The Return (Part One)
In my spare time I write YA fiction. It's corny, yes. I had, until recently, a writing journal but I didn't really write in there. I always set up communities just for the fun of it to use. But then I don't use them. I think I just like having a reason to code a new layout since people like Janina protest when I change the one on my personal LJ.
Anyhow, I for the sake of keeping it somewhere, I have a tidbit of the story I'm writing now. Not sure where I'm going with it but it seems to be interesting to me at least.
Title: The Return (Part One)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Characters: Briony Sullivan & Tom Pericolo
Scene: Clearing somewhere in Redwood National Park, California.
"I've forgotten the language," she said softly. Her nose was so close to his that she had the strange sensation of breathing the same air between them. In and out, both of them sharing. "It's been too long, Tom. You know that."
His eyes were closed and she studied his eyelids, the dark and almost feminine lashes resting against pale cheeks. His mouth, turned down slightly at one corner in either concentration or bemusement.
"All you have to do is close your eyes." He took her hand in his, effortlessly finding it though he could not see her. Giving it a squeeze, they both gasped softly as the tiny spark of electric current surged through their palms. "You'll remember," he whispered after a moment.
"Ok..." she said hesitantly and slowly closed her eyes. She breathed in slowly, deeply and suddenly her breath caught in her throat. She moaned softly at the strangeness of the sensation.
A ball of energy seemed to be growing in the center of her chest, pushing aside her lungs, making her breathless. She felt the familiar golden glow fill her until she could see it against the back of her eyelids. Warmth pulsated from her center out into her arms and legs, her entire body tingling with anticipation.
"Take my other hand, Briony," came his soft voice, his lips so close she could feel his breath on her own.
She started to lift her hand from her lap and paused. She knew what this would be like and she wasn't sure if she was able to handle it yet. She wanted it so badly but there was no going back after this. No takebacks, he'd warned. It was all or nothing.
All or nothing.
Was she ready for all or nothing? Was she ready to go with him and never come back? Was she ready to stand back and watch him leave without her? She wasn't ready for either. Dammit, why did it have to be all or nothing? Why couldn't things stay as they had been? Quiet and perfect and hopeful.
The golden glow began its fade into white hotness behind her eyelids and the energy in her center threatened to burst through her skin. She felt no pain but the struggle of her decision. She bit her lip and he felt her hesitation.
"Oh," was all he said and began to let go of her right hand.
Her heart convulsed in her chest and nearly stopped as the connection began to be severed. Suddenly it was all too clear what she had to do. What she wanted.
She reached for his other hand and squeezed it hard. The circuit was complete and they exploded into the intense white heat within them.
It was a sweet amalgamation of both intense fiery pain and purest pleasure. She gasped and gripped his hands tighter, almost pulling herself into his lap as wave after wave of sensation throbbed through her body. She felt his fingers tighten against hers and she held on as if her life was dependent upon keeping the connection.
Then it was over. The waves ceased and a sense of exhaustion settled over her as though she had been running full-tilt for hours. Perhaps she had been. Perhaps the intensity had stemmed from how hard she had run away from him before he'd caught up with her and pulled her toward his world again.
Opening her eyes, still gulping after breath, she gazed at his quiet, beautiful face. "Tom?" she whispered.
"What is it?" he breathed, also opening his eyes. His lips curled upward just a bit at the corners in a gently mocking expression as he took in her shock.
She glanced around and felt her fingers clench at his even more impossibly tighter. He didn't flinch, rather pulled her closer as her body naturally desired to move, until she was nose to nose with him again. And then she was in his lap and his lips were in her hair. His breath was so soft, so tender against her that she felt tears spring into her eyes even as the confusion of what had just happened began to rush in with overwhelming power.
"Where... where are we? This isn't what I remembered."
And that was true. The landscape, though still verdant and vast and exquisitely lush, was disrupted. Something was out of place and it didn't take her very long to figure out what was amiss. Several yards from where they sat entwined was a dark patch of black dirt. The grass and trees had been uprooted and shredded. It was a horrible patch of leftover violence from some unseen horror. It made her throat feel thick and tears finally begin to stream from her eyes.
Tom closed his eyes and turned his face away. "The war," was all he said. And his face explained the rest. He had brought her here to fulfill the destiny she had been designed for so long ago. The one reason she was still alive in spite of the dogged pursuit of the Hunters and the impossible escape she had made those five years ago from this place. It all flooded back to her in rich colors and echoing voices.
"I'm here to die. Aren't I?" she asked in the softest of whispers. "How could you bring me here now?"
