This is the first time that I have submitted a story on , although I have enjoyed reading on the site for several years. This story is completed, in its entirety, and chapters will be updated every two or every three days-- Promise! :) Hope you enjoy it!

Prologue

"Fire and Ice"

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

-- Robert Frost

It took him a moment to register the scene unfolding before him. For a moment, one sweet, transitory moment, it seemed to him that he was watching a scene from a movie unfold. It was too bright, too powerful, too surreal actually to be happening.

But it was.

And just as illusory as that moment was, reality came upon him even faster. Snapping back to his senses, he started to run, his feet carrying him faster than he ever thought possible. He felt his heart thumping in his chest; at the same time, he knew he was suffocating, unable to breathe. For once in his lifetime, he didn't think. Instinct took control. Sprinting fast-forward in slow motion, he saw himself heading towards disaster. And he didn't care. He had to reach her. Now.

"Oh. God."

He watched his brother disappear into the fiery flames. Ten minutes ago…five… two…. the day had been still and silent, and everything that seemed to be of the utmost importance, things that had seemed life-altering, no longer mattered.

"This can't be happening." He felt the words emanate from his mouth. Then he could not talk. He could only run, praying that Father Time would grant him just a few minutes more.

He saw the bomb explode, the car disappear in a tornado of flame and shrapnel and glass. He saw her, going towards the car, keys in her hand, angry. Hurt? Resigned?

Images whirled in his mind as he chased after his brother. Had this happened before? Was it happening now? What was real and what was not?!

Finally, carried by some un-natural force, he caught him, diving on top of his brother, who immediately shoved him off. Had he always been this strong?

Flailing, he tackled his brother again. As they fought, fists swinging, he could barely discern him… all that remained was a ghost beneath him, covered in ashes, struggling, as he was, gasping for breath.

"Let… me… go."

It HAD happened before. He began to lose focus.

He broke out in a sweat, waiting for the nightmare to end, as usual.

But it didn't.

Only this time, he was on the other end.

And it was happening.

Again.