HONOR AMONG THIEVES: THE LEGEND OF AKIRA

PT. 10 OLD WOUNDS AND NEW PAIN

Morning came and Nokia slowly awoke. She yawned as she sat up and idlely looked around. She saw Falco a ways off, still sound asleep. Snoring away as he always did. Which was the main reason he slept a good distance from her and Akira. Even though Akira  like most things,  preferred to sleep alone. Over time Nokia had worn Akira down and inched her blanket closer to Akira's. Now they were just a couple feet apart. When Akira asked Nokia why she kept moving closer, Nokia would just shrug and say something like she just liked being close to her. She would say it in such an innocent way, that Akira didn't put any more thought into it. She figured Nokia would make her way there anyway, so Akira just gave in and let Nokia sleep beside her. As long as she didn't bug her. Which just because she thought it was funny, Nokia would tease Akira alot of the time as she tried to sleep anyway. But over time Akira got used to it and while she pretended it bothered her. She would just play along and smile to herself at the apparent weirdness of friend. Nokia laughed to herself a little as she thought of how she was going to wake up Akira that morning. She grabbed a small stick and began sneakily sliding it under the blanket next to her. Trying to make like a snake had crawled it's way into Akira's blanket.

NOKIA
(Joking) Akira! Akira quick wake up. There's a snake in your blanket!

When Nokia didn't get a response, she figured Akira was on to her and knew it was a joke.

NOKIA
Darnn I thought I would get you with that one. Oh well come on, we should probably get up anyway.

Again she got no response. Nokia stood up and put her hands on her hips as she looked down at the blanket.

NOKIA
Okay sleepy head rise and shine.

Nokia reached down and grabbed the blanket, yanking it back. When she did, she saw that Akira was gone. Nokia called for Akira, thinking that she must've gotten up before hand and was nearby. But when Akira didn't respond, Nokia began to get a little worried. She looked over noticing that Artemis was just laying down looking into the distance. She went over and began petting her. But when Artemis didn't act like her usual happy self when she got attention, Nokia knew something wasn't right. She quickly woke up Falco.

FALCO
What?

NOKIA
Something's wrong.

FALCO
What did we get found again?

NOKIA
No, I can't find Akira anywhere. I think something might've happened to her.

Falco got up.

FALCO
Don't worry, I'm sure she's around here somewhere. We would've heard the commotion if we were found.

NOKIA
True. But look at Artemis. I've never seen her like this before. Something is definitely off.

FALCO
So what, you think we should go look for Akira?

NOKIA
I do. What if she's in trouble and needs help?

FALCO
Okay, I'm sure she's fine. But I guess it won't hurt to make sure. Let's go see where she got off to.

Nokia and Falco, along with Artimis and Zora left to find Akira.

NOKIA
(thinking to herself) I hope She's okay. Akira, where are you?

Meanwhile Akira was making her way through the forest that she had come across. She quietly walked as she thought about what she was going to do now. She considered just giving up and turning herself in to the authorities. But that wouldn't stop them from trying to track down Nokia and Falco. Akira thought maybe if she said that she forced them to help her, then maybe her friends would be spared from any punishment. But she wasn't sure if that would work. Whose to say they would even believe her. Since the authorities didn't believe her about the village fire. It seemed highly unlikely that they would believe anything that Akira said anyway. Akira found a spot to sit and take a break as she tried to think of what she was going to do.