Hiraeth: Blackout (I)

Chapter Eleven

When I woke up, I was leaning on Roxie's shoulder. Too afraid to move, I pretended to be asleep.

She was at work painting a... bandage?

As she finished up, it solidified and she took my wrist. I felt Roxie carefully, gently, place it over the cut on my left palm.

From when the pencil poked me! I forgot about that.

I heard footsteps from inside the mountain. "Roxie, Sun's up," Aka's voice said from the tunnel entrance.

She whirled around angrily. "Shhh! He's sleeping!"

Aka chuckled. "Ooooooo!"

Karter's voice joined the other two angrily. "Aka, you butt! Leave them alone."

"It's okay, Karter. I just ignore him," Roxie assured.

"Alright." Karter paused, and I could hear her walk towards Roxie and I. "I'm glad he's getting some rest, he really needs it."

"I know," Roxie said, softness in her voice. I felt her move some hair out of my face gingerly. My stomach became warm. "With everything he's been through, this seems even more unfair. Why can't the stars just give him a break?"

Karter's voice was soft, too. "I don't know..."

I suddenly heard more footsteps, but these weren't coming from the mountain. I opened my eyes and shot up, the warmth in my chest gone. "Someone's coming!"

Karter, Aka, Roxie, and I dove into the tunnel.

Aka shut the door and whisper-yelled at us to be quiet. We all pressed our ears to the wall, listening intently.

The footsteps grew closer and closer, stopping just feet away from where we'd been before. The chills were back, racing up and down my spine.

"I thought you said he was here! In these woods!" Bexley's dreaded voice exclaimed with rage. "That stupid pencil you found led us to nothing!"

"Your majesty, please have mercy!" a small, nervous voice begged.

There was a lot of shuffling, then something like a choking sound.

After a while of silence and more shuffling, Bexley spoke again. "I need his power. I may not be strong enough to Take it, but his mind is weak. If we just find him, I can try turning him. Then the final phases of my plan will be set in motion."

"Yes, your majesty," another voice said. A familiar voice.

July.

"I'm giving you one last chance to find him. If you fail, you'll be just like him."

I wondered if she was referring to whoever just got choked.

Did she kill him?!

July sighed. "I promise we will find him, your majesty."

As the conversation had been going on, Karter's face was scrunching into a strange, angry expression; full of sadness.

There were more footsteps, and then Bexley's voice from far away. "One last chance, July!"

"Yes, my queen!" July's voice answered from the same spot as before. "What does she want with that creep, anyway?" he asked. There was a kick at the wall, I assumed it to be his.

"I don't know, sir," another familiar voice replied.

Karter's eyes became frantic, her fists clenched as she tried to hold herself back.

It was Serenity. Only... her voice sounded different. Slower, emotionless.

July groaned in frustration. "Mike isn't even that interesting."