Shattered Reality | Book Two

Chapter XVIII

A/N 

The photo above is pretty much one of my first photoshops ever. It goes with the chapter though :)

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11:46.

Less than fifteen minutes and I am staring blankly at the woods. It's happening. It seems impossible but it's seriously going to happen. I turn to my closet, grabbing out a black hoodie and slipping it on. I pull the hood over my face so it covers my black hair and most of my face. I slip into some black leggings, the fleece inside hopefully enough to warm me up as I run through the snow. I look at my combat boots before grabbing my tennis shoes. It's a dumb idea to grab tennis shoes when there is snow on the ground, but I will most likely need to run. I leave my phone on my bed as I inch to my door, my heart in my throat as I pull open my door, only for it to be slammed seconds later.

"Where are you going?" Zeuxis' voice makes me freeze and I look at him with wide eyes. His face is impassive, but his eyes show worry and clear anxiety. I almost choke up and tell him everything, but that's when something in my chest rips out and I find myself lying easily.

"A midnight run. Mind your own business," I snap. Zeuxis' surprise matches my own as I yank open my door and step into the hallway. I quickly jog down the stairs before turning to the front door. If I go out those I'm sure Zeuxis would stop me there. So I look at the back door. Looking at it sends goosebumps up on my arms. I hate those doors. I despise the woods, which is exactly where I am going to go. The trees look like desperate souls reaching for the clouds, and shadows practically cover everything. The shadow of a particular tree actually creeps into the house, covering part of the couch Aunt Janice has in front of the doors.

I shake my head to clear away my fear before opening the back door carefully. "Cassie, you are my business." Zeuxis appears beside me as I cautiously step out of the house. I stare at him for a moment before licking my lips and closing my eyes. I once wished Grim away, and now I can wish him away.

Go away! Go away! Go away!

I pray it works. I keep on thinking those words over and over as I think of who Zeuxis is. Anxiously I open my eyes to see him gone and in his place is the wall. Happiness and pride ripple over my chest before I remember he can appear at any second. I quickly close the door and step down the rickety steps. I walk slowly into the woods at first, but as soon as I pass the first bare tree, I am running.

My feet pound against the ground as I rush around. I almost run into trees at times, but something within me makes me move around them at an unusual speed. I jump almost like a gazelle over fallen branches and slip over broken trees as I just keep running. I wonder how much longer I can run.

My eyes glance up at the moon. My chest explodes as I see it is inches away from its highest point. When I look down again, my heart stops in my chest. Standing about one hundred feet away from me is a familiar form. My mind almost doesn't recognize him, but them my eyes connect with soft black ones and my mind completely blanks.

"Cassie!" He shouts, making a move to come for me. I whip around in seconds and launch myself ahead. I pray he won't do that disappear and reappear act he always does, and dart away from him. I run for what feels like forever, surprised at my stamina. I keep running and running. I turn to look over my shoulder to see Grim still behind me, and shockingly enough, he is actually floating, flying after me. I shriek and almost run like a cartoon character. Luckily I wore my tennis shoes because they grab the friction in the ground and propel me forward. That's when I find a rather large dead tree and my eyes light up. I glance back at Grim before turning around. I spin around and launch myself into a different direction. I crunch against the ground, hiding within a bush. Grim flies past me seconds later, trying to still chase me. I then see the old tree and dart over to it like the Flash. "Cassie!" He shouts again. His voice makes my ears practically hum in joy and my heart flutter in love.