by C J Singh
“Drat!” I wiped the mud from my face only to get more dirt on my face. “Ahhh, double drat.”
“What’s this?” A gravelly voice spoke through the buzzing rain.
I looked up to see two of those human-like creatures. The world was stagnant as I met their eyes. They each had one gold eye, just like me. I swallowed hard and took three deep breaths before jumping up and running. I ran toward the embankment, my feet slipping and sliding through the rocky wet ground. I could hear the thick, raspy breaths of the creatures behind me, and I picked up my pack, but when I reached the top of the embankment, my feet slipped out from under me and I slid down, the rocks scraping my behind and back. I reached the bottom and gulped down the bile that rose to my throat. They watched me from the top of the embankment with their slimy grey skin and yellow fangs. They looked human, but acted like... animals.
RUN!
I stood and ran toward the water, shaking out the echo of the voice in my head.
When you get to the river, go through it.
I squeezed my eyes, wondering if I would wake up from this nightmare, but no. I was being chased by violent creatures and was hearing a voice in my head. The rushing sound of the river was almost drowned out by the rain, but I managed to hear it. I pushed forward.
You can do it. Just go through it.
Wait, is this a voice or my conscience?
I reached the river, and the water was overflowing as it rushed quickly through the woods. This rain wasn’t helping. Hesitating to enter, I glanced behind me and saw the quickly approaching creatures. Their eyes focused on their prey... me.
Go Now!
The voice rang with irritation, and I felt a ripple of impatience on my skin, almost pushing me forward. I half jumped, half slipped into the ice-cold river. The water washed over me, and the current pulled me downriver much faster than I anticipated. I sputtered water, quickly moving my arms and legs to keep my head from submerging. I could swim, but not in a rushing river during a rainstorm with mud-caked clothes. The wind made waves that were too strong for me to navigate and my head went under. I gulped a mouthful of water but kicked myself back to the surface, coughing as I sucked in a large breath of air; then I was pulled back under.
There is a large branch a little further down. Grab it.
Thrashing to the surface again, I spotted the branch. My legs burned from fatigue as I kicked to keep my head above water and reach my hands up so I didn’t miss the branch.
You are getting closer now. Grab it!
It was thick and bent over half the distance of the river. Grabbing it, I held it with all my strength as the wet bark cut into my palms. I let out a scream. My fingers and arms threatened to give way when the current continued to pull my body then... smack! My vision blurred and my grip slipped from the branch. A hand gripped my wrist and I blacked out.
Chapter 12
Eden
My eyes fluttered open and I squinted, trying to focus my fuzzy surroundings. Moving my fingers, I felt a soft warm blanket. I was dry. Was it a dream? Squeezing my eyes shut, I pushed back into the pillow. Everything throbbed. I put my hand to my pounding head and felt a bandage over my forehead.
“How are you feeling?”
I turned toward the man’s voice, but my sharp movement made my head spin more.
“Argh.” I closed my eyes, pushing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “Where am I?” My voice was stronger than I expected it to be, but the vibration from speaking caused my head to throb even more.
My eyes flew open as I heard a chair dragging across the floor. The man set the chair down next to me. I gulped. His eyes. One blue and one gold. My heart thumped and the room swayed; he had eyes like mine, like the creatures.
His gold hair sparkled in the light that melted through the walls of the tent. He smiled, and the crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes reminded me of Old Bob. Why did I leave?
“You are safe.”
I scoffed quietly, looking up at the bright cloth ceiling. What does safe mean exactly? I have no idea where I am.
“You’re in a place called The Birches and no one here will hurt you.”
I blinked. Drat. He can read my mind? Blood pounded through my veins, but I didn’t look at him. I didn’t want him to know how unnerved he made me feel.
So, instead, I thought nonchalant thoughts. Red, green, blue...
He chuckled. “Red, green, blue... I can hear you. Your thoughts.”
Double drat.
Just like I can speak to you like this.
I turned so fast toward him I hovered on the edge of the cot, grabbing the side so I didn’t roll off. It was him! He was the one in the woods! Positioning myself securely in the middle of the cot, I groaned and moved my hand to my head. Squeezing my eyes shut, I slowly counted my breaths. One... two... I opened one eye and was met with my eyes and a smirk. He had my eyes and he could read my mind. I scooted away again, but the darn cot was so skinny I almost fell again.
“Easy.” He reached forward to keep me from falling.
“Don’t touch me!”
He calmly backed off and watched me struggle back onto the cot, grunting with each movement.
Sitting in silence, I focused on keeping my mind clear. He started to leave when I asked, “Why can’t I hear your thoughts?”
He sat back down. “I have learned to control the flow of my thoughts.”
I blinked.
He smiled. “I can teach you if you like.”
Examining his eyes, I imagined this is what others feel when they look into mine. They were really cool.
