SURVIVAL

CHAPTER ONE

I knew something was wrong as soon as I smelled the smoke. It was subtle at first, a breeze carrying the scent of what I thought was someone's campfire. But it grew, fast. The air was smothered with heavy smoke in minutes, burning my eyes and choking my lungs.

Tree roots and thorns snag at my feet as I sprint through the woods, tripping me and littering my skin with hundreds of tiny cuts and scrapes. The night sky began to glow with the fire that raged through the forest. The stars were no longer visible, which means it was spreading quickly.

A ragged cough escapes my lungs as I gasp in smokey air and I shake my head wildly, trying to rid of the burning sensation.

I burst through a thicket into a small clearing. I'm close now, I know this area. But I don't know the three figures blocking my path. They're turned away, not knowing I had made my way into their vicinity, and they can't hear my ruckus over the roaring crackle of the fire.

Are they stupid? If they didn't move the fire would consume them just as easily as it ate through the rest of the woods. I open my mouth to shout a warning, but my words are caught in my throat as I see the torch clutched in the hand of one of the figures.

The realization almost sends me stumbling. They must have started the Fire. Panic sets in, making my brain cloudy.

I step backward, preparing to make an escape. Another step back, hands shaking at my side. But my third step sounds with a loud crack as my door falls on a branch. My eyes go wide. My head snaps back towards the figures in front of me hoping they couldn't hear over the fire.

I am not that lucky.

A sharp pair of eyes turn, the one on the right turning towards me with a look of confusion. He's a stalkier man, with a white jacket tucked under his armor and holding a sword at his side. He places a hand on the middle figure, uttering something under his breath.

The figure on the left turns, followed by the figure in the middle. All eyes are on me. If I couldn't breathe before, I definitely can't now.

To the left is a man dressed in white and black. He has no armor, only the still-burning torch in his hand and a wicked grin on his lips. A bandanna is tied around his forehead, keeping his wild dark hair in place.

In the middle is the most unnerving of them all. He is dressed simply, with a sharp axe held at his side and a hood pulled over his head, slightly concealing the jarring mask that covered the upper half of his face. It glowed slightly in the orange light of the fire, making his appearance even more unsettling.

I had never seen him in my life, and yet, I recognized him immediately.

My mind felt numb, my legs not listening to a single signal my brain tried to send to them, and my hands just shaking as I dropped the basket in my arms and attempted to unsheath the sword at my side.

"What do you think, Hale?" The one in white asked in a smug tone. The one on the right gives a scoff of a laugh. The middle figure, Hale, cocks his head slightly, gazing at me across the small clearing.

"Well we need a messenger don't we?" He asks, glancing toward his companion. His voice is smooth, captivating. It demands attention, respect. His eyes turn back to me under the bony mask. "Your name?"

I sputter, managing to draw my sword and hold it shakily in front of me.

I can't think long enough to get a coherent thought out. "Quickly," one of the right calls in a sing-song voice. "It's not smart to keep him waiting." The axe flashes at me menacingly.

I take a shuttering breath, full of smoke.

"Lucy," I manage. I know my odds. Fighting is not an option at this moment, but I keep the sword gripped tightly in my hands, letting it provide a silly sense of comfort in an impossible situation.

"Well, Lucy. I've got a message for you to deliver," Hale spoke sweetly, but I could sense the malice under his words. I gave a sharp nod, taking another small step back. He matches it with two steps forward. "You have three days to surrender. If I do not see white flags behind your walls on the dawn of the third day," He steps closer still, a smile playing on his lips. "There will be war."

A shiver crawls down my spine. He takes the last step forward, now right in front of me. The mask is terrifying. I fight the urge to look away, instead straining straight into the dark sockets with a glare.

"Do you understand?"

"I do," I sneer, trying to hide the panic in my voice and the shake in my hands. He tilts his head slightly and gives me a lopsided smile, seeming satisfied with my response.

"Good," He says, stepping back slightly, glancing at the two behind him who give him a sharp nod, ready to make their exit. He turns, his free hand coming up in a sort of wave as he moves towards his companions.

"See you on the battlefield princess."

——————

The town of Northon had beautiful walls, made of dark stone, and gates of iron. They stood just under the trees on any other day, but as the trees crumbled and burn they stood tall against the fiery sky. A beacon of safety and protection.

I was hustled through the gates as soon as I approached, a guard shouted towards the small building at the side of the walls. The town was still rather alive for the late of the night, everyone up and worrying about the still burning fire outside the gate. The door of the building swings open roughly, and a towering man exits.

My mind was in too much of a haze to register anything until strong hands gripped my shoulders, giving a slight shake that brought me back to reality.

The brown eyes of William met mine, grounding me. Concern swept through his gaze as he gave a reassuring squeeze.

"I was waiting for you," He said simply. William was the heart and soul of the town. The one who tried everything in his power to fight for the people and place he loved. The leader of the revolution. He was strong-willed, passionate, and inspiring. "What happened?" He asked, his eyes scanning my body quickly for any signs of burns or injury, but I only had the scrapes and bruises from the woods.

It took me a minute to find the words, the horror of the night still weighing on me.

"It's not good, Will," I shudder with a shake of my head.

He frowns. "Tell me."

"I... saw him."

His frown deepens, a crease appearing on his brow. He knew. Calix Hale. The sword of the king. The kingdom had never known a true revolution, it was always snuffed out quickly, and always by his hand. Few even attempted to revolt against the selfish king, because all those before had lost their lives in a matter of days.

William nods, giving her shoulder one last gentle shake of reassurance before letting his arms drop. I trusted him. If anyone could lead this revolution, it was him. But there was still an unsettling feeling laying in the pit of my stomach.

"I don't know if we can do this Will. There's no way to beat them."

"I know Lucy. We can discuss it tomorrow with everyone else. For now, keep it to yourself. The fire is enough for them to worry about and god knows they need the rest."

"Of course."

"And you should get some sleep as well," he says, giving her a kind smile. It doesn't quite reach his eyes.

I return the smile as best I can. "And you as well." He nods back, turning to speak to the guards outside.

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HII so excited to be writing again, hope u enjoyed chapter one. I LOVE YOU ALL <33 thank you for your support!!