Life and Death

Sommelier

"The tired sunsets and tired people - it takes a lifetime to die and no time at all." -Charles Bukowski

"Wha-what happened?" I was shaking uncontrollably now. Daunte stared at me, worry written all over his features. He draped his blanket around my shoulders and squeezed them breifly before letting out a long sigh.

"You were screaming. Nico tried to wake you up, but couldn't. So I came over and tried as well but you didn't budge until I shook you." I peered up and studied his face.

"I was screaming?"

"Yeah, you kept screaming 'No' over and over again. Honestly I was terrified seeing you like that." His eyes darkened, resembling that of storm clouds. I stared, admiring the faint swirl of emotion until I realized I was gawking and blushed. I broke our stare to peer up at the moon, using its spot in the sky to gage the time of night. Daunte made no move to leave, he stood deep in thought before laying down right beside me.

"What do you think you're doing here?" An eyebrow shooting up in question. Without a second thought he curled up, hugging himself for warmth, letting Nico position himself in the crook of his legs.

"I'm going back to sleep of course." I opened my mouth to speak but he interrupted.

"I won't take no for an answer. You just woke up from screaming and even if you convince me that you're fine, it scared the s**t out of me." The corner of my mouth curled down in protest but I said nothing. If it were him I would have done the same thing. So I made myself comfortable and reached for the comforting tendrils of sleep, but it evaded me. My mind could not stop replaying the terrifying dream. The dark figure felt so familiar, in fact, most of everything in the dream felt familiar but I couldn't pin point where I knew it from. So I laid there, watching the sky as the dark purple slowly gave way to the bright colors of dawn.

Daunte

Mira laughed as we approached Sommelier. The sound sent jolts of electricity through me. I couldn't help the smile that spread like wildfire across my face. Her very essence brought so much joy to me and yet.. "Your turn to gather supplies! Don't repeat last time," Her eyes danced with mischeif as she waved her hand in goodbye and strode away, Nico in tow. She doesn't even know how beautiful she is. She has no inkling of what she does to me. I pushed the feelings down and started scouting the city for precious items we may need on our journey.

I walked casually through the streets carefully observing the amount of guards around and how the merchants kept their goods safe. I strolled, hands in my pocket until I felt something calling to me, beckon me. As if pulled by an invisible force I sanked my way through streets and alleys to end up at the door of a low lit tent layered in sheer cloth. I walked through untila women came into view.

"Hello young man," Her voice was soft and inviting, yet I couldn't help but be wary of the woman. She had long wavy brown hair with random locs woven with chains and trinkets. Her dress were long pieces of violet fabric. It looked as if it were sewn with Gold. Sensing my curiosity she chuckled and c****d an eye at me.

"Would you like to know your future?" Her hand reached out to me, knotted and gnarled despite her face looking rather youthful. Every part of my being was now screaming at me to run, to get out as fast as I can. Her knowing smile sent shivers down my spine. "Tell me your name."

"Daunte." My eyes went wide. It was a command. And with the way I answered so quickly... So surely... I didn't have control over my own actions anymore. At least Mira was well out of harms way.

"Ahh, feelings for a young woman I see?" I let out a growl, realizing her spell was what binds me and fought to speak.

"You're a witch." I rasped. Manical laughing ensued. She settled in her chair and looked at him once again, completely amused.

"Are you sure you don't want to know your future? I could tell you if you get the girl or not?" I only sneered at her in response. No matter how much I wanted to know how my future with Mira would turn out, I did not want to find out through a witch. Though it didn't seem like I had any choice. Then suddenly my eyes were dropping to close and I could only hear her cackle echoing in the darkness of my mind.

My eyes reopened to find myself somewhere in the center of the city everything was different. Buildings were on fire, falling down, and charred, the city was in complete chaos as Ogres milled about terrorizing the people within and destorying what they could. "Is this a dream?" I whispered it, half expecting an answer only to be met with the screams of the people around. My anger consumed me. "WHAT IS THIS? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WITCH!" The witch chuckled and it floated around him like an echo. "This is the future if your beloved does not accept her destiny." A deep fear rose up into me causing a panic. "Mira," my eyes scanned the horizon, searching desperately for the small dark haired girl he's fallen so completely in love with. "MIRA!" Flames were everywhere. Orges rampaged, laughing while ripping humans to shreds. Throwing their bowels across alley ways and leftovers into the flames. Children screamed and cried, begging for Mum and Pa only to meet a worse fate... My desperation grew, lashing out on the Ogres, swinging widly to defend the innocent, defenseless children before me. Tears streamed down my face as I fell to my knees choking back the sobs. "Mira... what is your destiny to decide?"