Tempest

"Shinnnnna.."

A whisper. A name. A voice filled with desperation and malice. I whip my head from side to side. Watching. Waiting. When nothing happens, I continue on my way. I sigh with annoyance and agitation. This has got to stop. But anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let me tell you a story about a little girl who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Flash back...

It was a misty, foggy, wintry June morning in Nevada. I was awoken with the feeling of unease and a tad of fear. I sat up slowly in my bed so as not to make the bed squeak and to give away the fact that I'm awake. I look around my room groggily and hear a distant sound. I froze and held my breath. Then it stopped. I slowly got up and walked on tippy toe to my window and looked outside. Then I heard the sound again. I whipped my head to the side and stared hard at the door. I felt movement just beyond it. I held my breath and counted to 20 and then slowly walked forward. I placed my hand gently on the handle and turned it. I opened it slowly and peeked out, I gasped when I noticed someone standing nearby. I slowly edged my way out and walked towards the person. I was a feet meters away when they suddenly turned around. I froze in my tracks and started to shake slightly. It was the man from my dreams.

I heard a distant knocking coming from down stairs, I slowly krept towards the railing and peeked down. I was then ruffly pulled back with a little squeak and pulled against something warm and hard. I looked up and noticed the man looking down at me from where I stood. I gulped and looked away, I shook his hand off my arm and started walking toward one of the doors in the hallway. I opened it and found stairs, I started to walk up them not caring if the man followed or stayed behind. I reached the top and quickly walked over to a pile of boxes and crates and made a new pile at the window. I crawled on top and let my feet dangle off the edge as I looked out.

I heard footsteps approach my spot and feel a hand on my leg. I turned towards the noise and looked into the eyes of the man. He looked sad, I scrunched my nose up in distaste and watched with satisfaction when his eyes blazed with annoyance. I turned back around and looked out the window. I noticed a black car glistening in the distance. I then followed the cars point of direction and noticed that it was heading here. My heart sped up in fear. I quickly dropped down from my tower and bolted out the door and stairs and found my grandmother standing there holding something in the hands. I stopped at her side and looked up. I saw fear in her eyes as she looked down at me. She placed a hand on my shoulder and hugged me against her side. She then pushed me back towards the stairs, I looked up and noticed him standing there looking down. Grandma gave me a gentle push towards him. I turned around and looked at grandma she smiled sadly and nodded towards the top of the stairs, I humphed and stormed back towards him. He then picked me up and took me back up to the room with stairs.

He set me down, and I jerked away, ripping my nightgown in the process. I stared shocked, then glared at him, I stormed off and sat behind a box. I heard a sigh and then silence, I think I dozed off for a bit, but once I woke up, I saw only blackness with a tinge of red. I coughed and heaved, making my throat constrict with pain. I gagged and tried to stand, but my legs were too shaky. I felt around looking for something, anything to make the pain go away. I then felt a sharp pain at the back of my head, I screamed and tried to make it stop. What I thought was just a headache ended up being a hand with a fist full of my hair, pulling me up and making me stand. I screamed again as I felt another strong pull. Then I felt gravities pull, and then everything went black.

Forward back to present...

I've always felt vulnerable after that attack. I hardly trusted any man, except one. His name was Nicholas William Chace.

He's a private investigator who goes undercover. He has raven black hair, but his sticks out in every direction, giving him the look of a porcipine on the run. His skin is golden from being outside all the time. His eyes, the colour of opals, are beautiful and invigerating. His smile was gorgeous and sexy. When he smiles, it lights up his face. the last time i saw him, i had only just turned 16...

'Shinna...' I shivered as i heard it again, knowing for sure that something bad was going to happen to me or someone i loved.

'Shina' A ruff, husky sounding voice snapped me out of my reverie. I jumped, and i stopped walking and looked around, confused. I then noticed a tall man of average build. I've seen him before, only a glimpse, but it was enough to set my alarms going off. I stood there watching him as he watched me. He looked deathly pale and had sharp, piercing blue eyes. his hair a muddy brown. his features, always having a grimace. I've never talked to him before. But in my memory, i remember seeing him from somewhere.

