Beauty and the Beast
Chapter 3
By: L.V. Scarlette
(R)
-----
XD I noticed that the more chapters I upload constantly, the less reviews I get. x_x To save us
all, I'll upload every other day because of this. Thanks, especially for pointing out that error
-----
I had bumped into something not human, yet not materialistic. I found myself
dumbstruck for an agonizingly long moment. A hoarse gasp escaped my throat as that wall
disappeared just as quickly as my mind registered what it was. I rocked forward then
back on my heels. My hand shot up to cover my mouth. I wanted to yell. I felt my eyes water.
I struggled to keep my breath steady and my heart silent, yet I found myself fighting
against my loud sobs.
I was so surprised. Stunned. I scolded myself to be silent so that I could hear if the beast
was truly nearby. I even forced the logic back into my mind. I told myself that I had just
imagined the beast, yet he felt so real. It seemed so real. The rumbling noise, so deep like
thunder, the mist like breath during winter... It was all real. I wasn't insane! I couldn't
have imagined that!
My hands shot up to cover my ears. I didn't know why, but I felt that gripping my head
with both hands would hold on to it so that I would remain sane. I wanted to scream, to
panic just so I could release my emotions, yet I bottled everything inside my trembling
body. I was truly starting to believe that the beast was real. That he was there. That
seeing me screaming and vulnerable would give him a chance to take me.
I sank down to my knees. I buried my face into my lap and shivered, struggling against
my tears. My heart wept though my mind reminded me that a blurry vision wouldn't help
me. I pounded my fists against the ground, only to discover that it was partly carpeted. I
continued to sob. Father, oh Father. What have I done? I was foolish and terribly
curious! How could I? How could I let my curiosity get the best of me when I had my
own Father to save? I was blind. I hated myself for that.
I calmed myself down for a moment. My hands roamed the floor, searching for the
familiar touch of the candle holder. I suddenly realized that I had dropped it. My hands
then shot up to rub my eyes. I didn't realize I actually cried all my tears out, though only
for a while. My vision was still blurry, but I managed to catch a glimpse of the golden
glow not too far away.
I reached out to touch it, but I paused to think about the beast. For him to see me crying
was a humiliation, for it showed him how weak I was. I didn't want anyone to think that,
especially not a hungry monster. I scolded myself for pride, yet I had to admit that crying
made me feel vulnerable. Reaching out for something made me feel vulnerable.
I quickly wrapped my fingers around the candle holder and pulled it close to me. The
flame remained still. I didn't care if it belonged to the beast. It served as proof of
enchantment, and I found myself too calm and determined to leave with Father and proof.
I stood up and brushed my coat as if to smooth away the dirt. I pulled my shoulders back
and took a deep breath, though I was sure that my tear-stained face wasn't giving me the
haughty air of courage that I wanted the beast to see.
I opened my mouth to demand him to step out of the shadows, yet nothing came out. I
knew he was watching me. I could feel it. The very thought of it pierced through the new
found courage that I had and rattled my nerves. Oh, how I wanted to vanish my
nervousness. Little did I know that a worse feeling would return.
My senses flooded with that sweet sensation again. He was leading me on. The scent
must have been his temptation to lure me into his arms. I planted my heels firmly into the
floor, yet my curiosity led them toward two large doors. They must have been at least
thrice my size, yet a simple touch my palm against the cool wood sent then creaking
open. I pulled my hand back. No, not the curiosity again. Was he doing something to me?
I never felt so out of control.
Oh, but the sensations! They pulled me in. It wasn't just the scent that greeted me. It was
a vision! All around me similar candles lit up and showered the great room with a golden
and warm glow. I set the candle in my hand down on a nearby table. My eyes adjusted to
a magnificent feast for the eyes. All around me were beautiful statues adoring the high
walls. Angels? Nymphs? I couldn't tell. I could only notice so much, and already what I
saw was amazing!
Before me stood a long table set with silver platters. There was another set of doors all
the way at the other end of the room, which seemed so far away. The room seemed
endless in luxury. Was I in heaven? I didn't know, but the thought of delicious food in the
platters made me aware of my hunger and thirst.
I ran to the nearest chair and ignored the way it simply glided out for me to sit in. My
senses were getting the best of me. I scolded myself. I figured it was the beast's way to
attack me. I figured that the food could have been poison, especially since it was evidence
that someone had occupied the place recently and probably expected me. Or someone
else?
