Chapter 2: First Sight
When I opened my eyes we were no longer in the building. The sound of the alarm was becoming fainter as he put distance between us and the hospital. My head was pressed against his chest and he was cold and hard. I listened to his even breathing as he ran but could hear no heart beat. How odd, I thought. I inclined my head to look at him and the sun blinded my eyes. It was like I had never seen the light before; I had been in that dark room with the tiny window for so many years.
I squinted up through my eye lashes and what I saw made me jump while a small gasp escaped my lips. He was…sparkling! Dozens of striking rainbows reflected off of his skin like millions of crystal pieces were imbedded there. He was stunningly beautiful. He looked down at me and smiled widely at my expression. What is he? I shook my head back and forth hoping to dispel what I was seeing, yet every time my eyes met his skin I was blinded by the reflections. Who was this man? Am I that drugged? I asked myself.
It became dark and I finally peeled my gaze off of his face because he quit emitting the luminous colors. I looked around and I thought we were in a forest, I couldn't quite tell because we were moving so fast everything was a streaky blur. My hair was flowing behind me while the wind whipped at my face. It was the most refreshing thing I had ever felt.
A fizzling of grayish colors started forming in my minds eye. The images swirled and changed until it became clearer. We were headed to a cabin in the mountains where he planned to stow me away.
He only ran, holding me, for another minute before we were in a small clearing with the cabin. He put me down on my feet and turned to walk towards the cabin. There was a sharp pain that seared up my leg as I put weight on it and I wobbled while my knees shook. I gasped in pain and fell to the ground. He whipped around and was by my side in a blindingly fast motion.
"Oh no! Are you okay?" the gentle man asked me.
I stared up at him dizzily. "No, I think my leg is broke," I moaned in pain.
A crease formed between his eyes at my words, like it pained him to see me here, lying on the cold ground, broken. I didn't understand his sympathy.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered in agony. "I should have taken you from that place a long time ago."
I was no longer paying attention to the spectacular creature that was in front of me because the pain reached such a pitch I was on the verge of passing out. The drugs the nurse gave me must be wearing off because I was beginning to feel every bruise, every tear and rip of my skin and every broken bone. I grasped at my side, feeling like a piece of fruit gone rotten I was so soft from the beating.
My teeth clenched in an effort to keep myself conscious. All the trees around me swirled and became blurry. I put my head between my knees trying to focus myself. My stomach was tightening as I was about to become violently sick.
Cool hands were on my face in an instant, caressing and soothing. I jerked my head up quickly and turned to the side because it was too late - I was going to be sick - I vomited on the ground. I turned my head away from what I had just done, in fear that it would make me sick again. I could feel my skin becoming cool and clammy as sweat broke out over my forehead.
He lifted me in an instant, being as gentle as possible not to jar me and brought me into the cabin. He sat me on the couch and gave me a worried expression.
"I need to get you to a hospital," he sighed.
Another swirling image was forming in my head. I looked up at him and tried my best to muster a smile. "But you're not going to, are you?" I asked knowingly.
"Of course you would know," he teased, abruptly lightening the mood.
Though I knew this man from the many times he came to visit me, I realized I never knew his name – or I did and have been drugged and beaten so many times my memory was fuzzy. He continued to measure my expression as I looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, what's your name again?" I asked, blushing. "Daniel Bradford," I answered for him just as he was about to speak.
He raised an eyebrow at me and then grinned widely. I could see that he loved me, cared for me, yet I didn't understand why he did.
"Let me get some supplies to fix your leg," he contemplated for a minute, "Is anything else broken or hurting?"
"I have a few ribs that are broken," I replied while pain ripped through my body as I took each breath, emphasizing the broken bones.
He inhaled deeply and sighed loudly. "Okay," he pursed his lips. "Will you be okay while I'm gone?" he asked.
I nodded and he was out the door so quickly it blew a light wind across my face. Pain was surging through me so I laid down to ease some of the stress on my leg and ribs. I let my favorite vision engulf me to try to mask my pain. The beautiful blonde boy – tall and leonine - opening his arms to me so he could embrace me. The happiness that I felt ripple through me was intense. The love I had for him was so powerful that I would surely die and wither away into nothing if he were no longer apart of my future.
I must have fallen asleep because something cold and smooth was touching my skin bringing me from a dream. I opened my eyes to watch Daniel as he worked on my leg. His gaze met mine and he smiled weakly.
"You're awake," he began but I cut him off.
"You have to set my leg," I finished for him.
"Yes," he replied gravely. "When you were sleeping I gave you a local anesthetic. It shouldn't be painful," he looked like he was unsure if he was telling the truth or not.
"It will be," I informed him. "It's okay, I trust you to be as gentle as you possibly can."
He frowned as he prepared to set my leg and his face showed a grief that I had never seen before. Though I haven't seen many faces in a long time, he was still gorgeous even in grief.
"One…two…" he counted down.
"Three," I finished as he yanked my bone back into place.
The sensation that ran up my bone and into my hip was something I had never felt before. I held my breath and refused to make any noise though my breath was quick and my heart was speeding up rapidly. I caught a look in his eyes like he could hear my drumming heart. My hands were clenched into fists as the pain continued to surge up my leg. I saw the look on his face turn from grief to pure agony. I turned my face away from him, meeting my own gaze in the reflection of the glass.
She wasn't someone I recognized. Her hair was practically shaven off from being in the mental hospital. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of blue and her nose was set evenly between her eyes. It had been so long since I had seen my own reflection and I was convinced for a whole second that it wasn't me.