'Hello, Shina.' He smiled mockingly.

'Uh.. Hi?' i raised one eyebrow as i watched him. Who is this guy?

'Do you remember me?' He sneered. I took a step back.

'No. Should i?' My voice quivered, but my face gave nothing away as i gave him a brooding look.

He laughed.'Wow! You just love to play pretend, don't you?' He laughed harder. He was starting to get on my nerves.

He stopped laughing.'Hmm...' He contemplated 'I'll show you instead'

He then lunged at me, grabbing my shoulders with hands like talons. I screamed as i began to fall, i started to feel nauseous when all of a sudden it stopped. blood pounding, i then noticed that i wasn't in the city anymore. I looked around and noticed that i was in a forest.

I then looked at the man with a glare. He just shrugged and started walking. I grudingly followed, not wanting to be in the forest alone. When we reached the edge of the trees , i noticed a little cottage nestled in between two big oaks, i puzzled over this. A movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a little girl skipping off in the direction that we just came from, singing to herself. I then looked at the cottage more closely. i gasped as it hit me. It was my grans cottage.

I then remembered that the little girl that was skipping off into the trees was me. I started breathing heavily, the man watching not helping. He then looked up at the cottage and started walking towards it again. When my breathing had returned to normal, i started towards the cottage again but stopped at the start of the stairs. I then noticed that the door was agare, i walked up the stairs, completely forgetting the man, and pushed the door open all the way.

My eyes widened as i saw a man in a belaclava and a .45 shotgun standing there pointing it at my aunt and cousin. I then saw him shoot them in cold blood. He then ran out the door into the forest. I still stood there with my hand on my breast and tears in my eyes.

'Pity ain't it? ... Had to relive another memory,' Someone said sadley behind me. I jumped and noticed it was just the husky voiced man, i turned and looked at him as he entered the room looking forlorn and pained. I then heard running feet from behind me, then i saw the younger me dart into the room and drop beside the other young girl that was my cousin.

I gagged as the younger me tried vainly to clean up the blood splatter on the floor near my cousins' head. My legs started to crumble underneith me, and i grabbed onto the nearest chair to hold myself up. The younger me started crying, tears sprang to my eyes as i watched her helplessly. I heard a noise by the front door, and my head jerked up to look at the intruder. But it was only the man that had brought me here, looking younger.

I watched him as he walked with such grace that it didn't suit his person. The younger man stopped as soon as he noticed the bodies and blood. The younger me looked up with tears in her eyes and finally spoke.

'Why? why them? they didn't do anything wrong...' Her voice quivered, her lower lip jutted out as she started to cry. I cried out in frustration and pain as i witnesed the pain in her eyes as it washed down her cheeks.

He's a private investigator who goes undercover. He has raven black hair, but his sticks out in every direction, giving him the look of a porcipine on the run. His skin is golden from being outside all the time. His eyes, the colour of opals, are beautiful and invigerating. His smile was gorgeous and sexy. When he smiles, it lights up his face. the last time i saw him, i had only just turned 16...

'Shinna...' I shivered as i heard it again, knowing for sure that something bad was going to happen to me or someone i loved.

'Shina' A ruff, husky sounding voice snapped me out of my reverie. I jumped, and i stopped walking and looked around, confused. I then noticed a tall man of average build. I've seen him before, only a glimpse, but it was enough to set my alarms going off. I stood there watching him as he watched me. He looked deathly pale and had sharp, piercing blue eyes. his hair a muddy brown. his features, always having a grimace. I've never talked to him before. But in my memory, i remember seeing him from somewhere.

'Hello, Shina.' He smiled mockingly.

'Uh.. Hi?' i raised one eyebrow as i watched him. Who is this guy?

'Do you remember me?' He sneered. I took a step back.

'No. Should i?' My voice quivered, but my face gave nothing away as i gave him a brooding look.

He laughed.'Wow! You just love to play pretend, don't you?' He laughed harder. He was starting to get on my nerves.

He stopped laughing.'Hmm...' He contemplated 'I'll show you instead'

He then lunged at me, grabbing my shoulders with hands like talons. I screamed as i began to fall, i started to feel nauseous when all of a sudden it stopped. blood pounding, i then noticed that i wasn't in the city anymore. I looked around and noticed that i was in a forest.

