However, despite all the dangers and unknowns, for Nina and her husband Lucas, the decision to come here had been a simple one. For years they had been watching, noting the growing trend of the patrols going after younger and younger children. In the last year alone they had attended funerals for four of their closest friend’s children. And it was after one such funeral, they had sat up an entire night planning their escape.
But as the group continued to argue amongst themselves as how to proceed further, it rapidly became clear that none of them actually had any idea what to do beyond this point. A few claimed there was a whistle you could use to summon them, although no one had a whistle. A few others suggested lighting a bon fire to attract their attention. But when it was swiftly noted that they would be attracting the attention of more than just the people inside the forest that theory was swiftly dismissed. One gentleman even went as far as to claim there was a magical tree you rubbed to call them out, but no one paid him a bit of mind. In the end, after over an hour of debating, they were no closer to having an idea on how to proceed than they had been when they began.
“Listen everyone,” Lucas called out over the frustrated group, “it’s getting dark and I for one do not want to go wandering around in there while the sun is down. Let’s make camp here tonight and together we can work on coming up with a plan of some kind for in the morning.”
No one argued with his logic and soon the mumbling crowd had dispersed themselves across the field to begin setting up their camps. Feeling quite satisfied with himself, Lucas turned and gave Nina a wink. She smiled back and together they searched out a good spot to settle for the night. After finding a nice flat area next to a fallen tree, they laid down their few thin blankets on the ground beneath the clear evening sky and then Lucas left Nina to rest while he wandered the field helping others with whatever he could.
As she watched him move from camp to camp doing what he could to get everyone settled, Nina thanked the stars again for bringing him into her life. He knew everything about her dark past, things that many other men would not have been accepting of, and yet he stayed. He understood why she woke up many nights sweating and screaming in terror, and none of it mattered to him. He loved her and she loved him, and without him, Nina had no idea where she would have ended up, or even if she would still be alive.
“Mom, can I go play with the other kids?” Kajol asked excitedly, disrupting her thoughts. She followed his gaze across the field and spotted a group of children kicking around a ball.
“Of course, just stay where I can see you.”
“Yes, mam.” He yelled, darting across the field to join the others. She watched him play for a few minutes before turning her attention to the bag lying by her feet. Digging inside, she pulled out a bottle, and took inventory of what little formula remained inside.
“It’s going to be alright,” Lucas said startling her from behind. Taking a seat beside her, he kissed her on the cheek.
“How can you be so sure,” she asked still focused on the nearly empty bottle, “We barely have enough for one, much less the three of us. And neither of us have had more than a sip in the last two days.” Nina argued swirling the liquid inside the bottle, as if that would somehow create more. “What are we going to do if this is all a trick? That none of it is true?” She spotted Kajol across the field and watched as he kicked the ball past the children trying to block it. Together they all celebrated his victory by jumping up and down and giving each other high fives. “We can’t go back Lucas, you know that as well as I do. As soon as we step foot back in Lidas they will arrest us.”
Lucas sat quietly beside her. Following her gaze to where the children were playing, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close. “We are never going back. We will do whatever it takes to give him the life he deserves, even if it means going into that forest and starting our own camp.”
Nina sighed. He was trying to be encouraging, however as she continued to stare at the near empty bottle, she was finding it very difficult not to be concerned. Even Lucas couldn’t change the fact that they were Full-bloods and in being so needed the formula to survive. And the only way to get formula was through the government. Slowly she pushed the bottle back into the bag and leaned over. Resting her head on her husband’s shoulder, Nina closed her eyes. She needed to trust in him, to believe that somehow he would find a way to get them to the paradise in the forest … she had to.
It wasn’t long before darkness fell over the camp and not wanting to risk attracting too much attention, the group decided to build one fire for all of them to use. Sitting huddled together, Nina watched as several of the families pulled out fruits, bread, and cheese from their bags to sate their children’s hunger. Disheartened, Nina produced a small piece of dry bread from her bag and passed it to Kajol, who scarfed it down in only two bites.
“Mom, I’m still hungry,” he whined, looking up at her with wanting eyes.
She rooted around in the bag, searching for anything she might be able to give him to satisfy his hunger, knowing it was futile. That small piece of bread had been the last of their supplies. They had traveled further than most of the others, and though they had rationed as best they could, they were now down to nothing. “I’m sorry Kajol, but that was all we had left. Once we find the camp in the morning you will have all the food you can eat.”
“You can have this,” a Terrian lady offered, producing a large ripe pear from her satchel.
“Oh no, we couldn’t,” Nina protested waving her hands.
“Of course you can.”
She took a seat on the ground next to Nina, pulling a knife from the same satchel. She then cut a large slice from the pear and held it out to Kajol. “And what is your name?”
Nina watched her cautiously. Such generosity, especially between the races wasn’t something she was accustomed to. However, the lady was an older woman, possibly in her early sixties, which meant she might have been raised in the times before the races became divided. And she sensed no malice in the way the lady acted, actually quite the opposite. Everything about her, from the way she sliced the pear, to the way her eyes lit up when she smiled at Kajol, gave Nina the distinct impression that this was a woman who was accustomed to and took great pleasure in taking care of others.
