Chapter 6- Worst Nightmare

She was laughing. Her hair blowing out behind her, not in its usual braid but loose and a shimmering gold in the sunlight. The water was crystal clear; you could see the small fish gracefully swimming in its depths. Her eyes glistened, a deep mysterious blue as she took my hand in hers and we ran off into the sunset; her rosy cheeks shining with excitement. Then the whisper, "I love you Hiccup."

Her lips touched mine gentle and soft. Her slim fingers wound their way through my hair and I placed my hands tenderly on her waist.

Then she screamed.

Bloodcurdling. Her soft hands that had before been cascading through my hair now held a vice like grip as she tumbled to the floor clutching me as if I was going to leave her. I was leaving her. I wasn't there to save her. I don't stop him but I watch, a statue, on the side-lines as another person I love tumbled out my grasp.

"ASTRID!" My call was merely an echo fighting to be heard. I clutched her hand and glanced down. Blood had seeped through her pale top turning it scarlet; spreading like wet paint on a canvas. The knife that had once shone silver was now crimson with hot sticky blood: Astrid's blood. I stroked my thumb along her cheek and whispered in her ear. Whispered I loved her. She looked at me, the light slowly leaving her eyes. No. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't leave me. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't written in the stories. I held her until she fell asleep, her tears turning cold against my shirt. Then came the laugh. It sent spikes shooting up my spine like waves of light. Dagurs laugh.

Taking away my heart piece by piece.

Colours swirled around my eyes and then transformed. I found myself at home. I was sat at the table with my father. We were talking but I couldn't make out the words. He was smiling his face full of pride. Then he fell to the ground with an ear splitting 'crunch'. He called for me as blood pooled onto the floor. I ran to him but found I couldn't reach him. The invisible barrier was pulling me back; a force stopping me from helping him: Stopping me from saving him. I screamed for him as he begged me to help him but my voice could not be heard. Then the bloodthirsty laugh cascaded down my spine again.

"Say goodbye to daddy Hiccup."

A sinister echo; tumbling through my ears and latching itself onto my haunting memories.

I was flying through the silver clouds, Toothless carrying me over the moon. I closed my eyes and let the cool air wash away everything except the moment. The moment that I wanted imprinted in my golden memory forever. Then Toothless let out a howl of pain and I was thrown off him and tossed through the now ketchup clouds. Toothless hit the ground with a deafening crack. I shivered but was no longer falling. I couldn't move my eyes- Toothless was the only thing I could see. I tried to get away from it all but that only increased the pain in my heart. The laugh came again this time louder and much closer. I was trapped.

I was broken.

I crumpled to the ground as I watched Berk melt to the ground before my eyes. My friends burning in a blaze of agony: Fishlegs holding onto Meatlug, Snotlout burning proud and high, Ruff and Tuff still yelling at the top of their lungs that- 'this is still awesome… and scary!" Until there was nothing left. I tried to move but agonizing pain ripped its way up my body. I couldn't scream. Broken people can't scream. Broken people have nothing.

Broken people are nothing.