-Upon Flaming Wings-
10-26-03
-
A scream shattered the silence. A blinding flash of fire disrupted the darkness. Amara ran as fast as she could. Her eyes were wide with fright. She ran with no sense of direction. She stared into nothing. Fog cleared and she stopped, skidding to a stop in front of a wall. She turned around slowly, afraid. A shudder ran through her. Tears fell from her eyes; eyes that held nothing but fear and betrayal. She hesitated before she backed up, falling through the wall that was supposed to be there. She fell into the mud. She forced herself to get up. Her eyes still focused on the wall, she saw 'him' come through. She turned around and heard the splashing of her feet in the mud. She could hear 'his' heavier ones advancing on her. Her breath quickened. She panted. She felt flames lick her face and her bare skin. She screamed. The mud hardened on her t-shirt and sweat pants as she fell back from the wall of flames. She turned her head and saw 'him' slowly walk toward her.
-
Amara screamed and her eyes snapped open. Her door flung open. She was in tears. She cried into her pillow and felt a light touch on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked back at Ororo.
"Another nightmare?" Amara nodded and launched herself into Ororo's awaiting arms. She cried into the woman's shoulder as Ororo soothed her hair back. "You poor child."
"Amara!" She looked up and found John in the doorway, his eyes wide with fear for her. "Are you okay?" He rushed over and she nodded. She shrank away from him and stayed in Storm's arms. This was going to be another long night.
-
Amara held her books to her chest and walked through the barren hallways. She was on her way to lunch and was walking slowly, dazed. Someone came up beside her and walked quietly for a moment by her side.
"Amara, have you thought about the dance?" She jumped and looked over, her breathing quickening. She sighed. "Is there anything wrong?" She shook her head.
"I just don't know, Brandon. I'm really sorry. Its been rough this week." He gave her a concerned look.
"Stress?" She shrugged.
"I don't know." Her voice was quiet, soft. He stayed silent then a thought hit him. He looked at her, to see a troubled expression on her face.
"Its that boy, John, isn't it?" At that name, she sort of perked up. She turned to look at Brandon and shook her head.
"We're just friends."
"Right now." She gave him a confused look. "You two always flirt. I seen you before."
"Hey, Amara!" John called to her from his locker. He slammed it shut and smiled at her. His eyes went to Brandon and his smile faded.
"John.." She looked up at him. A flash of fear went through her eyes. He blinked.
"Listen, Sheila, I don't know what happened last night.. I really wish you would tell me." She stiffened and stopped walking. Brandon didn't know what they were talking about but he quickly walked away, seeing John's glare. He hid around the corner.
"I-I can't, St. John." She said softly. "I don't want to talk about it."
"It was a nightmare.. I don't understand.." John trailed off. He felt left out and in the dark.
"I promise that I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"Okay."
-
Lightning flashed through the sky. Amara looked up. The ground and air seemed to shudder from the clap of thunder. Rain beat down on her. John tapped her on the arm and pointed over his shoulder. She nodded. She steadily made her way over to a tree to hide herself from the view of the enemy. She picked up her laser gun and took aim. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for the lightning. She pulled up her night-vision goggles. Scott was standing around, looking. He thought he was hidden, but he was wrong. She pulled the trigger and the red beam shot from the gun. It hit his system and it flashed. They only had one more to get. Signalling to John, who was hiding in a bush. She whispered in a headset.
"I got Cyclops." She whispered. He nodded. Rogue's voice broke her concentration.
"Logan is the only one left." She said. "Ah got 'im in mah sight."
"Get him." She whispered back. She waited for the call of back-up but it never came. She signalled to John and moved forward. They tried to contact Rogue, but it was a failure.
"Rogue jus' got hit." They heard Gambit's voice say through the connection. "Remy will take care o' it fo' us." Amara sighed.
"Well, keep it down will ya?" She whispered. John smirked.
"You'll get caught then have to run the lap of shame." He chuckled. Amara grabbed the back of his uniform and yanked him back. There was Logan and Gambit. They could see it clearly enough. She raised her gun, as did John.
"Shoot." She whispered. They shot at him and screamed in victory when his system flashed. John grabbed her around the waist and spun her around as the jungle image faded, replaced with the Danger Room. They hugged each other, smiling.
"We did it, mates!" Kitty, Rogue, Gambit, and Bobby cheered. Logan rolled his eyes and Scott sighed. Jean crossed her arms and Kurt smiled a little out of happiness for the other team. Jubilee and Piotr, who just came back from visiting his family in Russia, shook their heads.
