I still can't believe it. The fact that he's gone still hasn't sunk in. Even now, exactly one month after his funeral, I'm left in a shameless state of shock. As I move throughout the old wooden house, the floorboards creaking as I spend the day packing up years worth of precious memories. It's been a whole month, yet no matter how much I try, my mind still finds it's way back, forcing me to relieve his last moments over and over again.592Please respect copyright.PENANAW9EP4WRixC
592Please respect copyright.PENANAZG0LL7etft
592Please respect copyright.PENANAUN7cVLJ6Df
592Please respect copyright.PENANAvIDVP5gXLL
"Kiara," He gasped, straining as he lifted his head up off of the floor to meet my eyes. "You are ready, my dear Kiara. The time has finally come for you to take my place, I have no doubt you'll make me proud." A single tear rolled down his cheek as I crouched down beside him and gently lay his head on my lap. 592Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZgfPU3PvJ
592Please respect copyright.PENANAvrV667Zo0o
592Please respect copyright.PENANArwF21kB6kd
592Please respect copyright.PENANAdeYoiKmhuG
"But, Paw Paw, what are you talking about?" I managed to choke out as I gently stroked his thin, grey hair, not liking the way his skin had turned a sickly grey. I knew he didn't have much time left but by then, he'd already told me not to call the ambulance. Instead he requested that I sit with him. 592Please respect copyright.PENANAY0nwKtOPGJ
592Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ca1WfYsbC
592Please respect copyright.PENANAAvBs5yRMSs
592Please respect copyright.PENANA4DX8nPonqU
I remember the tears in my eyes as I watched him exhale slowly, letting out his final shaky breath. I'll never forget the way he attempted to smile at me, not wanting to see me hurting as I held the one person closest to me while he slipped away forever.592Please respect copyright.PENANApS0kVKAw1y
592Please respect copyright.PENANANeQ4MdHFEp
592Please respect copyright.PENANANSIm2W9mJA
592Please respect copyright.PENANA6L3XFD4k4K
After that, I went numb. I haven't shed a single tear since then. I make my way throughout the house, packing away family photographs, ornaments and other sentimental items that'll be distributed amongst the money hungry family members when the will is read out tomorrow. 592Please respect copyright.PENANA1vF4ZOTvFf
592Please respect copyright.PENANADmFdNlyvJg
592Please respect copyright.PENANAbXBdnfAs32
592Please respect copyright.PENANAhsXOlu0AGJ
Finally, I make it to the attic. I take a deep breath as I pull the handle down and an old wooden ladder gently slides down before settling on the floor with a loud thump. 592Please respect copyright.PENANARNb12kiJQa
592Please respect copyright.PENANAOZbqfoE4aa
592Please respect copyright.PENANA5UEkWElEDZ
592Please respect copyright.PENANAK6xR4zpIBr
As soon as I make my way up and into the room, my eyes instantly move to where it all happened. They say it was a heart attack, so they ruled it out without an autopsy, but I don't know about that. My Paw Paw was a very healthy man, always kept himself busy with whatever new projects he could think of. Like this room, for example, he insisted on changing it into a small book nook for me. 592Please respect copyright.PENANAgLcearsGhB
592Please respect copyright.PENANAVmJauTFNWA
592Please respect copyright.PENANAIztybZjLHy
592Please respect copyright.PENANAL1wbAYOtVo
That's what we were doing when he dropped onto the floor. I find myself walking around, looking at the hundreds of books he collected in his lifetime, when something catches my eye.592Please respect copyright.PENANAphDePSNaeR
592Please respect copyright.PENANAkSrtP7Qu0r
592Please respect copyright.PENANA0f41gpaejP
592Please respect copyright.PENANAMEnK0PwbfF
I've literally seen every book he owns, either I've read it, heard about it or helped him unpack it. I reach up and pull the book out. It's weird to see one I never noticed before, and it doesn't exactly seem like something you'd miss pretty easily either. The thick leather cover looks old and tattered as I turn it this way and that, trying to find a title or any type of indication as to what secrets it holds deep within its pages. 592Please respect copyright.PENANAebf607Y13l
592Please respect copyright.PENANAUSbaH7M2Aq
592Please respect copyright.PENANAqwzVvLQtyF
592Please respect copyright.PENANAKQy2ibHkxw
When I find nothing of the sort, I quickly walk over to one of the green beanbags in the corner and sit down. I figure I could use a break before packing up the last room. I get comfortable before carefully opening the book, placing it securely on my lap while my fingers move slowly, turning over each thin page carefully.592Please respect copyright.PENANAf1rJylgoHL
592Please respect copyright.PENANAO9Wh1YM6BR
592Please respect copyright.PENANAWfBYjU7dYx
592Please respect copyright.PENANASVNdDVRVkv
So far, this seems to be a waste of time. No wonder I never read it, it's not even in English. I attempt to shut the book but nothing happens. It's like someone's put a thick piece of wood between the pages, making it impossible for me to close it. I stare at the book, wondering what the hell is going on when suddenly I'm blinded by a white light. 592Please respect copyright.PENANA3TIVESdYi1
592Please respect copyright.PENANATz7KDQY3QY
592Please respect copyright.PENANA2uFDwLH81y
592Please respect copyright.PENANAOcKo495qCp
Before I know what's happening, the sound of wind surrounds me, making my long, black hair fan out just as an intense burning sensation takes over my throat. The combination of pain, confusion and disorientation leaves me screaming on the top of my lungs and clutching at my throat when suddenly, everything stops. 592Please respect copyright.PENANAIp7t3igH2F
