The Soul Bounder

chapter three: 4pm

chapter three: 4pm

Arriving at her home, Serenity's heart sunk into the pit of stomach. 

She was scared. Scared of what she might see, or hear. 

She'd been absent from her own home for roughly a week, and the feel of the house made her blood run cold with fear. She unlocked the door, and flashbacks of the bright yellow crime-scene tape made her vision turn blurry. The brutality had longed been wiped clean, leaving no trace of scarlet in her sight. 

Oddly enough, Serenity did believe in ghosts and spirits. The question she wondered, yet was also apprehensive of, is of her parents. If they still lingered within these four walls, did they remain to keep her safe? Or were they regretful?

"Serenity?"

The girl snapped out of her haze, and turned her attention to the voice that called for her. "Yes?" she asked.

"Are you alright? Or is this too much for you?" Sera questioned concernedly.

Biting her lip, Serenity nodded in response. "I'm okay, but I just miss them so much. This was our favorite time of the year, and now I'm to spend Christmas all alone."

Sera frowned, but quickly awarded her with a sincere smile. "Serenity, you know that's not true."

"I know, but this is different. I love you, and you know you've always been my family. B-but-" 

Salted fluid fell from the corners of Serenity's eyes, and a pair of arms encased her into a warm embrace. Serenity cried nearly everyday since the tragedy, but this was different. She returned to the house that was staged as her parents' murder, and she couldn't think of the home as anything other than that now. 

Sera silently reassured Serenity, arms still wrapped around her quivering body as she sobbed. Serenity eventually pulled away, and began to unpack her things in her bedroom. The house was rather large, it held five bedrooms, and three bathrooms. Now the house seemed bigger, now that it was occupied by two people. 

Serenity asserted her attention away from unpacking, and noticed a display of family photos that hung on one of the hallway walls. This made her smile, the several photos of her being happy with her family. One of the picture frames held a photo of the three joined by the large Christmas tree they reused year after year; the thought made Serenity shudder. 

Maybe putting up that old tree will make me feel better... Serenity wondered to herself.

Sitting lonely in the backyard was a quaint little shed, one that contained tools and other assortments of items. One of those said items was the six foot tall faux pine Christmas tree. The shed was never kept locked, but after the recent happenings, Serenity decided it was better to keep everything under lock and key. 

Snatching the ring of keys that belonged to the shed, she quickly put on a coat and headed outdoors. She carefully unbolted the padlock, placing the keys into her jacket's pocket. She pulled onto a thin piece of string that fell from the ceiling, and the small room lit up. 

Piles of neutral toned plastic bins surrounded the room, each labeled with some sort of memory of importance. Serenity searched amongst the containers, looking for anything labeled in regards to Christmas. Finally she gathered together two large bins, most likely filled with tree ornaments and other alike decorations. Sera joined her, hastily heaving the bins in one by one. Lastly, they both carried in the giant tree, gently placing it onto the floor without damaging anything.  

To get better acquainted with the holiday season, Sera suggested the traditional playlist of Christmas. Bobby Helms' classic "Jingle Bell Rock" boomed throughout the house, as Serenity began unboxing the tree. She hoisted it together, piece by piece, while Sera untangled old tree lights. The clear lights glowed, each individual bulb still in working order. The two each added beautifully crafted tree ornaments, making sure to evenly space them out. Once this was done, the last step was to add a suiting tree topper. There were options, a few diversely designed stars, yet there was one that really stood out to Serenity.

"This one is perfect, don't you think?"

Serenity held a delicately put together angel, suggestively wondering from Sera. Sera nodded in agreement, and nudged her forward to place the angel topper atop the tree. Requiring a stool, she fetched the two-step ladder from one of the closets in the laundry room. Standing on the highest step, stretching on her toes to reach, the angel sat well. The wings were pure white, with silver and gold tinsel spread throughout its feathers. The face looked similar to one of a cherub, with rosy tinted cheeks of pink, and a beaded dress of ivory. 

"Perfect." Sera spoke in awe, especially admiring the angel that stared back at the both of them. 

"It really is. I wonder if angels really do exist, though." Serenity mused.

This earned a shrug from Sera. "Who knows. You're not really the religious type, so what makes you ask?" She asked, while removing any remaining decorations from the plastic tubs. 

This made Serenity still. Religion? It seemed this has always been a sensitive topic in world. What was real? What was not? Nothing really mattered in the end, because death was always inevitable. So why argue if such a thing as angels or gods even existed?