-
Amara was afraid to sleep but she was exhausted. She pulled the covers up and and closed her eyes. She opened them again and turned her lamp on. She shivered. Her eyes focused on the balcony doors. She hugged her legs to her and bit her lip. A soft knock nearly made her jump out of her skin. She looked over at the door and got up. She opened it and peered out. John smiled at her.
"Can I come in for a minute?" She nodded, allowing him to enter. He sat down on her bed and she sat down next to him. "How do you feel?" She shrugged.
"I.. I don't know." Her eyes went to the floor, as if she was afraid to look at him.
"If you need anything, don't be afraid to knock on my door, okay?" She nodded and watched as he left. "Besides, Wolvie better get some sleep before he starts taking it out on us."
"Thank you, St. John." She said and he turned around, smiling at her. He left.
"'Night, love." She watched him leave with a sort of longing for him to come back.
"Good night." She whispered. She sighed and laid down.
-
Rain hit Amara hard and she wiped it off her forehead. She was walking the dark, quiet streets of Bayville. She walked along in the rain, looking around her, having no idea where she was supposed to be going. She passed Bayville High and the park. She turned into an alley, not knowing where her feet were leading her. She shivered. The cold rain glimmered on her skin in the light of the full, silver moon. A shadow passed over the moon. She jumped when a trash can fell over.
"Who's there?" She whispered in a scared voice. A black cat made its way into the light and she sighed with relief. Returning to her walk, she found a wooden door. Lying her hand on the knob, she was about to turn it. It opened and a man grabbed her. His grip was strong and it hurt her arm. She struggled against his grasp. "Let me go!" He tightened his grip and she winced. He put a hand over her mouth and pulled her in.
"Calm yourself down, Sheila."
-
Amara opened her eyes. She shook her head and sat up. She took got up and opened the door, peeking out. She then closed it silently behind her. Her footsteps were light and soundless against the carpet as she snuck to the room next to hers. She knocked then opened the door. John slept peacefully on his bed. His back was turned toward the door. She closed the door behind her and crept over to his bed. She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently.
"Hmm?" He stretched and opened his eyes, rolling onto his back. "Love?" He propped himself up on his elbows. Her eyes were large and full of fear. "What happened?" He sat up and opened his arms, accepting her into his embrace. She shook her head. How could she tell him that she was dreaming her torture or death from him? How could she tell him that he was her attacker in her nightmares?
"Just hold me.. please?" He nodded and rested his head in her hair. He rocked her like a baby until her breathing slowed and became peaceful. She didn't cry. She was just scared.
"That's it, love. Sleep." He looked at the clock. Midnight. He laid her next to him and pulled the covers over her. He held her in his protective embrace, keeping nightmares away. "I'll protect your dreams."
-
Amara woke up. She felt so fully refreshed.
"Wake up, love." She looked over and blinked. "Its almost time for the calling." She gasped and threw the covers off herself. Hurrying back to her room, she made sure no one saw her. She ran into her room and started getting dressed. Someone knocked on her door. She opened it after she pulled her red shirt over her head.
"Any nightmares, Amara?" Ororo asked with a smile. Amara nodded.
"I didn't scream." She said with a shrug. She pulled on her socks then her shoes. Grabbing a brush on the way out, Amara brushed her hair as she walked down the hallway, Ororo following.
"Oi, what's for breakfast?" John asked, coming up behind them. Ororo shrugged.
"Who knows what Kitty was trying to make. It looked sort of green." Amara's eyes widened in horror and she made a face.
"I'm not eating anything for breakfast." John raised his eyebrow.
"If we leave now, we can catch some breakfast somewhere." She nodded and smiled.
"Sounds better than Kitty's cooking."
-
Amara ate her eggs and bacon. John ate the same. There was still a while before they had to go to school.
"The dance is tonight." She sighed and took a sip of her orange juice. "I'm pretty sure Brandon has a date by now. I can't ask him to take me now."
"Do you want to go with him?" John asked. His food fell off his fork, but he didn't notice. He just left it halfway to his mouth. She shrugged.
"Not really.. I just don't like him as much as I thought I did." He raised an eyebrow. "I love someone else.." She was telling him the truth. She did love someone else. She loved him. And still did, even after those horrible nightmares.
"Who?" His voice was quiet. She didn't answer. She sat there in silence. "Well, if you don't have a date, then will you go with me?" She looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes. He flashed her two tickets. "I have an extra and you're the first and last person I've asked."
"I'd love to!" A smile appeared on her face. She felt warm all over. It was the best feeling in the world. With the exception of him being near her. She couldn't wait until the dance. She had to tell him, to give her heart to him. She couldn't wait to do it.
-
10-26-03
-Jess-
10-26-03
-
A scream shattered the silence. A blinding flash of fire disrupted the darkness. Amara ran as fast as she could. Her eyes were wide with fright. She ran with no sense of direction. She stared into nothing. Fog cleared and she stopped, skidding to a stop in front of a wall. She turned around slowly, afraid. A shudder ran through her. Tears fell from her eyes; eyes that held nothing but fear and betrayal. She hesitated before she backed up, falling through the wall that was supposed to be there. She fell into the mud. She forced herself to get up. Her eyes still focused on the wall, she saw 'him' come through. She turned around and heard the splashing of her feet in the mud. She could hear 'his' heavier ones advancing on her. Her breath quickened. She panted. She felt flames lick her face and her bare skin. She screamed. The mud hardened on her t-shirt and sweat pants as she fell back from the wall of flames. She turned her head and saw 'him' slowly walk toward her.
-
Amara screamed and her eyes snapped open. Her door flung open. She was in tears. She cried into her pillow and felt a light touch on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked back at Ororo.
"Another nightmare?" Amara nodded and launched herself into Ororo's awaiting arms. She cried into the woman's shoulder as Ororo soothed her hair back. "You poor child."
"Amara!" She looked up and found John in the doorway, his eyes wide with fear for her. "Are you okay?" He rushed over and she nodded. She shrank away from him and stayed in Storm's arms. This was going to be another long night.
-
Amara held her books to her chest and walked through the barren hallways. She was on her way to lunch and was walking slowly, dazed. Someone came up beside her and walked quietly for a moment by her side.
"Amara, have you thought about the dance?" She jumped and looked over, her breathing quickening. She sighed. "Is there anything wrong?" She shook her head.
"I just don't know, Brandon. I'm really sorry. Its been rough this week." He gave her a concerned look.
"Stress?" She shrugged.
"I don't know." Her voice was quiet, soft. He stayed silent then a thought hit him. He looked at her, to see a troubled expression on her face.
"Its that boy, John, isn't it?" At that name, she sort of perked up. She turned to look at Brandon and shook her head.
"We're just friends."
"Right now." She gave him a confused look. "You two always flirt. I seen you before."
"Hey, Amara!" John called to her from his locker. He slammed it shut and smiled at her. His eyes went to Brandon and his smile faded.
"John.." She looked up at him. A flash of fear went through her eyes. He blinked.
"Listen, Sheila, I don't know what happened last night.. I really wish you would tell me." She stiffened and stopped walking. Brandon didn't know what they were talking about but he quickly walked away, seeing John's glare. He hid around the corner.
"I-I can't, St. John." She said softly. "I don't want to talk about it."
"It was a nightmare.. I don't understand.." John trailed off. He felt left out and in the dark.
"I promise that I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"Okay."
-
Lightning flashed through the sky. Amara looked up. The ground and air seemed to shudder from the clap of thunder. Rain beat down on her. John tapped her on the arm and pointed over his shoulder. She nodded. She steadily made her way over to a tree to hide herself from the view of the enemy. She picked up her laser gun and took aim. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for the lightning. She pulled up her night-vision goggles. Scott was standing around, looking. He thought he was hidden, but he was wrong. She pulled the trigger and the red beam shot from the gun. It hit his system and it flashed. They only had one more to get. Signalling to John, who was hiding in a bush. She whispered in a headset.
"I got Cyclops." She whispered. He nodded. Rogue's voice broke her concentration.
"Logan is the only one left." She said. "Ah got 'im in mah sight."
"Get him." She whispered back. She waited for the call of back-up but it never came. She signalled to John and moved forward. They tried to contact Rogue, but it was a failure.
"Rogue jus' got hit." They heard Gambit's voice say through the connection. "Remy will take care o' it fo' us." Amara sighed.
"Well, keep it down will ya?" She whispered. John smirked.
"You'll get caught then have to run the lap of shame." He chuckled. Amara grabbed the back of his uniform and yanked him back. There was Logan and Gambit. They could see it clearly enough. She raised her gun, as did John.
"Shoot." She whispered. They shot at him and screamed in victory when his system flashed. John grabbed her around the waist and spun her around as the jungle image faded, replaced with the Danger Room. They hugged each other, smiling.
"We did it, mates!" Kitty, Rogue, Gambit, and Bobby cheered. Logan rolled his eyes and Scott sighed. Jean crossed her arms and Kurt smiled a little out of happiness for the other team. Jubilee and Piotr, who just came back from visiting his family in Russia, shook their heads.
-
Amara was afraid to sleep but she was exhausted. She pulled the covers up and and closed her eyes. She opened them again and turned her lamp on. She shivered. Her eyes focused on the balcony doors. She hugged her legs to her and bit her lip. A soft knock nearly made her jump out of her skin. She looked over at the door and got up. She opened it and peered out. John smiled at her.
"Can I come in for a minute?" She nodded, allowing him to enter. He sat down on her bed and she sat down next to him. "How do you feel?" She shrugged.
"I.. I don't know." Her eyes went to the floor, as if she was afraid to look at him.
"If you need anything, don't be afraid to knock on my door, okay?" She nodded and watched as he left. "Besides, Wolvie better get some sleep before he starts taking it out on us."
"Thank you, St. John." She said and he turned around, smiling at her. He left.
"'Night, love." She watched him leave with a sort of longing for him to come back.
"Good night." She whispered. She sighed and laid down.
-
Rain hit Amara hard and she wiped it off her forehead. She was walking the dark, quiet streets of Bayville. She walked along in the rain, looking around her, having no idea where she was supposed to be going. She passed Bayville High and the park. She turned into an alley, not knowing where her feet were leading her. She shivered. The cold rain glimmered on her skin in the light of the full, silver moon. A shadow passed over the moon. She jumped when a trash can fell over.
"Who's there?" She whispered in a scared voice. A black cat made its way into the light and she sighed with relief. Returning to her walk, she found a wooden door. Lying her hand on the knob, she was about to turn it. It opened and a man grabbed her. His grip was strong and it hurt her arm. She struggled against his grasp. "Let me go!" He tightened his grip and she winced. He put a hand over her mouth and pulled her in.
"Calm yourself down, Sheila."
-
Amara opened her eyes. She shook her head and sat up. She took got up and opened the door, peeking out. She then closed it silently behind her. Her footsteps were light and soundless against the carpet as she snuck to the room next to hers. She knocked then opened the door. John slept peacefully on his bed. His back was turned toward the door. She closed the door behind her and crept over to his bed. She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently.
"Hmm?" He stretched and opened his eyes, rolling onto his back. "Love?" He propped himself up on his elbows. Her eyes were large and full of fear. "What happened?" He sat up and opened his arms, accepting her into his embrace. She shook her head. How could she tell him that she was dreaming her torture or death from him? How could she tell him that he was her attacker in her nightmares?
"Just hold me.. please?" He nodded and rested his head in her hair. He rocked her like a baby until her breathing slowed and became peaceful. She didn't cry. She was just scared.
"That's it, love. Sleep." He looked at the clock. Midnight. He laid her next to him and pulled the covers over her. He held her in his protective embrace, keeping nightmares away. "I'll protect your dreams."
-
Amara woke up. She felt so fully refreshed.
"Wake up, love." She looked over and blinked. "Its almost time for the calling." She gasped and threw the covers off herself. Hurrying back to her room, she made sure no one saw her. She ran into her room and started getting dressed. Someone knocked on her door. She opened it after she pulled her red shirt over her head.
"Any nightmares, Amara?" Ororo asked with a smile. Amara nodded.
"I didn't scream." She said with a shrug. She pulled on her socks then her shoes. Grabbing a brush on the way out, Amara brushed her hair as she walked down the hallway, Ororo following.
"Oi, what's for breakfast?" John asked, coming up behind them. Ororo shrugged.
"Who knows what Kitty was trying to make. It looked sort of green." Amara's eyes widened in horror and she made a face.
"I'm not eating anything for breakfast." John raised his eyebrow.
"If we leave now, we can catch some breakfast somewhere." She nodded and smiled.
"Sounds better than Kitty's cooking."
-
Amara ate her eggs and bacon. John ate the same. There was still a while before they had to go to school.
"The dance is tonight." She sighed and took a sip of her orange juice. "I'm pretty sure Brandon has a date by now. I can't ask him to take me now."
"Do you want to go with him?" John asked. His food fell off his fork, but he didn't notice. He just left it halfway to his mouth. She shrugged.
"Not really.. I just don't like him as much as I thought I did." He raised an eyebrow. "I love someone else.." She was telling him the truth. She did love someone else. She loved him. And still did, even after those horrible nightmares.
"Who?" His voice was quiet. She didn't answer. She sat there in silence. "Well, if you don't have a date, then will you go with me?" She looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes. He flashed her two tickets. "I have an extra and you're the first and last person I've asked."
"I'd love to!" A smile appeared on her face. She felt warm all over. It was the best feeling in the world. With the exception of him being near her. She couldn't wait until the dance. She had to tell him, to give her heart to him. She couldn't wait to do it.
-
10-26-03
-Jess-