Beckoned

My breath rushed through my lungs, the sound of it caressing my eardrums as the air swept through my body. It calmed me in the complete darkness of sleep. The air escaped past my lips, the other sounds finally coming to my ears. At first, they were muted tones before they rose in crescendo. The chirp of crickets, the rustle of branches and leaves moving against each other heightened until the air around me came alive, dancing across my skin in gentle strokes. My mind hummed as awareness of one fact entered my thoughts... I was not in my bed.

A shudder slid through me as I forced my eyes open. My heart sank as I faced the one fact I did not want to confirm. I had been sleepwalking…again.

I touched my chest with the tips of my fingers. My heart beat a steady rhythm beneath them. The skin on my arms tingled. But through it all, I was calm. It made little sense, making me wonder if I were going crazy. After all, walking in my sleep five times in a month seemed to be proof of my insanity. Worse, though, was the distinct possibility that I would one day walk to my death, all while unaware...at least until the last moment. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.

I pushed the fear away and looked around, trying to determine my surroundings. My eyes widened as I glanced up into the darkness and saw a moon so full, it seemed close enough to touch. I winced as dry, brittle grass pushed into the soles of my feet to the point where it was almost painful and threatened to break through the tender skin.

I squinted as I looked around, the muscles in my shoulders and legs tightening. My eyes landed on a large forest on the far side of the field in which I stood. My lips quivered as I realized I had been walking toward it. Fear struck my heart and it sped up, slamming against my ribs, sweat coating my palms. The thought of waking up in the middle of the dense trees, wild animals all around me, caused me to shake.  

Blinking, I looked away before fear consumed me. Feeling a wave of dizziness, I fought it, knowing I needed to stay calm and find safety. I turned to see the motorhome, where I had lived with my mother for eighteen years, parked five hundred feet behind me. My eyes widened. I couldn’t remember walking so far away before. That fact caused the fear to rise again, giving credence to my worry of harming or killing myself.

 I inhaled again, trying to slow my breathing and not submit to the unease prickling at the back of my neck. The heat of the Texas summer scalded my nose, making me wrinkle it as I winced. Sweat broke out on my skin and soaked through my nightgown as I took careful steps back to my home. My eyes stung as I blinked away perspiration. I tested each footfall, hoping not to receive any burrs in my bare feet on the way.

 I had only moved two paces when I paused, the hair on my arms standing on end. A frown creased my brow. I was certain I’d heard something moving within the forest. I held my breath as I tilted my head to the side. I stood still, straining to listen.   

“Aurora…,” a voice whispered so low, I wondered if I imagined it.

I strained my ears and scanned the area. There was no one near. I frowned, glancing around again. Maybe I was going crazy.

I shook my head. I had to have imagined the voice. No one knew me, except my mother. The voice definitely did not belong to her. It had been too deep, too masculine and unfamiliar.

 I took another step and stopped again. Is someone watching me? I shook my head. You’re being ridiculous, Aurora.

As soon as the thought entered my mind, a new sound filled the air, making me forget the voice that had called my name. In that moment, all my nightmares came alive.

 A mournful howl of a wolf rose so near, my heart tripped over itself. When I turned and gazed toward the forest, fear sent a chill down my spine. Dozens of glowing orbs shined from between the trees. I swallowed, trying to push the metallic taste from my mouth as the urge to scream rose in my throat. Two grey wolves stepped from the shadows and bared their teeth, proving this was real.

“Aurora!”

I stiffened, turning to glance over my shoulder with wide eyes.

My mother, wearing her nightgown, stood in the doorway of our home. Her voice shook as she called for me again. My teeth chattered as I saw how far away she seemed. I swallowed and said a prayer, hoping I could reach her before the wolves tore me to shreds.

I took a deep breath and lifted my foot to move toward my mother. Every muscle tensed as the howls rose once again. I pushed away the temptation to run, forcing myself to take slow and steady steps. I swallowed hard. With each step I took, the howls got closer and closer. An owl hooted somewhere behind me and I had to force myself not to turn to look. I knew if I did, I would run, and I didn’t want to tempt the wolves any more than I already had.

As I neared my mother, I closed my eyes, just so I wouldn’t see her terrified face, and quickened my steps. Each one seemed to take forever, but I finally reached my mother’s outstretched hand. She grasped my wrist and pulled me through the door with as much strength as her small frame would allow. She straightened as she stared out the door. Her face blanched. She opened her mouth as if to scream, but nothing came out. Only a single tear fell down her pale cheek.

 “Emilian,” she whispered, her body quivering.

I frowned at her, confused, then turned to see a man standing ten feet away from us. I stared into eyes the same shade of silver as my own. Shock radiated through me as my gaze traveled to his hair. Black, also like mine. There were other similarities, too…the full lips, the long, straight nose, the high cheekbones.  

 “Close the door,” my mother said on a strangled cry, but I continued to stare, mesmerized. I sensed something trying to make itself known, but was staying just out of reach of my understanding.

 My mother yelled with more authority. She tried to push me out of the way so she could reach the door, but was unable to. When she spoke again, her voice still shook. “Close the door, Aurora!”

 Something in her voice broke the trance I was in and I blinked. The man started running toward us. I didn’t understand what he intended to do, and I did not want to find out. I reached out and grabbed the door handle, quickly pulling it closed and locking it a second before hearing a resounding thud on the other side.

 My mother jumped and made her way to the driver’s seat as another thud shook the door. Another blow would break it down. My mother turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life. When the doorknob rattled, I grabbed it to keep the man from breaking the lock. I turned my head to shout at my mother for her to hurry right before being thrown backward and to the floor as she sped away.

 Dazed, I climbed to my feet, glancing around the motorhome. I slowly made my way to the passenger seat and sat down before I buckled the seat belt. I glanced at my mother, so many questions rising to the surface of my mind. As I looked at her face, I knew I’d have to wait for answers. For the first time in my life, I saw fear in my mother’s eyes.

 I frowned as I stared into the side-view mirror, seeing my silver eyes. They were eyes I shared with that man…a man my mother obviously knew. I took a hesitant breath and glanced back at her, remembering she had said his name. Emilian. I swallowed as I wondered why she had been frightened of him. Who was he?

  I stared back into the mirror, recognizing the similarities between him and myself. I gazed into my eyes and trembled as a dark suspicion arose, causing me to close my eyes to block out my reflection. Perhaps I didn’t want to discover who he was after all.