Our World of Ashes

Part 2-Aya

Kennedy woke up groggy and uncomfortable, with her arm bruised and cuts stinging. Rubbing her eyes, she stood up shakily.

"Food," she thought,

"I need food....now." She sighed, and looked around, nothing she could eat in sight. Scowling, she stumbled along through the woods, talking to herself quietly, trying not to think about the eerily silent forest. Her stomach growled ferociously, and she clutched her stomach. After about 10 minutes of an unsuccessful hunt for food, she heard a noise. Stopping, she looked around, trying to find the cause. As she followed what seemed to be the source, she swore that it sounded like someone crying. Drawing closer, she tread quietly, making sure not to throw caution out the window. As she walked around a large tree, she came across a small girl, most likely about 6 or 7, slumped up against the tree. Kennedy bent down, and touched the girl lightly on the shoulder. The girl looked up fearfully, her lips moving but not saying a word.

"Shhh..I'm not going to hurt you. It's okay." Kennedy said soothingly. The girl seemed to relax, but still eyed Kennedy apprehensively.

"Have...have you seen my mommy?" The girl asked, wiping away tears.

"No, I'm afraid I haven't...where did you last see her?" Kennedy asked.

"Well..last night I think..right before the..the big men came. They were so.."she trailed off, eyes filling with tears once more.

"It's okay, you don't have to go on," Kennedy said, stroking the girl's blond hair delicately, "I'll help you find her."

"You will?" the girl asked, looking up at Kennedy.

"Sure. Come on." she replied, standing up. She held out her hand the the little girl, and she took it, standing up as well.

"Can you point me in the direction you came from?" Kennedy asked. The little girl nodded and showed Kennedy the general direction in which she came from. With that, they set off, deeper into the forest.

~Fast forward 30 minutes~

They continued walking in silence, looking for the girl's mother. The only sound either could hear was the leaves crunching underneath them. Finally, Kennedy broke the silence.

"So..what's your name?" she asked, glancing down.

"Aya," she replied, "What's yours?"

"Kennedy." Aya nodded. They only walked a few steps more before Aya came to a sudden stop.

"What is it?" Kennedy questioned.

"Don't you hear it?"

"No. Hear what?"

They stood like that for a couple of seconds, Aya staring straight ahead, and Kennedy looking inquisitively at Aya. Without warning, she took off running surprisingly fast for her small frame. Surprised by her sudden take off, Kennedy dashed after her.

"Aya!" she yelled, running after the child. Aya continued on, however, ignoring Kennedy's pleas to stop or slow down. Kennedy's lungs felt like they were about to burst, having to work so hard with so little nourishment, and her legs felt like jelly. Still, she pressed on, determined not to lose sight of Aya. Within less than a minute, Kennedy heard shouting and metal clinking. Aya continued running, until she reached a small ledge, which she leaped down from easily. Kennedy was right behind her, and without thinking jumped from the ledge. She landed with a thud, her leg giving away as soon as she touched the forest floor. She fell to the ground, yelping in pain. Looking up, she saw what was making all the noise. No more than ten feet away from her was a very brutal fight going on, between four Cleansers and a couple of other people. One of them, a woman with short, spiky, red hair was keeping one of the Cleansers from getting to Aya. Aya, hid behind the woman, shaking with fear. Kennedy sat there, awestruck. Not only were these people surviving a Cleanser attack, they were whipping their bottoms as well! She watched them with admiration, before a voice pulled her from her thoughts.