Alec woke up, screaming. He rolled off the bed, his sheets twisted around his body. He lay on the floor, breathing hard and covered in sweat. He was shivering, and tears were running freely down his face. Suddenly, Alec remembered what his dream had been about.
Alec wrenched himself out of his tangled sheets, ripping them in the progress. Without bothering to slip on a coat, or even a shirt, he tore down the steps and burst out the back door. He flew towards the barn- no lights were on. The doors were shut tight,. So Alec knew Henry was asleep.
Alec slipped through the barn doors and rushed down to the Black's stall. The door was open, and the stall was empty. No… Alec shook his head, refusing to believe. Another explanation came to mind, and Alec zipped out to the back pasture.
The boy took a deep breath, realizing how oddly cold it was that night. Alec shot up a quick prayer, then let out a long, shrill whistle. Nothing happened. Alec slipped into the pasture through the fence rails. He whistled again, this time louder, if it was at all possible.
Alec dropped to the ground. His legs felt like jelly, and his head was buzzing with thoughts. He's gone, the boy thought. He's really gone. It wasn't a dream. Get a hold of yourself, Alec! Alec scolded himself. If it wasn't a dream, then what happened to Sham? And the Black's little band? Wait… If that was really a dream, Alec thought slowly, then Satan will still be alive and here! Alec rose to his feet and raced off towards Satan's pasture.
Alec climbed up on the fence, looking towards a low hill a ways off. He thought he saw a black shape on top of it, standing erect and completely still. Alec inhaled, then pierced the quiet night with a sharp whistle.
The boy was overjoyed when the Son of the Black Stallion came loping up to the fence rails. Alec rubbed the velvety muzzle, relief flooding through his brain. Turning on his heel, Alec ran back over to the Black's pasture.
Alec was more confident this time. He drew a deep breath and let out a sharp whistle. The boy stared off into the distance. He was getting unbearably cold, and he was shivery uncontrollably. Alec whistled once more, but softer. Nothing happened.
Alec sat down hard, crying. His whole body shook from tears. He wrapped his arms around his legs, still sobbing. Alec knew he wasn't able to be seen, so he cried.
Something brushed against Alec's arm. The boy, thinking it was a fly, swatted at it. A snort of alarm sounded in his ear. Alec scrambled backwards, eyes searching for the horse. Sham stood before him.
"But… How?..." Alec stuttered. Sham moved towards him, nudging his back with his nose. Alec understood and hopped on.
Sham took off, and the ride reminded Alec of the Black. Only, the Black was taller, and his strides more graceful and long. Alec wondered where in the wide, wide world his wondrous stallion could be.
Sham stopped abruptly, catching Alec unawares and throwing him forward. The boy slid off, looking in all directions. He whistled, wondering if Sham had brought him here for a reason.
A loud scream rent the air. Alec's hope shot up, him thinking that the Black was going to come galloping towards him, like in all the movies. And the Black did. But, right as Alec was within the Black's reach, the stallion disappeared. Suddenly, Sham whirled on the boy.
Sham's head and teeth were everywhere at once. Alec was battered to the ground. He lay there, pain shooting through his body. Then, during a brief break during the bay's onslaught, Alec glanced up though one nearly shut, swollen eye. The bay was rearing, both mighty legs pawing the air mightily. But suddenly, it wasn't Sham- it was the Black.
The Black screamed, and with all his might, brought his forelegs down onto Alec. The stallion's shrill scream was the last thing Alec heard before he…
Author's Note: Well, I think I'm going to leave it this way for about another day or so,so as to keep whoever is really bored enough to even think about reading it (For that matter, see below) to keep them in suspense- what little there is, because my story isn't really all that good. Ah well, the next chapter will be up soon!
Sweet-haret179: Thank you so much for the review- keep writing!
Tristic