"You're right, but I still wonder. Who knows, maybe angels are real? I wasn't killed for a reason, whatever that might be. And that warning—that  warning that my mom gave me. What did any of it mean? Not to mention her saying that I was adopted? Who says that? And how could I ever believe that?"

"I'm not saying that you are adopted, but why else would she say that as she was dying? She obviously said those things for a reason, Serenity. She said all of that to protect you." Sera explained.

This earned a glare from Serenity, who began to feel the anger well up inside her heart. The words that she so desperately tried to erase from her memory replayed in a cruel loop.

Trust no one. Trust no one. Trust no one.

Just what the hell did any of that mean?! Why tell me now, rather than sooner?  Serenity thought with hate.

A twinge knocked against the girl's forehead, reminding her of the pain that followed would be of another migraine. She kept forgetting to make a doctor's appointment to see what could've been the underlying cause for this, but her inner demons gnawed at her to forget. Exhaling a deep sigh, Serenity found herself in her bathroom, searching the medicine cabinet for anything to numb the ache in her head. 

Sera made suggestions for dinner, but Serenity opted for takeout. It was a choice between pizza or Chinese food, and the second option won easily. Sera dialed the nearest Chinese restaurant that delivered, and placed the order. She made for sure to include all of the delicious side dishes Serenity loved so much, in an effort to cheer her up. 

Serenity laid flat across her bed, while waiting for the food to arrive. Her mind trailed along to maybe focusing on her photography, but her sadness crept up again and told her to stay away from productivity. Rolling over, Serenity pulled a thick fleece blanket over herself, and somehow dozed off to sleep. 

Appearing before her eyes was the same scenery she'd once seen before, of trees blanketed with snow. Before she was able to register her surroundings, Serenity's breath hitched in her throat at what her eyes made contact with. 

The man from before. 

She felt herself take step back, and to prepare herself to run. And just as she was to turn tail, a strong hand vice-gripped her wrist. 

"How did you—" Serenity blurted in disbelief, until the man placed a finger against his lips to motion silence.

"Don't speak, just listen." He harshly ordered.

Serenity's body began to shake, and not from the negative temperatures. Yet, she obeyed the man's instructions. This made the man loosened his grip on her wrist, then removing himself altogether. He took a step back, yet still close enough to be face-to-face with the girl. He studied her face, his crystalline eyes surveying every detail of Serenity's face. This made the girl blush, however regrettable it may've been. He cleared his throat, and finally met her sight. 

"If you want to survive this war that awaits you, you need to listen closely to everything I am about to tell you." 

Serenity's brows knitted together, confusion and anger mixing as one. "Excuse me? What war, are you speaking of? And who even are you? I'm getting really tired of seeing you-"

All at once, within the blink of an eye, the man's hand lie flat across Serenity's mouth to once again silence her. She had a good mind to just nip the man, and make a run for it.

"Didn't I tell you before, to be quiet. Why must I repeat myself?" The man spat with annoyance. 

Serenity waited for him to release her again, and he continued with his warning. 

"You're going to need my help, so heed my directions." The man paused, awaiting any more pointless interruptions from the mouthy teenager. 

"I know you aren't alone. Tomorrow at 4pm, make it so you are. I don't care how  you do it, but make it happen. Just know you'll be sorry if you don't." He continued, his expression still hard as stone.

Serenity bit at her lip again, afraid of what this all meant. Her nervous tick was revealed to the man, who's eyes trailed along her freshly bitten lips. He quickly averted his sight back to Serenity's eyes, as she almost noticed what he'd seen. 

"Who exactly are you? This is all so crazy... And I can't just do this without knowing who you are!" Serenity exclaimed.

The beautifully tall man shook his head disapprovingly, all while looking so put together while doing so. "Names aren't of importance right now. I'm an ally, and that's all I'm going to tell you. For now."

Serenity's face turned sour, her lips flattened into a brief frown. But the mysterious man's words clung to her like a rainy mist. 

I am an ally.

"Take heed of my words, Serenity. Or else you'll have the same fated end as your parents." 

And with that being the last words that were said, the scene dissipated into thin air, and Serenity returned to reality.

Sera's face was the first thing to come across Serenity's vision, still laying in her bed. She slowly sat herself up, rubbing the sleep from the corners of her eyes. She turned her gaze towards Sera, who appeared worried. 

"What happened? Are you okay?"

