Chapter 1: Prologue
She had been running for what felt like hours. They took her love and now they were after her child but she would be damned if she would let them get her child.
As she stumbled through the forest she couldn't help but keep looking back to ensure that they were still far back but she could sense that they weren't far behind. Stopping to lean on a tree she looked around searching for a place where she could rest, she saw smoke rising in the distance and thought that there had to be someone tending to the fire and she hoped they were in a generous mood.
She took a step forward but slipped and fell down the small hill but she managed to protect her child with her body but she couldn't stop the baby from crying out. "Shhhh,shhhh it's okay it's okay please stop crying it's okay love". She managed to reduce her cries but she was afraid that they had heard so she picked up the pace.
As she walked closer to the source of the smoke she realized that was coming from a sort of cabin. She walked up to the door and knocked and waited for someone to answer. She kept glancing back until she heard footsteps approach the door. The door opened to reveal a lady that didn't seem too old but a look at her eyes would tell you that she had gone through a lot in life.
"Um what can I help you with" the lady asked feeling confused about why a woman was at her door at this time of the night.
"Please can you help me I really need a place to stay for now", the lady didn't know how to feel about the situation, she looked the woman from the head downwards but stopped at the bundle in her hands "is that a baby?" the lady didn't know why but seeing the baby made her want to help them so she opened the door wider to let her in.
The woman couldn't believe what was happening, she had thought that she would resort to using her powers to compel her but this was much better because she wouldn't have to bear the guilt,"I know this is a confusing situation but I promise that I will explain everythi..."
"I don't know what you've been through but if you like you could stay here" Grace said. Annabelle couldn't understand why she was being so kind to her ,she thought that humans were selfish and evil beings but it seems like she had been proven wrong and that there are some good ones out there.
"If you will have me I would be honored" " come on "forget about it I'm sure your freezing sit down let me get you some warm blankets". The lady guided her to a sofa and straightened up then walked into the house to , presumably get a blanket. As she watched the lady walk out of her sight her baby started squirming so she adjusted her clothes to feed her, as the child fed she couldn't help but feel her love grow, she didn't expect motherhood to be so wonderful "what's her name?" she hadn't heard the lady come back and her powers almost reacted on impulse but she was able to stop it in time "her name's Isabella" "well that's a beautiful name, mine is Grace what is yours?" " Annabelle" "well I don't know what brought you to my doorsteps but I guess we're stuck with each other' Grace said with a small smile and Annabelle couldn't help but smile back but her baby drew her attention when she started cooing and Annabelle giggled and started blowing raspberries on Isabella's bellybutton .
Upon watching the exchange between the two she realized that she had done the right thing letting them in because there was no way this woman playing with her child could commit a crime, well, at least , that was what she was trying to tell herself. "you must be exhausted, why don't I take to one of the rooms " Annabelle couldn't say anything so she nodded her head and stood up and followed Grace. They walked through a long corridor which had different paintings and ornaments decorating the walls." Ok, this is where you will stay" as Annabelle looked into the room she couldn't help the awed gasp that left her mouth.
There was a queen sized bed with silky white curtains surrounding it and there were beautifully carved roses on the bed posts there was a big star shaped carpet in the middle of the room. There was a dresser with a big mirror on it by the corner of the wall.
She walked towards a closed door a opened it and was amazed to see a simple white tiled bathroom and she wasn't expecting that considering how the rest of her house was.
She turned to Grace to ask a question that had been bugging her for a while" please, if you don't mind my asking why are you um.. uh.. I mean its um.." "strange that a woman my age would be living in the middle of nowhere and by herself?" Annabelle had thought that maybe she had offended her but grace smiled at her and guided her to the bed to sit and then sat as well. "well this place isn't actually my real home it's more of a cabin so to speak.
