Guardian - Chapter one.

I wake up sweating, my eyes burn and my heart is pounding. I look around to see where I am, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with air. I constantly replay the same mantra in my head- "it’s not real it was just a dream", yet it felt so real, too real.

I can still feel his lips pressed against mine, I can still taste his kiss, beyond that I can feel the peace that I felt in his arms.

In the arms of a stranger.

It was an overcast day and I was running away from 4 dogs, I knew the area I was in it was only a street away from my house, but I didn't know the dogs that chased me. My heart was pounding in my chest, my lungs were burning like a winter fire but I kept on going, until I bumped into him.................

He fought off the dogs with kicks and punches until they ran away wailing and then he turned to me. I can't see his face, I don't look at him.

He closes the space between us and silently begins leading me somewhere, my instincts scream KIDNAP!

I try and break free from his hold, but my struggle reaps no reward. He leads me from behind, my back against his chest, his arms cupping my arms. It’s a gentle grip that he has, yet his strength ensures that I can't break free. I turn my face towards him with the intention of biting him, as I tip toe to reach him -our lips meet.

The contact hypnotized me, the impact of that kiss had me wanting more, I wrapped my arms around his neck and he kissed me deeper. I felt at peace and free, the contentment that I felt flooded my sense until I couldn't think.

He was my kidnapper.......... or was he?

Why would I feel so peaceful in the arms of someone that was stealing me?

It didn't make sense, nothing did. It was only just a dream after all, I won’t see him again in my dreams or so I thought.

My day went by very fast forcing the night to slowly slip into vision, allowing sleep to claw at my senses until I finally went to sleep.

It was war, my small town was turned into a war zone. Bodies covered in white cloth lay on the floor to the one side of me, on the other side was a crowd of people rushing to get loaded on to trucks to get taken to safety.

The clouds above us threatened to unleash it fury, and there I was lost in a crowd with nowhere to go. People went passed me, bumped me and I was scared.

The terror slowly forming into a ball of panic.

There floor was stained with blood, the wind sang the cries of the people and for once I did not know what to do……

My hand was taken by a strange figure, who pushed, shoved and nearly carried me through the crowd. Despite my independent attitude, I subserviently followed the stranger until we reached the last truck that was about to depart.

My heart sighed at the thought of safety, the man finally faced me and like the night before I didn't see his face, I felt his presence and I knew instantly that it was the guy from the night before.

He all but carried me and put me in the back of the truck among someone who I finally recognized-Nina my mother’s sister.

But before he left, he planted one last kiss on my lips and then vanished into the crowd of people.

Not uttering a word, not leaving a name, not even turning to look back.

At that moment I knew, I loved this unknown stranger.