The rough lines of his eighteen year old face resembles those of a man in his late twenties… the past three years have not been kind to either of us. We were an item when Isaac first took over, and were so much in love… We figured nothing could overcome a thing as strong as the love we held for each other… but we were wrong. Isaac's new religion tore into our love, just as it did to everyone's' love, no matter how strong. In a few months, no more than eight, He Who Walks Behind the Rows had managed to destroy years of the strongest love I'd ever known – and probably ever will know. So many memories can come with such a simple touch… and I, unfortunately, am no exception, nor immune to these. If anything, the three years I have refused any man's company have made me even more susceptible to them. Years of romantic walks, kisses and roaming hands are brought forth into my mind… and the feeling of love. The most blissful feeling in the world. The feeling that I shut out long ago… all back in one simple touch…

His eyes slowly begin to focus on me. His eyes, those deep, deep chocolate orbs, trained onto mine… and we slowly bring our lips closer together, inch by inch. It all seems too perfect…

"What are we doing?" I murmur, my voice low and throaty.

"I don't know…" He replies softly in a voice set to match mine – and then, it happens. Out lips meet.

I don't know how to describe the feeling that forces its way into my mind when we kiss now… Flashes of memory, so nostalgia… we've changed, so I guess that other feeling flooding my senses is new love… and – oh, to hell with it!! Just keep kissing me…

Finally, our lips part from each other, though his head is still ducked down close to mine, and my own head is still pulled back as far as I can keep it to stay staring into his eyes… For once, no words need to be spoken… I wish.

"Go," He mutters into my hair. I can't believe what he's saying – huh?!

"W-What?" Still breathless from the kiss we've just sharing, I'm not quite thinking straight yet.

"You have to go. You said you can't be here, and I believe you. Now go – before Malachi or anyone else sees us!!"

I pull back and look him straight in the eyes. I smooth out a lock of willowy, overgrown hair from his forehead, and smile slightly. That's all I can do – smile. Another thing I have refused the company of for so long… Again, I cannot put my feelings into words – how can I, when I don't even know what I'm feeling myself yet?!

Shaking, I reach up to gently take his head between my hands – and kiss his forehead, my breathing shallow.

"I love you."

That's all I can say. And then I'm off, running through the corn, through the thick patches of tall, vibrantly coloured corn before me; it seems as though they are almost whispering to me, calling me to stop and wait with their strong, bright stems while someone works their way towards me – Malachi, with a knife, most likely. Oh, and wouldn't he just love to be the one to do it…

No. No frickin' way. I won't stop. Not for anyone, or anything. The money clutched tightly in my hand, there is no way to look back now – and even if I do, I won't see anything… anything, except the corn.

But that's all going to change now… isn't it?

…Yes.

A/N: Ok guys!! Hope you like it, and please let me know what you think, yah?

Read and review, thanks!! Any suggestions, just hit me up yeah?

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