I didn't care. I opened a platter and filled my plate with peas and potatoes. I took a slice
of meat from another platter and shoved it into my mouth. Oh, lord! My senses! Oh, how
I loved the sudden new taste in my mouth. They were all different yet they all melted into
one heavenly feast for me. I swallowed the bite and lifted my cup, only to find that it had
wine in it. I drank heartily, enjoying the rich, fine taste.
I shoved another bite into my mouth. Oh, the taste of it! I loved it, though my body was
in denial. It protested, yet it welcomed everything. If the whole thing was a trick then it
was a good one, I had to admit. The juicy meat, the cool wine...all against my lips and my
tongue. I've never tasted anything so sweet in my life...and probably so deadly.
That thought shook me. That was it. I didn't care how hungry I was. I had to leave. I had
to find Father. I had to refuse all temptations the castle held for me. It took all my control
to reluctantly pull myself away from the table. I felt dazed. I was still craving the sweet
potatoes, but I tried desperately to ignore that. I stepped away from the table. Though I
felt energized after eating such scrumptious food, my legs were still weak. Perhaps it was
simply because my body didn't want to leave. My mind yelled at me, but my body refused
it's orders.
I bit my bottom lip and forced a few steps forward toward the other end of the room.
Bad move. I stumbled upon a chair and found my heart racing once again. I felt like a
child learning how to walk, and children were vulnerable. I frowned in anger. I didn't
want to think about how vulnerable I was. I just wanted to think about Father. I assumed
it was the only way to get out.
Glancing at the food one last time, I straightened my back and slowly walked all the way
across the room. My eyes roamed cautiously around the walls, every curve of the statues,
every stainless fold of cloth...
My hand touched something cool. I snapped back to attention and found myself walking
through the doors I had noticed earlier from the other end of the room. They slowly
creaked open, so quiet and intimidating. I was starting to despise silence. It made
everything seem so big. It made me seem so small and helpless -
I pushed that thought away immediately. If the beast really wanted to kill me then he
would have done that already. If it was a game he was playing then I was going to play it
too. I was just determined to win. Win my father back. Win my freedom and win my way
out of the castle. I made up my mind that fear would only get in the way. It was a fruitless
emotion that could weaken or strengthen a person. I didn't like the weak part, so I held my
head up high and explored the new room I had walked into.
Lights bloomed out of nowhere, lighting up every intricate detail. This time, the lights
weren't the candles I had seen earlier. They were still candles, but these candles came in
various sizes and designs. A lot of them were shaped like forks. Others were as small as a
pin while their holders were sophisticated and amazingly huge.
My eyes sparkled with delight. I could tell. I could feel the star-like reflections dancing
in my eyes. As weird as it seemed to me, I felt as if numerous other eyes were upon me.
Smiling eyes. I didn't know how I felt all these things. I didn't really care. There was
nothing but beauty all around me. The atmosphere was almost friendly. I loved what I
saw, and for some reason I felt compelled to stay a bit longer and observe every little
thing.
A small smile curved my lips as I realized what the room was. It seemed like a grand
ballroom. Father told me about such a room. He said it was a well-lit, spacious area with
beautiful art and large windows. He said it was built for people to dance in and be merry.
I wasn't really sure if it really was a ballroom, but I felt that it was. I would've been
shocked that I had actually witnessed a ballroom in real life instead of in Father's
tales, but the beauty pleased me too much to do more than smile and walk around.
I guessed that the many lights served as a source of security for me since there were no
dark places for the beast to hide in. I guessed that he was thrilled to see how distracted I
was. That thought was disturbing, so I decided to play along and simply drown myself in
all the details. I allowed my eyes to roam freely around every chair at every corner, every
wooden table, though my mind was still alert.
I then noticed that there were more statues near the windows. I took note of how the
faces seemed so realistic...almost human-like. Wasn't that what statues were meant to be
like in the first place? So realistic? I reminded myself of this, yet the way the brows
curved and the lips stood parted...it all seemed a little too realistic to me.
I approached one of the statues. It was that of a woman. She seemed a little older than
me. Her hair was carved in curls. I got the impression that they were raven ones. Her
features were calm yet fiery. I wasn't sure how I figured that out, but as I have mentioned
earlier the details were amazing. It was as if I was staring at a live human drenched
in...gold? Silver? Marble? I didn't know what the statues were made of, but it seemed
so lovely.
