Althea's POV:
I looked up at the sunset, which bathed the meadow in golden oranges, and wondered how long this could last. Everything around me was silent, which meant that soon the noise inside my head would start. Ignoring my impending doom, I allowed myself to get lost in the beauty of this place. A few daisies grew sparsely across the grass, their pure white petals being illuminated by the soft glow of the setting sun. Everything was so beautiful in these few seconds before my mind took control.
As the sun continued its path into oblivion, a few stars appeared right before my eyes, making me smile in absolute wonder. They were so majestic, tiny pinpricks of light against a backdrop of never-ending black. I wish I had my telescope to look at them closer, admire them with the reverence they deserved. After all, they were more than small dots to be examined by humans – they were the life source of the universe, that which would illuminate the path for future generations.
Before I even knew what I was doing, I started listening for something that wasn't there. I didn't know what I expected to hear. Perhaps the thunderous roar of leaves clashing against leaves, or the sound of stars as they glided against the sky. Sometimes they created a melody, other times a nerve-wrecking screeching that I couldn't get to go away by simply covering my ears. But suddenly my body became hyper aware of the resounding silence around me. It didn't take well to that.
Grass brushing against one another became the sound of swords clashing in a battlefield full of bloodshed and pain. My fiddling fingers in my lap became the sound of a million drums beating out chaos in the form of music. And stars formed no melody, no, they made the loudest noise of all. I wasn't sure how to describe it. They sounded like pure electricity, and hope, but also broken promises, wishes that were once upon a time directed at them never coming to be.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe.
I fumbled for my phone, my hazed state allowing for little else. Turning it on was a process, but luckily my lungs were allowing air back into them, even if the tremendous uproar never quietened down. Clicking the first number on my contacts, not really caring who it was, I pressed my phone against my ear, hoping it would drown out the rest of the noise. It was just wishful thinking.
"Hello?" My heart said it was Ian, yet the rest of my brain was going into overdrive, making it hard to tell if I was right or not. In the background, a cricket chirped, and I swore I could see the waves of sound surrounding me in an impenetrable blur.
"Help." I couldn't tell if I was whispering or shouting, everything around me was so loud and echoing and I couldn't hear anything apart from it. Just it it it, ubiquitously.
"What's wrong?"
"I- I-"
"I'm in the car right now, where are you?"
"The meadow. Ask Maisee." The sentence left my mouth in gasped out breaths. I couldn't believe I was asking Ian for help. Yet, at the same time I couldn't imagine asking anyone else.
"I'll be there as soon as I can." With that he hung up, leaving me alone. The noise didn't let me feel alone – but I was certainly lonely. My knees felt weak, buckling under my weight, as I fell forward. The music of the world on full volume continued to thunder in my head
Ian's POV:
I sped down the road, much faster than the speeding limit allowed. At the same time, I talked to Maisee, who was giving me rapid-fire instructions about how to get to the infamous meadow. I could hear my blood pumping in my ears, and the adrenaline cursing through my veins was greater than anything I'd ever felt before. It was all just a rolling emotion of save her save her save her, over and over again until I felt as if I was going mad.
Right and now you turn left here and you're there.
Thanks Maisee.
No probs. Good luck. And… Ian?
Yeah?
Take care of her for me. As if I need to be told that. I didn't snicker though, knowing it would hurt her feelings, instead just answering with an affirmative, cutting off the conversation. As I banged the door closed and rushed into the meadow, I expected to see a large man beating her up, or raping her. Or… something. Instead, all I saw was Althea. That was the scariest part of all.
How do you save someone from themselves?
"Althea! Althea!" Running up to her as quick as I could manage, I kneeled next to her, cradling her in my arms. Her ashen face didn't so much as move an inch, yet remained with a tortured look on her features. I stared at her, trying to find the similarities between this girl and the one that hid in people's driveways, only ate candy, and always had a wacky idea in her head. This wasn't Althea. It couldn't be.
Yes, it looked like her, but my mind couldn't fathom the idea that she'd ever look so lifeless. Her body limp, without the confident, sexy stance she always carried herself with. Her eyes absent of their sparkle, just blank nothingness, as if she couldn't even see me. Her lips drawn into a flat line of pain, a grimace taking hold. I wished for her smirk to come back, no matter how much it irked me before.
"Althea, please say something. What's wrong? Do I need to call 911?"
"No. No, I-"
"Don't you dare say you're fine." No matter how much I tried to keep an indignant expression on my features, it soon melted away to give way to absolute relief at the fact that she was responding.
"But I am."
"I found you collapsed in a meadow, don't give me that bullshit."
"Whatever." Struggling in my arms, she gave a massive hint that she wanted me to let go of her. Over my dead body. Standing up, with her still in my arms, I carried her bridal style to the car. She fought me the whole way, tempting me to dump her unceremoniously in the back seat, locking her in there. Considering she was ill though, I decided to cut her some slack, putting her in the co-pilot seat. I even tied her seat belt for her. I deserved a Boy Scout badge for my valiant effort to not bite her head off.
"Right, now stay still."
"Ok, mum."
"Do you want me to dump you in the nearest bin?"
"You wouldn't dare."
"Oh yeah? Try me." With that I slammed her door shut, going over to my side as quickly as I could. I had the feeling she might try to escape, just to prove a point. I didn't know what she'd be proving, but, really, you never knew with Althea, so it wasn't anything new. By the time I'd gotten back into the car, I found she hadn't attempted much of anything. In fact, her head had lolled to the side, and she'd fallen asleep in a couple of seconds.
Whatever had happened to her in that meadow must have been exhausting and horrifying. My heart ached for her, even if she annoyed me 90% of the time.
"Sweet dreams." I whispered to her. I wasn't sure why I did, just that everything was going to shit around us. I at least wanted her to have a sliver of peace.
Hi :)
Ok, I've got a couple things to say today. First of all, t the guest who wants longer chapters, next chapter will be super duper long promise :) Second of all: holy shit. Excuse my french but oh my god guys, do you realise how absolutely fabulous you all are? We got to 40 last chapter, how crazy is that?
Also, in case any of you were wondering, Althea's little freak out will be explained soon-ish, don't worry :) Although I'll give you a hint: it has to do with her power.
The goal for this chapter is 44 reviews. Hopefully we can manage it :)
Bye bye xx