Completely unaware until now, Serenity had been crying. Perhaps what the man that stood only in her dreams at struck a nerve, and her present self felt the repercussions of that emotional distress. Serenity nodded, and situated herself to sit onto the edge of the mattress. "I am. But I had the most craziest, more bizarre dream. You'll never-" Serenity paused, mentally biting her tongue.

What if all of that wasn't just a dream? What if the façade I'd just face was all so scarily real? 

"Serenity?" Sera spoke her name again, concern deepening within her voice. 

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry, I kind of zoned out." Serenity lied so plainly.

"The dream? What kind of dream was this?" Sera asked, reminding her of what she'd just said.

Shaking her head, Serenity quickly added another white lie. "Oh nothing, just forget about it. It's nothing, really."

Sera scowled at this, hoping to find the truth lying somewhere in her friend's honest green eyes. "Promise?"

"I promise." Serenity repeated, taking Sera's pinky finger with hers, squeezing it tight.

This earned her a grin, and Sera stood up. Serenity followed suit, stretching her arms and legs in addition. Sera gladly guided Serenity into the living room, where a large quantity of Chinese food laid out across the coffee table. Serenity piled her plate high, especially with the cream cheese crab wontons, and pork dumplings. She ate to her heart's content, and was already ready to go back to sleep. Serenity checked the time on her phone, realizing that she'd only been asleep for forty-five minutes at most. Once the two girls had munched on all the food their stomachs could contain, they put the remaining food in containers and sat them in the refrigerator. 

Serenity was still hesitant to enter the perimeter of the kitchen, but long thought about how foolish she was if she continued the path she was choosing to walk on.  The time on the oven's clock read 7:36pm, and this made Serenity more exhausted the longer she gawked at the three digits. She knew she shouldn't feel so tired, because of all of the rest she'd been receiving lately. But the depressive thoughts that hung around her, dragging her down by the shoulders seemed to accompany her with an endless fatigue.

Serenity exchanged good-nights with her best friend, and she walked to her bathroom. She brushed her teeth and flossed, ridding her gums with any remnants of dinner. She washed her face with her typical night-time cleanser, gently scrubbing all over her face. As she began to rinse the soap from her pores, she noticed that her face bore less freckles than usual. 

She was never quite vain of her appearances, just barely remembering to brush her hair after shampooing. But as she stared harder into the mirror, she noticed more things that she usually would've easily missed. Her hair was wasn't as red as it once was. If anything, it seemed like the left side of her hair was more... Dark? The natural tinge of red was fading into something of a brunette, which seemed odd to her. Has Sera noticed this?

Is this a sign of puberty telling me it's not done with me yet? Serenity thought, chuckling to thoughtless joke.

Serenity pulled a scrunchie from her stash of hair accessories, and placed her hair into a sloppy bun, only there to help her sleep better. She exited the in-suit bathroom, and almost jumped into her bed. She snuggled herself underneath the blankets she left untidied from earlier, and turned onto her side. She unlocked her cell phone, checking her various social media accounts. Her fingers typed in the url for the city's local news station, as she'd been doing routinely as of late. She'd been told several times by Sera to stay away from the media, as her parents' case was still under surveillance and the public were still so cruel.

Serenity removed the webpage, and locked her phone. Her phone's alarm was set to ring at 7:30am, giving her an ample amount of time to get ready for the day. Her school's on site counsellors offered assistance to Serenity, but she declined their offers. She felt as if counsellors truly didn't help anything, and were a waste of time to talk to. 

Serenity closed her eyes, hoping to see the curiously handsome man again, to get more answers before dawn appeared tomorrow. 

The chirping of birds pecked in Serenity's ear, waking her in a hurry. This wasn't actual birds, but the preset she used for her alarm. Serenity groaned with disdain, and slowly removed herself from the warmth of her bed. She retreated to her bathroom, and began to get ready for the day ahead of her. The warm pressured drops bulleted at Serenity's shoulders, wetting her hair to begin her morning routine. She showered with ease, wishing she could stayed home instead of continuing to school. 

Serenity chose a simple outfit for the day, a pair of dark wash Levi's, with a figure-hugging straight-leg fit. A navy-coloured long sleeved shirt, layering a grey and black plaid patterned flannel. And to top it all off, she put on her trusty black Dr. Marten 1460 boots. Serenity gathered a slate-coloured wool coat, along with her backpack, and made her way into the living room to wait for Sera. 

Memories flooded Serenity's mind, filled with those of her dreams she'd been thrown into as of late. The school day ended at 3:05pm, and yet she still wondered how she was supposed to be alone exactly at 4pm. But the aspect of the man's words, or rather what was absent, is what made Serenity ponder his intentions.