“My name is Kajol,” he answered inspecting the fruit carefully.
Her brow creased, “Unique name, where does it come from?”
“I’m named after someone my mommy used to know.” Kajol replied, still studying the piece of pear. Finally getting brave, he took a small bite and smiled, “This is good!”
Lucas, who had been off talking to some of the others, joined them and seeing his son inhaling the pear laughed, “Where did that come from?”
“She gave it to me,” Kajol answered. His mouth crammed full of the fruit, he pointed at the grey haired lady sitting beside his mother.
“Thank you so much, but we have no way to repay you for this,” Lucas said offering her his hand, “My name is Lucas and this is my wife Nina, and … well you have met Kajol.”
“Janil,” she greeted, shaking each of their hands before standing to leave, “and don’t worry about it, it was my pleasure.”
“You don’t have to leave. Do you have someone here with you? If so we would love for them to join us,” Nina offered, finding it strange that someone her age would have traveled this far alone. She remembered seeing the older lady join the group earlier that day as they passed through the last town, but she didn’t recall seeing anyone with her.
“No, I’m alone. The Enforcer took my husband from me some many years ago and I have no children. I traveled here hoping to find a place where I can spend what years I have left, hopefully in peace.” She smiled a warm smile and bowed her head slightly, “But for now, I’m going to sleep.”
Lucas and Nina watched as she slowly walked away and settled into some blankets a few feet away. Surveying the rest of the group, they realized that many others, especially th
e Terrians, were all beginning to bed down for the night. Thinking it best they too rested, the three of them made their way back to their camp. Once settled, Nina pulled out the bottle of formula and allowed Kajol to drink enough to hold him over until the next evening. Then, after carefully tucking him into the blankets, she and Lucas split what little formula was left then nestled in beside him.
The night passed without incident and they awoke the next morning to the sounds of people busily gathering and packing their things. Not wanting to get behind, they gathered and folded their belongings, stuffed them back into the bags, then joined the others at the edge of the forest. Once again they found themselves staring into the dark depths at a loss as to what to do next.
“This is ridiculous,” a voice called from the back, “There is no way I am going in there. We are going back and if the rest of you have any sense you will do the same.”
Nina and Lucas watched as a family of Terrians turned and headed back down the road in the opposite direction. It didn’t take long for many others to follow suit, especially the Terrians who had risked less in coming. When everyone who wished to leave had left, all that remained of the once large group was three families, themselves, and Janil standing quietly off to one side.
“So what do we do?” Nina asked Lucas after a few silent moments.
“I say we follow that trail and see where it leads us,” Lucas answered pointing towards the trees.
“What trail?” Narrowing her eyes Nina spotted a dirt path leading into the darkness. It was so small and well hidden that Nina wondered if it was really a trail at all. “That?”
“Yeah, unless anyone else has a better suggestion.”
Nina thought hard for a minute, looking first to her left then to her right at the expanse of trees that went on endlessly in both directions. “What if we get lost in there?”
Lucas smiled and ruffled Kajol’s hair, “Lost, did you hear that son? Your mother has forgotten who she is dealing with here. Why, she has the best two explorers in Vanteria leading her and yet she doubts us.”
Kajol spun around in front of them, placing his hands on his hips and striking his most heroic pose, “Never fear mom! Master explorer Kajol, at your service!”
“Well Master explorer, lead the way then.” Nina laughed throwing her bag over her shoulder. Together the three of them made for the trail.
“Mind if we join you?” One of the other families asked running up behind them.
“Me too,” Janil said catching up to the group.
“Of course not, we would love the company,” Lucas welcomed them.
By the time they made it across the field to the trail, all but one of the families had joined them. The group stopped at the edge as Lucas yelled back to them, “Do you want to come?”
The family looked to one another, had a short heated discussion, then turned back and waved, signaling they would not be joining them. “I guess we are it. Who else has a charged solar lamp?” He asked pulling his own out of the bag he was carrying and turning it on.
“We have one,” a family answered producing another lamp from their own supplies.
“Good, leave yours off that way when this one runs out we have a backup. Now, everyone stay close together and whatever you do, don’t wander off the trail.”
Forming a single file line, each person sticking to the one in front of them and keeping the children in the middle, they walked into the darkness of the forest. Janil got in line behind Nina and Kajol. They traveled for hours, twisting and turning in the darkness without any signs of life, much less people. Surprisingly enough, the deeper they went into the forest, the less the moans and other noises could be heard.
“Why is it so quiet? Where did the sounds go?” Nina whispered.
“Not sure, maybe it’s a scare tactic to keep people from coming inside. It’s either that or whatever was making the sounds before is now too busy stalking us.” Lucas whispered back, eyes still locked on the trail in front of him.
“Lucas!” Nina scolded as Kajol looked up at her terrified. “It’s alright, dear, he didn’t mean it.”
