The Chosen One

Chapter 1 Dreams; That Seemed Real Estelle was amazed at the beautiful wonderland, she had found herself in the greenery, and the crystal clear lake surrounded by tiny bushes, water clear like silver and the peace that surrounded the arena was just perfect. She could stay here forever Estelle bent down to look at her image in the silver shining water of the lake. She was mesmerized at her skin which was glowing, her hair long ‘silky and shiny cascading down to her waist. Her light blue and white ombre` long flowing dress with sleeves long enough to reach the ankles looking beautiful on her. Her own beauty enchanted her. She looked happy and beautiful. She bent down to push a hand through the still water assuming that the tiny splashes of water would dislodge the artificial beauty that the image was showing. She was an average looking, pale skinned and gray green-eyed girl. Nevertheless after some time the water stilled and same glowing beauty looked back at her; confused first and then she smiled at herself whole-heartedly. Estelle too smiled and stood up walking in the miraculous world, which she knew was nothing but figment of her imagination. She walked ahead to the lush green caves of trees, tiny bushes besides her streamlined the pathway. Estelle bent down to observe the tiny green buds, she touched them in desire to see what color they were going to be. She assumed them to be pink. One touch of her finger and the buds bloomed into pink full-blossomed flower. Estelle distanced herself from the bush wondering if she’d done anything wrong. But the bushes stayed like they were so she bent again and touched another bud and it blossomed to a full grown, most beautiful flower she’d ever seen,. She did not stop, she just couldn’t the flowers were too beautiful. She touched another one and it bloomed instantaneously, then she touched another one then another, till the whole bush was covered with fully blossomed pink flowers. She smiled at the beauty of the place, the flowers were so sweet smelling, she felt both delighted and contented at the sweet enticing scent of the flowers. She couldn’t get enough of them. She could look at them for ages. She stood there smiling and turned, as the tiny buds in other bushes calling out to her. She softly touched the buds of the bushes on left; they too blossomed into lovely pink flowers. “Aaha!” She yelped in joy circling around the narrow pathway smiling as she enjoyed the scenic beauty of the place. She walked ahead and now she thought of a different color “Yellow’ she blurted before she gave a sly flicker to the drooping bud and like a magic potion being fed to the dying human, the flower came to life, bright, yellow and fully blossomed. Estelle repeated this in every nook and corner of the never-ending pathway. She didn’t stop at color yellow. She walked around, danced around making sure to touch, flick or swipe every bud on different bushes blossoming plenty of flowers in red, yellow, pink, purple and laughed heartily every time a new bush was filled with flowers of similar color. She paused and looked at the never ending stretch of land wondering there should be something else, some life to highlight the place. As if she was sitting under a magic tree her desire was fulfilled when a colorful butterfly came into her view sitting and bouncing from flower to flower. “Aren’t you the most pettiest thing?” Estelle found herself being silly talking to an insect but continued.  What was normal in this place? She wanted to catch the flying insect but decided against it not wanting to scare or hurt the little thing. As if the colorful butterfly could read her thoughts and wanted to oblige and impress her it flew around her and sat on her palms. Estelle also opened her palms welcoming the tiny insect. Once it came in contact with Estelle’s skin it started glowing as if it was illuminated with lights. Estelle smiled as she tickled it with her finger softly “such a beautiful creature!” she looked at it all around “But you look lonely” she pouted. With that thought another butterfly came along as beautiful as the one on Estelle hands, Estelle let it go so that it could be with someone of its like. She desired more of them. She imagined the wondrous place looking even more enticing with many of these. And soon the place was filled with butterflies of different colors, size and breed. Estelle wondered if she was at the butterfly park. The first one who’d sat on her hand was glowing brightly. Estelle decided to try it again. Even if this was a dream, it felt so real and more than that Estelle was enjoying herself. She knew it was short-lived and soon the darkness would follow. It always does.  