Chapter Three: Encounter

"Come on, slow-poke!" laughed Kiera, her voice so mesmerising as she raced ahead of me. Her creamy white dress billowed behind her, hovering just above her knees, her long black hair imitating peaceful waves. She was a beautiful creature, and I was envious of her.

I puffed and panted behind my twin, and rolled my eyes. "Wait up!" I cried, gasping for air as I slowed down to a steady walk. Unlike my twin, I wasn't used to running around all the time and behaving so lively. That was my sister's job, not mine.

Kiera's small form paused at the edge of woods, her face open and bright. Her lips were curved upwards into a daring grin, and I knew that look as well as I did my own name. She was planning on defying our parents and entering the woods.

Oh boy!

"Kiera, wait!" I yelled, suddenly anxious. I didn't want to get into trouble. Mother didn't appreciate us ruining our clothes and she had already been told off more than once by our neighbours for our boisterous behaviour. One more mistake and we'd never see daylight again.

Kiera giggled heartily and dashed off into the woods, her bare feet crushing down on the muddy ground, the soil dry yet still moist. My mouth popped open in horror, and I raced towards her rapidly fading form, aware of the rules Mother had set out for us: Stay together no matter what.

"Hurry up slow-poke!" echoed Kiera's playful voice. Did she know no boundaries?

I puffed once more and bent my neck so my head was tucked into my chest. I pumped my arms harder and faster, and felt my muscles scream in protest. Being eleven and shy really hadn't done well for my health. Kiera didn't seem to have the same struggles as I did, hence her ability to race off without me. But that was fine by me - out of the two of us, I knew who was more likely to end up wounded. My abilities far surpassed Kiera's. She was still coming to terms with them.

A giggle bubbled out of my lips as I poured on the hidden speed I had. Being 'gifted' was something I revered, as it meant both Kiera and I were extraordinary individuals. No one else knew of our secret, and that was how we liked it. It was best for everyone if they didn't know.

A warm burst of heat coursed through my veins, and I felt that unearthly glow appear around me. It wasn't anything one could see, but was there all the same. It filled me with an unknown strength, and rushed through my body at such a fast pace that I felt dizzy for a second. My running faltered and I almost crashed to the ground, but managed to correct myself and agilely sped off at an inhuman speed, the world blurring around the edges, yet everything still seen in perfect clarity.

This was my world. This was the world that Kiera and I shared.

Kiera's form rapidly came into view and her head turned to see my fast approaching form. A warm smile formed on her lips, and her green eyes flashed violet for a single second, signalling the channelling of her own powers.

A laugh echoed around the empty woods, and I felt her joy flood into my own body. Nothing could separate us. We were connected in a way that no one could ever understand.

"Hurry up!" giggled Kiera, and I felt her hand tug on mine as she sped up, her long legs carrying me with her. I giggled in response and complied, racing with her as the world flew by us like rapidly passing time. My smile was solid on my face, and it was almost like a reflection of Kiera's.

The world sped past us like disrupted water - everything hard to see. A warm summer's breeze gently blew against us, brushing our hair behind us and causing another bout of laughter to ensue. Our bodies flowed alongside the breeze, carrying us gently towards the lake.

Our secret place.

Soon the trees thinned out and eventually disappeared behind us. Kiera slowed to a halt and I followed her example, slowing down until we were right at the edge of the lake. The beautiful oasis blue of the water lapped softly against the edges of the bank, and I smiled in serenity. My eyes closed of their own accord, my hand tightly holding my sister's.

"Promise me you'll always be with me?" I asked, feeling the need to know rise up inside of me.

There was a brief pause, and then Kiera said, "Always."

 

 

I gasped as I sat bolt upright, my eyes wide open as I stared at the wall opposite me. A thin layer of sweat clung to my body, my clothes stuck to me in an uncomfortable manner. In my chest I could feel my heart racing harder than usual, and I gulped in long and grateful bouts of oxygen, my lungs thankful for this small contribution.

The memory flashed cold and brutal in my head, and my hands slowly went up to my face, touching my skin and forehead. I didn't feel real as I sat there, my eyes staring at nothing in particular; out of focus and shaken. I felt like a wandering ghost, my body appearing physically there, yet not.

I tentatively swallowed, and turned to look across my room and towards the window. The curtains were drawn, revealing the star-filled night and the black cloak which spread over the world. My eyes scanned the sky, as if searching for something. I wasn't certain what it was I was looking for, only that I wouldn't rest until I had found it.

