Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 236: The meadow

Braelyn’s POV

The sudden surge of panic sent me spiralling out of control. I didn’t want Lucien to hold me, it felt as if I did, I was accepting something I didn’t want to admit.

I jumped backwards, all my attention was on getting away from him. I didn’t hear the car coming in. My heartbeat was louder than the incoming tyres.

Everything happened too fast. One second I was running, heart hammering, and the next... the world was chaos.

The screech of brakes tore through the night, metal scraping, tyres skidding across wet asphalt. My lungs burned from running, my legs trembling, but instinct didn’t let me stop. My mind screamed at me to move, to jump, to survive

And then there were the headlights. Blinding me. My vision tunnelled, my body froze, and before I could even think, darkness claimed me.

********

The darkness consumed me. Everything Raphael said continued playing in my mind in my subconscious. My heart ached; he was also a victim, but it didn’t justify him.

Everything was just fucked. Very fucked up. The wind was blowing through my hair, and the air smelled like flowers and spring

.

When I opened my eyes, the chaos of the night, the panic, the rain, the fear felt impossibly distant, as if it belonged to another life. My chest heaved, and for a moment, I felt a strange sense of peace.

I found myself standing in the middle of tall grasses and flowers. Everything felt like an endless meadow. I blinked then spun around unable to believe my eyes 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Before me stretched a meadow unlike anything I had ever seen. Grass rolled endlessly to the horizon brushing against my ankles as a gentle breeze whispered through it.

Wildflowers bloomed in every color violet, gold, crimson, and pale blue, each petal glinting in the sunlight as if dusted with diamonds. The air smelled of spring and the scent made my chest ache in a way I couldn’t explain.

Butterflies flitted lazily from flower to flower, their wings delicate as silk. Dragonflies hovered over the tall grass, catching the sunlight and scattering tiny rainbows across the meadow. It felt like a peace because this beauty could only exist in dreams

I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes. My body trembled as emotion rose in me, and I bent down, letting my hands brush the cool grass, feeling the blades glide through my fingers.

I didn’t know how long I spent running in the flowers or lying on the grass facing the sky, counting clouds. I never got tired and the sun never set here.

It felt like endless peace. I didn’t want to give up. I never got bored with butterflies. Although at times I felt like I was forgetting something.

While wandering the endless paradise, a pale white butterfly flew across. It was different from the rest piquing my attention. I followed it chasing it through the meadows until it disappeared.

My gaze darted around trying to find it. It disappeared and I was the only one here. My gaze sparkled, catching a glimpse of something else in this endless meadow.

A lone tree, standing tall and proud against the horizon, its branches stretching wide as if it were reaching for me. Something deep inside tugged at my heart, a pull I couldn’t resist, a quiet insistence I had no choice but to obey.

Without thinking, I ran. My bare feet brushed against the grass, petals scattering like confetti in my wake. My hair whipped around my face, but I didn’t care. The tree was calling me, and I ran toward it, the meadow stretching endlessly on either side, each step carrying me closer to whatever waited beneath its shade.

The closer I got, the clearer it got. I could hear laughing in the distance with two figures below. I froze stopping in place once the laughter got louder and their figures very clear

It was a man and a woman. The woman sat on a lone swing with the man behind her. They were laughing in bliss. Her blonde hair flew with the wind. They felt too familiar, my chest ached.

Hesitantly, I stepped under the shade, a twig snapped under my feet, and their laughter stopped. The man slowly turned glancing over his shoulders, the moment I saw his face my eyes started to water. .

I didn’t think. I couldn’t think, I just ran forward running into him. He was surprised at first but a smile slowly settled on his face. He opened his arms, and I jumped straight into his arms. A hoarse cry left my lips. "Daddy..." I cried trembling in my father’s arms.

He held me tightly. His arms felt exactly as I remembered them. "Little Brae..." he said, his voice choking with emotion. Hearing his familiar voice tore me. I cried harder holding him closer. I still remember the day he died vividly.

He let me hold him and held my trembling shoulders. I slowly glanced up at him with teary eyes. "I miss you daddy.." I cried. He smiled rubbing his thumb on my cheeks.

"Me too, Brae," he said silently.

"Braelyn..." a soft voice called from behind him. I froze and glanced over, finally realising her presence. The breeze still carried her blonde hair and those emerald eyes carried complex emotions.

I broke away from Dad’s arms and just stared at her with complexity. "Braelyn ..." she repeated. Her lips parted but she couldn’t find any words to say. Not everything can be put into words.

"I’m.." I didn’t let her finish. I took the first move and pulled her into my arms. Avelina froze, confused at first.

"It’s fine... everything alright.." I said silently and her body trembled. Something wet slid down my cheeks. She hugged me back.

"I’m sorry Braelyn. I was such a horrible mother..." she cried. I didn’t say anything and just hugged. Avelina broke the hug first, her hand cupping my cheeks...

"You don’t belong here, Braelyn," she said. I felt Dad holding my shoulders.

"We love, but it’s not your time, stop shutting your mind..." she said carefully. I was confused by her words, then a sharp headache struck me.

Everything became blurry and spun like something was pulling me back. I heard a distant voice that sounded like a child’s voice...

"The clock rang midnight, and Cinderella got scared..." the voice said softly. It was distant at first but it slowly got louder

"She ran, leaving Prince Charming and a shoe behind," the girl said. Was she telling me a story? My eyes slowly fluttered open, and the beeping sounds of machinery and the smell of antiseptic hit me at once

It was bright and looked like a hospital. My entire body felt sore. I heard a sharp gasp. "You are awake.." she squealed.. a small face leaned forward entering my vision

It was Alora’s small face. She studied me for a while before a smile broke on her face. "She is awake!!" Alora screamed and then ran out of the room, leaving me stunned.