I then looked at the man with a glare. He just shrugged and started walking. I grudingly followed, not wanting to be in the forest alone. When we reached the edge of the trees , i noticed a little cottage nestled in between two big oaks, i puzzled over this. A movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a little girl skipping off in the direction that we just came from, singing to herself. I then looked at the cottage more closely. i gasped as it hit me. It was my grans cottage.

I then remembered that the little girl that was skipping off into the trees was me. I started breathing heavily, the man watching not helping. He then looked up at the cottage and started walking towards it again. When my breathing had returned to normal, i started towards the cottage again but stopped at the start of the stairs. I then noticed that the door was agare, i walked up the stairs, completely forgetting the man, and pushed the door open all the way.

My eyes widened as i saw a man in a belaclava and a .45 shotgun standing there pointing it at my aunt and cousin. I then saw him shoot them in cold blood. He then ran out the door into the forest. I still stood there with my hand on my breast and tears in my eyes.

'Pity ain't it? ... Had to relive another memory,' Someone said sadley behind me. I jumped and noticed it was just the husky voiced man, i turned and looked at him as he entered the room looking forlorn and pained. I then heard running feet from behind me, then i saw the younger me dart into the room and drop beside the other young girl that was my cousin.

I gagged as the younger me tried vainly to clean up the blood splatter on the floor near my cousins' head. My legs started to crumble underneith me, and i grabbed onto the nearest chair to hold myself up. The younger me started crying, tears sprang to my eyes as i watched her helplessly. I heard a noise by the front door, and my head jerked up to look at the intruder. But it was only the man that had brought me here, looking younger.

I watched him as he walked with such grace that it didn't suit his person. The younger man stopped as soon as he noticed the bodies and blood. The younger me looked up with tears in her eyes and finally spoke.

'Why? why them? they didn't do anything wrong...' Her voice quivered, her lower lip jutted out as she started to cry. I cried out in frustration and pain as i witnesed the pain in her eyes as it washed down her cheeks.

The older man then looked at me slightly.

'Do you remember me now? ... '

I couldn't respond, chocked up as i was with anguish and longing to wrap my arms around my younger self. He then smiled weakly and touched my shoulder. We were now back on the sidewalk. I looked up at him, then looked away and started walking again. I felt more than heard him start walking beside me. I looked up slightly to notice that he was looking back at me.

He then began to mummble something under his breath. It sounded vagly like a melody. I then noticed my nerves calming down. The last of his words made my head clear, i was surprised i could think straight now and breathe easier. But the time that happened, i noticed that we were finally at my grans' house. I then noticed that the door was ajar, i looked at it confused, then walked up to it and pushed it open further.

'Gran? ... ' I heard my voice echo inside the house. i then heard a sound so sickening. i thought i was hearing things.

'Gran? are you alright?' I heard the noise again.

'Gran? ... ' Still only the noise.

Then i heard movement from the kitchen. I moved towards the sound. when i got about halfway, i heard the snap of rubber gloves being pulled off. I froze for a couple of minutes, then dove behind the couch, landing meare seconds before the person walked out of the kitchen. I helled my breath, hoping that they didn't hear me. Then it went quiet. You could've dropped a pin and heard it fit the floor it was that quiet.

Then i hear the person move away from the lounge room towards the back door. I lay there for several seconds, then bolted up right and walked briskly towards the kitchen. I then wished i had stayed at home. what i saw made me look at my aunt and cousin dying again, looking like kittens playing in the mud. Compare that to the gruesome sight that now is my grandmother. I felt my knees give way underneith me, then total blackness.

'Is she alright?' A voice so soft i could just lay there and listen to it for days. I then noticed that i was on an uncomfortable bed. i tried to move, but i felt paralyzed. Fear gripped me. I tried to scream out to them, but my lips wouldn't move. My fear grew as i heard someone walking towards me.

'Well? Is she alright?' The voice said low and dangerous. I heard a mummuring in the distance but couldn't hear what they said.

