Darkfire
Chapter 4: Nightmare
It was night. Rose was on a cliff overlooking the city. Suddenly, she heard wings flapping overhead. Something landed behind her. She turned slowly, almost too afraid to look. A dragon was standing there. It took only a moment to realize who it was. "Jake!" She rushed towards him, and soon, she was in his arms. "I thought I'd never see you again!" she sobbed.
"Hush now." he said soothingly, "It's alright, I'm here..."
She pulled away to get a better look at him. He looked slightly better then when she had seen him last. His wounds and burns seemed nearly healed, but the slashes and claw marks were now hideous scars. The tear in his left wing seemed to have mended, though it too was now an ugly scar. His right side, with had broken ribs, seemed to have healed also. The wing on that side had been broken, it looked mended, but still slightly crooked. Then Rose noticed something else, a large, black burn on his chest, that hadn't been there before.
"Oh Jake..." Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. "Why did you do it?" She looked into his eyes. "Why did you leave me?"
"I never did." he said softly, "I'm always with you, Rose, in your heart..."
He reached out for her. She looked into his eyes; she wanted more then anything to rush forward, to feel his embrace again... to just be with him... but she knew that couldn't be... She backed away from him.
"Rose?" he came closer, "Rose, what's wrong?"
"Stay back." she said, "You can't be here... you're dead..."
"What are you talking about? How can I be dead when I'm standing right here?"
"No!" she said fiercely, "Get away from me!" She backed away farther, and found herself on very edge of the cliff! Suddenly she felt herself falling! But then, Jake caught her. He carried her back to the cliff, and put her down.
She backed away again, but he caught hold of her wrists. She struggled, but he was too strong for her. "Let me go!" she snarled.
Instead, he held her against him, his arms around her; holding her close. "Rose," he said, "I'm not gonna hurt you."
She stopped struggling, suddenly exhausted. She leaned against him, laying her head against his chest. Then she heard something, she held perfectly still, listening... thump-thump, thump-thump... Then she realized what it was; a heartbeat.
Jake smiled down at her. "You see, Rose." he said, "Now how could a dead guy still have a heartbeat?"
"Jake," she said sadly, "This can't be right. You're dead... and this is all just a stupid dream!"
"Don't be so sure about that." he said, giving her a sad smile.
"What? What are you talking about?" asked Rose. Then she noticed something on his wrist...
"A dream charm?! But- but that means..." She looked up, but it was too late... he was gone...
I know it's short, but I was half asleep when I wrote it. :)