6

CHAPTER 6

 The air was cool without a breeze. A dark blanket had been draped over my eyes with stars twinkling in the distance. The floor was solid although I couldn’t see what I was standing on; I looked down to the mist that had gathered at my feet when I noticed something. I was illuminated. A light was radiating from my chest; it twinkled and shone as bright as the sun, looking at my chest made my eyes water and when I looked away, small white spots danced in front of me.

 I clutched at my chest but the light didn’t desist. I looked back up to the distant stars.

 “Hello?” I shouted into the blackness.

 No response.

 I turned around, a light shone in front of me, again just as bright as the one coming from my chest. I held a hand up but it did little good. I broke up my fingers just enough to steal a glance at the source, a body stood before me. A wide frame of around my height, the body was a man, I was sure for it.

 “Who are you?” my voice broke from fear. My heart felt like a bird trapped in a cage, beating its wings against my ribs and clawing at my sternum.

 The light dimmed a little, enough to allow me to put my hand down. I could see now.

 The man standing in front of me was my father. Strong jawed and wide necked; his long silver hair was combed out of his eyes and tucked behind his ears exposing the scar just above his left eyebrow from where I accidently hit him with a shovel as a child. The goatee he had always let wild was trimmed and neat with a few strands of dark still clinging on for dear life. The wrinkles at his grey eyes were creased as he squinted at me, the same way he always did since my birth, this look always made me feel like I was the focus of his attention, like he was concentrating on me and only me regardless of what was happening in his peripheral. It was the look that kept me alive when the fire started, the fire that killed him and Mother, the fire that robbed me of my parents.

 “How? You’re " You’re dead, aren’t you?” my vision became slightly blurred, a tear made a track down my cheek.

 My father didn’t speak, instead he just watched me. His eyes were fixed on me, he knew me.

 “Father? Am I -” I hesitated for a moment, the only reason for my being here and being able to see him, I must be “- dead?”

 Still he didn’t say anything.

 Another light appeared to my right, a tall, slim man, with long hair pulled back into a small pony tail. His large eyes were magnified by the spectacles which perched on the bridge of his long nose. It was the man from the photograph I had picked up from Little Rich’s apartment. He stood, slightly hunched over with rolling shoulders, his hands held behind his back. He neither smiled nor seemed angry or upset, the olive skinned being standing next to me seemed to be at peace.

 “Who are you?” I asked but just like my father, he didn’t reply. Instead I took to looking him up and down for clues. He wore brown trousers to his shin with white socks and brown buckled shoes. His white shirt was buttoned right up to his collar with a brown waist coat holding a small silver chain with a pocket watch tucked away out of sight. The clothing was typical of a farmer during his down time. Although, his complexion seemed too dark for his features, perhaps he’s from Seren but moved away. He still looked familiar though and it bugged me.

 “Cal,” a voice thundered through the darkness. A looked around, the stars moved slowly as if they were walking around. The tall man to my right walked away, my father took steps backwards.

 “What’s happening? Where are you going?” I asked, my knees quivered and my heart pounded.

 “Cal,” the voice echoed again, it was muffled but I recognised it. Lowri.

 “Lowri?” I called out, “Lowri, I’m here.”

 I felt a jolt through my chest, a stab of pain which spread down my limbs. I felt as if I were being pulled, someone had pushed a harpoon through my back and was yanking. Hard. I grimaced and blew out sharp breaths. Another tug, I screamed in agony. There was a light behind me, brighter than any of the stars. There was another pull on the harpoon, I lost my footing it was so hard. I flew back and fell into the light, it was blinding so I closed my eyes, and a rush of wind engulfed me.

 Pain throbbed throughout my body, my shoulder was in agony. I couldn’t feel my right arm; someone might as well have cut it off. I opened my eyes to see Lowri leaning over me; a sweet, fruity scent captured my senses. My vision was blurred and doubled; there were two beautiful faces, two pairs of emerald green eyes staring at my own. I was alive.

Reviews

[Morrigan Nicole]

Ooooh what just happened? Cal loosing consciousness? Seeing his father? Suspenseful, interesting, and a little confusing. I love it nonetheless though.
I really liked the way you described Cals father and the way that he squinted at his son. The way Cal saw it as him being the center of his dads attention... So on and so forth.
I think it was perfect how the first thing Cal saw when he opened his eyes was lowris beautiful face.

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. Seeing a dead father and some bad situation made the chapter a interesting one to read. I like the positive ending. Thank you for the excellent chapter.
Coyote