'Hey, i'm pretty sure she's going to be alright. Now stop glaring at the doctor. You're scaring the living shit out of him.' Another voice, just as soft but more deep. But then a sharp pain pierced the back of my eye, making me cry out. Everything went quiet, and then i heard feet rushing to my aid.

'Shina? Can you hear me? It's Doctor Willis. Can you squeeze my hand?' A voice said softly. I answered by squeezing his hand hard, i heard a sound like breaking bones, then let go as he screamed in pain.

'Well... I can tell you she has a firm grip, but might i also add that she will have a really bad headache and would need some rest before you can ask her for anything.' The voice said frostily. I then heard the doctor move away from my bed and out the door, then silence broken only by the beeping of my monitor. Then someone coughed and sighed.

'Shina... Shina, i know you can hear me. Now, you need to open your eyes and sit up. We need to talk.' I then knew that it was Nicholas that was talking, my heart raced. The blood flowed to my cheeks, making me blush. 'Come now, Shina, wake up! it's really important that we get this over and done with.' His voice sounded urgent enough that i sighed and finally opened my eyes.

An hour later...

'How have you been?' Nicholas questioned. He opened the door to my house as i just shrugged and walked inside, i watched in glee as his face hardened by my small response. My home wasn't very big, but it wasn't small either. I've lived here for about three years, and i can still call it home. It had a musty old smell to it, making it feel like it hadn't been lived in for three years. I had a dusty old sofa against the far wall, which i've never used, but Mr. Hanks (my 3 year old tabby) uses it as a scratching post, i guess he just likes the way it gives under his claws. I never know what goes through a 3 year old tabby's head.

I then have a nice leather black couch against the wall closest to the hallway, a medium-sized coffee table that was barely visible under all the newspapers and magazines (what? i like to collect them). A huge samsung T.V. against the other wall, a nice baige coloured floor rug which surprisingly Mr. Hanks hasn't been attacked yet, and finally, a nice cashmire coloured computer desk in the corner.

I walked towards the coffee table, trying in vain to move some of the papers and magazines. But Nicholas grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards him, stopping my progress. He wrapped his arms around me, and he tilted my head up to his face. He started to lean down, hesitant and cautious. Then our lips collided, and it felt like heaven. Well, to me, it did. It was soft at first, but then we got hungry and started kissing more stronger, i felt like he was a part of me. My nerves felt like they were on fire! I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer and dragging him to my room.

The next morning...

I woke up to total silence, i then heard an audible sound coming from the kitchen. I sat up, listening hard. I heard a popping sound, then a clang of metal on metal, and noticed that someone was cooking something. I then shrugged and hopped out of bed, heading towards the shower. I hopped in and turned it on full blast, scalding my skin in the process. I then hopped out and wrapped myself in a bathrobe, and walked to the kitchen.

I turned the corner and stopped short, claping a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing, but i wasn't quick enough. Nicholas was leaning over the oven, trying to cook bacon and eggs. He heard me laugh and looked up. His hair was matted on one side while the other was flat, his cheeks flared red as he noticed that i was laughing at him. He cleared his throat and stepped back, embarrassed. I stepped forward and took his place, finishing what he tried in vain to start.

'Good morning.' I giggled as he watched entranced in my cooking. He looked up at me, smiling and then back down, watching my every movement. I tried not to laugh as i let him try it again. He tried to flip an egg but got it halfway. I grabbed his hand and helped him flip it all the way.

'Wow. I didn't know cooking was so hard.' He laughed. I smiled, then walked towards the cupboard and grabbed two plates down. Then, i served the food and placed it on the table. Nicholas sat down and started eating while reading the fresh newspaper he must have brought in, i sat down opposite him and began reading my book. There was a knock at the door, which startled us both, His head snapped up to look at me. I nodded, and he got up to answer, He opened the door.

Standing there with a luminious glow was my father. Nicholas welcomed him in. My father, a tall and menacing man, walked into my house without a word. He spotted me sitting there in my bathrobe at the kitchen table eating breakfast. I gapped with surprise. The last time i saw my father was when he handed me over to my grandmother after my mother died. I felt anger, hurt, and lost stir inside me as i watched this man who had just given me up for his own gain.

