*Annabell's POV

  For a moment it felt like I was flying. Then, nothing. Absolutely nothing.  I was lying in the dark. Nothing unusual there. My quiet isotion. Quiet and calm, until the feeling of being watched by hungry eyes returned. Someone, something was lurking through the darkness around me. Cirg me, preparing to strike.  I remembered the icy fingers on my throat, the suffog squeeze... "I will have you."  I shot up, shivers still running down my spine, I found myself sitting on a bed.  Panting heavily I realized that I am in my room. My soft, round pillow lying behind me while my warm, double yered b slid off the bed down to the floor because of my sudden movement. Soft squeaking of the bench swing below my window in the wind... But why am I sleeping fully dressed? I was in my jeans I wore for school today. Weird. What time is it anyway? I found my phone in the pocket of my jeans. *"Seven. Fifteen. P.M."* Wait a minute... it's evening already?  Wasn't it all just a nightmare? But I was at schoht? I don't recall ing home. However, I felt that my hair was wet and my jeans were not pletely dry either.  I stood up, just to fall back down on the bed. "Ow!" Not only I felt dizzy but the moment I put weight on my right leg a sharp pain shot through my ankle.  What?! My kiever getting to its target, fshed through my mind. So it was real...

  I was at set with Rosalie, Emmet and... Jasper. It's strange. I swear I heard his voice calling me... but I wasn't able to respond. And that light I saw... it felt just like Major's presend I still feel it nearby.

  ing to the kit for water, because my throat dried up from all the deep breathing I did to calm myself down, it seemed I got closer to that presence. Although I felt it strohan before, it was surely ing from outside the house and it ulling me like a mag. I set my gss oable and followed the pull. Knowing there is a maniac going after me I stopped just outside the door.

  There he was, sitting on the bench swing, I assumed. Because when I opehe door, there was no wind. I still heard light rain pying on the leaves of my beloved roses, but the soft, rhythmical squeaking of the swing was not caused by wind anymore. Maybe it's because of how weakened I feel after all that happeoday. But his presence is s to me now, that it is almost as if I could really see him sitting there in front of me. "Major?" I tried, immediately regretting not making any hat would note him of my approach. Because the sudden stop of the light squeaking of our bench swing told me that I surprised him. I'd like to see his expression. Thankfully he didn't disappear, so with hope I asked. "Would you e in, please? I'd feel more safe with you there." I admitted. Which was quite embarrassing for me but I heard him stand up a slowly ing closer. The closer he was, the better I felt. It made me smile.

  Going baside the house, making sure Major is following me and that he won't notice my stupid hurting leg, I made my way towards the staircase. It wasn't so hard to ighe pain. As clumsy as I be sometimes, I am used to it.  When I reached the stairs and took a hold of the railing, I listeo the closing door and with Major, few steps behind I started to walk towards my room. Walking oraight floor was ohing, walking up the stairs without letting him know there is something wrong, is something else. I focused on keeping steady pace without limping, so much, that when I got almost to the top of the stairs I didn't lift the hurt leg high enough and tripped. This caused me to put whole weight of my body on my right leg and the pain threw me, momentarily off bance. I guess I'd fall, not holding on to the railing as I did. Steadying myself I realized that Major is right behind me now. He is so close. If I reach behind, I touch him. Taking a deep breath and gripping the railing harder to keep myself from doing so, ihat he'd disappear, I tried to clear my head. The st from the first night I felt his presence, enveloping me like the fi velvet, made my heart race. I loved the st of horses and hay that was surrounding him, ever since. I started to walk again.

  Laying down on my bed I left as much space as possible, even though I wasn't sure it will be necessary. I faced Major as best as I could aantly motioned him to sit on the bed beside me. I was sure he uood but didn't move. I wao give up, however tried once more. "Please...?" I was so afraid of his reje and that he'll leave again that it turned into a question as my voice almost cracked on that single word. I was half expeg him to leave instead, but he finally came closer and sat oher side of the bed. Smiling, I let the exhaustion I felt to y eyes, relieved he not only stayed here but is this close to me. I want to be even closer... I quickly pushed the thought away and folded my hands on my chest to keep myself from doing something stupid, which would really make him leave.

  "Do you remember when I first called you Major and told you that he's my hero?" I started but didn't really expected him to answer. "I promised, I'd tell you a story about this Major." I paused again, this time waiting for some kind of rea. Nothing. So I tinued. "It's sort of a poem and quite knowoo, but beside mom and the one who I heard it from for the first time, I haven't e across anybody who'd known the whole thing. It goes like this.

  Nearing end of the year 1862,... Forever forced to fight,searg for his light."

  When I finished, as usually I felt like g because it was so unfair to him. I felt him tense and a tear I couldn't keep from falling rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away realizing he moved his hand closer to me. Did he want to... I smiled as he rested his hand ba the bed. "I'm sorry, it always makes me sad. To think that you saved all your rades just to be damo hell. All alone. heless, now you're here." I said, somehow knowing my words are true. Everything seemed to be as it should. I wasn't sure how I k, but I was certain that the one beside me is the same as iory. He still didn't say a word. I was exhausted but relieved that even though I just told him I know about him, he still stays.  As always, he didn't say anything. After a little while I felt him to lean back against the wall and heard him sigh. Is it troublesome for him to be here? I had to tell him one more thing, uain I'll meet him ever again, after I fall asleep. Reag for the spot on the bed, where I knew he rested his hand, I covered it with mine, hoping he won't push me away or disappear. His hand was almost as cold as Rosalie's but it didn't bother me in the slightest. I felt so happy.

  "Thank you for saving me from him." Feeling as he tensed again and the anger building up in him I tinued. "And thank you for staying here with me..." My voice was weaker and weaker as I fought against the exhaustion, when some memories came bae. 'the broad bader my palm, the same kind of anger -"Don't you dare to bother her again!"- "This isn't our first time meeting"- the same prese all makes sense now. How did I not ect them sooner? Did he never spoke to me when I call him Major because he's worried I'd reize his voice? You silly..."Jasper." I whispered as the exhaustion overe.