Ashley’s Family Reunion
Ashley bolted upright still screaming, but was abruptly stopped in midair. Nearly losing consciousness she returned to the ground with a painful cry. Opening her eyes she saw boards above her head, and felt the grass between her fingers. Ohh yeah, picnic table. Owe, she mooned as she rubbed her newly bruised forehead. “Why was she under one, oh yeah, to get out of the sun.” Ashley then turned her head to the side to see water lapping upon a shore not twenty feet from her head. That was when she remembered her surroundings, she was at the newly acclaimed state park of lake Ontario.
Slowly this time, she lifted herself to a sitting position. Ashley then gazed through the gap in between the table and the bench across the lake that stretched as far as he could see. When the blood had drained from her head the pain swept through her body casing her to shake uncontrollably. Images from the dream flashed through her mind of the strange flame, and its disappearance. It was just a dream, she told her self. Yet it seemed to affect her very existence. As cold sweat dripped down the side of her face she turned her head around to see two pairs of eyes staring at her.
“Are you ok?” asked Hiro with deep concern in his voice. So close she could feel the words touch her cold skin.
Sweet Hiro he had always looked up to her knowing her support would always be there. Being the youngest he was of course a little spoiled, but who could blame them. With bright blond hair, green eyes that could sooth anyone’s heart, and a heart of gold. He truly was a Shonen, as the Japanese put it (Boy, pure of heart). Zack on the other hand being the eldest boy thought he was the man of the house ever since he was a teenager. His jet black hair perfectly fit with his dark brown eyes that always seemed up to something. He was reaching his prime in looks and stature, and he never let you forget it.
“What in the would are you doing under a table Ash?” Ashley tried to stop the shaking so she could speak, but wasn‘t successful.
“I-I’m fine! she said still trying to gain some composer. Looking completely helpless was one of the last things she ever wanted to do in front of her brothers.
“Well you don’t look it, that’s for sure! said Zack with a doubtful look on his face.
“Leave her alone” (Hiro).
“ Dude, look at her , she’s totally lost it.”(zack)
“I said leave her alone!” yelled Hiro in his small authoritive voice, as he pushed his elder brother.
Zack was so off guard that he fell on his butt. Even though he was stunned, it only took him three seconds to be on his feet and have Hiro in a noogy.
“No one pushes me! Exclaimed Zack increasing his grip on his brothers neck.
Ashley on the other hand was still struggling finally, snapped out of her world at the sound of her little brothers yell.
“Zack, let him go!! she yelled.
“Why should I, the little guy started it,” as he tightened his his grip ever the more.
Hiro on the other hand now having no air began to try and hit him to make him let go. Somehow Ashley got a hold of Zack’s neck and pulled as hard as she could to get him to the ground. Zack tried to take it but lost his grip on Hiro. As soon as Hiro was free he put some distance between him and his brother.
“Oh you both are going to feel the pain!!!
“Not if you can beat us to supper! Come on Ash lets go!!” Hiro said as he grabbed Ashley’s arm and started running.
Ashley really didn’t feel like running but the look on her fallen brothers face gave her enough inspiration. Zack still was on the ground so they were able to get a pretty good head start. Ash and Hiro were just able to beat Zack to the families camping aria. So Zack wouldn’t try pulling anything in front of mom and dad. Running like a coward from a fight had no affect on Ashley for she was out of her regular spirits.
By the time they all got to there tent they were all exhausted and the smell of the food had began to seep into there nostrils. Ash sat down for supper, but as soon as she did her mother had noticed something was wrong. Ashley had almost always been the brightest one in the family. If she was sad it never really been shown until now. When the family began to eat she just ate as someone who had lost all meaning. She wasn’t really hungry at all. Her parents stared in shock and disbelief. Their daughter was depressed! It was so out of character for her that they had no clue how to help her. A unsettling silence surrounded the family for the remainder of the meal. When they had finished Ash and Zack got clean up duty. They cleaned in silence as they worked.
