The Forgotten Light

Prolog 2

So far, Ritael has yet to meet such a fast child. The girl must have either been no ordinary kid or extremely frightened. In any case, she ran after the strangely dressed girl, followed by the rest of the group. Usain called out to the little runaway to stop. 

Next to him, Harlyn cursed under his breath and complained loudly. "We were supposed to just explore the area, possibly grab some tack and get out of here, and we're chasing some brat instead? Where did she even come from?"

His older brother Ace shoved him forward, but at the same moment all six of them came to a dead stop as the girl threw a rock that appeared in her hand out of nowhere.

The storefront window shattered into nothingness. The child ran on like there was no tomorrow, leaping over the debris and away from the deserted city. She didn't stop or look back even once.

Ritael must not have seen it right. She looked at her friends, however, and saw the same disbelief.

Usain was the first to snap out of his surprise. He passed her and the twins, calling out to the girl. Ritael followed, moving numbly in his wake. Catching up with the running kid, she noticed that the it was taking weaker and weaker steps. It's knees were shaking, bending dangerously close to the ground. It was apparent that any moment she was in imminent danger of falling.

However, the little one did not give up, which was truly something to marvel at.

Suddenly she tripped over roots growing out of the ground fell flat painfully and didn't move again.

Ritael and Usain ran to her, panting heavily. The mentor crouched down beside the child, turning her carefully onto her back.

Ritael held her breath, biting her finger.

The girl was barely alive. She looked at them from under heavy eyelids almost unconscious. Her chapped lips testified to horrible dehydration. Her brow was cut from the fall and her hands were battered. Pebbles and sand were still stuck in the wounds. Her tiny chest was rising fast and shallow with each shuddering inhale and exhale.

"Kailee, get me some water. Quickly," Usain asked, taking the little one in his arms.

The girl pulled the started bottle out of her backpack and unscrewed it. The man, supporting the girl's head, poured a little water into her mouth. He waited for her to swallow, but the child only stared at them. From under her squinted eyelids one could see her unusual blue eyes, which glowed slightly with a strange light. Bright hair was escaping from a long braid, and her tanned face was dirty. A strange belt held an oversized jacket around her waist, her white sneakers were completely worn out.

Ritael knelt down beside her and gently took her small hand in her own.

"You don't have to be afraid and run away from us. We are not your enemy. Not us."

They did not know if the girl heard anything. Anyways, after these words, she finally swallowed the water she held distrustfully in her mouth, then her eyes closed and her breathing became almost imperceptible.