Chapter 3: An Eternal Connection
"You're not real." I screamed, still not believing that it was possible Draco had risen from the dead and returned to me. My mind refused to process that he was anything else but ash, his form was but that of a fragment of my imagination. The pressure of his lower body pressed hard against my abdomen was from familiar past memories (back when I enjoyed his little touching), which had suddenly reawakened, breaking the world I was living in.
Tears continued to stream down the sides of my cheeks, my emotions becoming too chaotic for me to control any longer. Had I really missed him so much that my relentless mind conjured a mere fabrication of him, my broken heart still refusing to accept he was gone and never coming back to me. But then who was this person who remained laying on me, my arms still shoved above my head. The weight of the muscular form on my body was real; the touch of cooled flesh against my skin still sent those same shivers racing up the base of my spine. He was real. Draco was real, no matter how my mind tried to make me believe other wise because deep down I wanted him back, I needed him back and he was right in front of me, trying to make me believe he was real once more.
"Elizabeth, I am real. I've searched for you for so long. God only knows, how I missed the green apple scent of your shampoo still evident within your hair, the little dimples that appear on your cheeks whenever someone speaks of a silly moment and the nights you must have spent all alone, no one to be truly with you the way you need." He explained, hitting all the points only he would know and remember.
Suddenly releasing my wrists, he placed his free hand next to my head, allowing me to have my freedom while still managing authority over me. still unsure of who this person was, the stranger stared at me intently, his crystal grey eyes piercing through any barriers I had long since built, unexpectedly crumbled, leaving me defenseless against the intruder.
Trusting my heart for the first time in a long time, I allowed unfamiliar emotions to flood me. Everything seemed completely overwhelming that I thought I wouldn't be able to handle the rush. Slowly my hand reached for his chiseled cheek, my mind screaming for me not to do so. Feeling hesitant, I was about to pull away when I suddenly placed my palm against the young man's cheek, finger tips running along smooth flesh. Gazing into familiar eyes, my heart raced as if nothing had changed in the last century and a half, my heart never surrendering hope, yearning so dearly to see Draco again, to embrace his strong structure, feel his well formed arms wrap around and whisper sweet nothings in my ears, my mind nearly forgetting the sound of his voice and the touch of his lips upon my skin. Everything I thought I had forever forgotten rushed back into me, feelings that remained lost to me up until now.
Fear quickly overtook the joyous emotion, how could I trust what I was seeing? In the past, my mind played cruel allusions on me, making me believe Draco was still alive by my eyes catching a glimpse of wispy silvery strands of hair, seeing his form in the kitchen preparing coffee. How could I trust myself this time even though the intruder's touch seemed real and his features all too familiar only to realize it was merely my imagination running wild again, only to live with the disappointment once more? I couldn't allow myself to live through the process of accepting his death again because of my inability to halt sweet and dangerous images.
Yanking my hand away from the recognizable face, I grabbed the hardbound book I had been reading earlier and slammed it against the side of the stranger's head numerous times until his body collapsed onto the flooring beside me. Pulling my legs from under his, I swiftly stood up and raced to the kitchen, tripping over the leg of the coffee table, my face shoved hard into the carpeting, new flesh exposed on my check. Groaning in pain, I pushed my self forward, swinging my legs underneath me, I attempted to stand up only to fall to the ground. Deciding on a new method, I crawled into the kitchen, gripping the edge of the counter as I pulled myself up. Gaining back my balance, I tried to recall where I kept my knives only failing to do so. Suddenly remembering, I grabbed a dirty frying pan out of the sink, gripping the handle tightly with both hands. Peering around the corner of the wall, a flash of lightening lit up the room; my eyes immediately scanned the floor for the outsider only to conclude he moved. My heart raced faster, the damp blanket of sweat causing my clothes to glue to my body. I licked my dry lips, trying to anticipate what the stranger would attempt next.
My eyes sparkled with hope as to see my only way of escape was partially open. Taking in a deep breath, I bolted around the corner, swung the door open and stepped out of my prison. A firm hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me back into the apartment. Turning around, I swung the pan blindly, not knowing where I was aiming but just trying to escape a fate that didn't belong to me after a long life. Finally releasing his hold, I dashed down the hallway, stopping short in front of one of my neighbor's doors. I balled my hands into fists and pounded hard on wood, the side of my hands reddening.
