Drip. The sound of water droplets cascading onto the still surface of the endless lake echoed in the silence. Leon sat perched on the glassy expanse, his body shivering as the chill seeped through his clothes. He clutched his knees, seeking solace from the cold that seemed to penetrate his very core.
The air carried a musty scent infused with the delicate fragrance of withered flowers. Lifeless and fragile flowers extended from the depths around him. Behind him stood a decaying archway, like a relic of forgotten grandeur, but where it originated from his memories was unknown to him.
Through the haze, the fog enveloped the lake, concealing the boundaries of his desolate realm. It wrapped around him like an ethereal shroud, trapping him within its nebulous embrace. It was an oppressive barrier, obscuring his view and confining him to this isolated expanse. For his entire life, he resided within this room in his sleep, seeped with unfathomable loneliness and darkness. Leon called them dreams, and yet there was too much control within them to be something so simple.
With a flicker of his mind, the scenery shifted in his eyes like an old television screen changing channels, and he found himself standing on a sun-kissed beach. The grains of sand crunched underneath his boots as he walked along the shoreline. The salty tang of the ocean mingled with the gentle breeze, stirring a longing for freedom and discovery. But these glimpses of paradise were fleeting, like fragments of a fading dream. Leon grasped at the short strands, desperate to unravel their significance, to bridge the gap between his fragmented memories.
Why do I keep imagining the beach? Is there something special about this place? A white bird chirped and fluttered around him. It landed on his wrist for a moment before flying away. The way its talons tickled his wrist felt real, but it was so strange to him. Alien even.
Leon's hand reached down to pick up a small, white shell, tossing it into the air. KA-THUNK. The sound of impact resonated, causing sand to scatter in a frenzy, whipped up by a powerful gust of wind that assailed him. Instinctively shielding his eyes with his arms, he rose to his feet, flinching as something grazed across his vision. Acting on reflex, he caught a large, white feather that crackled with sparks upon contact, delicately tickling his hand.
"You still haven't told me who you are, angel," Leon said, his voice laced with a curiosity and vulnerability, the words hanging in the air like a plea for understanding.
Hovering above him, her silhouette cut through the air, her emerald eyes locked with his cool brown gaze. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back, swaying gently as her white wings fluttered, invoking a sense of ethereal power. "I haven't," she replied, her voice carrying a haunting resonance that seeped into his heart.
Leon's fists clenched, his frustration seeping through his trembling hands. "You're not going to explain why I keep remembering this place either, are you?" he questioned, his voice laced with a tinge of desperation.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"In time, Leon, I promise," the angel said, her gaze lowered. She descended onto the sands, her features no longer hidden by shadow.
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There wasn't a single word Leon knew that could describe her beauty. His heart matched his trembling legs with how they rattled, a cocktail of fear and arousal. "Why the hell did you come then?" Leon's voice cracked, betraying his anger and confusion.
In response, she reached out her hand, a simple gesture laden with unspoken meaning. Leon hesitated, a surge of uncertainty causing him to momentarily retreat within himself. Why am I like this? Who is this girl? He pushed aside his doubts, allowing himself to be enveloped in her embrace.
"I know you've waited...." she whispered, her fingertips caressing his cheek. "It's just a little longer, and then we will be together."
Leon's breath caught in his throat as tears streamed down his face, merging with the salty spray of the crashing waves. The touch of the angel's hand had ignited a whirlwind of emotions within him, but uncertainty clawed at his heart. Do I know this girl? Is this real?
"We both know the answer to that," the angel replied, her smile radiant, her gaze penetrating his very soul.
The crashing of waves resonated nearby, the water swirling around their entwined feet, merging their reflections into a single entity. Leon couldn't tear his gaze away, his heart resolute in its desire. "What if you're a liar? I have a knack for attracting monsters," he spoke, a grin forming on his lips, mingling bravado and vulnerability.
The angel giggled, her laughter like a gentle melody dancing in the air. Her lips hovered inches from his own, her breath mingling with his. "I'd be lying if I didn't admit it... but, I am a monster. A monster who loves you."
His eyes closed, his teeth gritted, and Leon's arms instinctively reached out to pull her closer. But his hands grasped at nothing but thin air, his balance faltering. A gasp escaped his lips as he stumbled, his grip on the ephemeral slipping away. "Shit!"
In an instant, the beach dissolved, static blinding him before it was replaced by the familiar expanse of the endless lake. The water rushed up to meet him, cold and unforgiving. Leon found himself once again perched upon its glassy surface, the memories of the encounter with the angel lingering like fading echoes. Nothing but darkness and endless fog returned to comfort him. He stood alone, bereft of her presence, clutching nothing but a solitary, white feather.