1
ADRIAN
Strada Republicii is packed with people as we make our way toward the center along the shops.
We finally break through the crowds, and Bra?ov's old town square sprawls around us, all pastel buildings and old world charm. It's the kind of place tourists take photos and couples smile with happiness from their vacation.
Elena's fingers are laced through mine.
She's laughing. That bright, unguarded sound that makes me feel like the world isn't such a shit place after all. Her dark hair catches the sunlight, and when she turns to look at me, her eyes are bright.
"You're staring,” she says.
"Always staring at you, Leni,” I say.
She rolls her eyes, but her fingers tighten around mine.
“You're ridiculous."
"Doar pentru tine," I say and then switch. "Only for you."
She leans over and kisses me. "Your English is coming along nicely."
"Well," I shrug, "I have an excellent teacher."
We walk past the old fountain, the one where I kissed her for the first time when we were sixteen.
She'd tasted like cherry lip gloss, and my brothers howled, but I'd known right then I was completely fucked.
We continue walking, and suddenly the sky shifts.
One second it's blue and cloudless. The next, it's black.
The square empties. The people vanish like smoke. The warmth drains from the air, replaced by a cold that seeps into my bones.
Elena's hand tightens in mine.
"Adi?" she asks.
Her voice is different now. It's smaller and afraid.
I turn to her, and her face is pale. Her lips are bloodless, her eyes wide now with terror.
"What's wrong?" I reach for her other hand, but she's already being pulled backward.
"Adi!" she yells.
Hands, dozens of them, emerge from the darkness behind her. They grab her arms, her waist, her hair. They drag her away from me, and I'm running, lunging, trying to hold on, but my fingers slip through hers.
"Leni!" I yell, my hand reaching out for her. "Elena!"
She's screaming my name over and over, the sound rips through me.
I run harder, faster, but the ground beneath me stretches. No matter how far I go, she gets farther away.
Her screams fade, and the darkness swallows her whole, and I'm alone without her.
I jolt awake, gasping while reaching out.