Where exactly am I supposed to meet this person? How will he know I'm alone? Serenity thought.

Maybe she was insane for thinking that her dream-state would have any influence on reality. Maybe this was all a very real thing. Something that shouldn't be taken lightly. But the only person she needed to be away from, was Sera. Sera hadn't left her side in over a week, and she knew if she made her aware of these circumstances, she'd only refuse. Lately, Sera has become much more protective over the girl. The two girls were the same age, but Sera seemed so much more... Mature.

"Hey, are you ready to go?" 

Serenity was pulled out of her thought-process, and looked over to her best friend. She was dressed somewhat similar to her, but in her own unique way. Serenity always opted for darker clothing, while Sera chose items that were with color. 

"Yeah, let's go."

Serenity would've usually made herself a lunch, but she had to remove the contents of the kitchen's refrigerator due to her week-long absence. Therefore, she figured should would just buy a lunch from the school's cafeteria. 

Sera and Serenity entered the frigid December air, and hastily walked over to the only vehicle parked on the paved driveway. Sera turned the keys into the ignition, and quickly turned on the heat, to relieve the two of their shivering. Once warm and their reflexes were somewhat functioned, the car moved backwards for the girls to be on their way to school. 

It was already seventh period, the final class of the day. For Serenity, her last scheduled class of the day was English Honors IV, and she'd already completed her classwork. As a reward, she was able to lounge about in the library, comfortably seated in one of the couches that sat in one of the spare meeting rooms. Hundreds of books accompanied Serenity, as she was alone while reading in this specific part of the library. A few other students were present elsewhere, looking for a book to read or using the library's old desktop computers for research. 

Serenity was able to read at least six full chapters of her book, before the final bell sounded for students to go home for the day. The time was exactly 3:05pm, and Serenity's heart began to race with anticipation. Was this from fearful anticipation or an excited anticipation?

With Sera waiting for her in the student parking lot, they both climbed into the Honda CRV, and started to drive back to Serenity's house.

Serenity's hands were in a messy jumble in her lap, as she nervously sat in the passenger seat. Sera continued to drive, not noticing the change in her friend's breathing. It made erratic and heavy, her stomach beginning to twist. Serenity loathing dishonesty, and she hated it even more whenever she herself was put into a situation to where it was necessary. 

Parking into the driveway once more, Serenity quickly exited the car, not giving Sera a chance to ask why she was in such a hurry. She nearly jogged to the front door, unlocking the bottom and top locks. She hurriedly entered the home, and continued to stalk into her room. She didn't even bother to close the door behind her. 

"Serenity? What are you in such a hurry for?" Sera asked, appearing before her. 

Serenity sat on the edge of her bed, looking down at her hands. She hoped she wouldn't notice her changed behavior, but Serenity possessed an easily read persona. 

"I'm sorry if I seemed rude, I was just cold." 

"Cold? Oh yeah, it is snowing after all. But, you kind of had me worried there for a second." Sera explained, worry lines appearing on her deeply tanned brown skin. 

"No worries. I'm fine." Serenity reassured her.

Sera left the room, shutting her door as she exited. Serenity sighed in relief, remembering how much she hated lying. It made her feel terrible, yet she knew there was no way she could explain any of this to Sera. 

Serenity's phone lit up, and the time read 3:37pm. Her stomach was flooded with anxious butterflies, and she knew she had to act upon the odd instructions soon. But before she could do anything, she needed to implement a plan. 

This seemed so silly her Serenity, needing to hide the truth of all of this from Sera. 

It's not like she's my guardian, she's my best friend...

Serenity remained in her boots and coat, and placed her cell phone into her coat's front right pocket, along with her small leather wallet. She quietly trailed into the living room, and peered around the vast living room. It was absent with people, people being Sera. She continued forward, finding the the handle to the singular door that led to the backyard. Her house's backyard was rather sizeable, approximately a quarter of an acre. There were two gates, one on the right side of the house, and another sitting on the opposite side. Both sides of the home were aligned with manicured hedges, separating Serenity and her neighbors. 

Serenity removed one of the fasteners from the right-sided gate, being careful to not draw any attention. Once successfully outside of the gate, Serenity made sure to cover up the evidence. She tip-toed down the line of hedges, heading towards the wooded area that was spread behind the neighborhood. It was basically the traditional scenery of woods, but with a few guided paths leading to old pergolas with wooden benches sitting beneath them. Sera knew of this location, as the pair used to visit them quite often as kids. They'd pretend this hidden sanctuary was the property of fairies, and act as if the woods were filled with other fairy-tale characters.

