Jessica Sorensen - Broken Visions

Id always thought life was complicated, back when I didnt know there was something other than the human world. But it was a piece of cake compared to the mayhem I live in now. Vampires. Demons. Evil. Possession. Ive experienced it all. I barely remember my possession, honestly. Bits and pieces, Alex desperate to save me, me a total bitch, wanting nothing more than to kill him. Which I did. I killed him

It happens so quickly that I dont have time to process it. One minute my brain is full of haziness where I can only see one single thoughtkill Alexand then suddenly Im free, my heart flooding with emotions.

Pain. Longing. Need. Sadness. I see so many things. Alex and I. Our hide out. Violet flowers. Dancing in a field. Blood Promise. Forever. Everything Ive ever felt in my past, before my emotions were erased, surges through to me and jumpstarts my emotions.

I scream at the top of my lungs. Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop. Its me. Its me. Alex, stop!

But its too late. He gags as he pulls the needle out of his heart. Gasping for air, his skin pallid, eyes wide. Seconds later, he crumples to the floor.

A blood-curdling scream rips from my lips. Aislin! Untie me! Please. He cant die now! I did this. This is all my fault. No! Help! Stop. Please. God, it hurts so much.

Aislin buckles over Alexs body with her head tucked down as she utters a chant under her breath, over and over again. Her hand glows red as she presses it to his heart. I realize shes doing a spell, hopefully one that will bring him back. However, the longer it goes on, the more my hope crumbles. After a while, Aislin gets quiet, tears still falling from her eyes as she looks up at me.

Hes dead, Gemma. Hes dead, she whispers softly as the glow from her hand fizzles away.

No, hes not! I cry as I tug on the ties around my arms and legs. Aislin, please untie me. I need to be with him.

Shes finally able to get up, then she moves over to me, her eyes swollen; tears streaming down her cheeks. She unfastens the ties around my wrists, her fingers shaking. As soon as she gets the last one undone, I spring upright and scramble over to where Alex is lying on the floor. His eyes are open, though distant and vacant; his arms and legs are sprawled across the floor. Hes not breathing. I check his pulse with my fingertips. Nothing. I try to feel the sparks. Nothing. I feel nothing.

I vaguely hear Aislin say something to me, but I cant make out her words. Theres so much pain. Hollowness and its growing larger every second his heart isnt beating. I feel like Im being pushed down from it. Sinking. Falling. Dying.

Theres a frozen lake before me and icicles dangle from the leafless tree branches enclosing the water. The dark sky casts a shadow over the icy land and the air is as chilly as death. Alexs arms are wrapped tightly around me as we stand near the edge of the frozen water, holding onto one another as if our lives depend on it.

Well be all right, wont we? I ask him. A breeze gusts through my hair and the silence around us makes the world feel desolate. Yet somehow at the moment, I feel whole; at peace, calm.

I tip my head back and look up at him to tell him my how I feel, but he shushes me as he brushes my hair away from my face. It will be all right, he whispers, but his voice is unsteady.

My lips part to disagree, because I can feel the omen in my bones, but a crackle rips through the air and steals the words from my lips. Moments later, several tall, cloaked figures with skin of the dead and soulless glowing eyes emerge from the trees and surround us.

Death Walkers. I look at Alex in terror. What do we do?

He pulls me closer to him. It will be all right, he whispers again, his body heat the only drop of warmth we have left. Just trust me.

I feel warmth and pain. Heat and agony. Then suddenly Im suffocated by light. Yet for some reason, it feels like everything will be okay. Gripping onto him, I take a deep breath and let the warming light engulf me and take me away from the world. Then theres a rough tug and I can feel Alex slipping away. I let out a scream, but we lose each other in the light.

Gemma, a voice calls out to me. Can you hear me?

My body tenses as light encircles me. Whos there?

Come toward me, the voice echoes.

I lift my hand to my forehead and try to shield my eyes from the blinding light, but I still cant see a thing. Whoever you are, I cant see you The lights too bright.

Yes, you can, the voice assures me. Im certain that it doesnt belong to Nicholas, even though it seems like something he would say to fuck with my head. The voice is much deeper, and sounds older and wiser. You just have to look harder.

I blink a few times and the light begins to dim. Slowly at first, and then more quickly, until theres nothing left other than a soft glow orbing around me. I can see my hands and arms my feet I start to get my bearings when, suddenly, my legs are ripped out from under me.

I tumble down a rabbit hole for what seems like forever until, finally, I land on a hard surface on my back. My vision comes into focus and Im shocked to my very core at what I see. A midnight-blue marble floor, a cathedral ceiling painted with intricate art, and tile walls of sapphire blue and shimmering silver. Its beautifultoo beautiful.

I have to be dead, I mutter, getting to my feet. I examine myself. My skin is pale, but thats normal, and I can feel the air coming in and out of my lungs, my heart still beating in my chest. I have to be alive, but where the hell am I?

Hello! I call out, turning in a circle between rows of columns that lead to a colossal statue.

I head for the statue, taking each step carefully, afraid that any second someoneor somethingwill jump out from behind one of the columns. Quite honestly, I think Im hoping Alex will appear from somewhere. Surprise me. Tell me hes okay that he didnt die.

I start crying again as I reach the end, thinking about where Alex could be and if hes alive. My heart feels shattered. Broken. Im broken. Just like the statue with a crack down the center, although its still intact. Made of flawless, white marble and perfect edges, it forms a figure that looks like a tall man. Looking closer, there is something about the angles of the face that look familiar, and theres a crystal ball chiseled in his hand.

What in the hell? I lean closer, squinting at the plaque mounted on the statues feet. As soon as I read it, my pulse quickens to the point that it knocks the breath out of me. Julian Lucas. Lucas? No. There is no way. I cover my mouth with my hand and back away. Where am I? What is this place?

Dont worry, its just a statue, someone says from right behind me.

I spin around and jump back when I come face-to-face with a man that has a striking resemblance to the statue, only hes alive and breathing. He has shoulder length, brown hair and violet eyes.

Oh, my God, youre youre I place my hand over my trembling mouth and shake my head.

Hello, Gemma, he says calmly. Im so glad you finally found me.

But youre how why I cant form sentences.

Thankfully, my dad understands. Dont worry. Im here to help you.

Help me with what? I finally get a full sentence to leave my mouth.

He smiles. Fix the past and create a better future.

I glance around at the strange place Ive dropped into. What do you mean? Where am I?

Youre in the only place I can be, he says, turning around and putting a hand on my back to steer me with him as he walks down the path.

I move nervously with him, my heart erratic in my chest. What do you mean by fix the past?