"Craig, please open the door! Help me!" I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks as I glanced to the side, seeing the stranger gradually making his way towards me.
Suddenly the door popped open, I scrambled inside without explanation, shoving Craig back inside, I slammed the door closed and locked it, thrusting a near chair under the doorknob. Gravity seemed too heavy for me to fight against, feeling my knees grow weak I fell to the floor, Craig beside me.
"Ana, what's wrong? What happened?" he panicked, his black eyes withholding fear of what I might confess.
"There is….there is someone in my apartment." I admitted, feeling completely vulnerable at that moment. My powers still had not returned to me, I was utterly defenseless against the intruder.
Craig remained silent, he gently wrapped his muscular arms around me, picking me up with ease as he walked to the couch and placed me down. He sat down beside me, his eyes still locked with mine. He placed his hand on my cheek; his warmth penetrated the sensitive skin on my face. Feeling the calm he was trying to maintain, I placed my hand upon his, closing my eyes.
"Ana, I will protect you." He stated clearly, causing my eyes to snap open and boar into his.
Craig was a dear friend of mine; I harbored a special attraction for him since the first time we met. I just moved into the neighborhood, having trouble opening the door to my apartment along with managing the boxes in my arms. He was just getting home from work when he saw me and immediately assisted me with his little heroic deed. From that day forth, we became closer together, taking the same train to work and occasionally meeting up for a hot cappuccino when we would get caught up in our lives. Our friendship blossomed into something more, I was prepared to move on but I still could not let go of Draco from my heart or mind. And now, I was still hoping for my many dreams of him to come true though I knew better than to wish for such a thing.
"Craig, don't do this. Just dial the police because I don't have a cell phone and the power is out in my apartment. Just stay here with me." I pleaded and he sighed, a sign of his surrender.
"My phones are dead as well." He confessed, embracing me further.
Loud strikes against the door, echoed through the apartment. Eyes shifted towards the door, the wood struggling against the persistent force. Witnessing the wood dent, Craig grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him as we ran towards his bedroom, shutting the door behind us, he locked it. Abyss eyes glancing over at me, he dragged me over to the window, lifting the glass up, he poked his head outside. Rain continued to beat hard against the glass; pulling his head back inside, soaked hair clung to his forehead as droplets rolled down his strong jaw.
"Ana, you need to climb out the window, step along the edge and move towards the fire escape on corner of the building." he instructed, making sure I understood his directions.
"I can't do-" I was cut off shortly, Craig swiftly worked his hand behind my head, grabbing a first full of dark red curls and thrust his lips onto mine.
Pulling away, he breathed heavily, his cheeks warm with shock and a quirky smirk plastered on his face.
"What was that for?" I breathed.
"I meant to do that the other day, I figured now was probably a good time for that." He remarked with a cheeky grin.
The front door finally gave way and the intruder entered the apartment. Hastily, I slipped out the window, my feet barely small enough to fit along the edge of the old building. Craig closed the window, the clicking of the lock going down danced to my ears. Breathing slowly, I gradually moved my feet to side, moving along with the rest of my body. Spits of rain stung my eyes, drenching my clothes and hair, strands clinging my cheeks and forehead. Glancing up at the window, the stranger's eyes gazed at me, determination evident in his eyes. Punching his fist through the glass, he jumped through the opening and landed smoothly on the slippery ledge.
"I came all this way for you, Elizabeth. I'm not leaving without you. You cannot escape me for we share a deeper bond people only hope to discover. Nothing can come between us." he said, gray eyes penetrating deep within me, blonde hair slicked back from the rain, clothes hugging to his fit form.
"If you really cared bout me, you would just leave me in peace." I hollered, edging closer to my final escape.
"You still do not understand. We cannot survive without one another, Elizabeth. No matter how far you go I will always be able to find you." He explained as he moved closer to me.
Feeling my feet slip as a result of my haste, the air behind my back rushed up as my body began to fall towards the earth below. The stranger quickly reached for me only to not reach my hand in time. Concern was displayed in the familiar eyes I pondered on whether or not he was speaking the truth. An itching sensation exploded throughout my body, engulfing my entire figure in golden flames. Feeling myself morph into the Phoenix, I flapped my wings, gaining height as I flew further away from the city I planned on settling to the darkened clouds that mystified me as to where I was actually going.
A/n: For not updating in forever, but with school finally on summer break I plan on writing more. Thanks for reading and please review. I love reading them.