Serenity discovered one of the aged paths, and began to follow it. The earth was caked with snow, but the paths were always manageable to follow. Tree roots dared to hide and trip passerbyers, but Serenity knew better; she was much acquainted with these man-made roads. Serenity still walked along the snowy trail, stuffing her hands into her pockets to prevent the painful greeting of frostbite. She was previously wearing a pair of comfy fleece gloves, but absentmindedly removed them and left them behind in her room. 

Approaching a nature-made annular group of trees, her eyes met with the recognizable benches. Thankfully, the benches seemed to be absent of the polar snowfall, with the outdoor structure providing needed cover. Serenity traced the old carvings from one of the benches, where her initials were cut deeply into the seat, with a pocket knife she used to carry around as an adolescent. Finally, she sat on the bench, awaiting for the impending arrival of a stranger. 

I've got to be borderline insane for agreeing to do any of this.

The time read 3:52pm, with eight minutes remaining. 

Serenity's long pale fingers tapped impatiently against the weathered bench, allowing so many childhood memories to pour themselves into her self-conscience. It was almost as if it was rather recent, Sera and Serenity running about these very woods. But alas, time was a brutish concept; never sparing anyone from its inevitable effects. 

Lost within her beautifully made memories, Serenity never noticed the moving shadow that progressed its way behind her. She froze— mentally and physically. Before her brain processed her movements, she was already turned around. Facing her, and gaping at her in return was the very same prepossessing man that flaunted in her dreams.

"It's you." Serenity whispered, more-so talking to herself.

This earned her a tightened stare, jaw clenched and lips resting in a purse. There was a dangerous silence within the air, between the two. However, they both didn't look away from the other. Surprisingly enough, Serenity studied the man's features, and didn't seem to pinpoint a single imperfection. 

You're here, and I still don't even know your name.

"Well?" The taunting man finally said.

"Well...? What?" Serenity mocked.

"Look, I don't have time to waste—we don't have time to waste. If you want my help, you need to follow me, and follow me now."

Serenity frowned, standing up in a halt. "Wait a second. You appear out of nowhere, haunt my dreams and order me around like a dog? You still haven't even told me your name!" 

"We aren't on a first name basis, so why should I even tell you? If you know what's good for you-"

"No." Serenity interrupted, voice flat.

This took the stranger by surprise, with a smirk sneaking on the corners of his lips. He quickly put on his earlier façade, and came closer to Serenity's vision.

"No? What do you mean, 'no'?" He asked plainly.

"You spoke about my parents' death as if it was nothing, you show up without any regard as to how I feel about this whole situation. I'm lying to my best friend about my whereabouts, and I don't even know who you are. For all I know, you could be the one that killed my mother and father." Serenity stated, her eyes gleaming with pain.

"I can't say I blame you for the accusation, but make no mistake— I am no murderer. And to prove I'm not, I'll tell you my name." 

This news made Serenity perk up a bit, clearing the tears that dared to slip from her eyes. She put a brave face on, and averted her attention to the man. Once she readied herself to allow him to continue, and walked closer to the girl. This made Serenity's heart beat faster.

"My name is Christian. Christian Alesius." He confessed.

The name suited him— a wonderfully crafted name for a well crafted man. 

"Christian? Okay... Well, what now?"

Christian stepped a few paces backwards without taking his eyes off of the girl. "Now, we run."

Christian began to walk away, ending the conversation. His walking speed turned quicker, but not the same pace of a jog. Perhaps it was because he was able to clear more steps than her, because of his longer legs. Serenity caught up to him briefly, her brilliant hair flying into her mouth and eyes, huffing with confusion and exhaustion. 

"Wait just a moment! What do you mean by run?! Where are we going? I can't just leave!" 

Legs ceased movement, catching the teen off guard.

"Serenity, I really need you to understand something. People are trying to kill you, and they know you're here. The quicker we relocate, the better chance you have at surviving all of this." 

Surviving?

"Is this by the same people that killed them? My parents?" She questioned, her green eyes sad again. 

Already so accustomed to seeing his cold expressions, Christian's eyes softened as he mentally sympathized with her. He breathed in a breath of fresh air, inhaling the girl's intoxicating scent. He knew what she really was, and knew that he made the right choice by yanking her away from her home. He peered down at her, and met with her jade irises; flashbacks popping random events into his head. 

