Red Riding Briar

Blair got herself up and out of bed, moments before the alarm told her too. She'd woken up early again. that morning, just like she had all the previous mornings, since the painful event, that still pained in the back of her mind. Things seemed to be all better for her, and Tori, although, her mind could not allow her freedom. Every single night, since Tori had returned to her, she'd see those awful orange eyes, painting her with her own cold, frozen blood. She would be terrified, awakening with sweat covering her body, and such painful breaths, most nights she had to make sure Tori stayed with her, for she couldn't keep herself from calling out her name. The two had been away from school for many months, and none of their parents seemed to even notice. For Blair, her mother was a heavy drinker, most nights she could barely remember her own name, let alone remember the fact, that she even had a daughter to care for. She'd lost her father, due to Cancer, the same Cancer that had threatened to take another away from her. Although, things certainty were much different since the events of the fire, and the mysterious black haired boy, who every night, Blair caught a clear image of his face. How much his appearance frightened her, how gravely his magic, hunted and haunted her dreams majority of the cold days she spent comforted by the sheets and pillows, she hugged those nights.

Her dreams were hunted, her day to day events and activities cut short, due to the fact, he could've been lurking anywhere. Ready to launch at her, had she even decided to take a single step outside, past those thick white walls, built around the hidden home, the two friends lived in. Tori's aunt owned the place, so she was ready to tell her Mom and Dad a truthful story, if either of them decided to ask her how things were going, she wouldn't lie to them, since there didn't seem to be any reason too. If there was one thing, Tori Brave-stone wasn't, it was a lair. Tori spent her days worried about her friend, for even though the events occurred, had happened to her, turned her into the fire demon, Blair kept describing she'd see every night, from her dreams, to her, Tori barely knew what she was talking about most of the time. Even though she was at a clean build of health, Blair, her best friend in the entire world, could barely even step foot in the same room as her.

If the two even came close to one another, whether it was just in the hallway, keeping their bedrooms separated, she'd turn around and flee. The words paining Tori's friend, that her friend kept repeating. The same colored eyes, the black and orange ones, reminding her every time she looked at her, that she'd been turned into some sort of demon, using magic, from the boy they'd help, nearly a couple days ago. The only time the two could ever be close, was one Blair was fast asleep. It always seemed to help her, to know her friend was close by, but when their eyes would meet, Blair was always the one to flee first. Almost like Tori still had those awful eyes, and that any moment she'd be cooked alive, with the same fireballs. she kept talking about.

***

Tori was very worried about her friend. She barely knew what to do, barely knew what to do to help her. There only seemed to be one thing she could do, but a pain inside her, kept taunting her, filling her mind with thoughts of doubt. That what she'd just done, was going to become a failure. That what she just did, would only harm Blair more, then help her. But she was able to silence that tiny pain almost every single time. And today, again was one of those times. It was one of those times, she would be able to get through, and in due time, she'd be able to get Blair through it as well. She just needed to trust in herself, and in the person she'd allowed over, for a visit. She barely knew anything about him, neither of them did, although, she was sure from the brief, small, conversations she'd been able to have with Blair, she knew bits and pieces about him, maybe she'd be able to free her, from the memories that haunted her every single night.

As the storm outside the windows, grew stronger, and louder, with the stream of cast thunder and lighting, a small knock on the wooden door, could be heard through out the halls of the house. Tori was the only one who'd been seated, alone in the living room. White candles could be seen all around her, lit up with orange flame, which cast her shadows along the shallow walls of the opened living room. She slowly stood from her seat on the couch, careful, to not attract any bit of sound through her footsteps, now wasn't the time to warn Blair that anyone would be coming by tonight, for she was careful to keep things as silent as possible. For her only wish, was to see the Blair she'd seen since young age, smile again.

The door opened just as a flash of lighting lit up her pale face, as the light faded from her face, she took in the visitors appearance. He was a young man, guessing by their similar youth, Tori was used he was near her and Blair's ages, but she couldn't be sure till she asked him. He had short spiky black hair, and a pair of gold eyes to match. Which as she gazed harder into his eyes, she was sure to convince herself they were just color contacts, picked out for some Halloween party, a few years ago. Either that, or she was just afraid to ask, whether or not they were really the true thing.

