Petals fell along the thorns, so did her beads of white. Her eyes spoke before her mouth could open. I tried to find the source, but it would only make itself known if she could spell the words. I placed my ears on my open palms.
“I really thought you were dead. How could you do this to me? I wasn’t able to say my goodbyes,” those light punches on my chest struck the strings of my heart like a sledgehammer.
Fire against fire, blood against blood, the trees melted like candles. All the other living creatures fled the scene. A grizzly bear tried to approach us, but it bolted halfway. We had the area for ourselves—good! “You know better not to mess with the tribe leader!” Argean snarled. &ldq
“Thank you,” I accepted the glowing blue light and closed my eyes, clear of questions. I woke up to the bantering around the fire, “Lukas, you did it again! I’m so proud of you, brother. How do you come up with these ideas?” “What’s going on?” my eyes half-
Argean hacked and gagged, “He got me good there. How are you holding up, sport? That gunshot must have hit you hard.” “That it did. It didn’t only shot through my skin, but though my soul as well,” I replied. “Boy, that’s deep. We better get home and remember...&
I sat at the backseat of the car, watching the passing trees like the ones on a boring TV channel. My thoughts wandered on Rosie’s whereabouts since our last encounter. Did she go back into the glade of flowers? My eyes expanded on the image of her being torn into pieces. “Stop the car!” I screamed.
“How about I teach you a spell? It’s called Wolfbann, but be careful, you might not want to receive its side effects.” “What do you mean?” “Like when witches and wizards use their powers, there is this thing called Balik or return when you cast a spell. Depending on how powerful it is or how you use it, it has an equivalent backlash. You m
“This is another sad morning for Crimson Stone,” a sharply dressed male presenter stood by the white screen. “Today, we mourn the people who got butchered inside the local pub last night. May their souls find peace.” He continued in a stern voice, wearing a grim remorse, “Some of the survivors claimed that a suspicious man, about six feet tall, smiled at them with a crooked smile etched across his face. The police found no leads as to the whereabouts of this man. The residents are advised to—.&rdquo
“Are you okay?” I offered a hand. She slapped it away like a bug flying at her face, “Get your filthy hands off me. Do I look okay to you? It was like crushing into a truck.” “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
I peered over the stairs as dad reached for the door. “Oh, hello there, neighbor!” a smartly dressed man in green had a plate of pastries in hand. “Mmm, they smell delicious. Are these for me?” 
I spent the whole day with Rosie. Why didn’t I realize this? Her amber eyes saw through my soul. Her fair complexion caressed my face like a feeble child. The warmth she emitted resonated with mine. Was this how true love felt like? When the light of the sun pulled away from us, I bit my lip with downcast eyes. My urges wanted to come out, but I must refrain—it’s not yet the right time. Then she swung her hips on mine. We haven’t drunk anything, but a wild goose sat on my lap.
“So much for a quiet life, I suppose,” my eyes dropped to the ground. Taps of the pen sounded like the ticking seconds of time. Sheets of paper rustled plentifully as leaves on the branches. Rosie’s controlled heartbeats pricked my ears. There was nothing for me to do but witness her words.
I gazed upon the glinting brass metal on the table. The light of fire burning from its place showed me the way towards the exit. Dad circled the table’s edges as his stare fixed on the dusty floor. His shuffling leather shoes picked up some specs. Beads formed on my forehead, damping the metal’s rusty surface. A slur of curses were spoken by the beast transforming below me. He ran out of the door and stormed ahead of my sight. The old women didn’t react.
Repetitive rows of trees ran up the path. Blue sky with a moderate amount of cotton stretched endlessly. The lake shimmered like crystals as fish flew on the surface, reaching for the sky. Some wild creatures drank peacefully or basked over the clear blue. A familiar wooden house shaded by thick trees struck my eyes. No lights nor fire occupied the cozy place. I haven’t seen her for a while. Where could she be? An hour before sundown, we arrived at our destination.
My legs felt like vegetables. The unexpected ambush totally drained my morning energy. This cold weather inside my room made it harder to move. Come to think of it, it’s unusually icy cold today. “Dad? Are you there?” I called out, but got no response. He sure was taking his time bringi
“Hey, Florissa. Let me carry you home. Thanks for the offer, Mr. Jenkins, but we will be fine on our own,” Tyrone proceeded to lift her in his thick arms. “I insist. Do you want people to see you in your current shape?” dad started the engine of his car. Tyrone and Florissa looked
“Is anybody there? Help! Somebody, please help me!” it sounded so real this time. Was this one of his tricks? “Florissa?” my eyes darted at the rustling chunks of debris behind me. “Keep your eyes here, boy,” three sharp lines swiped at my cheek.
“Ahh! Fen, quick, get my shotgun upstairs!” dad screamed his highest note. “Lukas, it’s me! Please don’t kill me,” the dark figure spoke. “Geez, Argean. You could have knocked like a normal person.”
I peered over the stairs as dad reached for the door. “Oh, hello there, neighbor!” a smartly dressed man in green had a plate of pastries in hand. “Mmm, they smell delicious. Are these for me?”