Suddenly the lamp Lucas was carrying began to flicker and in seconds it went dark. Someone in the back screamed, then panic filled voices started calling to one another in the pitch black void.
“Mommy!” Kajol yelled.
“I’m here,” Nina called back, trying to sound as calm as possible. Reaching out she grabbed ahold of something in the darkness, “Is that you Kajol?”
“No that’s me,” Lucas answered, “But I have Kajol.”
A moment later a light flickered on in the distance behind them. “Is everyone alright?” a man asked holding the light above his head and shining it over the petrified faces.
“We should head back,” the man’s wife spoke up beside him, “we haven’t seen any signs of people in here and if this light burns out we are going to be lost in here forever.”
A mumble of agreement rose from the others and one by one they all agreed they had no other option but to turn around and head back, praying that they were able to find the exit. Feeling saddened by their lack of success, Nina and Lucas turned to follow the others when Nina noticed that Janil was missing.
“Wait everyone,” she shouted, “has anyone seen Janil?”
“The Terrian lady? No she was right behind you.” The young man beside her answered, “Is she back there?” he called to the others.
“No,” yelled the man in the far back, “She isn’t here either.”
Collectively they began calling her name into the darkness, “Janil! Where are you? Janil, answer us, please!”
They continued to call and plead with the void surrounding them to no avail and after a few minutes hope for finding her began to fade.
“Let’s go,” the man holding the light called to the others.
“We can’t leave her out there,” Nina yelled toward the other end of the line, “She will die.”
“If we continue to look for her and this light burns out then we will all die as well.” He shouted back angrily, “You can stay if you want, but me and my family are taking the lamp and leaving.”
“Lucas, we can’t leave her.” Nina pleaded clutching the front of Lucas’s shirt.
Lucas looked down to the end of the line as the others began to head away from them into the darkness. “I don’t think we have a choice. They have the light and we can’t stay here alone in the darkness, we would never find our way out.”
Nina scanned the void once more. Guilt knotted her stomach at the thought of the older lady being alone out there. Defeated, she turned to follow the others when the sound of a branch snapping caught her and Lucas’s attention.
Frozen with fear Nina pulled Lucas and Kajol in close, “Did you hear that?”
Before they could answer, a rustling sound came from the branches of the trees above them, followed by shouting at the front of the line. Looking down past the man with the light, another light, much brighter than the one he was holding, could be seen approaching them from the distance. More sounds came from behind Nina. She clung tighter to Lucas squeezing his arm as they turned and saw a second light approaching them from the opposite direction.
“There’s more, out in the woods.” Someone shouted.
Nina scanned the darkness, spotting several more lights approaching them from every direction.
“Move in together and put the women and children in the middle.” Lucas shouted as he pushed Nina and Kajol behind him, he then faced down the light coming up the trail. The others followed, pressing their bodies as close together as they could, forming a circle with the three men on the outside to protect their wives and children.
Nina’s heart pounded in her chest as she clutched tightly to Kajol and peered over Lucas’s shoulder. But as the light continued to approach, a familiar form began to take shape behind the lantern.
“Janil?” Nina shouted, her voice trembling nervously. “What … but how? Oh my stars you scared us!”
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Janil smiled, coming to a stop just a few feet away. Soon each of the other lights and the friendly faces of the people attached to them appeared from the darkness surrounding them.
“Sorry about that. We have to be very careful. Occasionally we have spies try to sneak their way into the camp.” Janil looked over the group of terrified faces, as she continued, “Consider it a test and you passed. We figure if you’re brave enough to come this far into the forest despite the darkness and the noises then you are most likely sincere in your search for a new life.”
As she spoke an older gentleman came up beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Janil smiled and leaned into his embrace, “I would like you to meet my husband, Gabriel.”
Watching the Terrian couple embrace and not sensing any malice from any of the others in their group, Nina and Lucas began to relax. “I thought you said the Enforcer took your husband away.”
“He did. What I left out was that about seven months ago he returned for me.” She smiled up at her husband, the two of them clearly happy to be back in each other’s company.
“I don’t understand, I thought this camp was safe from the Enforcer and the Shadows forces.”
“It’s a lot to explain and once we get to the camp we will do our best to help you understand. However before we take you there, we have to make one thing very clear.” Janil paused, her expression becoming much more serious, “Once you enter into the camp you will not be permitted to leave, it is the only way to keep it hidden and everyone that lives there safe.”
“It sounds more like a prison, than a safe haven.” The man with the lamp said from behind them, “What if we don’t want to agree to that?”
“Then you are free to go back where you came from,” a broad Full-blood with jet black hair and thick beard answered. “Don’t get me wrong, I understand your hesitation. If it hadn’t been for them tagging my twelve year old daughter, I don’t know if I would have gone through with it myself. But I promise you, what waits for you in there,” he paused scanning the faces of the children, “or should I say for them. Is a lot better than what they will ever have back out there.”
K: The Awakening (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) Page 38
