Oblivion

There weren't always dragons in the Valley….

That’s what was whispering through my mind when I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the stars winking down at me. I lay there for awhile studying them as if they knew where I was and how I’d gotten here. I waited a bit longer trying to remember. My memories evaded me like the fog slipping through the trees with exception of that haunting phrase about dragons. I gingerly stood up and swiped the dirt and leaves from my clothes. I glanced around me at the gathering shadows, even more pronounced now that the moon was at its peak.

My fingers began to slide around my body to inspect for scrapes and bruises, but paused when they touched a worn out folded square of paper in my pocket. I brought it closer to my face to read it and let out whimper as my hands begun to tremble. Staring back at me was my own face. It was a flyer dated one year earlier that had caused the pooling of dread in my stomach.

My name is Clara Pierce and apparently I’m a missing person.

One year and a month earlier...

“Zachary can I get a little bit of help?” Clara shouted while reaching for the teetering box on the top shelf. The diner had ran out of take out containers out front and they needed more. She had forgotten that they were kept so high up and for her height that was an issue. She turned around as she heard the door open and fixed her emerald stare on him. He smoothly reached past her to grab the box and proceeded to carry it out front. Clara had to hurry to keep up before the door shut in her face. Shoving her ridiculously thick hair behind her ear, she exhaled “thank you.” In return Zachary gave her a nod and went back to working the register. In the 3 months she had worked here he had never said a word to her or anyone else for that matter. The rest of the shift passed quickly enough with his help and soon it was time to close up. Clara was finishing up the last of the dishes when the hair on the back of her neck lifted. She was being watched, but no one was in the diner and she couldn’t see anyone through the windows. A hand suddenly clamped down on her shoulder and she screeched bloody murder. Quickly realizing it was just Zachary she calmed a little, but he was tense all over. He stared out the windows, eyes almost glowing an low purple, as if someone was actually out there. He glanced at Clara and motioned for her to wait there while he gathered his things. They hurried through the doors to lock the diner up and get to their cars. Clara reached her vehicle only to have the feeling of being watched return violently. The rapid crunching of gravel let her know that someone was running at break neck speed towards her. She attempted to flee but failed as she was scooped into a pair of arms that carried her towards the dense forest. It was Zachary, but she was still terrified as something wasn’t quite right with how his skin was sitting on his face. His skin was rippling with a deep ocean blue hue, Clara swears she seen a few scales along his temple as well. Zachary looked at her, pleading for her to understand that he was only trying to protect her, but she can’t believe her own eyes. With a tremendous soul baring roar ,Zachary felt his skin rip as his dragon burst forth to seek safety for him and Clara. The dragon lifted a limp Clara to the skies, she had passed out as she seen the ribbons of skin sloughing off of him like hot wax off a candle. He wouldn’t let her go until he figured out what his family wanted with her, for make no mistake, it was them stalking her at the diner.