I cautiously reached out and traced her thumb. It was as big as mine. That was when I
noticed that most of the statues were not only made to look like humans, they were made
to be as tall and as slim as humans themselves. I nearly snatched my hand back at the
thought of it, but my fingers curiously ran across the statues hair and onto the window's
curtains instead.
I took a moment to observe the curtains. They were a deep shade of red...almost bloody.
The corners were elegantly lined with golden patterns. I sighed to no one in particular.
The room truly was a vision. I suddenly didn't see how merchants could go mad. If this
was what they saw then they must have been insane to begin with. To go home and rant
about a monster when faced with such a paradise...I scoffed at the idea. I didn't know
about them, but if the beast was going to kill me then I might as well die with lovely
visions in my mind. It was a pathetic thought, but it helped eased the growing anxiety.
I then wondered what was behind the curtains. What was outside...outside the window. I
slowly pushed a part of the curtain aside and peeked outside. At first all I could see was
my own reflection. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, revealing what seemed
to be a garden. I squinted and touched the cool glass as if to give myself a better view.
I was right. It was a garden. Though the sky was dark, the moonlight still caressed a
few structures and vines here and there. I couldn't see much, but I could tell that the
garden was a beauty.
I then noticed something flicker out of the corner of my eye. My vision blurred a bit then
fell upon my own reflection on the glass again. At first I tried to look back out. I figured
that whatever I saw was outside, but I was wrong. I soon found that what I saw was
actually a reflection, for next to my reflection was a different one...one with dark,
human-like features and bright eyes. One that belonged to someone else.
My hand shot up to my mouth. The reflection faded quickly as I turned around. I was
alone in the room, but the room's serenity had left me. I was startled and frightened all
over again. This time, I was blinded by my fear. All the statues seemed to gaze at me,
willing me out the door. I stepped aside from the windows and ran all the way to another
set of doors. I didn't think it was the set leading me to the room I had eaten in earlier, but I
honestly did not care.
My knees burned with the sudden speed I forced into my body as I ran out of the
ballroom. My mind did not register what the next room was. All I knew was that a few
dim candles lit up enough for me to know that I wasn't running into a wall. At least I
didn't see a wall before me.
I slowed down a bit as I turned a corner. A loud shriek escaped my throat as I ran into
that same muscular being that I bumped into earlier. I felt something warm touch both of
my wrists, but I pulled them back immediately so I did not have time to determine what it
was. At the back of my mind I knew what had touched me, but I did not want to think
about it. I was scared enough. My legs were paralyzed. My mind willed me to run
somewhere...anywhere. I could point out numerous places to run to, yet I remained
standing with fresh tears streaming down my cheeks.
I held my hands to my chest almost as if to protect myself. My knees buckled and
slowly started to give way. I shook my head as if begging the dark figure before me not to
take my life. I didn't really know why I wasn't trying to run away. I discovered that I
wasn't all that frightened. I was just shocked. Shocked that I actually did run into what
could have very well been the beast. Shocked that the legends were true. Shocked that I
could've run into the man - the thing - that could've killed my father. If Father was dead.
The dark figure stepped toward me. I took a step back and trembled, my silent pleas and
sobs dying down. I simply stared at the figure and found that I was scared for my life at
that point. The shock was still evident, yet I was starting to fear for my life more than
ever. I couldn't describe the sensations running through me. My head throbbed with
confusion. I felt dazed...almost sleepy.
I finally remained silent. I rocked back on my heels again. It seemed as if all I could hear
was my pounding heart. It was like a drum - a steady yet frenzied beat. So loud and frightening.
Was it my heart or did it belong to another?
The dark figure took another step toward me. I didn't move anymore. I simply prepared
myself for death and silently begged to no one in particular to keep my family safe...or what
was left of my family. I begged for forgiveness. The strange thing was, I didn't feel like I
was going to die. I told myself I knew I was going to die, but my heart told me otherwise.
Surprisingly, it wasn't racing against time.
Truth to be told, I had calmed down. My heart was beating at a steady pace again. My
knees were slowly giving in all the way, and my body simply longed for comfort and heat.
Heat came. I felt that same warm touch earlier caress my shoulders. I felt my eyes roll
back a bit, my eyelids dropping down. I forced myself to stay awake, but I couldn't help it.
In moments that seemed so quick yet so slow, I found myself falling into the soft, strong
wall and drifting off into serenity. I felt that same soft sensation encircle my waist, lift me
up, wrap me in warmth...
I didn't know what happened after that. All I knew was that I felt safe. I felt sure of
myself. I had succumbed to the darkness.
-----
AN: Please pardon any errors.
