AFK - Away From Keyboard

Chapter 10:

Emica's POV:

By sunset we had reached a very small town that was so tiny it wasn't on the map.

"We should ask what town this is, just in case we're lost." Myra said worriedly. She was upset and convinced she had gotten us lost, but I don't think she has.

"There! I'll go ask him what town this is." I informed my comrades, handing Myra my little kitten. The boy looked older than Ren, and was leaning against a fence, eating an apple.

"Excuse me?" I put my hands behind my back and looked up at the boy nervously. However, he smiled and pushed up his dark brown hair, which was already gelled enough to last his lifetime.

"I was wondering if you could tell me the name of this town. My friends and I think we may have gotten turned a little turned around."

"Easy. This town doesn't have an official name yet. It's only just been built a few weeks ago, so there aren't many people around yet. Perfect for when you want to be alone." He shifted his position and leaned forward a bit, while still maintaining a lazy look.

"Is it, by chance, between Tesh and Dranfall?" I asked hopefully. I felt my face light up, Myra would be so pleased!

"Yup." The boy stood up straight. "I can show you around so you can get a feel for the place. I'll give you a tour so welcoming you'll never want to leave." He smiled good naturedly. 

"That's nice, but we're only looking for an inn." I explained excitedly. "Is there one close by?"

The boy ran his fingers through his hair again. He was about to answer, when a deep voice commanded: "Come on Yue."

It was Ren. His tone took me by complete surprise, his presence startled me into looking up at him. He was glaring at the boy.

The boy ignored Ren's glare and smiled at me. "Yue huh? That's a pretty name." Then he smirked at Ren.

Um...

"Let's go." Ren gave the boy one last threatening look, then grabbed my wrist and started dragging me back to Myra and Snowy. I tried to wriggle my wrist free, but he clenched his fist even tighter causing me to wince.

"Ren..." I started.

He cut me off. "Next time, let me talk to the random people for information." His tone was fierce, he was scaring me a bit.

"Ren, you're hurting me." I winced again.

Immediately my wrist was freed along with a mumbled apology.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked. Perhaps I had, and Ren was trying to correct me. He didn't answer of course, only kept walking.

I stopped, he stopped as well and turned to face me.

"You have to tell me if I did something wrong." I cried earnestly. "Otherwise I might do it again by accident!"

"You didn't do anything wrong." Ren glared past me. "Now come on."

I didn't budge. I wasn't going to move until he told me what was going on. Without a word Ren came towards me and tried to grip my hand again, but I backed away.

"Well if it isn't something I did, what was it?" I asked. The pressure started to enter my mind, my eyes began to tighten. I knew what that meant...an emotion was taking control. I was angry. Suddenly the whole world flashed, and for a moment everything seemed to fade away. It only lasted a moment however and when my eyes focused again, the emotion switched and I was upset. "Please Ren...I want to know."

Another switch; annoyance. What was going on?

"It isn't fair that you and Myra never explain things to me."

Switch: Uncertainty. This has never happened before, usually it's one or two emotions spread out through the day.

"But perhaps there's a good reason..." My brain felt like it was being smooshed into a sardine can. The tightness behind my eyes was so intense that I had to close them. I used my hands to squeeze my head, somehow that helped relieve the pressure a little. All the different emotions were fighting to take control and they're tearing me apart in the process.

"Yue!?" Called a voice. Who's voice was it? I knew that voice...

Another voice yelled: Something went wrong!"

Two girl's voices asked what was going on. One sounded much older than the other.

"Yue!" Yelled the familiar voice.

Something lifted me up. I thought I saw a familiar face...a face I must have seen in a dream. Delusion was mixed with reality. I remember the last time something held me while I was dreaming. Burying myself in it made me feel safer as everything around me faded to black.

"Don't worry..." The familiar voice soothed. "I won't leave you alone."

The storm of emotions was thrown back. I felt weak and disoriented. I could feel myself quivering. Then I remembered that I was mad, and realized the person comforting me was the one I was mad at.

"I'm not...going to...say....I missed you...again..." My voice managed to mumble. "I'm not....dreaming like...last...time."