The Tainted (An Original Story)

Chapter 12

Destiny

Noun - Something to which a person or thing is destined; A predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency

Seun-yong's POV

I sat by the fire holding Lia as the others were out searching for shelter and wood for a new fire. We were wrapped tightly in a blanket – I tried to keep her warm as possible, but our body temperature was much lower than hers, so I think I was harming her more than good. I sighed. Even though I tried to detach myself from her while she slept, she kept a sturdy grip around my waist. I guess I wasn't going anywhere for the time being.

I closed my eyes, drifting away from reality. I walked into one of my memories, pausing as I saw Lia sitting there waiting for me. This was becoming an everyday occurrence with us these days. She could walk into any memory of mine, but I could not do the same with her. How was it possible that she could keep me out?

I walked up to her; she was in her white dress with her cascading in curls down her back. I liked her best like this.

"Why are you here?" I asked as I sat next to her.

She smiled, "I feel safer here for the moment. Besides, it's warmer here." She said as she motioned to the ocean in front of us.

I would have been 14 years old in this memory. My parents had taken my sisters and me to Orlando, Florida for spring break. It had been our first real family trip together.

"Was it fun when you were here?" she asked.

I smiled, "It was. My sisters had such fun. I think by the time we went home, my parents were more than happy to send us back to school."

She laughed, "I bet the four of you were a handful huh?"

I nod, "We were indeed. We did everything from catching crabs on the sands and bringing them back, to dumping Minho into the pool."

She started laughing harder as tears fell from her eyes, "I feel for your parents! You were such a rascal. I bet you still are."

I shrugged, "Not much anymore. I think that part of me died when I changed."

Her demeanor changed, "I'm sorry to bring that up. I wanted you to be happy, even if just for a little while."

I took her hand and held it, "I'm happy whenever I am with you. You have brought me peace and joy when I thought it was gone. No matter what happens now, rest assured, I will be by your side."

She laid her head on my shoulder as we kept our hands linked, looking out over the horizon as the waves crashed nearby. "One day, I would love to come here for real and be with you."

"Then we will. Hopefully all this beauty survived somehow."

She nodded as I drifted back into consciousness.

I snapped my attention back to the present as a hand landed on my shoulder, I pulled my blade out and swung, only to be stopped.

"Gee Seun-yong, it's only me." Cristian said.

"Don't sneak up on me then."

He rolled his eyes, "You were the one off in memory land with no one here to watch over you. You're lucky you weren't ambushed."

I nodded, "I was trying to keep her from having nightmares."

"Well, we can change all that. We found a cave a mile or so away. It's large enough for all of us with a fire."