My family and I came here a lot together but there was an accident a few years back and it took the lives of my husband and daughter. So now I come here when I feel everything is too much and just want to escape" Annabelle didn't even know she was crying until Grace cleaned a tear from her face "I'm sorry for your loss I did..." "there is no need to be sorry,you didn't do anything but i really need to know" she paused and took a breath and she asked about what she was doing outside but Annabelle couldn't bring herself to explain so Grace just smiled assuringly at her
"Ok since it's obviously you don't have a place to stay,how about you stay here with me, I mean as long as your comfortable" "really are you sure" "of course," "thank you for having me I appreciate it" "love don't talk like I'm hiring you or something,you.." "I refuse to be allowed to stay without doing something to help I cannot,no I will not take advantage of your kindness" "um well or fine, you can help around but no pushing yourself" Annabelle nodded her head in agreement."Ok I'll leave you to sleep now, goodnight" "goodnight",Grace left closing the door behind her.
As the door closed Annabelle released a breath she didn't know she was holding. The day had been one of the longest and scariest days in her life but it was surely the most tragic for her life. The only good thing was meeting Grace and succeeding in keeping her baby safe. Thinking of her baby she looked down to the bundle of joy in her hand and realized she was already asleep.
She scooted up the bed and lied on her side keeping her baby beside her then she fell asleep.
******
"Daddy uppies" "you want some uppies princess?" "Yeah!!!!" "Ok one, two " then he threw her up in the air and she let out squeals and giggles and as he caught her he spun around with her which got a happy scream out of the girl. "Again,again" she said jumping around his feet. Annabelle came out of the house holding a picnic basket in her hands. "I have a better idea, wanna hear it?" She nodded and he bent down carving his palms around his mouth as if to tell her a secret and she came closer giving him her ear" race you to the picnic blanket!!" Then he ran off and the girl screamed in surprise and ran after him giggling.
Before they reached the carpet she passed him and then he lifted her up and spun her around and then sat on the blanket " I win" he stated but she scrambled up from his lap and faced him then put her right hand in her hip and held the other one with the pointer finger up as if to scold a child
"nuh uh, first of all you cheated and secondly since I was with you when you reached I automatically win with you" she said then placed that hand on her hips as well "your right, hey love when did our princess become so smart" "hmmm, I think she's always been smart after all she has you for a father" "and you as a mother" she smiled at his statement then pecked his lips and they heard a squeal which drew their attention to the little girl in their front who was covering her eyes " no kissing infront of the children please" she said and Annabelle laughed along with her husband " oh then in that case we'll kiss the children" then they both started attacking her with kisses and she giggled and screamed for them to stop.
After a while they let her up and she dragged her dad up and they started running around chasing each other.
Annabelle removed her eyes from them to lay out the food, as she finished she turned back to call them but froze on the spot by what she saw. Behind her husband was a shadow, she tried to scream but nothing came out and then he was stabbed through the chest and he opened his mouth to tell her something but blood sputtered out instead then he dropped to the floor and the figure turned to her child who was playing with a flower as if she didn't know what was happening around her. The shadow took a step towards the child and then Annabelle finally found her voice and screamed.
******
All the movable items had been suspended in mid air but as Annabelle woke they all dropped onto the floor.She took her hand to her mouth to silence the noise she was making and listened for any footsteps signifying that Grace had woken up.
When she didn't here anything she breathed out in relief and a choked sob followed and before she knew it she was crying mercilessly. She closed her eyes as if to tell herself that what had happened was a big act and that she was still in her home with her lover and child but she couldn't hold the image for long before her dream surfaced and remembered the shadow.
As she tried to calm down she noticed that a light was on beyond her eyelids and she opened them thinking Grace had actually come in and that she didn't hear her but was shocked when she saw a flying butterfly, it's designs never staying the same and it's colour always changing. She rose her hand to it and touched it then it scattered and formed more butterflies. She was amazed by what she was seeing but didn't understand how they were here with her, beside her she heard her child giggling and turned to her and gasped in shock when she saw that her child's eyes were glowing with different colours.
She didn't know how she knew but she was sure that her child made the butterflies. She laid back beside her and Isabella turned her head to face her mom and gave the cutest baby laugh Annabelle had ever seen "I'm going to protect you no matter what happens, I'll always be there for you" and as if a spell had been cast all the butterflies disappeared as Isabella fell asleep and Annabelle followed with a strong resolve in mind to protect her child no matter what and then she fell asleep and slept the whole night without a single dream or nightmare.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone