Nine
1022 Words
I was running as fast as I could, desperate to reach the owner of the voice. My bare feet ached as they dashed through the earthy ground, crunching down on fallen leaves and sharp twigs.
“You’re almost here, Willow.” One called out, my heart thundering against my chest as I tried to quicken my pace.
But suddenly, something slammed against my chest and I found myself stumbling backwards, before my body collapsed to the ground. The air was forced from my lungs as the shock of the fall left me dazed, I groaned as my behind ached from the abrupt landing.
“Oops,” a familiar voice chuckled.
My head shot up, my gaze meeting a pair of silver eyes. I frowned in his direction as his offered me his hand. “Was that necessary?” I snapped, letting him assist me to my feet.
Wroe grinned, briefly shrugging his shoulders. “Probably not, but it was fun.” His silver eyes twinkled with mischief.
I shook my head, dusting the leaves off my clothing. “So, you’re really my bother…”
Wroe nodded his head. “I am. I take it you’ve had a visit from Gladdis?” He queried.
I let out a breath. “Yep, that was fun.”
Wroe laughed, rolling his eyes at my sarcasm. “You’re so much like mother.”
My heart fluttered at his words, since I found out I was adopted I’d spent many hours wondering what she was like, whether we were similar in anyway. “I can’t wait to meet her.” I responded honestly.
Wroe’s smile weakened, guilt flickering in his eyes. “I hope you get to meet her.” He muttered.
I frowned at him, confused by what he meant. “Hope? Why wouldn’t I?” I asked.
Wroe sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. “Arthur runs a tight ship, Willow. He has eyes everywhere and if he finds out about you…” he paused to shake his head. “Well, he just can’t. Not yet, we’d all be dead.”
“But-” I began, but he quickly interrupted.
“Which brings me onto why I’ve come to see you again.” He cleared his throat as his expression turned cold. “When you finally cross over, I won’t be here.”
I furrowed my brows. “What do you mean?”
Wroe gulped. “Ajax, he’s coming for me. Arthur pissed him off and my life will be the consequence.”
My eyes widened. “What?! Who is Ajax?” Something about the name felt so.. familiar. A warmth spread throughout my body, a sudden wave of peace.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he grumbled, snarling his lips. “But it’s how the fates planned it, Willow. You have your destiny and I have mine, I’m just glad I got to meet you first.”
I furrowed my brows, scrunching my face as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. “What? No!” I exclaimed. “Don’t you dare, Wroe! I’ve only just found you and you’re leaving me?”
Wroe sighed, gently placing his hand on my shoulder. “It’s not by choice, Willow. If there was a way I could stop this, I would. But Arthur broke his contract, this is the price he pays. It’s too late, I’ll be in Ajax’s capture by sunrise.”
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what he was telling me. “No, Wroe. There has to be a way to stop this, I can’t do this all on my own.”
The air in my lungs slowly began to dissipate as panic started to creep in, this was all too much for me. There was only so much one person could handle.
“Willow, listen to me.” Wroe tightened his grip on my shoulder. “You are so much more capable than you realise, believe in yourself. I’m so glad I got I meet you, even if just for a short time. Everything will work out, trust Gladdis and do as she says. You will restore the peace between our kinds, you were born for this.”
Everything he said was going in one ear and out the other, I couldn’t concentrate on anything but one burning question. “Will he kill you? This.. Ajax?”
Sadness clouded Wroe’s eyes as he peered down at me, an uncomfortable sadness washing over me as a result. “I don’t know..” Wroe pressed his lips together. “I think so.”
I cleared my throat, shaking my shoulders and standing up straight. “I’ll save you, Wroe. As soon as I get here, I’ll come for you. I won’t let you die.”
Wroe smiled weakly. “I believe you believe that. Look after yourself, Willow. Remember I’m proud of you no matter what happens and I’ll cherish the few moments I’ve spent with you forever.”
I parted my lips to retaliate, to promise him I would find him, but as I reached for him a sudden darkness took over me, flinging me back to reality.
I shot up from my bed, gasping for air as I took a moment to adjust to being back in my normal reality. My heart thundered against my chest, but the welcoming light of the new sunrise quickly calmed my anxieties. I placed my head in my hands, needing a moment to recoup as I processed the nights events.
“Rise and shine, birthday girl!” My mother called out from the hallway. s**t, was it Saturday already?
Dread filled me, if this was Saturday then it meant the night would end only one way. By tomorrow, I would be in this so-called supernatural world facing all the creatures my mother had told me about in the horrid bed-time stories she shared in order to get me to sleep as a little girl.
But now I knew what my first task would be. I would find whoever this Ajax man was and I would save my brother.
- Writer
