Sisters By Chance - The Dawn (Book Two)

Get Going

Raven's POV

Adonis's lifeless eyes stare into nothingness. Darkness surrounds him while different colored lights blink from above, resembling the light set in a club. His beautiful face is a shadow of the man I saw at the hospital, with his skin pulled tightly over his jaw and neck. What should have been a shoulder is a gaping hole to the inside of his depth. The sight of blood pouring out over his skin makes me whimper. I see it mixing with the mud underneath into a gross mess. It's smeared all over his beaten body as if he has been tumbling around in the slippery mock. Shivers traveled down my body, spreading a crippling coldness that gripped me by my bones. I Look down and see the same greasy substances covering my feet. The sickening smell makes my eyes brim with tears, and I gag as I try pulling my right foot up. There is a slurping sound, and I'm relieved when I'm free. But I'm suddenly overpowered by a strong urge - I need to get to him. I need to save him!

I wade through the mud, one step at a time, and every single one is sucking the energy out of me as the mire sucks me down, gripping me. Yet, I'm not coming closer. I'm up to my knees in the sickening goo. My muscles ache from the effort as I'm sucked down deeper, still not within reach. I scream in frustration over my inadequacy as I stumble and fall to the ground. The mire is slowly gobbling me up, and the coldness engulfs me, restricting me up to my chest. I can't get out of the slush or away from this smell! There is nowhere to go. Panic-struck I see how the limp body before me is sinking like me. Adonis is being swallowed whole, and I can't move. Tears stream down my face as I reach out and touch his fingers before they disappear from view, and I give up. All I can do now is drown alongside him.

I gasp for air as I wake from my dream. It's always about that sexy wolf from the pit. Sometimes he's alive and sweaty, sensually caressing me from bellybutton to my lips with his tongue. Then, the next dream is filled with blood and dead eyes, haunting me. Cold drool is smeared over my cheek and onto the table. The blanket has fallen to the floor, and I'm freezing, clenching my hands into fists. I can still feel the smell in my nostrils as I dry my face with the back of my hand. f**k, why did I have to fall asleep?

For a split second, I miss Doggie and his warmth. Adonis also had this warmth raying from his body - like the sun!

Do all wolfs have that warmth?

The wind is howling like a pack of wolfs in the distance. My tent is cold and dark as I keep huddling in my kitchen, pulling the blanket tight around my shivering body. I hate the cold!

I broke down when I reappeared in my home two days ago, and then I cleaned. I cleaned my living space by hand as I tried to lighten my conscience. Tears streamed like rivers down my cheeks as I became lost in my despair over this f****d up situation. Every single one of the small trinkets I had in my hands was proof of my insignificance. My possessions. Simple things and clothes, without a voice or soul. Dead, they are lifeless things containing nothing more than whispers of memories. I had managed to gain and loos a friend in a mere month, just because I'm stupid! Stupid and irrational, reacting without common sense or thought. I could have waited for him, spoken to him, and asked him about it. But, No! I went all crazy - destroying everything around me.

The thought of my homecoming makes me sad all over. And I pull up the blanket around me, trying to contain my sadness from spilling from my every fiber. The wind keeps howling as hard rain beats against my tent, drowning the sound of my sobs. I'm pitiful. This tent is pitiful, my life is pitiful, and I'll sit here and pity myself for the rest of my days.

Harry has both called and sent messages but in vain. I don't want to hear him scream at me, nor him scolding me. I don't want to read his harsh words about me overreacting. And even worse, his disappointment over me not having higher thoughts about him than that. Disappointment carves deeper wounds than anger, and I don't stand the thought of him hating me.

So I've been hiding, avoiding it like the plague. I've not even looked at the screen. With a heavy sigh, I place my forehead against the cold surface of the table. The dark wood is giving me goosebumps. It's a sharp contrast to the now warm blanket around me. f**k my life!

*

The moist morning came quietly. The howling had stopped. But the rain kept pouring down, hammering against the canvas above me. My stomach is rumbling loudly, protesting against the fact that I haven't been eating. My head is pounding, and I'm sluggish. Every move demands me to make an effort, it's hard to lift my head from the table, but I need to eat! The notion is almost a panic, gripping me tightly and forcing me to stand. I sway as I stumble through my kitchen, rubbing the sleep from my swollen eyes. A yawn rips through me as I bump into a chair. The chilling air gives me goosebumps while I stumble over the floor toward the stove. My world is spinning. Perhaps I should have eaten something yesterday?

I quickly feel my surroundings with my fingertips, my eyes still closed, grabbing what is closest to me and shoving it into my mouth. A deep moan erupts at the taste of the apple. It's so sweet in my mouth. I fall forward, leaning over the counter, furiously chewing on the sweet fruit. The scent of the apple filled me and made me realize: I smell like a f*****g goblin, old stale decay! Doggie would have frowned so hard his face would have gotten stuck. The memory of him sniffing my clothes made me laugh. The splitting headache shot through my brain, turning my laughter into wheezing whimpers - Ouch! I need more food, and I really need a shower and to wash my clothes. Then I'm out of here, going far, far away!

