Aetheria's Enigma: The Lost Traveler

Chapter VII

"I'll try to get to the tree line. Give me cover fire."

They raise their rifles over the barricade and start shooting in the general direction of the incoming shots while I make a run for the trees. When I get to cover I get down and start scanning the area for the enemy. One stands out among all the rest. That one enemy takes the shot.

I yell to my squad, "RPG!" but it was too late.

The explosion knocked me back, my ears ringing. I stand up and see my allies, my friends, lifeless bodies. Limbs blown off. I run, not looking back. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I keep repeating those words to myself as I run.

Then a voice echoes in my head, "William! William!"

I jump up, knocking Kaori off me. She falls to the floor.

I look at her. She's scared. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"I'm fine." She stands up, holding her arm. "But you're not. You were jerking around in your sleep, saying you were sorry."

The arm she's holding looks like it was burned. "What happened to your arm?"

"I told you I'm fine!" She yells back at me. "Just tell me what's going on with you."

"Just nightmares. Nothing to worry about." I get up and grab my knife and the bandits' gear.

She stands in front of the door. "You're not leaving until I get an explanation."

If I did that to her arm... "Look, I can explain everything later." I need time to figure everything out. If my emotions are triggering a magical response then she isn't safe around me. "For now just get out of my way."

"No!"

"Kaori, Move."

"I'm not gonna let you walk away like everything's fine!" She begins to cry. "If you really trust me like you said yesterday, then talk to me."

My fists clench. I don't have time for this. "Like I said, I will explain later."

"No! You need to tell me what's going on right now!"

My hands are getting hot. It feels the same as yesterday.

She backs into the door. "William?"

The fear in her eyes, I've seen it before. Amelia gave me this same look every time I told her I was fine. I go to put my face in my hands but stop. My eyes widen, holding my hands in front of me. They are engulfed in flames.

"William! You need to calm down!"

I hear her words, but my body doesn't react. How? All I feel is a small heat.

She runs to me and puts her arms around me. "I said calm down!"

I try to move, but she won't let go. "Get off me." I can't hurt her. "Please."

She tightens her grip around me. "You need to relax your mind. Tell me about Amelia."

"Her and my daughter were my whole life." Anger builds inside me. "And they were taken from me when I was brought here."

"You have a daughter? What's her name?"

"Lily." A tear falls from my eyes. "I just want them back."

"How would Lily feel if she saw you like this?"

My little girl. I've done everything I can to never let her see me upset or angry. I fall to my knees, the flames extinguished, tears flooding my eyes. I grab Kaori. "I'm sorry."