So she did what she was itching to do. She touched each and every butterfly present in the garden and each of them started glowing happily as they bounced from one flower to another, fluttering and flaunting their wings. “This place seems so silent” Estelle might have spoken aloud when the musical chirp was heard “this is most soothing sound I have heard” she laughed as he circled around the flying bird that was singing sweetly. “It will make a melody if there were more” she said to no one yet the one she subconsciously knew was listening and granting all her thoughts. Thus she raised an imaginary wand laughing that the dream was making her crazy. But you are enjoying, so whatever With every wave of her non-existent imaginary wand, new birds arrived. Estelle noticed that the birds were dancing and singing around the trees “They might get tired and get hungry.” She purposely worded her thoughts “it would be wonderful if these trees bore sweet and juicy fruits.” In no time the trees were loaded with fruits that were hanging down their branches and the birds started picking on them “He he!” Estelle giggled and laughed spreading the aura of joy and happiness as she was walking along the wonderland. “Who needs to read Alice in wonderland?  But these happy dreams never lasted; they were always followed by the doom, a frown appeared on her face with that thought and fear constricting her chest. The sky darkened all of a sudden and Estelle noticed the familiar shadow coming towards her. She was petrified of those shadows. They always ruined her happy dream. No matter how quick or fast she ran, not that she was a good runner those shadows always caught up with her. The mocking of her bestie, ‘you cannot run to save your life’ perfectly going up with her situation.  She hastened her steps increased her speed and turned around wishing that they’d magically disappear and praying like how all her desires were fulfilled earlier this could be attended too.  But no luck!  The shadows were increasing; one followed by another, she quickened her pace, another shadow and more joined in black shadows flapping their arms swiftly like wings following after her, each flap a terrifying sound to her ears. First there was a trail of those shadows trying to catch with her. When Estelle sped she tripped because of panic but stood immediately and noticed now they were in the form of pyramid chasing after her.  She was trying to run, something she was very bad at but the shadows were multiplying as they covered her in the form of circle, the circle later enclosed and she could only see the narrow pathway which was dark, trees and bushes were now dull and dry. She kept on moving; her only chance of survival that she had to take. She looked up and found that the sky was filled with shadows like dark birds flying on her head trying to catch hold of her. She started running faster, her breaths heaving, her lungs constricting. Yet she could not stop. She knew if she stopped they’d get hold of her, the shadows would engulf her and capture till there is total darkness and she could not breathe, she has to run, run faster. Normally when she had such nightmares this was the moment when she’d wake up with sweat pouring down her forehead, hands and feet freezing and heavy breathes. Yet she was relieved that the nightmare was over. But no not today.  No matter how much she tried to open her eyes, how much she tried to convince herself it’s a dream and it will all be over soon, she couldn’t. The terrifying chase of shadows continued after her. She continued her run to escape. Unfortunately the curse intensified as the lack of movement of her body did not support her racing feet.  She realized her body was stagnant She noticed that she could not run any farther; one of the shadows had caught hold of her. She was about give in, let herself dissolve into darkness it was then the voice called “You have to fight Estelle, you have to try. Please Estelle try” the voice begged, “he needs you Estelle. Try” Estelle was forced to open her eyes.  Yet she was too weak to do that “Estelle Estelle” the voice whispered in her ears.  A part inside her; a tiny pit light or power inside her forced her to hang on. She closed her eyes took a deep breath, she thought about the lovely place where she was moments ago, invariably smile etching her face, a new strength awakened in her as she pushed herself forward taking another step. She lifted her head to assess the extent of darkness very well knowing her act would only scare her and discourage her to fight, not that she was putting much of it. Yet when she opened her eyes she was greeted by complete darkness. Usually she’d fear the darkness and keep her eyes closed opening them in her bedroom next to where she would be. Today she decided to be brave as she tried to focus on complete darkness, look for a tiny dot of light. The hope illuminated and as if laws of Universe were convulsing in her favor she saw a tiny ray of light. She focused on that light long enough till the dot turned into a circle, circle widened and there was a bright light emanating from the darkness. She felt empowered, like her whole body was in transition.  It took a lot of strength in her, each and every organ of her body burning and convulsing.  