Love's a Crime - Chapters 17 and 18

Chapter 17 - Elizabeth

"Run Sage! Run!!!" I heard this voice yell as I walked calmly through the woods, I cocked my head to the side in confusion. How did I end up here? One minute, I'm with Emanuel in his cell, then the next, I appear in the forest all alone for no apparent reason? "Run! Before it gets you! Run now!" I looked around to see where this person was but the forest was empty, run from what? I don't see anything. "No!! It's too late! Why didn't you listen to me!! Why! Oh no... It's coming Sage! It's coming! Hide! Hide quickly!" It yelled in anguish. "Hide where! It's an open road! The trees won't cover me! Neither will these tiny bushes!" I yelled at the voice. "You must hide quickly before it sees you! You must or you'll be finished for good!" This time, the voice sounded extremely panicked and it made it sound like it was a woman.

I ignored the sound of my heart which was pounding loudly against my ears and ran to the nearest bush by me. I jumped in it quickly and cowered under it as I heard the sound of quiet footsteps walking close. I rubbed myself with dirt as quietly as possible and hid my face behind a curtain of my brown hair hoping they wouldn't see my face. The only reason I covered myself in dirt was just so the, "Thing," wouldn't catch my scent so easily, "Good job Sage, now the only thing you need to do is to stay very still and do not... and I repeat, do not make a single, sound." The voice whispered frantically as the footsteps got closer. I froze automatically as the, "Thing," stopped in the middle of the road just where I was located. I saw the outline of its body through the wisps of my hair and the branches of the bush. It didn't look like an animal of any sort, it looked more like a... girl? The little, "Girl," looked around slowly through the forest, until, her stare stopped at my bush.

My breathing quieted instantly and I swear that my heart slowed down, the little, "Girl," narrowed her big green eyes for a moment then smiled innocently, "Mommy! Why are you hiding from me! You know I will find you sooner or later!" She giggled happily as she twirled around casually, Mommy? Who the heck is she talking about!? I don't have any kids! I'm only 19 for Pete's sake! "Mommy Sage! Where are you! I need to tell you something important! It's about Daddy!!" She said cheerfully. My heart stopped as soon as she said my name. This is a joke, a sick, sick joke. "Sage, don't do anything until I tell you, don't listen to her, she is dangerous and will kill you, please do not move or talk..." The voice whispered angrily. I watched as this girl whimpered sadly and fell on her knees while tears spilled her eyes, "Where are you mommy? Why did you leave me and daddy! I want you to come back to us!" She yelled in agony.

The sight of her crying broke my heart, she looked just like a smaller version of me when I had lost my parents, except she had lighter, longer brown hair and skin white as snow. She wore a blood-red dress with white fluffy frills underneath, black Mary Janes were suited on her feet accompanied by white see-through tights. I was guessing that her age was 5 but when she spoke, she sounded the age of 10. She was rocking back and forth and sobbing quietly in her small hands. Her brown curls fell into her face gently as she rubbed her eyes with both her fists. I couldn't take the aching feeling away as I saw her sobbing, my heart gave in suddenly and I started to get up, "No!! Sage, You'll die if you go to her!! Listen to me! Listen!!" The voice sobbed out loudly as I stood up fully and dusted myself off, I climbed out of the bush and started walking toward her.

The little girl looked up slowly with a surprised look on her face, she let her mouth drop when I keeled in front of her. "Mommy?... Mommy!! You're back! You're really back." She yelled happily as she hugged me tightly. I don't know why, but I kissed the top of her forehead and hugged her back, "You made the wrong choice Sage, and now you'll pay for your fatal decision," the voice only said this then disappeared. I ignored the warning and focused on her, "What's your name honey?" I whispered nervously, not knowing how she'll react to her, "Mommy," not remembering her name.