The moon shone luminously down at me, its round form exposed in the night sky. A shiver rippled down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around my torso, hugging my knees to my chest as I did so. It was the beginning of summer, and though it was warm out, I felt as if it was winter - an unknown chill filtering into my body, creeping and slyly targeting me.

Silence fell over the room, and I didn't dare breathe, afraid to alert Jane of my presence. Though she was in the room beside my own, the walls were very thin and if I made the slightest sound, she would awaken. Jane was generally a very light sleeper, resulting in crankiness and bad behaviour in the mornings. The last time I had made the mistake of going to the bathroom, she had given me Hell for it two days straight.

My blue eyes scanned the room reflexively and I slowly crawled out of bed, my legs sliding out from the covers, and my torso following suit. The floor was cool under my skin as I padded across the room and towards the door. I was in nothing but my standard pyjama-bottoms followed by a grey tank-top, and I didn't bother to throw anything else on, not bothering to make it more apparent that I was missing.

The door creaked as I opened it, and I poked my head out, peering down the hall first left and then right. Though it was just Jane and I sharing an apartment, it was very large meaning it cost us quite a bit. Money was no problem though, considering both Jane and I earned a steady amount of money through favours here and there.

As I wandered down the hall, travelling towards the living room and then towards the door leading outside, I heard the echo of a girl's laugh. It rushed down the hall to greet me, and I paused where I was, my breathing halted in my chest. My eyes were wide, and I felt another shiver ripple down my spine, rapidly ensued by goose bumps. The sound was nothing more than a figment of my imagination - I knew that.

From life to death, we all must fade.

A cool bout of air brushed against my cheek, stirring my short black hair, and causing my lip to quiver in fright. My body was rigid, and I was afraid to move for fear of what might happen. Part of me was hesitantly expecting a scream to echo around the apartment, or for some sort of black silhouette to dart across my peripheral vision - teasing me.

The sentence wasn't the same as before, though. The first time I had heard it, there had been more than one voice singing it, and the sound was off, almost as if it was made to hurt people rather than to enchant them. This time though, it was different. A young girl's voice, one I dared not to remember, was singing the song with a perfect tune; one that was sweet and yet frightening at the same time.

No one escapes the hands of the Fade.

My hands clenched into fists by my side, and I felt the muscles in my jaw tick with agitation. Inside I was afraid of this girl and her song. It wasn't a song I had ever heard before, and the way it was sung was almost meant to bring fear to a person. Like it brought back the most painful memories one could possess.

I closed my eyes and breathed in for a few seconds, gathering my thoughts and bunching them together. Behind my eyelids, I knew the world was dark and full of dangerous shadows lurking beyond my sight. All I'd have to do would be to channel my true power, and the unseen would become seen. That was how it worked.

The sound of laughter echoed around me again, quickly ensued by the sound of feet rushing past me. The laughter faded alongside the rushing feet, and I recognised it as being one of the memories of my twin and I running through the woods. Though we had rarely done it, I recalled the sound and the smells the memory brought along with it. The smell of earth and moist soil combined with the lavender perfume my sister had often worn. Yes...it was a memory I knew well.

I peeled open my eyes to reveal the dark shadows of the hall, and breathed out a sigh I hadn't known I'd been holding. My chest was burning as I let out that held breath, and one hand absently held the place where my heart was, as if I feared it would suddenly halt in its place.

Where a soul must die and leave this land...

Before I could stop myself, I was rushing past the sofas placed in the living room, and yanking open the door to reveal the warm night's air. A breeze brushed past me and entered the room, and I hastily exited the apartment, dashing out into the dark front garden. My bare feet slapped against the concrete path, stones wedging themselves painfully into my soft skin, no doubt penetrating the layers and drawing blood.

I winced as I practically launched the gate out of its hinges, aware of my strength rapidly building alongside the panic I felt. My heart thudded angrily against my chest, and I drew in short sharp breaths as I raced down the street, my arms pumping at my sides as I ran for the safety of the clearing. It wasn't far from here - Jane and I had specially selected this apartment because it was so close to the edge of town.

A burst of warmth flooded through my body, pouring into every nook and cranny it could find. The heat coursed through my veins, flooding my system and causing my eyes to momentarily flash a bright violet. I hadn't felt the familiar ache of the memory until now, but as I drew my power into me, preparing to attack should anyone intercept me, I felt the sting of the memories return with full force.

Flashes of friends and family darted across my line of sight, causing me to swerve and race blindly into the middle of the road. Images of my sister smiling, laugh, crying and screaming flooded my head, filling me with an indescribable wave of pain so powerful that it rendered me sick right down to the bone.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and they stung my delicate skin, no doubt crimson splotches had now replaced the paleness of my cheeks. Pain and fury washed over me. It bubbled up in powerful torrents and left my out of control. My arms and legs flung this way and that as I raced towards the edge of town, aware of the memories I was attempting to leave behind.

