Rise And Walk With Me {Dahlia} [Casual]

[HOLLY UROR]

As the grandfather clock in the hallway downstairs struck nine, Holly Uror wasn't even feigning sleep. She was wide awake, sitting cross legged on her bed in her white nightdress and dressing gown, attempting with little success to get the picture she was drawing the way she wanted it to look. Not matter how hard she tried, the face of the angel she pictured in her head was kind and caring, while the one on the paper seemed devoid of any emotion, stony faced and silent.

Most children her age would have given up long ago, but Holly was one for being persistent. For the sixth time she redrew the angel's mouth, or at least started to. The sudden strains of Allegri's 'Miserere mei Deus' from the living room downstairs startled her so much that she dropped her pencil, which rolled from the patchwork bedspread onto the carpet.

Holly sighed and stood up to retrieve it, before reconsidering. She didn't particularly want to be caught awake at this time by her mother - in accordance with her rules she should be asleep by now. Thinking in this vein, Holly picked up her drawing pad and pencil, replaced them on her desk and made to go to bed.

As she moved to the window to close the curtains, Holly happened to glance at the nearby church. It was then that she felt it, a physical and emotional force unlike anything she had ever felt before, a feeling she couldn't explain but that was clearly there. Almost as though on cue, a sequence of visions swam before Holly's startled eyes in quick succession - a notebook fraught with writing, a worn tombstone, a graveyard at night.

A furtive glance at her bedside clock confirmed it was now ten minutes past nine. But this did not matter. Nor did the fact it was a cold night, the fact she was dressed in nightclothes. This mysterious force, stronger if possible than the light at the end of the tunnel, was telling her to go to the cemetery. Holly knew, almost instinctively, that this was a force she could not afford to disobey.

Without even pausing to put on her slippers or shoes of any sort, Holly shoved open the door to her room and practically flew down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Unfortunately, this noise alerted her parents, who had been sitting in the living room. Just as Holly's thin fingers had wound around the front door handle they appeared; Mark hung back, looking confused, while Mary rushed forward, glowering.

"What on Earth do you think you're doing, young lady?"

Holly shook her head and said nothing, pulling the door open as quickly as she could, considering her mingled feelings of fear and apprehension, both of her mother's wrath and the strength of the mysterious force that was calling her to the cemetery.

In an instant Mary had grabbed hold of Holly with one hand while slamming the door shut with the other. Holly didn't want to go against her parents wishes, but this otherworldly power was giving her no choice! Filled with righteous determination she struggled to break free of Mary's clutches;Mary appealed to her husband to intervene, to try and talk some sense into their daughter.

Somewhat warily, Mark approached.

"Holly dear, what's the matter?"

Holly looked at her father, eyes wide and wild, face set in an expression of childlike determination. She was used to being branded strange by the few people she met outside of her family and church circle, but to be thought of in the same vein by her parents...but then, how were they meant to understand? How was she supposed to explain?

"I..."

She could feel the eyes of her Mum and Dad fixed on her, piercing, as though they were trying to see the innermost part of her. She shrank back a little under their gaze, although her expression did not waver.

"I have to get to the graveyard, Dad. I don't know why...there's this force-"

"Not this nonsense again, Holly! For Heaven's sake!"

"Never mind this nonsense, you should have been asleep fifteen minutes ago!"

"But..."

"But nothing, young lady. Go back to bed. Now."

Holly considered continuing to argue her case but, stubborn as she was, she knew that her parents would not understand, not this time. Instead she simply tugged herself free from her mother's grip and, head bowed, scurried back upstairs. She could hear her parents' anxious voices as soon as she shut her bedroom door but she paid them no heed; the force she had felt was now stronger than ever, almost painful, insistent and refusing to let her be, even present as she said her nightly prayers.

Attempts to sleep were futile, and consequently Holly was still awake at 10:30 (when her Dad went to bed) and at 11:00 (when her Mum did - she was often up later, working). At 11:30 Holly seized her chance. It was impossible to ignore or escape this force that was drawing her to the graveyard; not only did she have to go because it urged her to, but she had to go simply due to her childlike curiosity. What was it about the graveyard that was so important?

Holly pushed her duvet off her and got to her feet and, having tightened the cord of her dressing gown about her waist and pulled on her slippers, she opened the door to her room as quietly as she could, closed it behind her and crept down the stairs. The front door was locked, but the key was hanging on the hook on the wall as it always did. It was the work of a moment for Holly to jump up, grab the key and unlock the door. She closed it behind her and locked it, slipping the key into her pocket.

It was only then, as she checked over her shoulder to ensure she hadn't been seen, that she felt a sense of liberation wash over her; an emotion nowhere near as strong as the mysterious force, but strong enough to make Holly feel elated rather than scared, considering this was the most daring thing she had ever done in her young life. If her parents found out, Holly guessed her mother would become even worse, but how else was she supposed to deal with this force that was calling to her? It wasn't as though she wanted these things to happen...she hadn't asked for this, nor her powers...

