**It all began with a dream**
The atmosphere was misty. I was running like there was something in the mist I needed to get. I had a strange feeling that my sister was there in the cloud of mist ahead. I could feel that she was in danger but it was an endless journey. Every single step I took seemed like I was getting further away from her. Our gifts were as perfect as ever, I could hear her thoughts but faintly, which implied that I was miles away from her.
Then I ran into a snow land, two big balls of ice slapped me hard on my back. Since it was unavoidable, I continued to run. The snow rained mercilessly, somehow extraordinarily.
I stumbled on a pile of snow, tried to get back on my feet but could not. I began to crawl through snow. I needed to safe Arkishair, my only sister. It was real hell crawling through snow. I tried to catch my breath at intervals, tried to get her thoughts again but this time I got nothing. I realised that it would be a waste of time crawling further when I can't feel her thoughts anymore. I needed to leave this snow island or i'll freeze to death but i felt this strong urge to scream her name and I did.
“Akishair!".
Just then I realized that I had used up all the energy I had. I fell face down into snow falling in and out of consciousness.
Just some moments after. I felt another thought, a new and strange thought.
[my sister]. The voice sent.
I got it very clearly, like she was speaking into me.
[who are you?]. I sent back. It was strange enough that she could speak to me like Arkishair, with our thoughts ( only few people have gifts like ours) but more strange that she called me her sister . She's not Arkishair, I know Arkishair's thoughts and this isn't like hers.
[Rise up, Arkishair is here]. She sent back.
This time I felt more seriousness and sadness in her thoughts. I felt her hands around my waist and slowly I was pulled out of the snow. I felt warmed, her hands were warm even in the snow (too weird). One look upon her face, I was mesmerized. She looks exactly like me, my golden hair, green eyes, pointed nose, even the mysterious scar beneath my nose, all the same. I could not stop staring into her like I was looking into my reflection. I got distracted by a push at the back of my leg, someone else was there then. I swung around to take a look. I was completed shocked by what I saw. My frozen blue sister!
“ Oh my God, Arkishair! ” I gasped. I reached for her, swung her out of the snow. She was cold, frozen, pale blue, her eyes sealed with snow. She was...dead
***
I sat straight up in bed, breathing hard, beads of sweat dripping off from my face. I looked around disoriented. It was a dream. A dream that looked too real. I tried to control my breath. It was a dream, a very bad one.
I walked to my bathroom, sprinkled warm water from the sink on my face. I could see the atmosphere outside through the window, it was snowing. My dream came back to taunt me. A hot bath would help.
I slipped into the bath tub, switched on the warm water tap and washed myself. Slowly, I began to understand real life. I was the only one in the house. My father walked out angrily yesterday, promised not to sleep in the house because--Oh my God. Mum--mum is dead and Arkishair --in an accident. Tears rushed out of my eye. I needed it. I needed something more than tears. He promised to kill me. He accused me of killing my mother--his wife. It's ridiculous, they died in a road accident. Truly, I feel very guilty for their death, they had gone out to buy my drugs. I can't live without them. My asthma--my weakness, ending my life would be as easy as killing a mosquito.
“ NO ” I could hear my voice in my head.
“I will not die by his hands. I can't be a weakling even in my death".
I've always been perceived as weak. Though I don't have a bad stature, I'm tall and lean and smart but I'm one of the rare kind of Caucasian. Well, I use to love my own little perfect life but now, I have nothing else to live for.
I disconnected the heater from the socket and rolled its cord around my neck as tight as i could. I tightened it desperately hoping I would be gone by my own hands. It was hell painful but I didn't care. I heard sudden movements in my room, yet I didn't care. If there's a person in my room then I should be dead before the person finds me here.
I could have sworn with my life that I heard a voice--that same voice in my dream. She was there in my bedroom. What does she want? Get me killed also?... No. Did she kill Arkishair? No! That was a dream but if she's right there in my room then I need to see her. I've got a million questions for her.
Slowly, I loosened the wire around my neck, rushed out of the tub and tiptoed to my room. I searched every nook and cranny of the room but no one was there.
She's scared of me, I thought. A slight smile forming at the corners of my lip. It was a smile of hope. A hope that someone can be scared of me, that the girl who called me 'sister' in my dream is mortal and I need to find her. I found something I could live for -- “answers”. I'll find her with every inch of my being.
I sat by my dress table, I could see myself in the mirror across the table. My neck--full of red stripes, I can't believe I did this to myself. One look upon my innocent face, I remembered my dream. Is she my clone? She looks exactly like me. For hell's sake, I must find her. My head ached. I swallowed hard, examining myself. A weird fourteen year old, weak and vulnerable (severe asthmatic patient) . Arkishair has been my backbone all these while and now she's gone. It's now me, Katty, my monster of a father and Emiliar, a mysterious friend.
Oops,I almost forgot. School exams, I would be expelled if I miss it. It's an overpopulated state school and the government is trying to reduce its population. I can't imagine my life without school. Though,I might not pass the exam (because I'm not prepared ) but I must attend at least.
I was dressed in minutes. If I would live, then I'll live well and school is my first priority. Then I'll find that girl. I brushed my hair at the mirror, glared at my image more awkwardly than ever.
“ You little bitch, show up now. Let's have a talk. I command you!” I screamed at her -- my image. My voice echoed through the room. I was calmed a little by the realisation that I was still alone in the house. I wish I could see her right now. We need to have a talk. She owes me a lot of explanations.
“ please speak to me, who are you?” I continued
It was certain that I'd ignored the fact that the image on the mirror was my reflection.
“SPEAK!”
I waited for sometime seething silently. Then I glanced at the clock-- almost time for school.
“Damn you! I'll be back I promise”
I grabbed my backpack and left. Really I was going crazy. I needed to see Emiliar. I'll learn to trust her. She's got magic that can help me with the ghost.
High school was as rowdy as ever. Though the population of students in school at such early hour was more than ever. No one is ready to leave the school so they took the test seriously. It's the best state school in town and no one is ready to let go of their friends. I struggled my way through the crowd, jostling in every direction. Here in Mcade high school, the punctual student is one who gets to her class before the door gets closed. It's always a struggle to get to class early cause of the crowd. Just as I expected, Emiliar was there at a far corner of the classroom. She has always been a very punctual student. More punctual than I can ever be. As soon as I began to walk towards her, I was slowed down by my own thoughts or better say my own guilt. I remembered how I had humiliated her , called her names the last time we spoke, for a stupid reason--she used her magic on me. I got annoyed and I swore never to speak to her again. “Oh sweet God ” I whisp
I walked slowly through the corridor, to my room. I felt total numbness in my spirit. There is nothing in this world I had done to deserve all this. “It's not my fault” I said to myself.l, consoling myself. I threw my backpack on my bed and sat across the mirror. Remunerating on all that had happened in my life. Hot tears ran down my cheek. My own image on the mirror made me cry. The fact that there's also a ghost with the same face and the damn ghost had come into my life in one of its worst moment. I must find her. First , she has to tell me why she appeared in my room this morning and why she called me her sister.Then she'll have to take me to the place Arkishair is , wherever she is and the other questions I have for her, millions of them. My throat longed for breath, my chest was tight as ever-- the pain I can't explain. I'm going to have an attack and there will be no one to help. I rolled off the chair and began to crawl toward
I rode into a new city, a fairly familiar one because I've heard about it during a geography class in school. The town with a lot of mills. It's a very good town, one I feel I can survive in. I wished I had concentrated more during geography classes but I just wasn't a good student and I hated the teacher. He taunts a lot and I believed he despised me too. If I'd listened, I would have known the name of this town at least. ** I felt my stomach churn loudly as the smell of baked cake filled my nostrils. Then, I realised how hungry I was. It's six days since I left my house--or a place I use to call home and till date I live on stolen items. My gifts helped a lot when it comes to reading the thoughts of my victims to the extent that I felt it was meant for stealing and nothing else. And My asthma, I've been at my worst in the last few days that I've used up all the puffs in my little inhaler. I threw it into a river angrily some days ago. Despite all these, I had