Finally, as my bare feet kissed the grassy plain before me, and I raced towards the looming trees encased in shadow, the memories faded and left my mind. They emptied from my head and retreated to the recess of my mind, abandoning me like I had wished they would. And as they faded, leaving me with a clear conscience, I was suddenly aware of one thing.

I was not alone.

My feet skidded to a halt, grounding themselves, and I lowered my head slightly. My breathing was erratic, sweat forming as a thin layer all over my body, and I looked to the corner of my eyes, staring at the dark shadow not so far from me. It was encased in nothing but shadow, a black mist clinging to that strangely familiar body, and slowly descending to the ground. The mist coiled like a snake, strange patterns curving into the air, and fading from view.

I remained frozen to the spot, not daring to move lest I signalled some sort of attack. I knew that when facing potential danger, one did not move. That was a sure-fire way to get yourself killed.

"Very impressive!" commended the female. Her tone was warm, yet cold at the same time. She contained venom in the depths of her voice, and when it reached my ears, I felt like I might just faint.

Why did her voice sound so familiar?

The memory closed itself off, and that had never happened to me before. Shock rammed into me, and I turned stiff; my muscles tensing in preparation for a fight. I didn't like how easily this girl appeared to fit in to my life, like she had been here all this time.

A sudden, disturbing thought came to me: Like she had been here right from the very beginning.

"Who are you?" I demanded, finally turning my body to face hers, and narrowing my eyes as the mist finally disappeared from her body, revealing a body much like my own: Slender, fragile and deadly at the same time - something...inhuman, lurking behind that smile she wore. She was dangerous, and it only took me a quick assessment of her for me to figure that out.

"You don't remember me?" she asked, pouting her lips like a child and widening her eyes, attempting to make herself look innocent. Everything about her looked off. Her pale skin, her brown eyes, her black hair...everything! Her very presence frightened me. She looked so familiar, but the memory was closed off from access.

I frowned in confusion. "Why are you here?"

The girl laughed, and it awoke something inside of me. That sound! "You always did ask too many questions. I guess it's a family thing." There was such anger in her voice, it was scary and saddening. She reminded me of someone, yet I couldn't recall who.

Why was it becoming so hard to remember her?

"What's your name?" I asked, struggling to remember something - a fragment, a smell, a sound, anything that would enable me to recall who this girl was. So similar was she to me.

Again, she laughed. "I'm sad to see you can't remember me. Perhaps it's because you're in denial of what you did. Do you remember?"

Yes...I did. But...wait! No - I didn't remember.

I shook my head, the feeling of knowing something but not being able to recall it was disorientating. "What are you talking about?" I demanded angrily, feeling a sudden surge of power rush into my hands and eyes. There was a brief flash of violet in my eyes, but it was gone, as was the danger.

"Hmm, how should I continue?" She tapped one elegant index finger against her chin, a thoughtful look on her face; though I knew she was faking it. Her eyes brightened and she clicked her fingers. "That's it! How about this?" Her face turned blank, all trace of emotion wiped from her mind. "Come on, slow-poke! Hurry! Do you want to see the place or not?"

My eyes were wide, and my breathing slowed down, almost to a halt. My skin had turned a deathly pale, and the words sparked something inside of me. Something I had been clinging onto for a while, but had never taken the time to look at it. I couldn't remember why, only that I had cherished the memory.

Come on, slow-poke. Mother'll be back soon, and if you want to see the place I found, we need to go now! Hurry! Do you want to see the place or not?

That voice! So familiar...yet...not.

The girl was silent as she stood not far from where I was. It was hard to make out what she was doing, but it looked like she was tapping her foot impatiently. Waiting. But for what?

The memory was attempting to crawl into my conscious, and it was so hard to remember what it was. I wanted to know, I was sure! But something inside me was screaming at me to let it go and forget. My body didn't want to remember - perhaps because of what it contained, or because of everything else it would bring back with it.

"I need to know," I told myself sternly, clenching my fists in anger.

Then - suddenly! - I felt it! A sliver of a memory came back. A flash of an image, one that granted me access to more.

A lake. A beautiful, oasis-coloured lake where the water lapped softly against the bank. It was a beautiful place, and I knew I'd been there.

But...hadn't there been an accident there? Hadn't something happened there? That was why I had stopped going. I was afraid to go there and accept what had happened.

