RaylineWe were walking a pretty decent distance for a fairly long time. There was not much we could see beyond the trees other than what looked like the far-off mountains and the occasional flower bed in the fields. This made me wonder if what Hayden said was true, that the creatures out there were scarier than those on the mainland. On top of that, I was also curious as to what the creature guarding the relic looked like, and whether it was one of the creatures I should be wary of.In the end, I caught the reflection of the moonlight shimmering on the water, making my stomach start to churn. What if things got really bad, and we couldn't get the stone? Or worse, if Cole got hurt?Then Cole's grip on my hand tightens, and I steal a glance at him. He gives me a reassuring look, and to calm my nerves, I take a deep breath. As much as I was not sure if he had read my mind, or just knew what I was thinking, I was glad he was there to reassure me to stay positive.As we got closer, I coul
ColeEverything was all black. My eyes could not see anything. Not even I could tell what was up and what was down. My breath was held, but it did not feel like I was in the water. Taking in a bit of air, I came to the realization that I could breathe, and my eyes opened wide.It turned out that there was nothing. Everything was pitch black as far as I could see. When I moved my feet and felt something that looked like dirt, I got to my feet. Spinning around, I tried to find something that could lead me to what to do next in this "test". As I looked out, I heard a familiar voice calling my name, and my whole body froze."Cole?" the voice called again. I turned around to look at the voice, my eyes widened at the sight of a familiar figure sitting down, and my heart sank. "There you are.""...Mom?" I uttered, feeling a mix of doubt and surprise."I was wondering when you would show up," she said as she stood up. She started to make her way towards me, yet my body refused to move. "What'
ColeAnother scream came, much louder, and my head snapped around as my chest started pounding so hard it felt like it was going to pop out of my ribcage. Something appears in front of me, a man screaming in terror. The first one... My hand unconsciously started to move itself toward the man's chest."No." My eyes widened as I ripped my hand away, but the man was screaming, the same scream that had always haunted my memory. "Please..." The man screamed again, and my hand shot up to reach my head.Another scream rang out, and my eyes glanced around to see another memory. Other people, I was forced to kill. Tears began to well up and blur my vision."Please stop." More screams, dozens of screams that echoed each other. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut and my hands over my ears, tears now streaming down my face. "Please.""But you have to see..." She walked around me as if mocking my sins. "All the things you have done.""I know what I have done!" I shouted from the ground. "I didn't want
RaylineThe sight of his head emerging from the water as he gasped and desperately tried to catch his breath made everyone around me jump to their feet. He was struggling to move, his whole body feeling like a weight."Cole!" I called out as I rushed to the edge of the water to get to him, but I could only hear him choking on the water.At the same time Jesse did not waste a second before running into the water and swimming towards Cole. He wrapped his arms from under Cole, and I saw him flailing around for a few moments."It's me," I hear Jesse whisper in his ear. "I got you."Then Hayden came in to help him as Jesse pulled Cole's body to ground level. Taylor was about to follow behind them when all of a sudden I felt an electric pulse of numbness in my body. In a flash, I grabbed his wrist."What's wrong?" He turned to me, and my eyes widened."Ty..." My voice sounded low, feeling that pulse throb again, and my grip tightened. "I... hold me down."It took a moment before dawn seemed
RaylineAs Silas vanished into the shadows, by the time Cole's head slowly turned over to Jesse, his eyes appeared to be blazing the brightest red flame I had ever seen before."Cole, I..."Before Jesse could even get his words out, he was cut off by a blast of harsh wind, followed by a crash, and my head snapped around to see Jesse already sprawled on the ground as Cole walked over to him. "Cole!" I yelled out to him, looking at him in horror. However, he ignored me as he picked Jesse up by the collar, pinning him to the tree roughly, making Jesse grimace in pain."Do you realize what the fuck you just did!" Cole shouted, but Jesse only shut his mouth, making him lift his body and shove his back against the base of the tree, and I could tell that his face was holding in pain."Ty, stop him right away," I said as my eyes widened, and Taylor jumped to his feet in a flash."Do you know what kind of hell I just went through for that stone?" Cole said in a snarl."I'm sorry," Jesse whisp
JesseHitting the punching bag over and over again as I take out my frustration. Gritting my teeth, I put in all my strength, my fists hurt, but I paid them no mind. Then I swing my leg around to give it a full-force kick, and the punching bag snaps off its chain and flies into the wall with a loud slamming sound.My arms flopped to the side as my legs took a step back before running my fingers through my hair and turning around."Angry?" I heard my father's voice calling from the doorway, and my eyes flicked up to see him walk into the room."Is that obvious?" As I answered him, I walked over to get a bottle of water. "What do you want?""I just want to know about your return." He paused for a moment. "Can I talk with you?"I simply remained silent, saying nothing as my father made his way over to me, and I leaned my body against one of the nearby walls before crossing my arms."What is this about? Was it when I attacked your wife?" I asked while tilting my head to the side, and my f
RaylineFor the next almost half an hour or so, Cole was making sure that I ate every last bit of food that was given to me, as well as drink enough water. Right now, we were both lying under the blanket, my body curled up on his side, holding him tightly.He gently stroked my hair as I listened to his heartbeat. I have no idea what he told my parents to let him stay, especially since they of course still figured that I was sick, feeling the pain of being sick, but I was grateful to be able to hold him like this."Cole?" I asked him softly, and he hummed. Hesitating before asking the next question, my mind not really wanting to think about it, but... I couldn't help it, "How much time do you think we have?"Just then I felt a sharp intake of breath in his chest and turned my head to look at him. "I don't know... From your condition, I..." He shook his head and looked into my eyes, telling me, "Not long enough."I leaned my head down and cuddled into him, while his arms wrapped around
RaylineMy head was pounding, and everything hurt so much. It was still pitch black, like it was early morning. The only thing I could see was the moonlight coming through the crack in the balcony door. My body feels chilled, and with great effort I turn onto my side, but my heart sinks when I find that Cole is no longer there.Nausea started to wash over me, the whole thing seemed to be spinning around, and I could barely move. My lungs felt more and more tight. I shifted my gaze over to the nightstand and frowned when I spotted a note with my name on it.Somehow, I found enough energy to sit up and lean against the bed frame to grab it. The paper looked crumpled and folded at the edges. I slowly unfold it to see that Cole's handwriting is messy and full of scribbles.I started reading from the top, carefully skimming over what he might want to leave me."Dear Rayline,I'm sorry. I won't be able to keep some of our promises. I promised I would never leave you no matter what, but I gu