Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire Within! Book 1
Chapter Twenty-one

“Uh, what?” My mouth has fallen open as I ask this.

“We are humans who have the privilege of knowing everything there is to know about the ’World of Tenebrosity’. But we are considered protectors because we protect this knowledge from those who would want to demolish the world of the supernatural’s.”

“Oh,” I manage to utter before promptly closing my mouth. I mean I guess it would make sense to have people in the world willing to protect beings from being hurt…

Suddenly my phone begins to play one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands, Asking Alexandria – Antisocialist. “Um, it’s my mom,” I say to no one in particular before answering it. Saying hello, I nod my head as though she can see me. The last thing I want to do is go back home right now but mom said I had to, and I don’t like disobeying her, so I let Ash and Lori know that I have to go.

“We haven’t sorted everything out about you yet, Sofia, so it would be wise that you do not mention anything of what is happening to yourself to your parents right now.” Ash states this matter-of-factly and I honestly want to say, ’DUH’, but I don’t.

“I’ll call you later,” Lori adds I as I head towards the door that will lead me out into Ash’s garage and out into his back yard so that I can walk back over to my house.

Lori never ends up calling me even though I waited half the night for her to do so, but I do receive a message from Ash. Can you manage to cut class early tomorrow and meet me at the park? The area closest to the woods?Just seeing his name pop up on my phone causes me to smile. I am very intrigued as to why he wants me to cut class and respond immediately with a Yes!

I imagine meeting up with him and finding a cozy little place where we will make out for a while as I place my phone on its charger and close my eyes, hoping that just once I will not dream as I fall asleep. On the plus side, I did not dream of anything. The downfall… I have the most insanely terrifying nightmares!

I am running through a very dark and dense forest and am being chased by something horrifyingly evil. I cannot see the evil that is behind me, but I can feel the energy rolling from it, coming off in waves, slamming into my back as I run. My breathing is haggard, and I place a hand over my chest, as though this will calm my thudding heartbeat. My lungs feel as though ice is coating them because I am lacking the oxygen needed to be able to breathe properly! If I am not able to find a safe place to hide soon, I will end up passing out and then all of this running will be a moot point anyway.

I can hear someone shouting my name and try to go in the direction I think I hear the voice coming from. Feet slam over the frozen ground and I can’t tell if the sound is from my feet or from whatever is after me. Suddenly a bright light descends upon me, pure energy, nearly blinding me. I hear a snarl from within the darkness and shriek as sapphire blue eyes appear before me. As the animal lunges for me, I face plant into the hard dirt below me with an ’oomph’. Rolling over, I open my eyes just in time to see that the black creature hadn’t been aiming for me and had in fact launched itself past me and into the evil that was at my heels.

I wake up shouting out Ash’s name, looking around me frantically before realizing I am in bed and the whole ordeal was just a horrendous nightmare. A moment later, my alarm on my phone goes off indicating that I should be getting up for school and an ugh escapes my lips. Not that I was going to try and go back to sleep after that wicked craziness, but I still groan. The last thing I want to do is go to school today. I feel like I am dragging ass big time as I drift through the crowd of students milling in the hallways before the bell rings that will have them all scattering like roaches into their assigned classrooms. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Sluggishly I push through groups of kids until I am standing in front of my locker. Feeling utterly exhausted, it takes all of the energy I have just to lift my arm and open up my locker door. I toss a couple books that I had brought home with me inside the metal box and then shut the door. Turning away from the locker, I promptly walk into a solid wall of muscle. With a ‘whomp’ sound, I bounce back slightly and look up to see Blake with his hazel, nearly green, eyes looking into mine.

“Oh, uh, hey Blake, I’m sorry. I once again wasn’t paying attention.” I offer the words and force a small laugh from my mouth. I feel very awkward at this moment and haven’t a clue what more to say to him.

“It’s okay,” he says with a grin. “I thought I would walk you to class.” He adds and I don’t know how to respond to his offer.

“Uh, um…” Thank goodness for small miracles I think to myself as Ash walks up just then!

“Hey Sofia, sorry I’m late. I overslept.”

“Oh, uh, that’s okay,” I smile at him as he opens his locker and tosses his black hoodie inside. He shuts the door and without acknowledging Blake he asks; “you ready to head to class?”

“Oh… yes, just waiting for you slowpoke.” I look at Blake getting ready to apologize to him when he turns from me and mumbling something like, ’see you later’, he stomps away.

Glancing to Ash, I see him raise a questioning eyebrow at me. “Uh, apparently he doesn’t understand how a breakup works…” I say the words but feel utterly confused on the inside. What in the world is up with Blake?I ponder as Ash, and I head to class.

**

As we slide into our seats seconds before the tardy bell shrills overhead, I hear Ash, “psst.” I look at him and see him nodding he head towards his phone and then looking at mine which is placed on the middle of my desk. “Text message,” he adds before turning to face the front of the class as Mr. Davis begins to take attendance.

I pick my phone up from its resting place and unlock the screen to see that I have a text unopened from Ash. After lunch, meet me?

Okay, I will see you in the park at 12:45… I send back to him. I hear his phone chime indicating my text was received and then watch him fiddle with his phone for a second before seeing him nod his head and then a beep comes from my cell, and I see a thumbs up pop up in my messages from him.

The weather is unseasonably warm for December and assuming we will sit outside and eat lunch, I make my way out of the cafeteria doors. I can hear Lori laughing loudly from the direction of the picnic tables where we typically sit. Smiling to myself, I realize she is using her fake laugh so whomever she is chatting with, she doesn’t find very amusing. My smile immediately falls from my lips as I see who Lori is humoring… BLAKE! Why in the world is he talking to her? He is becoming a nuisance quite quickly. Lori looks my way just in time to see the happiness fall from my face.

I know she sees the annoyance flash across my face which is why I am sure she asks; “hey doll, why so blue?” She grins as she finds herself funny at having asked this question.

Clenching my jaw shut tight, I sit across from her and Blake and ask, “what’s up?”

“Oh, you know, just talking about how nice the weather is as we patiently wait for you to arrive.” I can hear the sarcasm dripping from Lori’s voice and do all I can not to laugh at her.

Rolling my eyes, I say, “oh yes, the weather is lovely, isn’t it?” Smiling to Lori, I pull out an apple and take a huge bite out of the sweet, deliciousness. Just as I begin to crunch on the bits, I hear Blake start to talk.

“…sorry, what did you say Blake?”

“Yeah, uh, since we both have some free time at the moment, I was hoping we could chat?”

I try not to choke on my apple as I hear him ask this and then Lori looks back and forth between Blake and me for a moment before promptly packing her stuff up. “Hey, I forgot, I have to go finish up an English paper of mine. I’ll see you after school, okay Sophie?”

My eyes go wide, she is seriously going to leave me here, alone, with him! Oh, hell no! Thankfully my alarm goes off just then, reminding me I need to go meet up with Ash. “Shoot, I’m sorry Blake. I actually have an appointment and have to leave. We can talk later though, I promise.’ I see his shoulders sag in disappointment and feel a momentary bit of guilt, but I shake the feeling off, smile at him and walk to my car.

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