--------------------------------------------------------
The cold winds whistled around Serena, making her feel frozen and alone in this unforgiving storm. Sudden lightnings and thunders caught her with her guard down every now and then.
Serena was begining to think that all this was a bad idea afterall. The cbin had never been more inviting. A safe haven, warm and cosy. Even with that Darien lurking around.
What if Reeny is safe and sound somewhere. Then, she would have wasted everything in other to go on this stupid rescue thing. But if she was right, then....
Serena shook her head stubbornly. She could be worse than a donkey when she wanted to. Serena wrapped her jacket tighter around her, hugging the small bagpack in search for warmth.
________________________________________________________
Darien heard the door slam again and felt the sudden chill as the outside air came rushing in. 'It must be Reeny coming back.' he thought.
He turned on the television, trying to catch up with the outside world. Huddled up on the couch, the place where Serena had occupied earlier.
It was the last thing on his mind that Serena would even dare to go out and brave this crazy storm.
________________________________________________________
The contrasting figure in the dark barren empty area was shocking. Still it walked on, slowly turning and stopping every once in a while to call out several words.
It was even hard to see if it was a he or a she. All that was visible were a huge jacket and something around the arms.
You could even feel it shivering.
________________________________________________________
Serena sighed, her lips were chapped and she was begining to feel the effects of frostbite. Light snow flakes stayed on her eyelashes and her breaths came out raggedly and strained before turning into white and wet mist.
Her legs were sore and her arms sting. Every movement caused a jolt of pain prickling up her spine.
"Now I know what it feels like to be an old woman," Serena whispered to herself.
She lowered the bagpack which seemed too heavy all of a sudden and stretched her aching muscles. She picked up the offending object before continuing with new determination.
________________________________________________________
Pop !
The lights and the television screen went out. Darien looked around frustratedly. It was a basketball playoff and the game was getting interesting when the black box decided to turn itself off.
"This is so ironic," he said aloud, not caring if the world heard him at the moment.
Before he managed to leash out some temperental actions, Darien re-checked himself, thinking rationally. At this weather surely the electricity would go off, he reasoned.
He just hoped Serena wasn't scared.
________________________________________________________
Serena blinked. Surely that was something that resembles Reeny. Pink, definitely pink. She stumbled as fast as she could to reach it.
The snow made all her actions slower than she would have like, but if that pink thing is Reeny, then she would have to move even faster. Every second counts.
________________________________________________________
Meanwhile,
Darien was having a tug-of-war inside his head. Should he go and check out how Reeny is ? Or, okay, Serena. He felt responsible as he was the only guy and the eldest in this cabin by five years to the blond and goodness know how much to the other.
He weighted the pros and cons as if the matters of the world rested on his shoulders. By the way, his shoulders ARE wide.
He chuckled lightly to himself when he thought about Tuxedo Mask, his alter ego. He didn't even take so long or go over the matters so throughly even when he was saving the WORLD !
"Again, I repeat, this is so ironic !" Darien said, half amused.
'Back to business !' his brain screamed.
________________________________________________________
Serena stood dissapointedly in front of the pinkish thing. Now with the silvery faint moonlight peering through the thick clouds and rain, it was nothing more than a piece of junk, and it is BROWN in colour.
Serena stared at it in digust because the rush to it had took so much of her valuable energy. Oh, she could just scream.
Serena took her foot and stomped on the unknowing thing.
SNAP !
Serena gave a anguished cry before collapsing on the cold snow. The thing was actually a trap meant for a lone hungry rabbit who wanted to find food in winter.
Pain shooted up every single nerve in her body as huge tears rolled down her cheeks. Suprisingly, they were silent tears. Serena grabbed frantically at anything she could put a grip on.
A piece of crackled wood was the victim. Serena gripped it unmercilessly, hoping the pain would be transferred to the old stick but it builded up, getting hotter and worse every minute.
Serena gave a last cry before the pain and darkness consumed her consciousness.
________________________________________________________
Darien hesitantly opened the heavy oak door after his numerous knocks went unanswered. In one hand he held a candlestand he had found in the kitchen. The small flickering light was no match to the fire in the fireplace he had earlier witnessed, but also as deadly if abused.
He prayed and wished and hoped that there would be two lumps on the bed, meaning that Serena and Reeny were asleep, safe and sound.
It wasn't coming true.
He stood there numbly. The bed was empty and never looked like it had been slept in either. Darien wanted to scream and demand an answer right up to the heavens but no sound came out except a raspy whisper.
________________________________________________________
End of Chapter 3 ^_^
Thanks to all you guys out there who have emailed me ! Thanks a lot for everything.
Here's a big big bunch of flowers for ya :)
So what cha think ? Comments wanted and needed. Please and thank you.
Lily Email or ICQ me.... stardazed7@hotmail.com 19112563
-shameless plug-
VISIT www.swoosh.to/mfantasy !
or if that link is dead, try
members.xoom.com/lilyam !
-grin-