CATRIONA
I watched in absolute terror as his eyes closed and his body went numb. The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of my own shaky breaths. Panic gripped my heart, threatening to suffocate me as I struggled to comprehend what was happening before my eyes.
His face, once filled with life and smiles, now looked pale and lifeless. The colour drained from his cheeks, leaving behind a haunting stillness. Time seemed to stand still as I desperately searched for a sign of a movement, a flicker of hope that this nightmare would soon be over. But there was nothing. No movement, no response. It was as if his body had become a vessel, devoid of the vibrant spirit that once inhabited it. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I reached out to touch his hand, hoping for a miracle.
Coldness greeted my touch, sending a chill down my spine. The reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. He was gone. I killed him. I shouldn’t have bought his words. My mind struggled to process the finality of it all, as if a part of me refused to accept the truth.
The weight of grief settled on my shoulders, threatening to crush me under its immense pressure.
Questions swirled in my mind, each one more agonising than the last. Why him? Why now? The unfairness of it all gnawed at my soul, leaving me feeling hollow and broken.
Someone, please help me,” I whispered urgently, not realising that my voice had returned. I rushed towards the door, pounding on it as I screamed at the top of my lungs, desperately hoping someone would hear me. But, to my dismay, no one did. I couldn’t help but wonder why these people seemed so unresponsive. Did other people’s cries sound melodically to them? I grumbled in frustration.
I really hope you’re not ignoring me, you strange individuals. If you are, I swear I’Il kill each and everyone of you! I shouted, dispirited as I slumped down, tears welling up in my eyes and blurring my vision.
The visions of my past flashed in my head, ready to tear my heart apart, but then I saw a movement in Gabriel’s body. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. However, his hands moved again, causing me to crawl towards him with wide eyes.
Nonplussed, his features returned to normal. Before I could overthink, he jolted awake and suddenly sat up, knocking me down.
Catriona, are you okay?” His voice broke as he crouched down to help me sit. I sat there in silence, gazing up at his concerned yet composed face, unable to believe that just moments ago he was dead.
“Talk to me, pumpkin,” he said, his voice slightly higher, snapping my attention towards him. “Tell me, baby, are you hurt?” he whispered.
I bursted into tears, unable to control myself…
I thought you were dead. The fear and pain were overwhelming, and I didn’t know how I would be able to go on with my life if you died. Gabriel pulled me into his arms, embracing me warmly. I held onto him tightly, not wanting to let him go.” I thought I had lost you.” I sobbed.
He gently released the hug and wiped away my tears. “I don’t like seeing you cry, pumpkin. Look, I’m here with you, breathing just fine,” He reassured me. “What happened has nothing to do with you, he added. Before I could respond, the door suddenly swung open, cutting me off and revealing the witch.
She glanced back and forth between me and Gabriel, trying to discern the tension in the air. “Were you crying?” Wait, did he hurt you. She asked, but her words only fueled my frustration, making me want to lash out at her. I despised them all.
Giving Gabriel a sceptical look, she instructed us to follow her.
She waved her hand in the air, and before us appeared a narrow path lined with shimmering trees. Wow, it’s so beautiful, I thought to myself. The trees stretched out like ethereal guardians, their leaves twinkling with a mesmerising array of colours.
As we walked through the enchanting trees, their beauty seemed to stretch on endlessly. However, I began to grow tired and wondered how much longer we had to walk.
“How much farther do we have to go?” I asked, but received no reply. Instead, she waved her hand and a stream appeared, filled with people of all ages enjoying themselves.
“Come on. I thought you two would need some fresh air.” she said before stepping out.
Gabriel tightened his grip on my hand. As I glanced back at him, he flashed me a smile before his expression turned serious. “Stay by my side. Witches are known for their tricks. I can’t help but feel there’s something more to her kind gestures.”
As Gabriel and I emerged, our hands intertwined, unwilling to part. I closed my eyes, inhaling the refreshing breeze, instantly rejuvenating my spirit. However, the atmosphere changed abruptly as the sight of us dampened everyone’s previously cheerful mood.
Can we talk? She said to Gabriel who wasn’t ready to leave my side.
The witch appeared to have noticed it. She offered him a fake smile before speaking-Your lady is protected within these walls. No harm will come to her.
I softly tapped his well-built arm, assuring him
of my safety. He nodded, albeit hesitantly, before letting go of my hand.
I was expecting them to talk where I could see them, but the witch, with her witchy tricks, disappeared with him. I’m quite certain Gabriel didn’t anticipate that.
Left alone, I glanced around my new surroundings. Apart from the people being wired, this place is truly magnificent.
Still dazed by the beauty of nature, someone tapped my hand. When I looked down, I saw a young girl, smiling up at me. I returned the smile and crouched down to her level.
“Hey, sweetie,” I said, my voice filled with warmth and curiosity. The girl’s eyes sparkled with innocence as she continued to gaze up at me, her tiny hand still resting on mine. I brushed a strand of golden hair away from one of her faces. Before I could ask her her name. She spoke over me.
“I see you’re doing fine,” she said. I frowned and called out to her as she turned to leave.
“Wait, who’s your sister? Does she know me?” She hummed in response. “You both came from the human world,” she replied.
I crouched down, hoping to gather more information. Clearing my throat, I asked, “do you think I can meet your sister?” I asked after knowing who her sister was. And that was Pamela.
“No.” She replied curtly.
“Okay,” I said, undeterred. “If you don’t mind, can I ask you something?” She agreed, with the condition that it shouldn’t be about her sister.
“Got it,” I chimed in, continuing the conversation.
“I came here with my friend, but I haven’t seen her. Have you happened to come across her? If not, do you have any idea where I can find her? I really want to see her.”
“No,” she replied and ran off but her fleeting expression suggested that she knew where Sandra was, yet didn’t want to tell me, possibly for a reason.
I got up and ran after her, as she waved her tiny hand and revealed another place before disappearing into it. Before her travel portal closed, I leaped into it. I expected to end up in her shadow, but instead found myself in a clean forest, with the ground resembling grass carpets.
Before my mind could wander with questions, I noticed a beautiful pregnant woman leaning against a massive tree. She must have sensed my presence, because she turned towards me. Her silky hair danced in the wind, swirling around her. She appeared surprised and shocked upon seeing me, but I, in turn, was even more shocked to notice that except for her gracious beauty she looked human.
She scrutinized me, her face furrowed, before asking, “Who are you? How did you gain access to my territory”
I was following a young girl but lost sight of her. I stuttered, and suddenly, she appeared right in front of me. I blinked rapidly, feeling a mysterious aura surrounding her. A surge of power flowing through her veins. I couldn’t believe myself. How was I able to feel that? I thought with my eyes wide. Her sudden appearance sent a shiver down my spine. I kept on blinking rapidly, trying to make sense of what might be happening to me.
This situation became more complicated because she was experiencing the same reaction as me.
Suddenly, Jayden’s name echoed in my mind, causing the throbbing pain from the mark on
my neck that he left to intensify. The memories flooded back, bringing with them a mix of emotions, anger, fear, and a lingering sense of betrayal.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden surge of pain that shot through my body. It felt as though the wound from Luciana’s disappearance, which I thought had healed, was now reopening. I gently touched the area, hoping to find some relief, but instead, the pain intensified.
As the pain radiated from my neck to my head, my breathing became labored. It felt as though an invisible weight was pressing down on my chest, making it difficult to draw in air. Panic started to set in, my mind racing with questions and fears.
What had caused this sudden resurgence of pain? Was it a sign that Luciana was in danger? No. It’s Jayden’s mark. Could it be that he’s in danger?