Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty Two

______________________________________________

There was a vastness of what seemed like eternity in front of her, just over the edge of the cliff. The dirt had a rough softness against her feet. The air felt damp and thunder rumbled somewhere in the heavens.

Turning, Delilah saw Hogwarts in the distance, standing tall and daunting, but something was wrong.

"Lilah."

Tom was standing next to her, his eyes trained on the cliffs edge. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" He then looked at her, his face smooth but...

Were his eyes red?

"Look," he took hold of Delilah's chin and made her face the cliff. A shiver ran down her spine when his finger trailed along her jaw as he moved to stand directly behind her. His warm breath tickled the back of her neck, "look."

Her royal blue eyes took in the heavy smog laying beyond the edge. How far or how deep it was, was unknown. The fog seemed to be alive, it looked as if it was breathing, calling to her.

"Go to it." Tom's hand trailed from her jaw to rest on her lower back, guiding her forward. Delilah felt her pulse spike when her feet hit the edge, dirt falling down into the abyss. But she didn't feel nervous, or scared.

Reaching out a hand, the fog swirled around her fingers and she smiled. "What is it?" looking at him then, his expression was odd. He almost seemed blurred, but his crimson eyes remained resolutely clear.

They almost looked familiar.

"An illusion," He said simply, turning away from her before she could look closer. Bending down, he picked up a stone and threw it. "It's not real."

Furrowing her brows, she looked back at the fog. How could it not be real?

"But it's of your creation, Lilah. And it's stunning." He took hold of her hand then, running a thumb over her knuckles.

"I created this?" His hand felt natural in her hold, like they were made from the same mold.

"Don't you hear it?"

Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath and nodded. It sounded like her heartbeat, "I hear it."

"So go to it," Tom's voice sounded much closer, but she was suddenly afraid to open her eyes.

Brushing a stray piece of golden hair from her face, he walked back behind her and rested his lips against the curve of her neck.

"Jump."

"What-"

There was a sudden shove to her back, sending Delilah over the edge of the cliff and into the fog.

A scream never left her lips, there was no need. She suddenly became enveloped in a sense of familiarity and security. And she wasn't falling, but she wasn't flying either.

The dense fog seemed to be supporting her, slowly turning her in the air as if there was no gravity. Delilah simply floated there.

She turned her head back towards the cliff, but it was gone. Her sense of direction was gone, bleak gray dominated her environment.

Feeling her pulse spike again, she looked up and the sky suddenly erupted. There was a resounding boom and the fog shattered as if it was glass, falling around her and cutting into her skin.

Just as a scream left her lips, Delilah turned her body away from the sky.

She merely blinked before she registered how her feet felt wet. Looking around, she was down by the Great Lake. Her shoes held in one hand as she splashed her feet in the water.