The Unlucky Apprentice

Alex awoke, the warm sun pressing in through the windows. "Good morning husband." Naomi said, standing in front of him in nothing but her underwear bringing a plate with some eggs and bacon. Her body swayed softly as she approached, placing the plate on the night stand she crawled into bed moving the plump white comforter to lay beside him. Alex felt her warm smooth skin press into his, he caressed her black hair with one hand and gently pulled her into an embrace with the other. They shared a kiss before Naomi bounded off him with her endless energy. "The next time I see you" naomi said passing the bedroom door and turning with a smile, "I'll be saying 'I do". With that she bounded down the hall, leaving alex exited in far more ways than one. He decided it would be best to focus his pent up energy on getting ready for the wedding. He shurked off the covers and grabbed a piece of bacon before opening his laptop. He checked a few emails from the office, one of them confirmed his leave for the honeymoon and another was the musician confirming he would stay late for the afterparty. If Alex was anything he was the man who would go above and beyond. While planning the wedding and reception, Naomi's brother had been delayed due to his work with the govergnment. Alex had planned and after party with close friends and this gave them plenty of time to suprise Naomi with her brothers arrival. Alex stepped into the kitchen still only in his boxers, rinsing off his plate and watching the birds outside. The house was quiet Naomi had already dressed and left for her brides maids to pamper her for the day. Alex remembered that a year ago he had proposed to Naomi when they moved in together. No furnature had been bought, they both were just starting in their careers, so it was just him and her in front of the fire place in their condo. His hands had been shaking with the ring, the few moments of shock for her lasted an eternity for him. "Yes" she said, tears welling up in her eyes, she kissed him and her body fell into his. The fire slowly faded as their passion grew. His lips seeking for more and more of her skin as he pulled her close. Taking her blouse gently over her head before slowly kissing down her neck. His hands pushing her chest into his as he undid her bra. Slowly laying her back onto the blankets while he let his lips persue her breasts. His tongue laceing paterns of extasy as it flicked up and down her pink mountains. Fully errect in the throws of passion Alex would still take them into his mouth, sucking and pulling as if to bring them further to the sky. Alex shook himself out of his exotic daydream, feeling his buldge press against the counter. He adjusted himself, allowing his fingers to wrap around his mass and give himself a small reward. When he was fully hard he was impressive, Naomi was quite lucky. He thought back to the passionate night but he had no time to finish himself off. He swiftly got ready, throwing on a suit and tie, his tuxedo was freshly pressed at the venue but he needed to pick up his fathers watch from the shop. He headed down the stairs to his car and zipped over to the watchmans shop. An older gentleman greeted him by name and opened a cabinet behind the counter. "Here's your watch, the repair will be $175". Alex father had passed when he was in his teens, his family knew it was comming but he still took it very hard. His father had taken him camping and given alex the watch "Alex, I want this watch to remind you that you are gentile and kind, but most of all, I want it to remind you to protect those you love". Alex paid with his card and put the watch on, it was now a perfect fit and the crack on the glass was gone leaving a pristine time keeping machiene. Alex was admiring the watch when he headed back outside. He crossed the street to his car and headed for the venue. The venue was a beautiful place on top of a mountain. The drive there was very scenic, many tree's lined the road, cherry blossoms flowed along in the wind and were kicked up by the car as he passed. As Alex turned to the northern side of the mountain there was a shadow that blocked the light. It flapped and flew down closer to his car but the closer it got, the more the shape looked less like a bird. He watched it come down towards the road and more and more it looked, like an iron gate, a iron gate flapping like a bird flying. The closer the thing came the more uneasy Alex felt, and the more detail he saw the more threatening it seemed. The Iron gate hosted runes engraved on each iron post, The iron bars meeting in the middle were chained by black iron. Attop each post was a large red jewel that looked like a snakes eye, watching him as it approached. Alex began to speed up, wanting to escape this monster, gate, whatever it was! He shot past it, begining to re-enter the forest, he was going 70 through back roads narowly avoiding turns. The gate followed gaining speed and size through every momwnt. Alex could see it take most of the road and it was right behind him! He turned the last corner comming to the top of the mountain, he checked behind him and, nothing, nothing was there. As he looked ahead his heart pounded, he saw the venue on his left. A caterer waived at him while setting up tables. Alexes heart raced as he took a deep breath, whatever it was the caterer didn't see it; it was all in his head. Alex gave a wave and a nod, breathing slowly and pushing it off as nerves or a sign he needed to see a doctor. Looking ahead he breathed a sign of relief nothing else seemed amiss. He turned into the parking lot which should have been paved but before him was a large field. The venue had vanished. The last thing he noticed was the iron gate open around the entry he had passed through, the runes on each post glowed and the eyes watching as his car rolled through them. He slammed on the brakes but it was too late, the iron gate slammed shut behind him, the road, the forest, his world, gone. The car sat in the field running. Alex kept his foot on the break like he thought he was asleep and he was trying to avoid an accident. His mind raced "This had to be a panic attack, or stress from the wedding, or maybe he was a pschyzophrenic". He looked around, there was no civilization, hills of grass rolled on for miles. Slowly Alex put the car into park and turned it off. He stood outside watching the sun dissapear behind the trees, leaving a beautiful glowing sunset. At any moment he expected to be awoken, or moved by some unseen force, helping force him back to reality. But as hours passed, the night crept in, and the cold brought the harsh reality that his wedding, his wife, and his entire world, were long gone.