592Please respect copyright.PENANAhMVyl81W8n
592Please respect copyright.PENANA4eXcDY3TOI
592Please respect copyright.PENANA9xKTieJrlr
All at once, the wind, burning and blindness disappears. My eyes dart around, trying to figure out exactly what happened when I realise, I'm no longer in my grandfather's attic. Instead I find myself in a small cave behind a waterfall. The loud roar of the water as it crashes into the still pool below is drowned out by the sound of wildlife all around. 592Please respect copyright.PENANAfePC4FOBdQ
592Please respect copyright.PENANA3GWwg87h0j
592Please respect copyright.PENANAwSXbUu7F4R
592Please respect copyright.PENANAcTVfzJnvtJ
I walk forward, my footsteps echoing off of the stone walls as I approach the edge and peak over, admiring the gorgeous mountains and trees surrounding us. I jump, spinning around quickly as a warm hand touches my shoulder.592Please respect copyright.PENANA81XQMkHvih
592Please respect copyright.PENANAyuijnjYBAf
592Please respect copyright.PENANAErQmb6rEej
592Please respect copyright.PENANAcVfj8ZCE83
When my eyes settle on the person in front of me, my heartbeat speeds up and tears of disbelief spring to my eyes. "Paw Paw!" I say, sniffling loudly as I wrap my arms around him, not caring about hiding the tears now running freely down my cheeks as he gently strokes my hair, letting me just hold him and sob until eventually the tears slow down before disappearing altogether.592Please respect copyright.PENANAq9UeKP2LE7
592Please respect copyright.PENANAp6AtuVEpiD
592Please respect copyright.PENANAwMO96CJReC
592Please respect copyright.PENANAOf6qHfGi5o
"But I dont understand." I say, wiping my tears on the knitted green Jersey I had on. "How are you here? What happened?" He smiles and takes my hand, leading me back to the edge. "This is where I am, my dear." He tells me, smiling warmly as he watches me. "This is where the Guardians go to rest once we pass the first level; life." 592Please respect copyright.PENANAIvQ3gedXgl
592Please respect copyright.PENANAPKjLMWcif9
592Please respect copyright.PENANAYCsAkMKCkC
592Please respect copyright.PENANABnh97CoonJ
I look up at him, starting to question his sanity as he answers the question already on the tip of my tongue. "Do you remember my best friend Jackie?" "Your business partner, yes. What about her?" 592Please respect copyright.PENANAYfbqaBumzo
592Please respect copyright.PENANAcxDFxx2aIu
592Please respect copyright.PENANALWoCWNjkcK
592Please respect copyright.PENANAySxg4eeIrV
"Well, she's a Siren. A Siren has the ability to manipulate anyone and bring almost any creature to their knees using just the right pitch in their voices. They're undoubtedly the most lovely people you'll ever meet and most of them are good, they don't want to hurt people. That's where we come in. You see, our family comes from a long line of Guardians. Our job is to protect the Siren we're assigned to, to clean up any mess they may find themselves in and most importantly, to protect them from the hunters." 592Please respect copyright.PENANAIEny0aA9AX
592Please respect copyright.PENANAZpZKzoeqU5
592Please respect copyright.PENANAR0lPTmlADx
592Please respect copyright.PENANAz7kKmRTA1b
"Hunters? But Paw Paw, I'm not a fighter, I'm no guardian! Who assignes people to a Guardian? What exactly will I have to do? Who will..." he wraps both of his large, wrinkled hands around one of mine. "Shh, child. All will be explained in time. For now, keep this secret and keep the book safe and with you at all times. When you're assigned to a Siren the words will reveal themselves, changing into something only you will understand. Until we meet again, I love you." 592Please respect copyright.PENANArBoHbIbB6v
592Please respect copyright.PENANA48AlHkTPcm
592Please respect copyright.PENANAUUmEdwenUz
592Please respect copyright.PENANA6xo7TIdgex
"No wait, Paw Paw! Come back! Don't leave me here please." I keep shouting as the darkness closes in and I hear another familiar voice. I slowly open my eyes and blink up at the plump figure towering over me.592Please respect copyright.PENANAstQGuwymaM
592Please respect copyright.PENANAlrJjkxZ9I4
592Please respect copyright.PENANAf9wAIFk5zd
592Please respect copyright.PENANAF7yuuSyX1z
"Aunty Angie? What are you doing here?" 592Please respect copyright.PENANAsCjYWKR3LN
592Please respect copyright.PENANAlveM3NM307
She holds out her hand, offering to help pull me up. I grip her hand and stand up, stretching my stiff legs as I let out a yawn. "You fell asleep, it was getting late and you weren't returning any of my calls so, I came to check up on you. Come on, let's grab a bite to eat on the way home, you must be starving!" 592Please respect copyright.PENANAF3NSF1TYSh
592Please respect copyright.PENANAhcMFbmGWLh
592Please respect copyright.PENANAn65hdcpEf6
592Please respect copyright.PENANAZMOsW1Ha22
She says as she begins leading me out of the room. My stomach starts growling at the mere mention of food, but just as we reach the small ladder, I turn around and quickly run back to the beanbag and shove the old book into my handbag before turning to my aunt. "Sorry, almost forgot my bag." I say and remain silent as we make our way out of the house and into the car, was that all just a dream? Well, I guess I'll find out. 592Please respect copyright.PENANAuh4skjSSZS
592Please respect copyright.PENANAzI5h1DPfHs
592Please respect copyright.PENANAc8GYmMHpju
592Please respect copyright.PENANAmyjWwfyBH2