The Zodiac Cycle

2.12 Choices

Ash and Amber refused to break eye contact with each other as the rest of the group pondered their next moves carefully.

Elizabeth, however, didnt think twice about her choice. She had been banished from her home all for a misconception that Iris had yet to take responsibility for. Elizabeth was angry, and she hated being there. She stepped over to behind Ash and Nolan.

The rest of the group looked at her, including Amber. She had a bit of anger in her eyes, but it quickly faded.

"I've got your back." Carson touched Amber's shoulder.

"Me too." Iris stepped over to Amber's side. "I wont let you fight alone."

Brianna followed Iris, looking a bit solemn. "I go where you go." Iris gave her friend a small smile.

"I dont like secrets. I'm with Ash." Clementine joined his side. George also joined Ash, but he didnt say anything about why.

"I knew what I was signing up for." Rebecca stepped to beside Carson. Alex hesitated before stepping in line with her.

"I dont want to die." Avery walked slowly over to Ash's side, the last one to make their decision.

The whole group looked around at each other, some of them angry at others decisions, others fearful, and some not expressing how they felt.

Keith stood in the middle, looking back and forth at the two groups with panic in his eyes. "You cant just leave. We need you." He turned to Ash and the 5 that had sided with him.

"I gave you the option to gain my trust." Ash crossed his arms. "I dont know what you are hiding, but I dont want to stick around when it blows up in your face."

"But we are so close." Keith pulled out the Tracker and pulled up their location. "Nostrad is only 5 miles that way." He pointed away from the sea. "It would take an hour to get there, max, and then we're done. You can leave after." Now that he had mentioned it, Elizabeth noticed what seemed to be a castle in the direction he had pointed, but she hadn't know what it was or if it was important.

"Well you should have thought of that before." Ash turned around, putting his arm around Nolans shoulder. Nolan gave him a bit of a worried look before following without a word.

The rest of the group that had decided to follow Ash turned as well, going deeper into the woods.

Alex said something, though Elizabeth didnt quite catch what it was. What she did hear, was Keith speaking to Amber, saying "Why are you just letting them leave?"

"Its their choice. Who am I to stop them?" Amber replied.

Elizabeth continued walking, opting to ignore whatever else was said. Not that it mattered now, she had made her choice, and she didnt regret it.

At least, not yet.

Ash led the group silently back down to the beach where the ship was docked. The group stayed silent, stopping, and stared at the ship for a moment.

"Should we wait for them to come back?" Nolan still seemed unsure. "I wouldn't want to strand them here."

"We shouldnt take the ship." Clementine agreed.

"Why not?" Elizabeth asked. The ship had been a sort-of peace offering from her people, and was still under the disguise of Iris' lie.

"Would it be weird to sit here and wait for them?" Avery had his arms crossed and seemed tense.

"We can take them back to the mainland and then go our seperate ways." Ash suggested, sitting on a rock. Nolan perched beside him.

It did seem wrong to leave the others without some way of passage, Elizabeth thought.

They sat there for what felt like hours, Clementine caught some fish for them to eat for lunch. Avery took a quick nap after that and the rest of them played some games, Avery joining after his nap. But the group soon became antsy.

Something felt wrong.

Even Ash admitted it, looking back toward the castle they could still see from the beach.

As if on cue, they heard a large BOOM.

Then another.

And another.

And after the fourth, the castle collapsed slowly.

Nolan stood up quickly. "We need to go see if the others are okay." He ran toward the woods without waiting for an answer. Ash didnt hesitate to follow him, and the rest got up as well.

"Nolan! Slow down!" Ash called after him, but he didnt stop. Elizabeth ran ahead, catching up to Nolan. He was determined, but worried.

they all were.

Elizabeth hoped the seven of them were okay, that they didn't get hurt. That was probably wishful thinking, but she didnt care.

Alex was a nice person, though perhaps a bit stubborn. Rebecca was friendly and knew how to hold a conversation. Iris was energetic and Brianna was bold and caring. Carson was probably the best of the bunch, adventurous and loyal, he always knew exactly what to say. Keith did get a bit eccentric at times, but he did smell nice.

And Amber-

Even if they never admitted it, Amber drew every one of them in. She was hard headed, but a quick thinker, and she respected the rest of them, except maybe Ash and apparently Brianna.

Elizabeth ran ahead of Nolan. She refused to waste any more time thinking, since all it was doing was making her more worried.

She got to the castle first, not spotting any of the seven in the massive pile of rubble and cloud of dust. She opted to run around the edge of the pile, hoping they made it out.

Then she spotted them.

She saw Carson first, since he was one of the taller ones. She ran over to them, the other five with her close behind. She started counting them as she got closer.

One.

They all seemed a bit beat up, bumps and bruises on their arms and legs.

Two.

They were out of breath and sweating as well, they probably needed a drink of water.

Three.

Four.

As Elizabeth reached them, she noticed they all looked terrified.

Five.

She stopped, the rest of her group getting the chance to catch up.

Six.

(Yes, that's the end of the chapter.)