"We went there when we were younger," murmured the girl. A hint of sadness flooded through her voice, and she choked on the last worst, a sob coming out of her pink lips. Tears glistened in her eyes, and - surprisingly enough - I discovered tears to be in my own eyes as well!

I looked up at the girl, so familiar yet so not. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "You and I were inseparable from the day we were born. We were connected on a level that no one else could ever understand."

"I don't understand. I don't recognise y-" I froze. My eyes widened in understanding and realisation, and my blood ran cold. A cold gust of wind brushed past the two of us, sending the longer strands of my hair to one side, obscuring her own reaction from view.

"You remember me," she said. It was factual - no emotion or reaction on her face. She said it as it was, because she knew I remembered her now.

I nodded, too afraid to say anything more.

"And you know what happened."

Again, another nod. I felt sick. Too sick to say my apologies, or to accept what I had done. Perhaps this was a terribly nightmare, one in which I had to wake up from. Immediately!

"I loved you very much," she whispered. More tears trailed down her cheeks, and my own emotions mirrored hers, tears trailing down my own cheeks. "And you killed me."

Smash!

The mirror between us smashed, the tiny shards raining down on the both of us, revealing the truth. The truth I had wanted to avoid for so long, afraid to admit to the crime I had committed. I was still uncertain on whether it had been real or not. Whether Kiera had been real or not. Sometimes she felt like a dream to me - one moment there, and then the next...gone.

"No!" I protested suddenly. "I would never kill you."

"But that's what happened," she said softly, a grim look in her eyes as she bowed her head, sadness overcoming her.

I shook my head. "I could never do that!"

"You did, though!" Kiera suddenly screamed. Her green eyes were narrowed in utter fury, her frame shaking with such hatred. I noticed that her fists were clenched, and as she began to shake more violently with her anger, I noticed the trees began to sway more vigorously. A sharp gust of wind blew across us, slashing at me like a knife and leaving me stumbling to one side in confusion.

How could Kiera's abilities be affecting the weather? Since when had she learnt how to do that?

"How could you murder me?" she demanded, her eyes burning cruelly at me, all the love and adoration completely wiped from her face. "How could you murder your own sister?"

My mouth popped open as if to defend myself, but she cut right across me. "I loved you. God, Terra! I had always loved you. And then you went and killed me." She sobbed and wiped at her face, attempting to remove the tears streaking uncontrollably down her face. "How could you?"

"I never meant to kill you," I said sadly. My heart throbbed in pain, and I wanted nothing more than to curl up and die. I wanted the world to bash at me left and right, and for my sentence to be delivered with an unyielding blow.

Kiera's eyes burned angrily, and I saw a flash of violet dart across her eyes, briefly disrupting the usual flow of green.

I continued and said, "You weren't acting yourself, Kiera. You had that damn necklace with you! All I asked was where you had got it from, and you lashed out at me." I sobbed at the last worst, the memory taking a hold of me. It played out in my head, and I wished it would go away. "It was like it was controlling you. You weren't yourself."

There was a firm set to her lips as she remained frozen to the spot.

"After I tried to liberate you from that necklace, you grabbed a rock and hit me with it." I angrily thrust both arms out to Kiera, showing her the angry scars decorating my skin, escalating all the way to my neck where that fatal blow had permanently scarred me. It had nearly killed me, too. I pointed to the scar on my neck, right where the main artery was. "You nabbed me with the rock right here, and the bleeding wouldn't stop. I had no choice but to get you off of me. I shoved you off from me, your hands were round my throat at the time," Kiera looked sick, but still I continued, "and so it hurt even more. I thought you would snap my neck, but your hold on me loosened, and so you went further than I expected."

The scream echoed around my head, followed by the splash as something heavy hit the water. I hadn't anticipated her falling in. Had I known about that, I would have let her kill me in order to save her.

"Your head hit a rock as you fell into the water, and you thrashed around for a few seconds. I got up and tried to help you, but the world was out of focus, and it was so hard to work my arms and legs." My eyes focused on another point in time, and I recalled how shaky and weak I had felt. The world was slipping from my fingers as I attempted to save her, but blood stained my view of the world, and I was so exhausted from having fought.

"You died a few seconds later. You lost so much blood, and you never had learned how to swim."

Kiera looked up at me, shock evident on her face. "I drowned," she murmured, testing the words on her lips.

I nodded sadly.

"I drowned." She sounded like a broken record, only capable of repeating the same thing over and over again. But I knew this was sheer disbelief that caused her to say it. She was incapable of accepting the truth - just like I had been when I had walked away from the fight, and my twin hadn't.

Kiera had drowned.

And I had let her...