"Yes. The same people. I know you don't want to leave your home. But believe me, if you stay here, you'd be betraying your parents' dying wish." Christian explained.

Their dying wish. They knew this would all come to plan?

Serenity sighed with melancholy, and she finally agreed to succumb to his demands. The sun's rays lightly kissed her skin, as their footsteps maneuvered into the wet soil. Christian led her through the darkening woods, his tall shadow peeking around every corner. 

He's got to be a little over six feet tall. Maybe about 6'3?

Finally uncovering the outer world that awaited outside of the miniature forest, sunlight stabbed Serenity's green eyes. The air felt colder, the farther she was from her house. Her breathing became unsteady, and she halted into a slouched stance. In front of her, was a vehicle. It appeared to be a brand new 2019 Honda Civic, however it seemed so new that it could've been a rental car. 

"I didn't want to attract too much attention with a more expensive car, so I chose this. I hope this proves suitable for our long travels." Christian said, reading Serenity's expression.

Surprise still remained on her youthful features, and then her surprise grew into sickening worry as her cell phone began to rang. The screen lit up as she removed it from her coat's pocket, and the contact name read Sera. Serenity quickly looked up at Christian to see if he noticed, but she was too late. Christian's pale eyes were focused on her, and it seemed to have been this way for awhile. Before she could muster up the courage to explain, he shook his head.

"Do what you must. Lie, if you can." Christian hissed.

Serenity's heartbeat pounded, and her already aching heart began to weep. She was tired of losing her loved ones, both to death and to whatever lies ahead of her. But Serenity was forcibly made to carry out the deed, attempting to contemplate a small white lie before answering. 

"Hello?" Sera answered questionably, whenever the line finally picked up.

"Hey, Sera." Serenity nearly whispered.

"Hey? What do you mean 'hey?' Where are you? And why are you being so quiet?" She questioned further.

Serenity's throat knotted, feeling her voice giving out already. She couldn't bear to continue the conversation. She wanted to end the call, and just run. Run far, far away. 

"I-I'm not. Anyways, I'm sorry if I worried you. But don't worry, I-"

"Stop. You don't have to lie to me anymore."

The young girl's heart jumped, and her mind raced to thousands of thoughts per second.

"I already know. I already know who you're with, and where you probably are." Sera continued.

"Can you please explain? How the hell are you involved in any of this?" Serenity spat with demand.

She could hear Sera sigh through the phone, and Christian cleared his throat to interrupt. Serenity nearly overlooked his presence, seeing as how he remained so unnaturally quiet. His eyes glinted, giving her a silent warning. 

"Don't, Serenity. You can't go with him; he can't be trusted." 

Can't be trusted? 

"Sera, how do you know about any of this? It seems like everyone keeps trying to tell me what to do, without any regard for how I feel! And something tells me... That Christian wouldn't lie about what my parents wanted."

"Serenity! Please listen to me, I- I don't want you to suffer the same fate. Whatever he's telling you is just a twisted lie. Believe me."

"Enough. If everyone I care about will be spared by whoever this serial killer is from me leaving, then I'll do it. What must be done, can be done."

"Serenity, no-"

The call ended with the press of a red button, and Serenity shook her head in frustration. She shoved her phone into her pocket once more, and climbed into the passenger side seat. Christian assumed his role as the driver, and the car roared to life as the key entered the ignition.

As the car smoothly drove along the highway, Serenity sank into her seat and sobbed uncontrollably. Christian never once took his eyes off the road, but she still felt his heavy presence. 

She kept thinking about how awful she made Sera feel, and how stupid she may be for making these hasty decisions. In any other scenario, Serenity would've followed instinct and never once stepped foot outside of her threshold. But the second occurrence of the life-like dream she had told her she had to. 

Things like this don't happen for no reason. Right?

The day eventually conveyed into evening, the sunset appearing like one of a movie. Serenity longingly admired the vibrant colors; the shades of yellowy-orange melting into the beautiful salmon pink. Strangely enough, Serenity thought sunsets were depressive. 

You wait all evening for the sun to set low into the horizon, only for a few short-lived moments to be free until nightfall consumes you. 

It was an odd concept, but that's how it seemed to Serenity. The sky transcended from sorbet, to a cool navy. The dark never once scared Serenity as a child, but in this very moment she was. The dark promised unpredictability, and she needed some source of stability in her life. Her life seemed to be changing so rapidly, and Serenity didn't know if she could ever sprint fast enough to keep up.