BLOODLINES

ldings, casting a hellish glow over the devastation. A massive fissure tore through the ground, stretching from the Mississippi River to the distant horizon. The earth seemed to be

St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Bourbon Street – were nothing but smoldering rubble. The once-majest

ng vortex of ash and smoke. The winds howled, whipping the flam

with an air of quiet contemplation of the destruction all around. Shrouded in shadows, the fig

able shadow over their face. Yet, as the winds died down for a fleeting momen

den pupils that seemed to burn like emb

ins as if searching for something - or someone. Their eyes locked onto a point

ed with an inner fire a

enched with sweat. She gasped for breath, her eyes scanning the familiar contours of her bedroom. Bu

round her, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She buried her face in her hands, trying to shake off the v

wer it. " Hey, Leila, it's Sarah," her best friend's voice chimed in on the other end of the line calming

ced herself to focus. "Yeah, I'm almost packed," she lied,

ed, sounding cheerful. Leila nodded, even though S

same city from her dreams. She pushed the thought aside, telling herself it was jus

white tank top with a jacket and cutup jeans, her long charcoal colored

making a mistake? What if visiting the city that's been haunting her dream

nineteenth birthday. She's tried talking to her mother about them, but she's never given her straight answer

late, and we need to hurry to catch our flight." Looking away from the window she hurried to pick up her bag and suitcases.

. Sarah was a beautiful girl with deep blue eyes, with a head of long blonde hair, she was the most fashionable

led with the bags. " But, of course, we're going to one of the wildest party towns, so a gir

their way towards their boarding area. The airport was a hub of activities as they made their way through, with passengers

. But as Leila looked out at the now cloud filled sky after the plane took off