She stared at me confusedly but smiled innocently after a while, "You must've hit your head pretty hard mommy if you can't remember me." She said calmly as she gave me a toothy grin. I smiled back hesitantly, worried on how I got into this, I am sure I'm a 100% pure!! I have never... Umm... Done it with a guy before... I also haven't gotten drunk ever in my life to say that this girl is mine because of a, "One night stand." I shuddered at my thoughts and decided to play along to this game, "Yes mommy hit her head on a big rock so she lost most of her memory, now I don't remember daddy or you that much." I said fluently, wow I've become better at lying, I thought proudly. "Ok mommy, well I'm Elizabeth, your daughter and daddy is -" She was cut off by someone yelling her name. "Elizabeth honey! Where are you! Daddy is looking for you!!" A familiar feeling ran up my body as I heard this deep husky voice. "I'm here with mommy, Daddy!!" Elizabeth yelled happily as she hugged me tighter. The person gasped and appeared in front of both of us, "Sage!!! You're here!! Oh Sage how I missed you darling!" The person wailed as they stepped down and embraced me in their arms. I froze in shock as I figured out who it was.

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Chapter 18 - Dream Or Nightmare

Sage wakes up from her realistic dream...

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I woke up screaming loudly as I saw his face, I can't believe what I just dreamed. Emanuel rushed over in wolf form and growled protectively as he looked around for the threat. I shushed him calmly as I rubbed his head softly, he hummed in his throat gently and licked my arm. I smiled as he looked at me questionably as if to say, "What's wrong?" I just shook my head and mouthed the word, "Nightmare." His big yellow eyes still looked troubled, he started to back away slowly, then I heard the same cracking and groaning sound like the last time. Emanuel finally shifted into his human form and walked over to the bed I was lying on, he got under the covers with me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

This made me remember the night that Stephen had saved me from Castro and had comforted me with his strong arms, he stayed with me in my flat and slept with me. Too bad he turned out to be a dirty, lying, cheating skunk bag! The memories of him pained me to an extent, to think that he was my, "One." Why did love have to exist when it only hurts you. It lures you in with all the beautiful feelings, right until it traps you in an unforgiving agony that you can't escape... Just like my parents... Tears were my only friends when it came to my sorrows, they were always there for me even if I didn't want them to appear. I was kinda glad that Emanuel didn't notice me crying, but the other part of me wanted him to wipe away my salty tears. I'm always causing so many problems that leave me either broken emotionally or broken physically. I regret ever coming to this town. Me moving here was the worst decision I have ever made. I don't regret meeting Drake or Chris, even Emanuel.

But Stephen... I can't really explain it... Maybe it was all a delusional love... Or maybe it wasn't love at all. I'm pretty upset at the thought that no guy will ever love me. Well, it's no surprise to me, I'm not beautiful, nor rich, I am not a super model, and basically, I am an orphan. Maybe I should just be single forever and become an old lady with tons of cats in her house. Emanuel snored softly in my ear. I giggled as he mumbled something about being chased by the dog catcher, he really is like the big brother I never had, except when he kissed me, that was a big no-no. I lifted my hand and traced the creases in his forehead, he stirred a little but went back to laying still. I sighed disappointedly as I thought about all the things that have happened to me in the past four days.

My life is more like a hurricane than a roller coaster, it comes unexpectedly just to tear me down, then when I rebuild everything, it appears again and destroys it all over. I just hope some sunshine will come my way before it comes back... I sigh deeply this time and just lay there thinking how my life would be different if I hadn't run away from that witch. I'd probably would've already been dead by then, I growled knowing that whichever life I would have chosen, they both would have been bad anyway.

I will never become a Veterinarian if my life goes on like this, I have already missed more than two days, now. I'll have to pay like the other students since I already lost my scholarship. I can't believe that all those days of hard work, served for nothing. I hate my life... I really do... What I really hate the most is that I can't figure out the meaning of the dream I had. Does this mean I'll have a kid with him sooner or later. The hair of my arm stood up at the thought of having a baby so soon, I hadn't even graduated yet! I don't think he'd want a kid either, I mean, we barely know each other. I'm just going to have to deal with the fact that I might not ever find out what this means, but for now... I'm getting... Really... Sleepy... Goodnight...