What?! I thought. Me? No! I don't belong here. I'm a thief, a destitute. I shouldn't live in a house. I'm just alive for a damn quest. I came here to steal her cake. What the hell?! Like my thoughts were having a serious argument within me. I felt numb. All I wanted at that moment was to give up and die. This is too overwhelming! She, a stranger, just asked me to live with her. Does she know who I am? How will she feel if she discovers...? What if...? There's no way I can survive in a house by the way. My past, those unanswered questions will not let me be. And she's a stranger, I can't be very sure of safety. I don't know who she is. I was lost in my own thought that I didn't notice that she was still waiting for my response until I felt her hands upon my shoulder, followed by her meek, caring and loving voice. "Katrienair ?" She said. " Are you okay ?" of course, I'm not. And stop
Six Sylvia's POV I stood gazing into this young girl. I felt the burning urge to sweep her off her feet into my arms. She's just the girl of my dreams. I wish she could see this herself. My mother curse me. Decades ago, she cursed me even at the point of her death. It is a very long story I never wanted to remember again but this damsel got them back to me. *** My mum was a witch. Even as her only child, she never loved me. I guess it was because of her dedication to her coven "The black elites" . She was the vice president then and I was initiated by birth. I lived all my life as a prisoner in this cottage, my mother's home. She never allowed me any rights and she never smiled at me. I believed she despised me but that never bothered me. Until one day, the president of our coven died, according to the norm the vice president takes over or die. And I knew what was going to happen if my mum takes over the post. I'll have to die. I'll get killed
After a long bath, I found some clothes on my bed. Clearly, she dropped it there. Or maybe a maid, that's if she has one. My emotions were mixed up in some way I can't explain. It's really hard to take it all in . That I, Katty will live in a royal cottage for the rest of my life as a child to this lovely woman. I feel blessed but I just can't believe all this yet. And I'm bothered, extremely bothered. I shouldn't be, right? But I am.I have a purpose for my existence. I have a quest. Will I abandon it for luxury?I should. It's not a big deal if i do. But my guts, if only they could allow me think straight.I brush my hair and tied it into a knot. It wasn't perfect but I didn't care though I use to.When i was done dressing, I rushed down the stairs. Following the sweet scent of seasoned bacon, I found her at the dinning table, waiting for me I guess.Her smile made my heart melt.Oh my, my mother. I thought. I wish she was my mother.
The rest of my nights were hunted. I had dreams I couldn't discern. Like I have a (new) mother that always amaze me. I just can't understand her. She frightens me sometimes. Sylvia is always there whenever I need help. Even without speaking, she knows what I want. It's scary, and I'm beginning to believe that she reads my thought. It's okay if she has like my gift (and that nearly impossible cause my type of breed is rare) but I just can't live with it. I feel insecure, very insecure because I can't get to her thoughts even with my gift. It's ridiculous.I've spent a few days in her home, supposedly mine, and truly I've had the best of comfort, but I just feel unfulfilled ( i abandoned my purpose). Besides, I don't trust Sylvia, I wish I could but of course I'm this curious girl with fantasies.***I heard a crack on my door and Sylvia walked in. I tried to shake off my thoughts before she got to my bed. It's morning already, she brought me sandwich and coffee (mo
She didn't wait for more questions though I had more of them she gave me a peck and left.After breakfast that morning, I went to the library. There's a compartment in the library that interests me. That same compartment, Sylvia has warned me never to go there but of course I was curious, so I unlocked the door and walked in.It has mostly ancient books, most of which has spells. I read them just like any other book. Besides, reading them gives me a sense of strength. I believe they're not fables. They can come handy in real life situations, so I memorized some. It's strange but interesting. By the way, reading is a new art I've learnt while living here. Katty's never been the reading type.During the past few days, I've spent most of my time here, and sometimes I wonder why Sylvia has instructed me not to go in. Well, today I'm not going there to read. I'm on a miss