'Shina' From a curt nod. he started walking around the house, i watched him closely as my anger grew. I put my fork down with a glare. He stopped walking around just as Nicholas reached his seat. He then went and sat down in a chair at the head of the table, i continued to glare at him, feeling my anger bubble up. He just stared at me with no remorse what so ever on his face, no sadness and no guilt for what he did.

'What do you want, dad?' I snarled through clenched teeth.

He just looked at me still, i could see the wheels working behind my fathers eyes as he thought of a clear response to my anger. Nicholas looked from one to the other. He quickly finished his breakfast and stood up. My head snapped up from my father to Nicholas.

'Gotta go to work, hun. i'll try to be back early.' He looked uneasy as he said this, shooting my father an uncomfortable look. I nodded, and he came to my side, kissed my forhead, and left. I then resumed glaring at my father as he watched Nicholas leave.

'Is that who i think it is? are you seeing him now?'

'Don't get into this now, dad, i'm clearly surprised you even remember i'm alive, let alone where i live'

'Don't give me that tone, young lady! you know clearly why i had to give you up. don't keep putting the blame on me'

'I'll blame whoever i want! and you're on the top of my list of people to blame! for crying out loud, i was 6 years old, dad! you left me with my grandmother! no promise to come back, no look of sadness when you just handed me over. What a great father you've turned out to be!'

He was silent as we both glared at one another. i got up from the table, grabbing the plates. i went into the kitchen and started washing up. He got up and followed me. He stopped at the door, clearly not wanting to walk any further. He watched me wash the dishes. He then grabbed a tee towel and started drying them up as i placed them on the rack. We worked in complete silence, and when we finished, i took to cleaning the lounge room and then feeding and cleaning Mr. Hanks. My father watched me the whole time i did this. I then grabbed the vacuum out and started vacumming the whole house, feeling his eyes on me as he watched me. When i was finished, he sat down on the leather couch and put his feet up on the coffee table, i batted them off.

'Don't you have anything better to do than visit your daughter?' I hissed.

'I can clearly see that you don't like me. I am your father. What else do you expect from me? flowers and a sorry card for leaving you when i knew you were in danger?' He snapped, clearly offended.

'You sorry?! ha! don't make me laugh! you make me sick just knowing you're still alive! i could never forgive you for what you did. All those years back...' I shook my head, then resumed 'I was attacked dad.' As i said that last part, my father bolted up in his chair and stared at me, surprised and a little guilty, or so i thought it was guilt. His face hardened as he took all of what i said.

'When did this happen?' He whispered. I just stared at him, incrudelese. i just stared back at him, not saying anything. This made him angry.

'Shina. Don't keep this away from me! When did this happen?' He was clearly furious.

'Get out of my house.' I forced it out with enough venom to kill an elephant. I then stood up and left the room. I heard him get up and walk towards the front door, he opened it but stopped.

'Your fate lays in that youngman's hands... But if you want to change it then let me help' He wait for my response, when he didn't get a reply he snarled 'If this is the way you're going to treat me then fine. But don't expect any help from me if you're attacked again.' Wounded he stormed out of the house and slammed the door closed. I stood there in the hallway, leaning against the wall. I let all my emotions wash over me as i replayed our conversation, and then the tears started to fall.I don't know how long i sat there. I didn't even notice Nicholas entering the house and calling to announce that he was home. I was only vaugly aware that someone was in my house and walking around.

'Shina...'

My head snapped up at the sound of my name. Nicholas was kneeling beside me, looking at me with curiousity and worry. He stretched his arm out and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. I lent into it, sighing. He placed his other hand on the other side of my face and looked me dead in the eyes.

'Are you ok? you look like you've been crying... is everything alright?'

I had to look away before more tears fell. He still held my face in his hands. I sighed and looked back into his eyes. He now looked more worried than curious. I just shook my head and started to stand up. He lent backwards on the balls of his feet and stood up with me. I started to move down the hallway towards my room, Nicholas hesitated and then followed. He enters the room and then closes the door behind him, shutting out the bad things in the world. He then walks to my side and wraps his arms around me while leaning in and sealing my fate.