Timeless and Bliss #wattys2016

Chapter 18

       Chapter 18

It was a bit before sunrise when my body jerked me awake, a routine I had adapted to. I panicked for a short moment before memories of my whereabouts flooded my mind. The setting became familiar and I settled further in my blanket trying to hide from the sunrise.  The awful nightmares had once again made an appearance in my subconscious.

I turned towards Felix, "Felix, I had that-" to my dismay he was no longer laying there. I frowned taking in his scent that lingered on his pillow and side of the ruffled bed. I found comfort and safety in the house and the moments I had created within the walls of this confined space, but it was time to pack and start heading out. I worked myself up to leaving the security of my blanket changing back into my now dry clothes and exiting the room.

Though the sun was just barely peeking through the window, the long hallway seemed less uncanny and more alluring with the angle at which the sun had begun to creep in. Dexter and Felix sat in the main room whispering. Relieved was the only thing I felt as they conversed about whatever topic it was.

"Ahem," I cleared my throat making my appearance known to them. Instantly they stopped talking about whatever it was and turned their attention to me. My fingers tightly curled around the strap of my bag nearly restricting the blood flow as I tried to ignore the nerves. 

"All ready to go?" Dexter asked. I only nodded. A part of me was concerned and wanted to know about the secrets they were trading. However, half of me didn't want to know anyway so I dismissed the whispering throwing my bag over my shoulder.

By now we were far from home and a few hours past the river. An uneasy feeling was creeping up on me again sending shivers down every vertebrate of my spine. We walked and walked trying to cover as much ground as we could. The conditions of the weather had not improved compared to yesterday. Excluding a few parts that remained damp, most of clothes were dry. The wind was much heavier than before. I was shivering and trying to talk through chattering teeth.

I glanced up at the sky and watched as the trees were vigorously swaying back and forth. The clouds seemed duller indicating the possibility of rain, and as we walked the forest only grew thicker. With the temperature dropping and the rain, it wouldn't take long for us to freeze death. The forest was no longer a place that ensured safety.

Because of the events that occurred yesterday I didn't want to spend another moment in the woods. I use to seek comfort in the way the wind whistled against the falling leaves. I thought I could hide here. It used to be my safe haven where I could escape from all of my problems and just think. You can't escae death though. It happens out here in these woods. And even though it'll be more dangerous out there where we are exposed to the government building, I'd rather take my chances than relive the disgusting memory of the life taken here.

"Felix something feels off," I whispered clinging to his arm.

"I know. Things are to quiet. You know, the calm before the storm?" Felix spoke softly but his words seemed to echo through the forest.

"We need to keep moving. We're getting closer to the road and by now everyone should know we're missing." It was Dexter who spoke this time. We followed behind him not stopping for anything.

"Did you hear that?" The beat of my heart began to pick up rapidly.

"Yeah, maybe another mountain lion?" Felix asked. Dexter had now stopped as well listing to the sound.

"No definitely not a mountain lion. It sounds less high pitched than the cougar," Dexter said. We all listened to the low rumbling sound filling the forest

"It's growing," I said stepping closer to the two men. It was as if the sound was multiplying all around us.

"We need to get moving, fast." Felix said determined to go. We headed off again walking at a fast pace just trying to get farther from the evil feeling at our backs.

We came to an opening in the trees. A huge grassy plain rested in front of us and just beyond that the road we had been anxiously waiting for. The road was so close, and we knew that just a mile from that road would be the government building. The grassy field was so beautiful to and the clear sunlight on us once again felt amazing. I wanted to run across the field and never look back. The idea sounded appeasing and enthusiastically waited to get the okay to take off.

"Did you hear that?" Dexter backed away from the opening.

"I didn't hear anything," I said mesmerized on the astounding view. It felt like we had been hiding in the dark for so long, in closed with dead trees and rotten smells and evil awaiting at every turn in the forest, to see the sunlight filled my body with exhilaration.

"There it is again!" Dexter exclaimed.

"I heard it too. A dog maybe?" Felix questioned.

"It definitely wouldn't be a domesticated dog," I replied.

"Okay we need to move quickly." Felix took the lead. He was right, we needed to get across this open ground. We started to run.

The air was till frigid and I didn't care. My feet were aching at the amount of steps we had taken in a short amount of time and I didn't care. My body was weak from dehydration and I didn't care. I didn't care about a thing in the world except the feeling of freedom the field brought me. I stayed ahead of the guys. With each step I took I listened to the slapping of my feet as they hit the hard grassy ground beneath me. The feeling of pure freedom didn't last long. Our pursuers must have seen us, because dogs came running down from the left, right, and behind us.

We were running now trying to make it the open road. The joy of the run was long gone and I was now sprinting out of fear.  Government workers were running out from the tree behind us following their fast vicious dogs. I thought we could make it, but one clamped its jaw around Dexter's leg taking him down.

"Dexter!" I screamed stopping to grab his hand. I tightened my grip and within moments another worker shoved me to the ground. 

The man slammed my face into the mud and his weight kept me from moving as I struggled inching left and right. A sudden pain started at my nose as he forced my face further into the ground causing the soil to smear across my face along with a bit of blood. Finally I worked my arm free and swung it into the side of his face knocking his head back in pain. His grip on me loosened. Taking my leg, I kicked him in the stomach then another few punches to the face.

I wasn't restricted anymore and I turned around frantically searching for Dexter and Felix. Felix fought another worker. He wasn't doing too well and I needed to help him. Out of nowhere I felt an enormous amount of weight thrown against me. My whole body was knocked to the ground my head hitting the rough dirt causing slight trauma to my head. A fresh wound had opened and blood trickled down my head.

"Felix!" I cried still attempting to worm myself free. From the corner of my eyes I saw another worker preparing an injection. I shut my eyes expecting for the worst, but it didn't come. Felix threw a punch to the workers face knocking him off of me.

His hand lifted me from the ground as more of the Government Workers surrounded us. "We have to go!" He kept yelling. So we ran.

The workers had almost caught up and I knew he was right. We started running and as I looked back Dexter was pinned by a huge evil man with his disgusting dog. I didn't even try to go back. He was cuffed and injected him with an anesthetic to knock him out.

They started to come after us. Dexter's struggle distracted them long enough for us to get back into the trees. Once in the woods again we ran even harder. We zig zagged and moved at angles losing the Workers. As we ran my mind was a blank canvas. Everything was becoming numb including my mid which couldn't even form a coherent thought.

"I think we lost them," Felix panted glancing over to me. We hadn't even tried to save Dexter.

"Yeah we did, but Dexter," I looked down at my feet shutting my eyes. I felt more blood running down my face and I touched the wound. It stung and I winced from the pain wiping the liquid off with my shirt.

"We'll figure it out. Let's just get somewhere safe first," he said wrapping his arms around my trembling body. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction we were to go. I knew we would figure something out, we always did in the end. Didn't we?

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A/N: I Believe the graffiti above was done by Bansky who I admire. His work may be a bit controversial but I just love it. I'll just keep this short. Comment, vote, share...DO IT...