Another man walked into the tent. “Brian—”
The man who I assumed was Brian held out his hand to stop the man. My eyes moved up the tall, bulky man to his face. One brown eye, one gold. Drat! I scooted back.
“It’s all right,” Brian said.
I pointed at the man. “He has them too.”
“Yes.”
I gulped. “How many others have...” I moved my finger back and forth between my eyes.
“Unsure,” the man said carefully. I let out a small breath.
“Us... and the creatures,” Brian added.
How could I forget? Wasted away, greying skin, crouching over a deer corpse... eating it raw. I stifled a shiver.
“Yes, they are similar to us, but we are definitely not like them,” the man said. “We haven’t been able to verify the big difference... yet.”
My stomach turned. “So... I could become like them?”
“Don’t scare the girl, Derek,” Brian said.
Derek laughed. “No, no, like I said. They are different somehow. If you were like them, you would be like them now. It’s all very complicated.”
They locked eyes for a moment longer than was comfortable.
“Are you talking to each other?” They turned to me, their faces stone. “You are! Just like in the woods when... Jace! Where is Jace?!” I propped up on my arms to sit, but my body protested and I fell back.
I watched their eyes, still and focused on me, but the switch at the corner of Brian’s eye told me he knew who I was talking about.
“Perceptive.”
Drat. He could hear me analyzing them.
“Where is he? Is he alive?”
Derek sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry—”
“No.”
“I’m sorry. He didn’t make it.”
I closed my eyes. I failed him. He trusted me to find his friends and keep him alive, but I failed him.
I didn’t open my eyes when I heard them walk out of the tent.
Rest
***
My mouth felt like sandpaper as I opened it and cleared my throat. The room didn’t spin when I opened my eyes, but my head still throbbed.
“Here.” A woman handed me a c
up of tea. “It will help with your throat and the pain.”
I slowly took the cup and examined its contents. It looked similar to the tea Ellie would give us when we were sick. I sniffed it. Yep, it was the same. I sighed at the thought of Ellie. I missed her. Taking a sip, I let the warm liquid soothe my mouth and throat.
“Better?” She smiled at me, and I nodded. “Good.”
Scooting up, I sat with my back rested against a pile of pillows. My head was starting to clear from the fragrance and herbs of the tea. I quietly watched the woman move through the tent to work. When I finished my tea, I set the cup on the small table next to my cot.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Sarah.” She smiled at me. “And yours?”
“Eden.” I coughed, and she brought me some more tea. I gratefully sipped it.
“Let me get Derek and Brian. They wanted to talk to you again when you woke.”
I nodded and gulped half the cup down. It felt so good on my thorny throat.
I listened to the commotion outside, people talking and laughing, kids playing and crying. This wasn’t an ordinary small camp. This was a colony. I hadn’t met so many people in the same place before. It made me uneasy, needing Old Bob’s expertise and advice. Now that Jace was gone, I ached to get home, but everything I could learn from Brian and Derek was... tempting.
“You’re awake!” Brian walked into the tent with Sarah next to him. He squeezed her shoulder before walking over to me. The emotions that flowed between them were so thick it made my cheeks warm. Brian gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”
I cleared my throat. “It’s fine.” A tickle in my throat threatened to erupt a fit of coughs, so I quickly drained my tea. The tickle subsided.
He pulled up a chair next to my cot. “How are you feeling?” Clasping his hands together, he watched me intently.
“Fine,” I spoke at almost a whisper, fearful my throat tickle would return.
“Good. We were wondering what your plans were?”
“My plans?” I put the empty cup on the small side table.
“Yes. Like if you are going to go on your way, or if you wanted to... stay?”
The word hung in the air, waiting for me to grab it. And I wanted to. Badly. But without Jace, what was the point? I missed my family, and I am sure they were worried about me... but... I could learn about myself.
Brian watched me patiently, not changing his expression and staying quiet as I thought through my options.
“What if I stay just for a few days? See what you have to offer... training wise.”
Brian’s smile grew, making small crinkles at the corners of his eyes. “That sounds perfect. But I have to warn you”—he narrowed his eyes—“I’m not an easy trainer.”
I laughed. “You don’t know Old Bob.”
Chapter 13
Eden
“Again!” Brian yelled. He stood on the edge of a small grassy clearing, arms crossed and eyes glowing. He wasn’t joking when he said he wasn’t easy, but it still wasn’t as bad as Old Bob’s daily drills.
Panting, I slumped to the ground. “I’m sorry. I don’t see the point of this.”
“Again!” He walked toward me.
Once he was by my side, I pushed up and faced him. I straightened my back to stand as tall as I could. “Like I said before, I don’t see the point in me running back and forth. How does this help with keeping you out of my mind?”
“Because you have to be strong in all areas. Mind and body. If you can’t run a few times through a meadow, then you aren’t ready to practice anything else.” He turned and started back to the edge of the clearing. “Again!”
“What happened to the nice man I met earlier?”
