Shadow-Land - Heather Parsons (bill gates book recommendations TXT) 📗

What are she supposed to do? Oh for the love of god, she can't think with his naked body in front of her.

The world that she now was seeing, was beyond amazing. All the trees and flowers were double the size they are at home. Feeling the grass underneath her feet felt like a plush carpet. This place whatever it was called was different but in a good way.

As they were walking down a path, she came upon the most beautiful flower she had ever seen. Stopping, she turned to look. Without thinking about her safety or what might happen to her. She reached out to touch it. As she took a step closer to it, it to looked like it moved closer to her. She gasped at the sight of this but wasn't startled. Just surprised. From afar she would have said the color of the flower was white but up close it looked more of a blended mixture of whites and yellows.

"It's called Bellis and it only moves when it senses goodness in a person. I haven't seen it move for awhile now." Caedman said from right behind her.

"Where are we?" Sierra asked. She already know he told her his home world but just out of curiosity she wanted to know the name. So when she figured out what she was doing and if she ever wanted to return she could.

"Serenity, our home." He said and she could hear the smile on his face when he said this. Our home that does sound nice. She could see myself living here among the flowers.

"Can I come back here after?" Sierra asked already knowing the answer but she wanted to hear him say it.

"You can come back anytime you wish but first we need to rescue your friend. Lets go. We must hurry." He said pulling gently on her arm. The flower was mesmerizing and if it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have been able to leave.

Running now so she could catch up to him and by the time she did, she was exhausted. Talk about getting a workout, phew. "Um....why are we standing in front of a wall? I thought you were taking me to the other doorway." Sierra said looking at the wall face in front of her. Raising her eyebrows as she starred up at it. It seemed to go up forever. She looked back down at him and saw that he too was looking up. No, no, no. Please don't tell her they would have to climb. She didn't sign up for this.

"The doorway was here and it would have taken us within a mile of where your friend is but I can't find it. Look and see if you can." He said and started walking away from her. She thought for a moment that he was crazy but then shrugged her shoulders and did her part.

Walking in the opposite direction as him, she happened to glance up once again and noticed what looked like her reflection, halfway up the side. "Caedman, I think I've found something." Sierra said loudly. For he was quite a ways away from her and she didn't think if she spoke normally he'd be able to hear her.

Quickly his ran to her side, pulling her away from what she was looking at. Her hands landed quite hard on the wall and the same time she did this, did they fall through another doorway. So some of the doorways are hidden, a reminder for herself. Sooner or later she is going to have to get a notebook and write this all down. Just for reminders.

When they landed on the other side, Caedman was no longer a man. She had fallen on top of the tiger in a way that didn't suit her. She has never been this close to anyone but Travis. Oh, Travis. She doesn't have the time to sit and think. She has to save him.

She pulled herself off of him and after letting him lead, she followed. Halfway there, the tiger stopped. Looking down at him, she didn't know why he'd stopped. We had to hurry. Didn't he know this? She tried moving around him but he stood in my way. Shaking his head at her each and every time. "You have to move. We don't have time." She shouted letting her anger get the best of her. Not only am she saving the man she love but also her heart from breaking it two.

Now the tiger walked with her but slowly. She didn't try to out run him because she knew she couldn't. The cabin sat nestled in the trees just ahead of them and that's when she saw it. The whole thing was engulfed in flames. Smoldering ashes were the porch used to be.

She ran out and dropped herself on the ground in front. Tearing streaming down her cheeks. "TRAVIS!!" Sierra screamed. This can't be happening, he can't be.... She couldn't even finish her thoughts. "No, I can't be too late. Please if there's a God. Please don't do this to me." She looked up towards the sky. And of all days, it was clear with no clouds in sight.

Caedman walked over and sat next to her. His head resting on her lap. "No!! He's still alive. He has to be. He can't leave me. He can't..." She broke down and cried. The energy she had to make it here was gone. There was nothing left for her. Even her own heart was silent.

After spending a couple days sitting in front of the burnt out cabin, she felt the need to leave. "I have to go home. I have to tell his parents. After wards you can take me wherever, I don't care. I just have to do this first." She stood up, looking at the cabin one last time then turned her back on it. Walking up the dirt driveway and back towards town. With her head hung down and her eyes shedding tears, she let her legs do the work she knew the rest of her could not.

The dirt driveway ended up turning into the main highway that lead back to town. Taking one breath at a time, and lifting her feet one at a time, she walked back. Caedman stayed in the trees and she felt ashamed he had to stay with her and see this side of her. He was a very nice gentleman who didn't deserve to be treated like she had been treating him. She didn't even thank him for saving her from Crossroads. And then again for staying by her side as she cried for Travis. "Thank you, Caedman." She whispered without looking at him.

Every once in awhile a car would drive past but with her head down, she never saw who it was. Really it didn't matter anymore. The less people saw of her the better. Just the thought of leaving her friends behind had her stopped. Doubling over in pain, she wrapped her arms around her knees and held on. Her cries could be heard from miles away but the one person she wanted to hear from was gone.

After her useless fit, she stood back up and continued walking. The numbness she felt now was complete. Her entire body had no feeling in it. As for her heart it too was silent. Never again would she hear it beating. Never again would it beat out of her chest to the sound of his voice. Her life for all intents and purposes was over. The only man she would ever love, she never was able to say goodbye to. And remembering the last time she had seen him, they parted on bad terms. She remember saying she hated him for laughing at her but really she could never.

It's amazing how her thoughts were occupying her mind while her legs were now walking up the driveway of the Williams. Without looking up she could hear the laughter coming from inside the house. They were in good spirits and hearing them brought on more tears. Making it to the front yard, her legs wouldn't go any further. She collapsed on the grass and covered her face. Her entire body was shaking with knowing I'm going to break their heart with the news.

"Oh Sierra!" Teri yelled. She run up to Sierra and pulled her into an embrace. Teri's always so happy. How is the news Sierra's going to get, effect her? "I was starting to get worried and then I thought maybe Travis took you somewhere so you two could have time alone. Hey where is Travis?" Teri asked pulling away from her.

Sierra looked up into Teri's eyes but couldn't speak. Opening her mouth a couple times but nothing was coming out. What was wrong with her?

"Sierra what's wrong? Did Travis do something to you?" She asked. The look Teri was giving she was something she has seen before. How does Sierra tell Teri she's empty and lost without him? "Sierra come inside with me. You don't look so well."

"Travis is dead." Of all the times to find her voice, this is when she did. Sierra saw the color drain from her face then she shook her head. "I couldn't save him." Her words come out just below a whisper but with her so close, she hear every one.

"Sierra, no...you...can't....no....Travis... JOSEPH!" Teri yelled as loud as she could. Falling down beside Sierra as he came running out.

"Teri, Sierra. What's happening?" He asked, running out to them and sitting down in front.

"He's dead." She said and broke down again. The tears she cried were never ending. She would morn for him till the day she died. She knew she would never meet anyone like him again, not if she lived a million years. She missed everything about him, his touch, the way he felt, his kiss, his love. Empty is what she is. Truly empty.

Sierra started rocking herself and was lost in her own thoughts. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his smiling face. Felt his arm around her. Ugh, she is going to drive herself into the looney bin. But for right now they're soothing in their own way.

She woke up to see the stars shinning brightly outside and noticed she was in her room, in the bed she had shared with Travis. Clinging to his pillow, she pressed her face against it and cried silently. Knowing she couldn't stay there but still she didn't want to leave.

She sat herself up and starred at the door. There was someone on the other side, she could tell by the light coming in from underneath. With