Page 103 of The Dark Obsession

I’d cry if I could. “How?” My voice is a squeak.

From the darkness, a high-pitch noise increases, until I feel pain in my ears. I welcome the pain, I can feel my ears, they are there. But where? I just know they exist. A ball of light illuminates the dark surroundings. My eyes burn as the light gets closer, brighter. It seers my dry eyes, until a tear finally falls. I’m not shocked to feel my eyes, I squeeze them shut, trying to find my lips when a sudden and overwhelming urge to cry takes ahold of me. The tears don’t stop, and my sobs get louder.

Other me rolls her eyes.Alright, calm down! It’s time.

I try to lift my heavy arms, the weight of them impossible to carry when I can’t even find my limbs. “Time?”

The fiery light dwindles, giving me time to peek at what’s ahead. The thick outline of massive dark wings move smoothly a few meters in front of me. I lean, reaching for the creature with the wings, my balance fails me as I wobble and fall forwards, landing on something hard. It sends a shooting sensation up where my legs should be. I look down, finally about to see my newly discovered knees. The desire to touch is almost torture as I reach in front of me again. I squint to get a better view. The white fire that circles the creature is still too bright to see clearly.

The wings move slowly now. Each black feather is as long as my arm, with hundreds of those comprising the four-metre span that stretches across the emptiness that surrounds me. Several white feathers stick out wildly, as if injured. “Come,” a deep voice—a voice I’m sure I know—says.

I struggle against myself, my body moving as the creature demands. My heart aches with overwhelming gladness. I can’t understand my emotions. I wait for fear, but I’m left only to fear the creature leaving me.

I try to think through the haze of real life, to search for this voice I know so well. I inch through the dark, the light emitting from the winged thing guiding me. I speed up, the heat from the fire burning my bare arms. Dark bouncy curls cover the creature’s head. I watch in awe as the creature dances through the empty.

“Keep up,” the voice comes again, sounding almost exasperated.

I break into a jog. “What are you?”

Its stride breaks, and the creature halts. “You know what I am.”

We’re both still now. “Turn around,” I beg breathlessly.

The creature’s broad back shrugs. His sigh echoes around me. He turns slowly, his head to the floor. The most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen regards me through long eyelashes. The burning flames distort his face, but still, it’s more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen—a man with wings. “I’m not beautiful.” He says, looking at his wings with disgust.

I gasp for breath when I try to answer to figure out how he knows what I am thinking. “H-h-how?”

“Rosalie, you’ve got to wake up now. I can’t keep you moving forever, and the second you come to rest, I won’t be able to help you anymore.” His voice cracks. The fire that surrounds the man is barely a glow now. His beautiful face looks hurt and empty. He takes a large step toward me and rests a careful hand upon my chest. “Feel your heart.” He grabs my shaking hand and places it next to his. The heat from his hand burns as I wait for the thudding of my heart. “See, Rosalie. Your heart’s no longer beating, and you need to fight. You need to want to live.”

“But how?” I retort, desperate to end this beautiful man’s pain.

“Remember me, and you will. Remember Benjamin and Adriel. Remember life.” His voice is barely a whisper. He grins, and two large dimples appear on his cheeks.

My breath catches, and my legs quiver as he steps towards me. The fire burns my body as he leans in and sighs. And as his warm lips touch mine, it’s as if this is all I’ve ever needed, all I ever wanted, and all I’ll ever want. My brain hurts. I see the winged man’s face and watch my thoughts as he lies back in a bed, his arms open wide. Another memory—a steam-filled bathroom and water spraying his burly back. I gasp for air as I feel a thump, and my stomach tingles with delight. His lips linger for another second before another thump startles me. Deep in my chest, a loud rhythmless thump pounds away.

The winged man’s cheeks curve into a bewitching smile.

I close my eyes to listen to the loud thud of my newfound heartbeat.

“Rosa!” A shout startles me.

I open my eyes; my whole body feels like it’s screaming at me. I struggle to see through tears, the blur easing slowly.

“Stay back!” I hear a familiar voice shout. “Adriel, you need to wake her up.”

I try to move, but my arms don’t cooperate. “Help!”

“Don’t move.” Adriel’s soft voice is right by my ear, and his face is pale and ashen

“What’s happening?” I whisper.

“It’s time for you to die, Rafael,” Dale sings maliciously.

My memories flood back, filling me with anger and hate. I try to prop myself up but can’t move. Even my neck screams to stop as I turn my head to face the voices. I ignore the tearing pain in my back.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” Adriel grumbles, although relief resides in his tone. “Stay still, and try not to move.”

Dale moves to Rafael, and my chest aches and skin prickles. Dale leans forwards, closing in on Rafael, his gun pointing towards Benjamin. “Rafael, we both know this gun is no use against you. You may be weak, but not weak enough to die a mortal death.”

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