[OPEN] Close your eyes and surrender

[ellie]

There was something soothing about the moonlight on the lake as the waves rushed over the shore of the beach. IT was a little bit cloudy tonight so the moon only shone through the clouds on occasion, but the pale silver light lining the clouds as it dodged in and out among them. It was a quiet night too, so the waves sounded particularly loud, but other than that it was almost completely quiet. These sorts of nights were the favorite of Elizabeth Rae Cooper. She loved the night and the dark, and when it was quiet and peaceful like this it just made it all that much better. She didn't really know why, but the soft breeze and the darkness of the night inspired her, and made her feel safe and at home.

She stopped and sat down on a rather large chunk of drift wood, pulling her shoes and socks off before rolling her jeans up to her knees and walking down to the water. She stopped there again, just barely on the edge of where the waves could reach, before tentatively stepping into the chilly water on tip toe, inhaling sharply as the icy liquid rushed around her feet. A smile formed on her lips though and she stepped out into it deeper, loving the chill it sent through her body. It was sort of sobering for her really. All day long she pretended like she was just fine and sometimes she believed it too... but the cold water woke her up from her fantasy where everything was perfect and reminded her of the daunting reality. She felt like she needed to just let go of her pretend life sometimes and just come to terms with what it really was... it kept her sane, and kept her from forgetting who she really was.

When she was just about knee deep in the lake, she stopped and stood staring out at the shards of moonlight stabbing at the rolling waves coming towards her and slicing through the smooth black surface of the water. At first Ellie hadn't really wanted to come here... not without Ariel, but she was starting to change her mind. It was so quiet here, it was liberating. She could think clearly without seeing her every time she turned around. It was like she had finally found the one place where she could really be at peace with what had happened. As strange as it sounded, she felt like she belonged here, and in the stillness of the night, she felt like she was closer to her deceased sister. Really, she missed her terribly, but she didn't want anyone to know that. Everyone had to believe she was fine, and no one could know about Ariel... that would cause her fantasy world to crumble, and she needed to keep it intact to keep herself together.

She stood there for some time just staring out at the horizon until her legs started to feel numb with the cold, and she turned and headed back up out of the water. Once on the dry shore again, she sat down in the sand and leaned back until she was lying down staring up at the clouds. After a moment her eyes drifted closed, and quietly she murmured the words of one of her many songs that just seemed to fit, so many people are looking to me to be strong and to fight but I'm just surviving... she didn't sing them, simply spoke them as if talking to someone there above the clouds, and I may be weak but I'm never defeated, and I'll keep believing in clouds with that sweet silver lining. She sighed after the last word was said, losing herself in her thoughts, unmindful of others who might be wandering in the night like she was... no fear... what happens happens, it was all meant to be.

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[rus]

Russell had made his way down to the beach where he figured no one was at because most campers would be in bed by now. But for him the night was liberating and peaceful, a good time to just sit back, relax and let time stop before you. Carefully he made his was down the small hill to the sand of the shore. Sitting on a rock close by he tossed off his shoes and socks, running his toes through the cool dark sand.

Pulling his sweater off and his shades that had been connected to his Grey wife beater he stood, placing them on the rock in a some what nice pile above his shoes. Stretching his arms above his head you could see his muscle lines, they were very defined. He began to walk out towards the water when he noticed another person out there to his surprise. He stopped and just watched her for a moment, a curious look ran across his face for he did not know who was out here and why. They could have been out for the same reasons as his own or for their own personal reasons, either way he was not alone on this dark beach.

Snapping back to reality he stopped looking at this female who was now laying on the beach, he continued to walk forward listening to the waves roll upon the shore. the cool salty smell of the water had filled his nostrils with a sweet aroma he took in a deep breath. A sigh of relief had escaped his lips as he walked up to about the same distance of the girl. The noises around him were so peaceful until, what was this, a voice? yes it was the girls voice she had been talking to herself. Throwing him off guard to the sound of her sweet voice he looked over at her, only a few feet away from himself, at first he had just listened to her but than deciding not to be creepy he walked over there.

Looking down at her with a friendly smile hoping he did not startle her as he began to speak "Mind if I join you down there?" his voice was soft, not rough and ragged like most. He was what you could call a gentle giant because he was a big guy, not saying he was fat because he was far from it he was just very muscular and rather tall, taller than most really. He stood there towering over this young female, but not standing too close he did not want to invade too much, but he patiently awaited her reply so than he may have a seat and maybe start a small conversation. Meeting new people was always fun, at least to him it was.

TAG: Ellie
OUT FIT: Clickeh!
WORD COUNT: 469
NOTE: Hope it's OK if I joined

[ellie]

There were few things in this life as satisfying as the silence of the night to Ellie. If she could, she would stay out here like this forever, but sadly, with every fall of darkness, there was also the rising of the sun, and she was all too aware that the night wouldn't last. Of course, you could hardly call it night now, it was more of very very early morning. She had been out here for hours, and had lost all track of time, but it had to be at least 2 a.m by now. She really didn't sleep much these days... not since Ariel was murdered. Though she was fearless when she was awake and out in the night, she was plagued y nightmares about the night her sister died whenever she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Of course, she would never tell anyone that, especially her brother.

Her eyes flashed open at the sound of a voice nearby, a tiny bit startled, not expecting someone else to be as crazy as her and out here at this hour. There was no fear though. She was sort of at a point in her life where she was naive to the dangers of the world. Oh certainly she knew they were out there, how could she not with her sister having been killed? But she was certain nothing like that would happen to her. What were the odds of two girl from the same family both being killed within six months of each other? Surely not very high.

She shrugged just slightly as he asked if she minded if he joined her. Free country. she said casually, turning her attention back to the stars. If he wanted to join her then she wasn't going to stop him. Why would she? Surely if he was enough like her to be out on the beach in the wee hours of the morning like this then he couldn't be all bad. She liked to think there was good in everyone except that one man who killed Ariel... but she trusted people, and wasn't afraid of them doing anything to her. It wasn't like she was a prime target for creepers or anything... and if anyone ever did hurt her she was sure Drake would kill them anyway, so what did she have to worry about?

She could honestly say she never expected to see other people out here at this hour... it was strange enough that she was out here, but for someone else to be out there too... well, she supposed he probably had his reasons. Maybe someone in his cabin snored too loud and he couldn't sleep, or maybe he didn't like someone in his cabin or maybe, like her, he just needed to get out and away from everyone for a while. Whatever it was, she didn't mind. I mean, it wasn't like she owned the beach or anything... and sometimes a little company wasn't so bad.

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