Chapter 3
By: L.V. Scarlette
(R)
-----
XD I noticed that the more chapters I upload constantly, the less reviews I get. x_x To save us
all, I'll upload every other day because of this. Thanks, especially for pointing out that error
-----
I had bumped into something not human, yet not materialistic. I found myself
dumbstruck for an agonizingly long moment. A hoarse gasp escaped my throat as that wall
disappeared just as quickly as my mind registered what it was. I rocked forward then
back on my heels. My hand shot up to cover my mouth. I wanted to yell. I felt my eyes water.
I struggled to keep my breath steady and my heart silent, yet I found myself fighting
against my loud sobs.
I was so surprised. Stunned. I scolded myself to be silent so that I could hear if the beast
was truly nearby. I even forced the logic back into my mind. I told myself that I had just
imagined the beast, yet he felt so real. It seemed so real. The rumbling noise, so deep like
thunder, the mist like breath during winter... It was all real. I wasn't insane! I couldn't
have imagined that!
My hands shot up to cover my ears. I didn't know why, but I felt that gripping my head
with both hands would hold on to it so that I would remain sane. I wanted to scream, to
panic just so I could release my emotions, yet I bottled everything inside my trembling
body. I was truly starting to believe that the beast was real. That he was there. That
seeing me screaming and vulnerable would give him a chance to take me.
I sank down to my knees. I buried my face into my lap and shivered, struggling against
my tears. My heart wept though my mind reminded me that a blurry vision wouldn't help
me. I pounded my fists against the ground, only to discover that it was partly carpeted. I
continued to sob. Father, oh Father. What have I done? I was foolish and terribly
curious! How could I? How could I let my curiosity get the best of me when I had my
own Father to save? I was blind. I hated myself for that.
I calmed myself down for a moment. My hands roamed the floor, searching for the
familiar touch of the candle holder. I suddenly realized that I had dropped it. My hands
then shot up to rub my eyes. I didn't realize I actually cried all my tears out, though only
for a while. My vision was still blurry, but I managed to catch a glimpse of the golden
glow not too far away.
I reached out to touch it, but I paused to think about the beast. For him to see me crying
was a humiliation, for it showed him how weak I was. I didn't want anyone to think that,
especially not a hungry monster. I scolded myself for pride, yet I had to admit that crying
made me feel vulnerable. Reaching out for something made me feel vulnerable.
I quickly wrapped my fingers around the candle holder and pulled it close to me. The
flame remained still. I didn't care if it belonged to the beast. It served as proof of
enchantment, and I found myself too calm and determined to leave with Father and proof.
I stood up and brushed my coat as if to smooth away the dirt. I pulled my shoulders back
and took a deep breath, though I was sure that my tear-stained face wasn't giving me the
haughty air of courage that I wanted the beast to see.
I opened my mouth to demand him to step out of the shadows, yet nothing came out. I
knew he was watching me. I could feel it. The very thought of it pierced through the new
found courage that I had and rattled my nerves. Oh, how I wanted to vanish my
nervousness. Little did I know that a worse feeling would return.
My senses flooded with that sweet sensation again. He was leading me on. The scent
must have been his temptation to lure me into his arms. I planted my heels firmly into the
floor, yet my curiosity led them toward two large doors. They must have been at least
thrice my size, yet a simple touch my palm against the cool wood sent then creaking
open. I pulled my hand back. No, not the curiosity again. Was he doing something to me?
I never felt so out of control.
Oh, but the sensations! They pulled me in. It wasn't just the scent that greeted me. It was
a vision! All around me similar candles lit up and showered the great room with a golden
and warm glow. I set the candle in my hand down on a nearby table. My eyes adjusted to
a magnificent feast for the eyes. All around me were beautiful statues adoring the high
walls. Angels? Nymphs? I couldn't tell. I could only notice so much, and already what I
saw was amazing!
Before me stood a long table set with silver platters. There was another set of doors all
the way at the other end of the room, which seemed so far away. The room seemed
endless in luxury. Was I in heaven? I didn't know, but the thought of delicious food in the
platters made me aware of my hunger and thirst.
I ran to the nearest chair and ignored the way it simply glided out for me to sit in. My
senses were getting the best of me. I scolded myself. I figured it was the beast's way to
attack me. I figured that the food could have been poison, especially since it was evidence
that someone had occupied the place recently and probably expected me. Or someone
else?