"What’s up with her," pondered Zack. He watched her clean as if she was a zombie. What did she have to be upset about. She was the miracle child of the family. The doctors had said she had little chance of surviving the pregnancy. but here she was healthy and strong. "What ever, Its not my worry," thought Zack.
As Ash pondered the dream she lost her self in it. Every time the images sliped through her grasp her heart would ache of separation and loss. She would remember the flam but could not feel its warmth. After thy finished cleaning up supper Zack headed out to play Basketball with the cousins. Ashley wanting to stop thinking followed. She focused on the game and nothing else. She would reach for the ball every chance she got. If she fell she would be right back up again as if she couldn’t feel the pain, but as she played time passed. Seconds turned to hours, and before she knew it the sun had fallen from view. Some of the cousins had already left to prepare for the night at each of their own camp sites.
Ashley stared into the blasé as the stories took form within the flames. Old and new memories were exchanged across the fire place. Time passed so quickly as we laughed and cried. At one point the children had to get to bed causing a majority of the people to leave. That left most of the teens and a few adults. That was when they started telling stories of horror and mystery. Ashley listened intently devouring every detail. At one point one of the Uncles began telling the mystery of the castle of the lake. His words wove a tale of the man who had built the castle many years ago. (optional story) To be able to withstand attacks from a mysterious foe. He worked day and night to try and finish his fortress. One day a women came and they became friends who later on joined together in marriage. Once the castle was finished they lived there happily for a few years then one fateful night the man found his wife out in the garden dead with a man in a black clock beside her. As the man saw the seine anger swept through him like a fire. He charged the clocked figer. In the heat of the fight the hood fell to reveal the foe from the many years passed. In his anger the man fought and wounded his adversary. As his foe laid on the ground in defeat, drowning in his own blood. The man yelled at him in his furry. “how did you get into my castle!!!” the dyeing man laughed. Your love was my pawn, she let me in. And since she had done her duty. I no longer had use for her. So now she lays on the ground never to stand again. Then his laughter filled the air until death took it away. The man wept, for all he had was a castle, and blood spilled by his hand. No one really knows what happened to the owner of the castle. Some say he killed himself from the sorrow. Others say he still roams the castle searching for hope within its walls. “What do you think happened?” Ashley stared at those around her hoping someone would answer. No one spoke, they all just stared at the uncle thirsty for a explanation. That was when the chaos broke loose. Out of nowhere a dark clocked figure appeared in to the middle of the group. Immediately most of the girls screamed at the top of there lungs and started for there tents creating a picture of total panic. The rest had mostly been spooked and ether jumped or tripped over something. Then through the chaos rose a booming laughter. Ashley who had been pushed of her seat onto the ground looked toward the fire to see three men laughing hysterically. As Ashley rose to her feet she recognized what had conspired. Three of her uncles had pranked all the teens with a scary story, and a black blanket.
Once all the commotion calmed down every one started walking to their tents. Ashley wandered to the edge of the lake. As the breeze drifted across the like sifted through her hair Ashley stared at the castle. The moon had cast its pail glow on its stone peaks. Ashley gazed at it in wonder as a shadow glided out of the back of the castle walls. It sliced the air making its way toward shore. Frozen, Ashley could only watch in fear as the odd form landed gracefully only a few feet from where she stood. It was a large blurry column of smoke. It had an odd form of a snake, but it didn’t pose as one. Then It turned its agile head toward her, and began to make its way through the fog in her direction. That was when Ashley saw its eyes which held her gaze until it towered over her. The creature then lowered its head to Ashley’s eye level. That moment it was looking strait into her eyes something surged within her the pain from the dream returned. As the figure began to disappear before her Ashley saw something else in the creature’s eyes. It pierced her soul with loss, but one word filled its eyes. “Go!!!” Then not only was the creature gone, but also her world went black.