The pain had lessened and I returned my eyes to his as I unclenched my hands. He noticed the signs of pain subsiding and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently.
"Yes – you need to pack my ribs…I know…." I smiled through the pain.
His lips twitched up into a smile. "You are fascinating," he chuckled lightly.
After several more painful moments of being fixed, bandaged and cleaned up I was finally able to stand, even if it was lopsided.
"Would you like a moment to wash up?" he asked.
"Yes, that would ne nice," I smiled at him.
The cabin had no electricity so Daniel boiled some water so I could have a bath. I soaked in the tub for almost an hour. The water was beginning to turn cold. He helped me out of the tub, wrapping a towel around me. Being naked in front of a man who you didn't know well would normally make someone blush but I hadn't had privacy for years and he was a complete gentleman.
"We're staying here tonight," I informed him.
He nodded.
"But we can't stay here because people will be looking for me," I continued.
He nodded again.
"Where will we go?" I asked. A curious sensation flitted through me because the future was swirly and cloudy. The only thing that was clear as glass was the glorious blonde boy.
"I don't know, but I'll keep you safe," he vowed.
The night was cool and I slept comfortably in the cabin's bedroom. Daniel didn't sleep, he stood guard over me. I was worried he would get too tired but when I begged him to go to sleep he refused. That night was the best sleep I had ever had.
When I awoke the next morning Daniel was preparing breakfast for me. I was ravenous and began devouring the eggs and bread like I had never eaten before. Daniel didn't eat any food while I shoveled it into my mouth. As I was shoving the last bit of egg in my mouth I spit it across the room as a scream flew out of my mouth - a previously vicious premonition came into view.
A pale man was rushing towards me, ready to pounce…the vision went blurry and shifted slightly. I saw Daniel broken into pieces…being burned. The terror began rising in me like hot steam. My stomach twisted in horror while my eyes filled with tears. Daniel was there in an instant, wiping the tears from my face.
"What is it? What do you see?" he looked anxious.
"Death," I sobbed.
He pulled me close to his chest and murmured lightly, "I won't let anyone hurt you."
I nodded, my head still securely to his chest. It was him I was worried about more than myself. Once I had calmed down he began getting his belongings together, putting clothes and food in a bag.
"You still haven't decided." I told him.
He ignored me and threw the bag over his back and then pulling me up into his arms.
"Where are we going?" I pondered, trying to get him to make a decision so I could see. "North maybe?" I looked to the future again. "Toward's Canada?"
He frowned at me. "Do you always see the future?" he asked, instantly curious.
"It changes depending on decisions. They change or shift if someone changes their mind. I can't tell where we are going until you make up your mind," I explained. "Canada it is!" I exclaimed and he smiled down at me.
He walked out of the cabin and there was a man standing in the forest, stock still, tall…and very familiar. I felt Daniel freeze as soon as he sighted the new comer. The pale man from my vision stepped out of the forest. I gasped in horror as his gaze turned to me, smiling menacingly.
"My doom," I whispered to Daniel.
He didn't respond or move.
"Are you going to share?" the pale man asked.
"She's mine," Daniel growled protectively.
"You won't share?" the man asked while walking ever closer to where we were.
Daniel took a few hasty steps backwards.
"She's not for the taking!" Daniel bellowed while a feral snarl ripped up his throat.
"Oh, I think she is," the pale man chuckled low.
Simultaneously the sallow man crouched to attack and I was on the ground, Daniel leaning over me protectively. There was a blindling fast motion from both of them as they collided, the noise sounding like a rumbling of thunder. I heard growls and snaps as they fought. I tried to drag myself away in a hopeless attempt. Was this going to be the end of my life? Would I never see the light of day again? Would my life only contain the darkness I had come accustome too?
I saw something fly across the forest and hit a tree. My eyes widened in terror as I realized what it was. An arm was lying on the ground only feet away from me. I heard another snap and a leg went flying the other direction. I cried out in horror as my stomach turned over in fear.
Daniel came running over to me, his limbs in tact. I reached up to him in relief, grateful he was in one piece. He didn't hesitate as he pulled me up into his arms and turned to look at the broken man on the ground.
"We have to get out of here, now!" he said in a dark voice and speed off through the forest.
"There was no blood," I whispered.
"He's not human," Daniel informed me.
"And neither are you," I replied, knowing I was right – I just didn't know what he was.
"No," he replied in a low voice.
My premonition from earlier had not changed, the pale creature was still going to come after me.
"He's hunting," I said quietly as the wind whipped through my hair.
"Yes," he said simply. "We have to get as far from him as possible."
The tree's continued to flash by us as we whizzed violently through the forest. I stared up at his grave face.
"It won't help," I informed him.
He didn't respond but the wind being produced by us running was spinning around me faster and faster as he increased his already lethal speed.
"I'm going to protect you, Alice," he promised.
Alice? I asked myself. It had been many years since I had heard my name. I continued to stare at his face as his hair was being whipped around his face. I put my hand to his cheek and he looked down at me.
"You'll keep me safe," I told him, though it was still uncertain but I wanted to ease his mind.
More things shifted in the future, but the blonde boy was still positively, solidly there.
Author's Notes: I wanted to thank those who have been following my new story (and my other ones too. I have such loyal fans.)!
I have some excellent ideas that I know that my regular audience will love.
Your reviews are appreciated and thanks to those who have already reviewed!