Holly was soon on her way good and proper, running for the graveyard as fast as she could go. She was soon out of breath and continued at a slower pace, the force within her growing stronger every step she took. When she at last reached the cemetery gates she stopped, considering a problem that hadn't occurred to her. Surely the gates would be locked at this time of night? Determined this wouldn't deter her now she'd come so far Holly moved forward and pushed the gate, fully expecting it to be locked. However, to her great surprise, the heavy metal gate swung open, hardly making a noise. Holly knew it was a terrifically creaky gate from the many times she'd visited the graveyard before, and this only added to her surprise...not to mention her fear.

The ten year old tentatively took a few steps forward. Now she was here the force was at its strongest, yet it wasn't directing her further. What, or who, was she looking for? Even as she thought this she thought she saw a figure, not too far away, but almost obscured by shadows. Holly said nothing, now too scared to speak, simply rooted to the spot, wide-eyed.What was going on?

[dahlia]

The figure rustled slightly with the wind and then turned its head; only then did the moon seem to shine directly onto the person, though their face was still in shadow. The skeletal image of what was left of the distinctly feminine face should have been frightening, but for some reason... it wasn't.

Slowly, the figure turned and glided toward Holly. This woman, too, was dressed in what seemed to be pajamas- a black lace nightgown, a fluffy white robe, and bare feet. Her hands were clearly visible, and were being rung together as if the woman was as nervous to meet her as Holly was likewise. As she stepped closer, her eyes became visible; warm hazel eyes with heavy lids. A familiar knowing expression glazed them, one that was reminiscent of Holly's own eyes.

The pull seemed not to vanish, but quell into a soft buzz that surrounded this place, which was already filled with energy. Something about them being together seemed to make the nature pleased. Pleased specifically with them.

Slowly, the woman- Dahlia -withdrew something from the pocket of her robe and handed it to Holly. It was a slightly crumpled piece of paper with thick, delicate handwriting.

I've been expecting you.

[HOLLY UROR]

It was as Holly continued to stare at the figure that it turned its head. Although it was still in shadow for the most part, what Holly could glimpse of the face was almost skeletal. Any ordinary girl her age would doubtless have been scared senseless...but there was something about that face that made it seem...less terrifying, somehow. Holly couldn't explain what it was.

Maybe the fact that the force that had pulled her there had ebbed had something to do with this. This figure was who she had subconsciously been searching for, and the fact Holly had found her helped to feel more at ease. There was a certain air about the place, despite the hour and the fact it was a place of death. It made Holly feel...alive.

As the figure walked, no, glided rather, towards her, she didn't take a step back. It wasn't as though she was rooted to the spot with fear, not any more...it was more as though she knew she had to stay, find out who this woman was. The girl was surprised to see that her companion too was clad in her night attire...why was this? The way she wrung her hands seemed to indicate a similarly confused and anxious state of mind, yet the warmth and knowledge in her eyes said otherwise.

As the woman drew closer, she slowly withdrew something from her pocket and handed it to Holly. Holly took the paper, recognizing it instantly as a page from the notebook in her earlier vision. She was about to tell the woman this when the words on the page began to sink in, re-enforcing Holly's earlier fears.

When she looked up at the mysterious woman, her eyes were filled both with fear and wonder.

"Y-You've been expecting me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, so full of questions the fact that the woman had used a note to communicate, rather than words, passed her by. "What does that mean? Was that why there was that...force? What exactly was that?"

Holly paused.

Then,

"Who are you?"

[dahlia]

Dahlia watched the little girl with a look of pure amazement and motherly adoration. They had just met, but it felt as though they had been born solely for this moment, the purpose of them being near each other. The air about them continued to purr like a pleased animal as it whipped through both of the girls' hair, Dahlia's black waves blowing about her head in a way that made it look like it had a mind of its own, like a Medusa.

The little girl, her voice like a brook which seemed to cool Dahlia's soul, chirped question after question, her eyes wild with excitement and confusion...or fear. It killed her that this little girl should be afraid of her. She barely knew this girl, and somehow, she loved her as if they were one force.

Without pause, Dahlia drew out her tiny notepad and jotted down a short note, then ripped it out and handed it to the girl again.

My name is Dahlia, and I can see things too.

The little girl's other questions would have to be answered later, when they could sit down and talk somewhere, after they'd gotten over the shock of finally meeting each other. Finally. As if they'd been waiting.

[HOLLY UROR]

As Holly continued to look at the figure, eagerly awaiting a response, the air around them seemed to pick up a little, whipping through their hair and the branches of the trees, but in a gentle way, somehow. The look the mysterious woman was giving Holly served to strengthen this feeling; it was a look of surprise but also a look of pride, of love.

Holly was unsure what to make of this look, she was so full of questions and therefore still bewildered as to how the situation had come about, let alone what was actually happening now she was here in the graveyard.

As the woman handed Holly a second note, Holly took it eagerly and with less trepidation. As she read the words and attempted to come to terms with them, the previous fear that had been in her eyes was replaced with a combination of awe and joy. So there was someone else like her! She wasn't alone! Somehow Holly managed to contain her excitement and only express it in her tone; despite the fact there was a force that had drawn them together and the fact they were similar, the rules that had been drummed into her all her life still made her slightly wary.

"I'm Holly," she replied, breathlessly. "When you say you see things...do you mean visions? Of the past? That's what I see."