A/N: Thanks a lot to everyone who's reviewed (Sunsun18, cedriclover, Anja Summers, True Roswellian, ellen-sensative-soul, Iris Knotwise, JTRA). I appreciate the support. Let's continue with the story!
I'm so lost
I'm barely here
I wish I could explain myself
But words escape me
It's too late
To save me
You're too late
You're too late
You're cold with disappointment
While I'm drowning in the next room
The last contagious victim of this plague between us
I'm sick with apprehension
I'm crippled from exhaustion
And I dread the moment when you finally come to kill me
-blink-182. Song: Stockholm Syndrome
Blue Roses.
Chapter four: Standing in the Rain
Skye threw open the doors, and ran blindly into the dark outside, feeling cold sheets of rain pelting her body. She felt her legs carry her, but she was blind because of the tears. She couldn't even hear the cries of the students behind her telling her to return.
She continued running, though her lungs ached and her legs were burning. She continued running until she realized the rain was stopping, because she had ran into a dense brush. She looked behind her, and all she saw were trees. She continued walking forward, wondering where it would lead her, while she collected her thoughts.
I was so stupid saying that in front of everyone! Now, Snape's one. I've finally broke. We talked about it.
But know everyone knows the harm that he's caused. Another part of her said. You've let anyone know how dangerous he is. Maybe they'll petition to kick him out of the school.
Maybe they'll kick me out of the school for causing mayhem...
Righteous mayhem! You had to do that! Now, you've spared yourself to inform so many others! Isn't that enough justice to you?
Sparing myself, yes. Perhaps sparing the only things going for me; my friends, and my school. They'll make me go back to...him.
They could never! That would be just...wrong.
Skye found a clearing, in which there was a patch of comfy-looking leaves. She sat down, and realized that she was soaked from head-to-toe, and freezing. She huddled close, and chattered her teeth. She wanted to go back, but she just couldn't. There would be harsh words said, piercing gazes, questions, and Snape, back for revenge.
Revenge is sweet. He'll use one of his evil potions on you.
She tried to block out her thoughts. What was she thinking, declaring her painful past to the entire school? What sort of fool would do something like that?
Apparently me.
She sighed, and let out a big puff of air, which could be seen due to the cold late November temperature. She huddled closer to herself, feeling her wet robes sticking to her. Her hair began to grey, while her nose shrunk and her cheekbones hollowed. She began to look oddly aged.
"Who steps into our forest?" Skye heard a dark, deep voice ask.
"I...what?"
There was a harsh laugh, and another voice said, "foolish human. Thinking she can play innocent as she trespasses on our land."
"What should we do with this one? Same as the last one?" the first voice asked.
"No, really, I was just getting going!" Skye said nervously, standing up.
"I think not."
A man (or was it?) stepped out of the brush. He had the head and torso of a man, and the dark silver body of a horse. He was pawing one of his hooves, and looked ready for attack.
"I think so," a familiar voice said, from her left, "and I think you won't have any say in it."
Brayden stepped out into the clearing, Cedric at his heels. He had his wand held out in front of him, and a fearless look was on his face.
"Oh, please, boy, you don't scare us." the silver centaur said. With that, another centaur, this one a roan color, came from out of the brush.
"What has she ever done to you?"
"She has stepped onto our land!"
"It is not your land!"
Brayden bent down to Cedric, and whispered, "get Hagrid" to him. Cedric turned around, and bolted out of the bushes.
"We are the wisest here, it is our land!" the roan centaur began pawing angrily, and two more centaurs, one a chestnut and one a black, stepped out.
"It is anyone who wishes to inhabit it's land! This forest belongs to the school!"
"But is run by us!" the black centaur added.
"Why are we wasting our time with these petty humans? They are but foals!" the chestnut centaur said.
"Step back, Firenze, give them no pity," the silver centaur said, "they brought this upon themselves, especially the boy, you human-lover."
"I am not! I am just being fare!" the centaur named Firenze opposed.
"Enough wasting our time arguing, let us finish these two off!" the black centaur budged in.
"Wait!" Brayden said, and Skye saw panic in his eyes. He's trying to stall them... she thought
"We are so young! She is only 11 and I am but 15!" Brayden knew he wanted small talk, anything to hold the centaurs back. "I know no powerful magic! I am not here to harm you, I just want to take her back! She has just been through an extremely painful situation..."
"You think this forest is a place for serenity?" the roan centaur asked.
"I did not know!" Skye said, tears beginning to stream down her face, "I was just blindly running and...and..."
Three of the centaurs laughed heartily.
"You cannot handle life so you attempt to run away? Shows the true weakness of humans. If you are so upset with your life, why not let us finish it off for you?" the black centaur said, a smile widening his face.
Skye let out a high scream as behind Brayden, the tallest man she's ever seen, at least two times taller than any regular person and three times the berth, with a black shaggy beard and long hair that covered most of his face.
"Bane! Rowan! Tolton! (A/N: I was uncreative with names today) get away fro' her!" the large man said. Skye gasped when she noticed he was carrying a large crossbow.
The three centaurs turned to Hagrid, and the roan one bent down, almost to his knees in a bow, to Hagrid.
"As you wish."
And with that, the roan centaur reared up, turning on his back hooves, and galloped straight towards Skye. Before she could move, she felt him knock her over, and she whacked her head off the ground. She felt his hooves digging into her rib cage, shoulder, and arm. She gave a barely audible moan of pain before seeing blackness.
- - -
Skye awoke a few minutes later, being carried by strong arms. She felt so cold, it was as if she had never felt warm before. Her breathing was labored, and her lungs ached. Every breath out was a shiver, and her teeth clattered. Her vision was blurred, making her carrier unknown, until he spoke.
"She's awake!" he said. "Skye, can you hear me?"
Skye opened her mouth, but shut it tightly as she balled up closer to herself, she was so cold...
"Skye!" Brayden called, shaking her.
She couldn't reply. She heard voices up ahead, and after a few moments, felt people prodding her, whispering to each other.
"Get her a blanket!" she heard a women's voice say, "and cart her off to St. Mungo's! She has hypothermia...yes...I think we should..."
The rest of Professor Sprout's voice was drowned out as, once again, Skye saw blackness.
- - -
A/N: Taa-daa! Sorry it took so long...I've been quite busy. The next chapter might not be up for a while, I'm going to New York City from Boxing Day to Jan 3rd, so I'm not sure if I can update. I'll try, though! Hope you like this chapter, new twist coming up soon!