I didn't care. I opened a platter and filled my plate with peas and potatoes. I took a slice
of meat from another platter and shoved it into my mouth. Oh, lord! My senses! Oh, how
I loved the sudden new taste in my mouth. They were all different yet they all melted into
one heavenly feast for me. I swallowed the bite and lifted my cup, only to find that it had
wine in it. I drank heartily, enjoying the rich, fine taste.
I shoved another bite into my mouth. Oh, the taste of it! I loved it, though my body was
in denial. It protested, yet it welcomed everything. If the whole thing was a trick then it
was a good one, I had to admit. The juicy meat, the cool wine...all against my lips and my
tongue. I've never tasted anything so sweet in my life...and probably so deadly.
That thought shook me. That was it. I didn't care how hungry I was. I had to leave. I had
to find Father. I had to refuse all temptations the castle held for me. It took all my control
to reluctantly pull myself away from the table. I felt dazed. I was still craving the sweet
potatoes, but I tried desperately to ignore that. I stepped away from the table. Though I
felt energized after eating such scrumptious food, my legs were still weak. Perhaps it was
simply because my body didn't want to leave. My mind yelled at me, but my body refused
it's orders.
I bit my bottom lip and forced a few steps forward toward the other end of the room.
Bad move. I stumbled upon a chair and found my heart racing once again. I felt like a
child learning how to walk, and children were vulnerable. I frowned in anger. I didn't
want to think about how vulnerable I was. I just wanted to think about Father. I assumed
it was the only way to get out.
Glancing at the food one last time, I straightened my back and slowly walked all the way
across the room. My eyes roamed cautiously around the walls, every curve of the statues,
every stainless fold of cloth...
My hand touched something cool. I snapped back to attention and found myself walking
through the doors I had noticed earlier from the other end of the room. They slowly
creaked open, so quiet and intimidating. I was starting to despise silence. It made
everything seem so big. It made me seem so small and helpless -
I pushed that thought away immediately. If the beast really wanted to kill me then he
would have done that already. If it was a game he was playing then I was going to play it
too. I was just determined to win. Win my father back. Win my freedom and win my way
out of the castle. I made up my mind that fear would only get in the way. It was a fruitless
emotion that could weaken or strengthen a person. I didn't like the weak part, so I held my
head up high and explored the new room I had walked into.
Lights bloomed out of nowhere, lighting up every intricate detail. This time, the lights
weren't the candles I had seen earlier. They were still candles, but these candles came in
various sizes and designs. A lot of them were shaped like forks. Others were as small as a
pin while their holders were sophisticated and amazingly huge.
My eyes sparkled with delight. I could tell. I could feel the star-like reflections dancing
in my eyes. As weird as it seemed to me, I felt as if numerous other eyes were upon me.
Smiling eyes. I didn't know how I felt all these things. I didn't really care. There was
nothing but beauty all around me. The atmosphere was almost friendly. I loved what I
saw, and for some reason I felt compelled to stay a bit longer and observe every little
thing.
A small smile curved my lips as I realized what the room was. It seemed like a grand
ballroom. Father told me about such a room. He said it was a well-lit, spacious area with
beautiful art and large windows. He said it was built for people to dance in and be merry.
I wasn't really sure if it really was a ballroom, but I felt that it was. I would've been
shocked that I had actually witnessed a ballroom in real life instead of in Father's
tales, but the beauty pleased me too much to do more than smile and walk around.
I guessed that the many lights served as a source of security for me since there were no
dark places for the beast to hide in. I guessed that he was thrilled to see how distracted I
was. That thought was disturbing, so I decided to play along and simply drown myself in
all the details. I allowed my eyes to roam freely around every chair at every corner, every
wooden table, though my mind was still alert.
I then noticed that there were more statues near the windows. I took note of how the
faces seemed so realistic...almost human-like. Wasn't that what statues were meant to be
like in the first place? So realistic? I reminded myself of this, yet the way the brows
curved and the lips stood parted...it all seemed a little too realistic to me.
I approached one of the statues. It was that of a woman. She seemed a little older than
me. Her hair was carved in curls. I got the impression that they were raven ones. Her
features were calm yet fiery. I wasn't sure how I figured that out, but as I have mentioned
earlier the details were amazing. It was as if I was staring at a live human drenched
in...gold? Silver? Marble? I didn't know what the statues were made of, but it seemed
so lovely.
I cautiously reached out and traced her thumb. It was as big as mine. That was when I
noticed that most of the statues were not only made to look like humans, they were made
to be as tall and as slim as humans themselves. I nearly snatched my hand back at the
thought of it, but my fingers curiously ran across the statues hair and onto the window's
curtains instead.