*

*

*

I expected the campsite to be empty. Instead, there is a lot of activity; Men in helmets, warnings vests, massive machines, excavators, wheel loaders, and stuff. They are all over this place like ants. I keep my head down as I hurry towards the communal building containing the showers, bathroom, school, and laundry room. I zigzag between people and machines with my big bundle. The ground is slippery, and the grass has been trampled and turned into a muddy mess. Usually, it's much easier to avoid being seen and blend in, but today it's literally impossible. I wonder what on earth they're doing? They're obviously building something, and it has to be an extensive undertaking because of all the people and machines, but still?

The red building has a lonely feel to it on the outside. But inside the laundry room, the air is warm and moist. The dryers is rumbling, and a woman, definitely a witch, is standing by the counter folding clothes. A small toddler is seated on the counter, playing with a bubble floating in front of her. It's softly changing between different shades of purple, pink and blue. I give her a small wave and a smile as she looks up at me. She blushes and hides her face behind her hands, giggling. When she parts them slowly to look at me, she blows on the bubble, making it glow before waving back and then quickly hiding behind her fingers again. The woman looks over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow my way. I smile at her before quickly turning my attention to the washer closest to me. All my clothes are black or gray, all in the spirit of efficiency - no need to sort out the colors!

I load all three machines, keeping my back towards the witch and her child. I don't think she's an Aurora. They usually don't leave the valley or the mountains. They're like a cult with their high and mighty priestesses, rules, expectations, and all kind of f****d up s**t. She might be alone, like me. But I can't risk interacting with her more than I have. I'm only here to wash up and get going!

I let my back slide down the tiled wall until my butt touched the hard floor. It's warm and cozy here despite the tiles and my damp clothes. The sound of water seeping into the laundry drum is soothing, as is the tumbling from the dryer. I close my eyes and let the woman's voice cradle me as she hums to the toddler. Pearls of giggles come from the girl. Her mum is singing a rhyme or something. I don't know the lyrics, but I recognize the tune and hum along with her inside my head.

Have you ever thought of; that no matter if you whisper or scream, it sounds the same inside your head? You can't turn the volume up or down. It's always the same.

The tune turns slow in my head as I doze off. I have two hours; then I have to put my stuff in the dryer, shower, and get out of here! The wait is about to be lengthy, so I'll snuggle up on the floor, pulling my hood over my head before leaning against my knees. I hug my legs tight, curling up into a ball on the floor. I'm small, insignificant, unnoticeable.

I twitch when the witch and her child close the door, leaving me alone. Now I'm warm, alone, and safe in a white-tiled heaven. My wand is pressed tightly against my chest, hidden from view. The fabric of the hood provides darkness in this white world. I'll miss this place when I'm gone!

*

*

The feeling of warmth radiates from my hands up my arms, making me sigh contently. Warmth glories warmth! Maybe I should move to Spain or something. Australia is supposed to be warm. Maybe I have to check it out? Whatever I decide upon, I've never meant to live here, in the coldness of the North.

My brain doesn't register the lack of noise at first. The silence is creeping in on me, slowly infiltrating my consciousness and gripping my heart. A thumb is sliding over my fingers, caressing me slowly and steadily. I gasp and throw my head up, hitting my head into something hard. There is a sharp pain in the back of my head from the impact, making me cry out. A dark growl bounces between the walls sending shivers of fear through my body. Questions race through my brain in a blur. Who is it? What do they want? What kind of creep watches someone sleep while caressing their hands?

'f**k, that hurts! Ah, why did it have to be the nose? f**k!'

Doggie's voice makes my heart leap in my chest. The first and sudden joy in my body was replaced swiftly by panic and fear. I hear him moan and groan, but the warmth of his body is gone. My fingers shook as I pulled the hood off my head and frantically grabbed my wand as a precaution. Harry is flat on his ass on the floor, rubbing his face. His hair is wet as if he's been out in the rain, only dressed in a t-shirt and shorts as if this is a freaking summer vacation. The initial shock and his out-of-place appearance make me gawk and scream at him.

'Are you out of you're mind?'

'I'm out of my mind?' Harry gasps back at me while his hands fall from his face. His nose is red when he looks at me with glossy eyes, baffled. 'How about you? I've been worried sick about you, you b***h!'

'You're going to get yourself sick walking around dressed like that. It's f*****g cold outside!' I scold him without consideration of his statement. Harry's eyes go soft, but he says nothing. He shakes his head, offering me a smirk. I clutch my wand firmly but let my legs slide down to rest on the floor as my breathing slowly comes down to normal and my pounding heart eases up in my chest.

'Thank you for your consideration, darling! But I'm not getting sick, don't you worry!' Doggie hums as he adjusts and stands on his knees in front of me. His warm hands grab my face and hold onto it.

'Why'd you disappear? And Why haven't you returned my calls?'

The concern in Harry's voice, as well as in his eyes, makes me confused. The words slip past my lips before I have time to stop them. My voice is small and pitiful as I look into Harry's eyes, answering him.

'I couldn't stand you hating me!'

Harry's thumbs caress away tears I hadn't noticed were rolling down my cheeks while smiling softly at me. He shakes his head before chuckling and tilting it to the side.

'So I guess you haven't been reading my texts either?'