"I... we needed you," he answered and a lone tear slid silently down his cheek to the corner of his perfect lips. "You're the key."
Anyhow, I for the sake of keeping it somewhere, I have a tidbit of the story I'm writing now. Not sure where I'm going with it but it seems to be interesting to me at least.
Title: The Return (Part One)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Characters: Briony Sullivan & Tom Pericolo
Scene: Clearing somewhere in Redwood National Park, California.
"I've forgotten the language," she said softly. Her nose was so close to his that she had the strange sensation of breathing the same air between them. In and out, both of them sharing. "It's been too long, Tom. You know that."
His eyes were closed and she studied his eyelids, the dark and almost feminine lashes resting against pale cheeks. His mouth, turned down slightly at one corner in either concentration or bemusement.
"All you have to do is close your eyes." He took her hand in his, effortlessly finding it though he could not see her. Giving it a squeeze, they both gasped softly as the tiny spark of electric current surged through their palms. "You'll remember," he whispered after a moment.
"Ok..." she said hesitantly and slowly closed her eyes. She breathed in slowly, deeply and suddenly her breath caught in her throat. She moaned softly at the strangeness of the sensation.
A ball of energy seemed to be growing in the center of her chest, pushing aside her lungs, making her breathless. She felt the familiar golden glow fill her until she could see it against the back of her eyelids. Warmth pulsated from her center out into her arms and legs, her entire body tingling with anticipation.
"Take my other hand, Briony," came his soft voice, his lips so close she could feel his breath on her own.
She started to lift her hand from her lap and paused. She knew what this would be like and she wasn't sure if she was able to handle it yet. She wanted it so badly but there was no going back after this. No takebacks, he'd warned. It was all or nothing.
All or nothing.
Was she ready for all or nothing? Was she ready to go with him and never come back? Was she ready to stand back and watch him leave without her? She wasn't ready for either. Dammit, why did it have to be all or nothing? Why couldn't things stay as they had been? Quiet and perfect and hopeful.
The golden glow began its fade into white hotness behind her eyelids and the energy in her center threatened to burst through her skin. She felt no pain but the struggle of her decision. She bit her lip and he felt her hesitation.
"Oh," was all he said and began to let go of her right hand.
Her heart convulsed in her chest and nearly stopped as the connection began to be severed. Suddenly it was all too clear what she had to do. What she wanted.
She reached for his other hand and squeezed it hard. The circuit was complete and they exploded into the intense white heat within them.
It was a sweet amalgamation of both intense fiery pain and purest pleasure. She gasped and gripped his hands tighter, almost pulling herself into his lap as wave after wave of sensation throbbed through her body. She felt his fingers tighten against hers and she held on as if her life was dependent upon keeping the connection.
Then it was over. The waves ceased and a sense of exhaustion settled over her as though she had been running full-tilt for hours. Perhaps she had been. Perhaps the intensity had stemmed from how hard she had run away from him before he'd caught up with her and pulled her toward his world again.
Opening her eyes, still gulping after breath, she gazed at his quiet, beautiful face. "Tom?" she whispered.
"What is it?" he breathed, also opening his eyes. His lips curled upward just a bit at the corners in a gently mocking expression as he took in her shock.
She glanced around and felt her fingers clench at his even more impossibly tighter. He didn't flinch, rather pulled her closer as her body naturally desired to move, until she was nose to nose with him again. And then she was in his lap and his lips were in her hair. His breath was so soft, so tender against her that she felt tears spring into her eyes even as the confusion of what had just happened began to rush in with overwhelming power.
"Where... where are we? This isn't what I remembered."
And that was true. The landscape, though still verdant and vast and exquisitely lush, was disrupted. Something was out of place and it didn't take her very long to figure out what was amiss. Several yards from where they sat entwined was a dark patch of black dirt. The grass and trees had been uprooted and shredded. It was a horrible patch of leftover violence from some unseen horror. It made her throat feel thick and tears finally begin to stream from her eyes.
Tom closed his eyes and turned his face away. "The war," was all he said. And his face explained the rest. He had brought her here to fulfill the destiny she had been designed for so long ago. The one reason she was still alive in spite of the dogged pursuit of the Hunters and the impossible escape she had made those five years ago from this place. It all flooded back to her in rich colors and echoing voices.
"I'm here to die. Aren't I?" she asked in the softest of whispers. "How could you bring me here now?"
"I... we needed you," he answered and a lone tear slid silently down his cheek to the corner of his perfect lips. "You're the key."