But after the previous events, convincing herself otherwise, didn't prove to be such an easy task anymore. She'd heard to much from Blair's nightmares, to figure out the truth for herself. Deep down inside herself, she knew the true answer to her previous question,. Whether the contacts were fake, or his real eye color. She didn't even need to ask him anymore, she'd been prove correct, when he entered into the house. Walking slowly along the gray carpeting underneath both their feet, another strike of lighting shot down, reflecting through the large windows, as Tori saw the color of his eyes, almost brighten in color, reflecting a evil reflection, as suddenly her feet cooled, and she felt a shiver come over her.

"I've been waiting a long time for you." He whispered under his chilling, cool voice.

''You have? How come?'' Tori questioned, her light eyes, softening, as she moved back into the living room, spreading her legs out in front of her, as if to seem confident, as she tried to keep her feelings under control.

''I was awaiting you're call, I had a feeling after what happened, I'd be hearing from you....how's your friend holding up? I'm sensing not very well?'' He replied.

''No, not at all. She's not doing well, the nightmares are getting worse. While she's terrified of them, I have no memory to reclaim at all! The worst part about all of this, is I can't even share my thoughts with her? Most of the time, I have no Idea what she's so afraid of. For I can't remember no matter how much I want too.'' Tori softened.

''I'm assuming the nightmares? I'm featured in them, along with memories depicting a demon, throwing fireballs? Correct?'' The mysterious man asked, as he also welcomed himself to a seat in the living room. Tori nodded without saying a single word, whatever she aimed to get out of her mind, she feared he already knew what she was going to say, even before she said it. Whatever he was, human or not, he seemed to already know much more than she did, that was clear from the very beginning. And sad as everything was, she found herself unable to feel a little sad about it. As much as she wished to help her friend, a part of her, was grateful.

Grateful that the nightmares of that night, decided to pick on Blair, and not herself. She wasn't sure if she could handle such images. Images of herself, with razer sharp teeth, and eyes so dark, there might as well be no space for light. She wasn't sure, she was strong enough for such images to keep on living, in the back of her mind. Blair, whether she showed it or not, was the strongest one. Even now, at that very time of night, midnight, she still found some courage, some bravery to sleep, even though she had full knowledge what was awaiting her once she closed her eyes.

''You're friends asleep, I gather?'' He asked unwillingly to hear her answer, but decide to ask anyways, to seem polite, Tori gathered.

''Yes, Blair's asleep, been for a couple hours now, although she still wakes up shouting, sometimes. I've been here, awake, to try to help her, best I can.'' She answered. ''She's afraid of me, and keeps saying she sees you, whatever happened that very night, she's convinced you had something to do with the transformation, the one that made me into the monster, she keeps seeing? I don't know how, nor do I care, I just want you to stop tormenting her! Or, dream you, at least...'' She hissed.

''As you said, its not actually me tormenting her, its a reflection version of me, a dream version of me? I'm not really inside her head, I'm not really the one tormenting her in those dreams. As for how she sees you? I'm just going to tell you the honest truth, seeing as I'm being given the suspicion, you guessed I wasn't human, from the moment I walked into you're home, so I see no reason to keep any truths. I am mortal, just like you, and your friend. It doesn't seem like such, seeing as my eye color, isn't typically a normal color, just any human can have, but its the truth. I am a mortal, I just spent most of my growth, living on a different planet. The planet is called Glow, its my home, and I'll do anything to protect her! The object used to turn you into that monster, was a lost piece of my wings, they were launched into my face, when I was banished here.....

I must admit stabbing you with one of them, seemed like a good idea at the time, I do apologize for the pain I caused. I see no reason to harm you or your friend, while I am here, I'm simply looking to rid whatever I've done to your friend. And to make sure, none of you are willingly to go around, spreading rumors that I am here....promise me you won't do that, and we'll get along just fine..''

''If your human just like me and Blair, why are you worried about people finding about you? It'd be nothing but rumors, stories made up by two teenage girls, with two wild imaginations? Surely, there's nothing out there, that scares you enough, to make sure of our silence, right?'' Tori snapped.

''You'd be wrong about that, everyone's afraid of something, and just like you, I too have enemies. Enemies I appericate, avoiding...'' The boy raised his thick eyebrows at Tori, as her mouth closed tightly, whatever smug thing she was about to say, disappearing, before her mind could even process doing so.

''Can you help her or not?'' Tori rephrased, eager to get rid of the boy, before the fear she had, grew anymore stronger.

''I'll have a look..'' He promised. ''By the way, I think introductions are in order. My name is Colt Raven, and you?'' He asked, his voice almost sounding friendly, as Tori stared at his hand, as he held it out to shake.

''Tori Brave-Stone.'' She sighed, accepting his hand, as a confident smile, found its place, on her face...