With a reflex she lifted her hand in the air to catch a ball that she knew was thrown at her by an anonymous, unidentified Force.  She held the ball proficiently like she’d been doing this since ages and threw it over the shadows. Just like pearls that scatter from a broken necklace, the shadows too scattered into the oblivion when Estelle shot that ball on them. The sky was now clear of the dark shadows that were looming earlier. Estelle was more curious than happy for the end of darkness about the source of light. She could faintly remember a sweet voice calling out to her. She wanted a face of  the voice. She walked ahead but the whole place had changed, the lake was gone, trees and bushes had disappeared Perhaps she’d run too far away. The clear sky was still breath taking, tiny glass looked fresh and real. A tiny white house at far away distance did attract her attention. She wanted to walk towards it but she was too tired. She decided to sit down and rest for a while before she’d start her journey towards that house that seemed to be calling out to her yet was very far away at the moment. She was exhausted. The ball that she’d thrown with full force had taken her energy. She lied down on the green grass watching the snowy clouds pass by and her eyelids drooped, she fluttered them open but was to tired to stop them from drooping. Taking a deep breath giving up on her tiredness, she closed her eyes finally only to wake up in her own bed. She extended her hand to press the snooze button of her alarm clock “five more minutes” she muttered to no one. After pressing snooze button more than thrice she finally decided to wake up. Estelle stretched her hands and legs that seemed really sore even after a whole nights sleep. Estelle sighed as she finally pressed the stop button of her alarm. She was too tired to get up from the bed. She scratched the left of her wrist that was itching and burning. Being late for her classes she quickly worked with her morning routine and walked over to the kitchen Flipping the box of her cereals, she realized that she had to go grocery shopping. But it was almost a week till the payday. She silenced the growling of her stomach with the granola bar that she’d left uneaten since she hated the blueberry flavor. Well it was complimentary with her box of cereals and no matter how much she denied the Asian salesgirl, that she did not want to have it,  she forced it into her bag saying that it was not charged and complimentary. Poor girl was new in the town and did not have good command over English. She force- chewed the gooey bar still hating the taste but that could help her lazy bones to avoid cooking some breakfast. Pulling over a loose tee over a boot cut denim pants she bunched her hair in the band to make an untidy bun and was ready to face another day of her routine life. “Hey Bestie” Mona greeted her with a very warm and welcoming hug” her tiny frame almost reaching Estelle’s shoulders,  “Hey” Estelle greeted hugging her back. “He’s in the class,” Mona whispered. “Who?” Estelle asked acting ignorant. “Don’t use that innocent eyes on me” Mona warned “I know you are looking for your crush” she wriggled her brows playfully “first thing you do when you enter the college building.” “I don..” Estelle stopped when Mona glaring with her dark eyes that stated ‘I am your best friend I know ‘ “Whatever…” Estelle ignored walking side to side with Mona to her class. “Hey Mon” ‘ “Hey Greg” Estelle answered instead of Mona. Mona was busy making a grumpy face at Greg “May I sit besides… MM..” he stammered “Mona’ “Yes” “No” Estelle agreed but Mona denied earning an I’ll kill you look’ from Mona. “I get it” Greg smiled least offended with the denial “a girls NO is half yes” and dropped his bag besides the chair. “If you want” Mona said sweetly “you sit besides Estelle” Mona immediately pulled Estelle to sit besides her “you can sit.” She fluttered her lashes. Estelle shrugged mouthing a ‘sorry” “No problems” Greg dismissed “I know she’s on her days of the month.” “You?” Mona shrieked confirming his fluke “I hate you” she extended both her arms acting to strangle him. “It’s okay love begins with hate” Greg teased. “Ewwww!” Mona gagged “it was so cheesy and cliché” “You still love me” Greg winked. Losing her resolve Mona extended her arms, this time actually strangling Greg. Estelle intervened stopping Mona with her arm. “What is this?’ Greg asked. “This is me murdering you” Mona answered but stopped at the seriousness of Greg’s face “What happened to your hand?’ Greg asked as he held Estelle’s hand observed the blue black marks on her wrists and red, swollen arm When Estelle looked at her wrist that was itching and burning since morning. It was actually swollen and red and tiny dots of blue and black were visible. Estelle realized this was the wrist that the shadows had caught hold of. Estelle realized that there was some reality to her dream that left her with a burning wrist, an empty feeling in her stomach arose that of fear and disbeief