I took a moment to observe the curtains. They were a deep shade of red...almost bloody.
The corners were elegantly lined with golden patterns. I sighed to no one in particular.
The room truly was a vision. I suddenly didn't see how merchants could go mad. If this
was what they saw then they must have been insane to begin with. To go home and rant
about a monster when faced with such a paradise...I scoffed at the idea. I didn't know
about them, but if the beast was going to kill me then I might as well die with lovely
visions in my mind. It was a pathetic thought, but it helped eased the growing anxiety.
I then wondered what was behind the curtains. What was outside...outside the window. I
slowly pushed a part of the curtain aside and peeked outside. At first all I could see was
my own reflection. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, revealing what seemed
to be a garden. I squinted and touched the cool glass as if to give myself a better view.
I was right. It was a garden. Though the sky was dark, the moonlight still caressed a
few structures and vines here and there. I couldn't see much, but I could tell that the
garden was a beauty.
I then noticed something flicker out of the corner of my eye. My vision blurred a bit then
fell upon my own reflection on the glass again. At first I tried to look back out. I figured
that whatever I saw was outside, but I was wrong. I soon found that what I saw was
actually a reflection, for next to my reflection was a different one...one with dark,
human-like features and bright eyes. One that belonged to someone else.
My hand shot up to my mouth. The reflection faded quickly as I turned around. I was
alone in the room, but the room's serenity had left me. I was startled and frightened all
over again. This time, I was blinded by my fear. All the statues seemed to gaze at me,
willing me out the door. I stepped aside from the windows and ran all the way to another
set of doors. I didn't think it was the set leading me to the room I had eaten in earlier, but I
honestly did not care.
My knees burned with the sudden speed I forced into my body as I ran out of the
ballroom. My mind did not register what the next room was. All I knew was that a few
dim candles lit up enough for me to know that I wasn't running into a wall. At least I
didn't see a wall before me.
I slowed down a bit as I turned a corner. A loud shriek escaped my throat as I ran into
that same muscular being that I bumped into earlier. I felt something warm touch both of
my wrists, but I pulled them back immediately so I did not have time to determine what it
was. At the back of my mind I knew what had touched me, but I did not want to think
about it. I was scared enough. My legs were paralyzed. My mind willed me to run
somewhere...anywhere. I could point out numerous places to run to, yet I remained
standing with fresh tears streaming down my cheeks.
I held my hands to my chest almost as if to protect myself. My knees buckled and
slowly started to give way. I shook my head as if begging the dark figure before me not to
take my life. I didn't really know why I wasn't trying to run away. I discovered that I
wasn't all that frightened. I was just shocked. Shocked that I actually did run into what
could have very well been the beast. Shocked that the legends were true. Shocked that I
could've run into the man - the thing - that could've killed my father. If Father was dead.
The dark figure stepped toward me. I took a step back and trembled, my silent pleas and
sobs dying down. I simply stared at the figure and found that I was scared for my life at
that point. The shock was still evident, yet I was starting to fear for my life more than
ever. I couldn't describe the sensations running through me. My head throbbed with
confusion. I felt dazed...almost sleepy.
I finally remained silent. I rocked back on my heels again. It seemed as if all I could hear
was my pounding heart. It was like a drum - a steady yet frenzied beat. So loud and frightening.
Was it my heart or did it belong to another?
The dark figure took another step toward me. I didn't move anymore. I simply prepared
myself for death and silently begged to no one in particular to keep my family safe...or what
was left of my family. I begged for forgiveness. The strange thing was, I didn't feel like I
was going to die. I told myself I knew I was going to die, but my heart told me otherwise.
Surprisingly, it wasn't racing against time.
Truth to be told, I had calmed down. My heart was beating at a steady pace again. My
knees were slowly giving in all the way, and my body simply longed for comfort and heat.
Heat came. I felt that same warm touch earlier caress my shoulders. I felt my eyes roll
back a bit, my eyelids dropping down. I forced myself to stay awake, but I couldn't help it.
In moments that seemed so quick yet so slow, I found myself falling into the soft, strong
wall and drifting off into serenity. I felt that same soft sensation encircle my waist, lift me
up, wrap me in warmth...
I didn't know what happened after that. All I knew was that I felt safe. I felt sure of
myself. I had succumbed to the darkness.
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AN: Please pardon any errors.