He chuckled. “I warned you! He will come out once you are able to match me in a race. Right now, you can’t even get two lengths before you’re out of breath.” He paused, smirking before he bellowed, “Again!”
“You do remember what just happened to me, right? Being chased by the creatures, almost drowning, my—”
“You think your enemies will wait until you heal? Again!”
“My enem—”
“Again!” He placed his hands behind his back, narrowing his eyes at me.
Rolling my eyes, I stood and started jogging. A smile formed as the breeze pushed my hair from my face and the smell of oak filled my nose. Ellie’s necklace bounced softly on my chest, a reminder of her love, a reminder of family. I missed them. I could almost feel Ash bounding next to me, listening to the sound of the wind on the leaves and the song of the birds as we run. Looking down, my smile faltered at my empty side. With that, I started running. I didn’t care if my lungs screamed and my side ached.
***
I shoved food in my mouth as fast as I could.
“Easy.” Derek chuckled. “You don’t want to choke.”
Swallowing my last bite, I looked between Derek and Brian. “Then tell this one to go easy on his training.” I nodded my head toward Brian.
“I told you before, you need to be strong in both mind and body.”
“I know what you told me, but so far all we have been working on is the body strength. When do we start the mind?” I raised an eyebrow at them. “I said I would stay a few days. I would like to learn a little about my other... abilities.” They were silent, too silent. “Ahh, you’re doing it again, aren’t you! You’re talking to each other!”
“All right then, let’s start now.” Brian rested his forearms on the table. “Think something, anything.”
Sitting up straight, I closed my eyes. I miss Ash.
“Who’s Ash?” Brian asked.
I opened my eyes and mouth simultaneously. “He’s... He’s my—”
“Never mind.” He waved his hand impatiently. “Now, think something else, only this time imagine there are walls around it. So strong nothing can penetrate it.”
“All right.” I closed my eyes again. Green is my favorite color. After my thought, I imagined a pile of stones circling my thought. There was no entrance, no way to break it down. Squinting my eyes tight, I focused until I felt a light nudge. What was that? Another nudge hit the stones and some rattled. My eyes flashed open.
Brian smirked. “Something green?”
“Aghh! How did you know?” I slammed my hand on the table. Our plates clanked and a fork fell, clunking on the grass.
Both their laughs filled the tent, and Brian spoke, “Well, it would help if your wall wasn’t green.”
I sat back, folding my arms. “Yeah, whatever.”
“Not bad for a first try though. We’ll work on some more tomorrow.”
“Here.” Derek slid me a bowl of blueberries.
Looking at them, I remembered the last night at the cabin. Tristan and Tate playing cards, throwing their berries around. Ellie’s gentle hands brushing through my hair. Instinctively I moved my hands to the necklace, my rock.
“Thanks.” I popped a small blueberry into my mouth. The tarty sweet juice covered my tongue. I loved berries. “So, tomorrow then?” I stood and popped another berry into my mouth.
“Bright and early,” Brian said.
“All right. I need sleep. Night.” I left Derek’s tent and slowly walked down the row of tents to mine. They had me in the last tent of the middle row, closest to the training clearing. The night air had a cool breeze as the sky turned pink. The smell of roasted vegetables and meat filled the air through the tents, ripping the hole in my heart a little larger. I missed home, missed my family, but I needed to learn about myself. Just a few more days; then I would leave.
Chapter 14
Jace
My overheated body writhed as the tent filled with my moans. The fever came back, and much worse. My body was too weak to do anything but breathe and even that was difficult. Every time I sucked in ai
r, it was like trying to pull it through a clogged straw. I wanted to give up, but something was keeping me here.
Pain erupted over every portion of my body, from the hairs on my head to the nails on my toes. There was no part of me that didn’t hurt.
“His fever spiked again,” a woman said.
“Do the best you can,” a man responded.
“Of course, sir, but... have you thought of trying...”
“Sarah, we don’t know if that will work. It was just a speculation.”
“I understand, but it could save him.”
“It could also kill him.”
“He may die anyway.”
“But he may not. It’s a no, Sarah. Just do the best you can and keep him comfortable.”
After cracking my fifty-pound eyelids, I moved my eyes, unable to move my head. I saw a blurry picture of a tent. No one was in it except them and me. They were speaking about me. The sound of tools moving and cupboard doors opening and closing increased the throb in my head. I moaned. I needed the pain to stop. Please stop. I needed to get out of here.
“Eden,” I moaned.
I needed to find her.
“What did he say?” the man asked.
“He has been mumbling that name on and off. Eden.”
“Eden. Are you sure?”
“Yes. That and moans are all that comes out of him. Why?”
“Never mind. Just take care of him.” His footsteps disappeared, leaving nothing but silence and my whimpers.
My whole body radiated heat, so when a cool wet cloth rested on my face, I leaned into the sweet relief. If only it would move over my whole body. Release me from the fire on my skin.
