Ven: Part 1

Ch. 2: Caught Out

The farm is bordered on three sides by a dirt road, it's fourth side is blocked by a densely wooded area.

I'd found myself at the road not long after leaving the small house and had immediately gotten bored.

I'd since begun wandering towards the woods, hoping there's something in there.

The Burns are really nice people, they seem like a happy family.

The homesickness has come back.

I'd mostly gotten over it.

The last two years have been long and lonely, but I weathered them.

Didn't have a choice really.

I decided as soon as I fell here.

I'm going to be free.

"Keep your voice down!" A hiss rouses me from my thoughts.

I freeze in place.

I slowly look around to see a haggard looking couple hunkered down around a tiny fire.

"I'm cold," a gaunt looking man complains. "Can't we make it bigger?'

"It's too big as it is," the hiss belongs to worryingly thin girl. "We're risking a lot here!"

I go to call out to them.

A warm hand squeezes my shoulder tightly.

"Get down, son," Greg whispers to me. "Ain't gonna get you anywhere meddlin' with 'em."

I crouch down as low as I can, my head and shoulders still sticking out over the underbrush.

"Why?" I ask.

"They're power users," he says darkly, squatting down next to me, his head barely peeking out.

"Okay...?"

"The King has decreed that no power users are to be out of the palace," he stares at them, a faint light glinting in his eyes from the tiny flame. "They're putting my family at risk being here."

I stare at them.

"So, what are you going to do?" I ask him somewhat absently.

"Already done it," his voice is empty, void of its usual warm gruffness.

A hammering fills the air, metallic clanking barely filters in through the racket.

A troupe of armour-clad soldier's march in, surrounding the couple.

They stare around, wide eyed and afraid.

My heart hammers in my chest, their fear resonating with me. My breath quickens, the edges of my vision begin to darken.

Help them!

Don't bother, you can barely help yourself.

Shut up...

"Stay down, son," Greg's fingers dig painfully into my arm, the slightest of tremors coming through.

A figure walks through slowly, each step carefully planned.

A man in a simple singlet and track pants enters the ring of soldiers. A golden crown inlaid with pink gemstones sits atop his head.

"You can't be here," he says, his accent thick.

"We won't go back..." The gaunt man's voice trembles.

"You don't have a choice."

He pulls out two pairs of golden bracelets, all bearing the same pink gemstone.