Finding ( Safe and Sound Trilogy: Book 2 )

Chapter 3: Kris_Discovery

The Autumn leaves crunched under my shoes. The moon began to arise in the East. It's nearly time we had to head back to the original camp spot. I wasn't ready for that. As annoying as she was... I needed Violet by my side, traveling with me. I can't do this alone. She was the one that proved that I wasn't entirely useless. The one who kept things glued together. Anne has already begun to crack. She's shaking like mad, dark circles under her eyes. A scowl of concentration plastered on her face. Maybe I can snap a joke to break the tension and sadness in the air?

"So, how about them leaves?" I say as I slightly kick the leaves under my feet. Which wasn't an entirely bright idea. I stumbled over my left ankle, and fell flat-on my face in the dirt, leaves slightly sticking to my face.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Everyone says at once while bursting into laughter. I pushed myself up, frowning at the group. Dirt doesn't taste too good.

"Does it look like I'm okay?" I snapped. Quickly, I stood back up and brushed the dirt and leaves off my face. My nose really hurt. It felt like someone took a hammer and bashed my face with it. My face throbbed, especially my nose. As they continued to laugh, I spoke up to break the embarrassing laughter. "Oh, hey, look, it's starting to get dark. Can we go home now?"

"Go home to what, trees?" Anne chuckles. Duke joins right in with the chuckling. "We have nothing to go home to!"

They were right. What was the place we had to go to? It was just a bunch of leaves, grass, dirt, and some trees that are losing their... Clothes. Aside from all of that, Anne was right. We need a better place to stay. We're out in the open, exposed to all sorts of dangers. Maybe that's what happened to Violet last night? What if she was in danger? Was it an Anicept? I'm not sure. All I knew is that I needed to find her, fast. If she dies, so is the entire universe; we'll all be dragged down with her. I'm not going to let that happen. At least not yet. There are so many things I wish to see, wish to do, wish to ask. So many unanswered questions, and if she ruins that for me, she'd better get ready in the after-life.

"Well..." We start walking again. The sound of crunching leaves was satisfying after having them stuck to my face for that embarrassing moment. "We could just keep walking until we find a better place to stay?" I suggest.

Duke clears his throat. "Yeah, for once, that ignorant child has a good idea!" He grins as he turns to look at me.

I glare at him. "... Whatever, smelly old man."

. . . .

We traveled for another two hours. The moon was high in the sky, the stars began to reveal themselves. A chilled breeze came along and ruined my perfect hair. Wind, my worst enemy. Besides the Masked Lord. In this case, he doesn't count.

"Hey, look," Bry points ahead in the darkness. In the distance, a cave sits. It looked rather safe compared to our last camp-ground.

Anne and Duke race to the cave, Bry and I stay behind, awkwardly watching them run. It was kind of running because Duke's flab bounced when he ran. Though Bry and I kept that to ourselves.

Anne stepped inside, then shrieked. There was more screaming. I was beginning to worry.

"Violet, oh my god, where have you been?" She cried aloud. Then came another voice...

"Violet? Wait, thee Violet Mara Rule? The one who saves the universe?"

When I walked into the cave, I noticed a fire was built. Anne was spin-hugging Violet, tears streaming down her face. Then there was a boy. His mouth dropped as soon as he saw me.

"Then you must be Kris Vincint Rule?" He gawks at us. "No way, I've only heard about you guys in stories that my mom used to tell me before I went to bed! That's so sick, dude!" He stumbled up, and introduced himself to me. "Hi, I'm Hayden. You can call me Hay or Hayden. Whatever works for you!" He started shaking my hand without permission. I guess we're famous heroes from a fairy-tale?

Bry soon entered the cave, and as soon as she laid eyes on Hayden, she froze in her spot. "H-Hi..." She waves nervously, and slowly backs out of the cave.

That was weird. Why did she do that? Did she know this guy?

. . .

"So, you saw these four strangers?" Anne asks Violet.

"Yes... They chased me, and I kept running and running. Until I met Hayden." She shifts uncomfortably in her spot. The fire made her look like she was glowing in a way.

"Yeah-wait, Violet, why did you hide your name from me?" Hayden asks abruptly.

"I-Well..." She goes silent for a moment. Opens her mouth for a brief second, then closes it again.

"Oh come on, spill it!" I say. Anne rolls her eyes and Duke laughs. Hayden looks utterly annoyed at Kris.

"She's under stress, okay? It takes a lot to process things after what she has been through."

"It's not like we haven't experienced the same things. Who are you, anyway? You're just some random guy in the woods. For all we know, you could be a spy for the Masked Lord!" I couldn't get mad at this guy. Violet seemed to like him a tad bit. She was sitting next to him. As well as Bry... I was sitting all by myself.

"For someone who's in the prophecy and told to be cool, you sure are an as-"

"Hayden, don't cuss!" Violet screams and slaps his mouth shut. "Geez, this is a PG rated story, okay? Aside from all the blood and violence. Ignore that bit." She says seriously. Even though no one took it seriously.

"Excuse me? I'm cooler than you." I said, then flipping my hair. Dang, I'm sexy.

"Um, Kris... Hayden is a pretty cool guy..." Bry chuckles awkwardly, but not for long.

What, why is she suddenly choosing a stranger over me? I thought that she liked me? It was a lie. It was all a lie. Maybe she thought of me in a brotherly way? What she said, hurt. Her actions, hurt. It was so obvious that she was beginning to like the stranger. He looks like a hobo, honestly. His hair, a mess. His clothes, ugly. I mean seriously, who still wears plaid? Probably Mrs. Starfruit.

"Sure, whatever you say, Bry," I smile slightly, then look down at my lap. They all started into conversation. Without me.

I guess I'm afraid of losing Bry. Or maybe just me in the spotlight? Either one I don't want to lose. Especially her. She has been there with me, comforted me. She accepted all of my flaws. Unlike the rest of the group. They know they're there and tease me about it. Mostly my hair, but that's my prized possession. Bry just accepts the fact that I care more about my hair than anything else. I think now that has changed...