Take some deep breaths for me. (from @glacialux!)
✘ --- ; It was like he had been consumed within a terrible storm. The world had distorted from its colorful exuberance to that of solemn grays. The sound of the joyful birds above was replaced by the violent howling winds that now surrounded him. Clive became frantic, holding his breath as his heart pounded fiercely against his chest. The apprehension, that was overthrowing all his other senses, soon turned into a deafening ringing sound that filled his ears. The only frantic thought cycling through his mind; 'Where had Jill and Joshua gone?' He spun not once, but twice – observing his surroundings with near desperation only to find he was all alone.
It was then, at the center of the storm, stood a hooded figure. The haunting of a man smiled devilishly once he had been found. “Where are they?” Clive started off in a disheartened tone. But as he stumbled forward, the anxiety which festered soon twisted into blinding fury. It all came pounding back – that fateful night he had seen him once before. The fires of Phoenix Gate – the night he thought he lost everything.
He couldn’t lose Jill and Joshua again– no, he couldn’t bear it.
He stomped his way towards the figure and demanded with a howl,
“WHERE ARE THEY?!!”
And suddenly, the soothing gentle caress of another had pulled him from that nightmare. His eyes shot open, his vision blurred and breathes heavy. It took a few moments for the gentle cooing of her voice to enter his ears. There was pain in his chest from how hard his heart had been beating. He turned and looked at Jill who was sitting at his bedside, her cool hand cupping his cheek while her thumb continuously rubbed – reminding him once more that he was not in the place he thought himself to be.
It was only then, that Clive was able to take a deep breath in an attempt to find composure. “J-Jill I-“ he stuttered, feeling abnormally vulnerable and exposed. He was not aware he had even fallen asleep. He recalled that terrible feeling in the pit of his gut and thanked Great Greagor that it had all been just a night terror. Rough digits pinched his eyelids as he sighed to release the tension building within.
“Forgive me Jill. I…” he started off feebly. “I did not mean to scare you.”
@glacialux