Hidden Wings

Why Me

I was gasping for breath, my feet pounding against the ground, the words in the note still clear in my mind. I just hoped I could make it in time. A cry escaped me as my legs began to give out, so I unfurled my wings.

Clutching my ball gown, I soared through the empty streets, lit only by the lamps against the moonless night. The eerie silence pressed in around me, no sound of carriage wheels breaking it. My hair tumbled loose from its pins as I reached the edge of town, breathing hard, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

‘I need to reach him, I need to reach him, please let me make it in time, I need to…’ I repeated to myself as I arrived at an abandoned building. Slowing, I spotted a trail of blood and knew I had to follow it, leading me to the back.

Blood… blood… blood… it was everywhere. A puddle pooled around him as he lay in the center. I rushed to his side, stumbling and splashing, my beautiful green dress—worn just for him—quickly drenched in crimson. My hair, once neatly pinned the way he liked, was now wild, its ends dripping red. I reached out, touching his face, the beautiful face that once carried a smile capable of melting my heart—a smile I would never see again. Tears blurred my vision; I wiped them away, only smearing his blood across my cheeks. I gazed into his gorgeous eyes, once able to make my heart flutter, now nothing but an empty abyss. I moved his head into my lap, my falling tears leaving red stains on his skin. I was covered in his blood—it was my fault, I was too late. All around us, blood soaked everything. My chest ached as though my heart had stopped and been torn out. More tears came, and each attempt to wipe them only spread more blood, turning them crimson. Unable to look at his lifeless form, I turned my eyes to the sky, wishing I were dead too. I sat in silence until no more tears would come. When I looked back at him, I saw a silhouette in the distance—a man, his blue eyes fixed on my love’s body with satisfaction. Then his gaze shifted to me, joy flickering in his expression. He opened his mouth but said nothing before walking away. Ignoring him, I clutched my other half close. Still wishing for death, I felt a sudden sharp pain in my back. A scream tore through the air—my own. Looking down, I saw the glint of a blade protruding from my stomach.

"Ivey!" Ashton was at my locker waiting for me again. I ignored him, hoping he'd just leave me alone, but my life is never that simple. "Ivey, please talk to me." I could almost hear the plea in his voice, though his face showed nothing but confidence. I still didn’t answer as I opened my locker, but that didn’t stop him from stepping closer.

"I really don’t think you should be near me," I said, glancing past him at a group of girls glaring at me. I sighed.

'Today is going to be a long day.' I closed my locker, and he was still there.

"I love you," he whispers in my ear, his breath so close I feel like I might collapse from the overwhelming sensation. I grip his arm for a moment to keep my legs from giving out, but touching him only intensifies the feeling. Quickly, I pulled my hand back and turned away.

"Just leave me alone, I like it that way."

‘No one dies that way,’ I hear, tinged with sadness.

"No, you don’t. You’re just lonely and want to be with someone—me," he says, taking my hand gently. I looked at him, and that’s a mistake because I almost fell into his glorious gaze.

"Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean it has to be you," I reply, pulling my arm out of his grasp and walking toward my class, him right on my heels.

"Ivey, just give me a chance." We reach the door, and I turn to face him once more.

"Ashton, there are prettier girls, smarter girls, and definitely less complicated, less isolated girls out there just waiting for you to sweep them off their feet—but I’m not one of them. So please, leave me—" I’m cut off by his kiss. When he pulls away, my eyes are glazed over, and I’m under his spell. The feelings I have for him rise with each touch. "You’re not making this easy. I’m not trying to fall for you." He laughs, rubbing my cheek and kissing my forehead.

"Babe, I'm not trying to make this easy. I love you, and I know you love me, so I'll just have to show it every chance I get." I blush at his bluntness, and he just smiles, taking my hand as we walk into the room. All day he kept his word, finding small moments to touch my hand or plant a kiss on my cheek, lips, or forehead. For a while, I hoped the fears were nothing but silly nightmares, yet deep down, something in my gut ached, whispering that I was going to be the death of him again.

~that night~

"Ughhhhhh, WHY AM I ALWAYS RUNNING!" I shout, not slowing my pace. This time, tears stream down my face, blurring my vision, though I don’t need to see. I already know where I’m going. I already know what I’m going to see.

The wind hits my face as I fly to him. My heart is racing so face it ached. Panic filled me along with regret. I knew I should have stayed with him.

'I need to reach him, I need to reach him, I need to, I need to..." It was hard to breathe. My lungs hurt so much. I left him alone. I should have stayed with him. Worry washed over me as a voice whispered in my ear telling me how stupid I was for not choosing him, that my beloved was dead. I flew faster to that old, abandoned building.

"He's dead... This is all your fault... You should have bowed to me when you had the chance... You're next, Ivey. Ivey, you will die..." I stood in the school hallway, a pool of blood spreading on the floor. Its source was Ashton. His lifeless eyes stared straight at me. "He's dead again because of you—you killed him. You should have bowed when you could. Now look at what you've done. Killing you will be the sweetest thing, and I'll do it every time you're reborn. I'll take pleasure in it," the icy voice whispered down my neck.

"Ashton!" I cried, trying to run to him, but a hand caught my wrist. I turned to find ice-blue eyes locked on me.

"Why don't you ever just disappear?" he whispered with hatred. I knew him, but from where? My tear-filled eyes stared at him in confusion. I glanced back at Ashton, but he was gone.

"Where... where did he go?" I asked the man. "Is he okay?"

"Why are you just worried about him? I'm about to kill you; you should worry about yourself," he said in a hushed tone, tilting his head.

"I don't know you... at least I don't think so," I whispered, glancing back to where Ashton had been before looking at the man again. "Is Ashton okay?" I demanded, pulling away from him.

"Ashton... Ashton isn't dead, but that doesn't mean you won't be!" he shouted, his voice rising. He began to saunter toward me, making me tremble in place. He reached out and touched my face, and I quickly moved out of reach, hearing the clutch of his fist. I looked up to see pain, anger, and rage on his face. His voice dropped low as he said,

"Why should I kill you now? I could mess with you, drive you insane—yeah, that would be funny. You’re lucky, baby girl. I’m going to let you live, and if you behave, I won’t kill you both. It’s not like anyone can stop me this time!" I cowered as he tried to hug me, glancing at him one last time before he disappeared, a satisfied look clear on his face.