Lost Memories

Chapter 8 - Alice

Alice's POV

"So, first of all, I'm going to teach you the art of throwing punches. Properly." Onix said. We stood beneath the trees just outside the cave. It was just past sunrise and the reds of the sky warned us of an up coming storm that was just visible on the horizon. The forest was alive as ever, as if it had a beating heart that was tied to the animals within it.

"If my punch wasn't enough for you two days ago, maybe I should refresh your memory." I said cockily, holding up my fists.

"I'm fine at the moment, actually, but thanks for the offer. I'm just going to show you a technique that will keep you from harming yourself whilst you're harming others. When you throw one, don't tuck your thumb inside your hand, you could break it or the rest of your hand if you do that. Pull back, and then swing, full force. Try it out on me, don't worry about hurting me."

"Oh, I won't worry," I smirked, then let my fist fly.

We carried on like this for hours, him teaching me offensive and defensive techniques then practicing them on him while he blocked or dodged. The number of times he hunched over was too many for me to count; I just stood there and laughed whenever he wiped out. A few times whilst sparring, I threw a dirty move here and there like tripping him or giving him a dead leg. Afterwards, he looked thoroughly beat and I had seemed to get off lightly. I was slightly sceptical about that. Afterwards, we began knife throwing, which was pretty straight forward, like archery only easier in my opinion.

We headed back to the cave, our conversation full of banter that was thrown out in streams of remarks and comments against each other's 'inability' to fight or hunt. Once we had walked through the creaking door, I noticed all the guys huddled together. When they noticed us standing there, they dispersed, staring at our battered faces with angered looks. I was stunned to silence, trying to thing of what had happened whilst we were out. There had to be a reasonable explanation. It wasn't long until me question was answered. Finch stood up.

"Onix, I want them out, now." he said sternly.

"What?" Onix looked just as shocked as I was.

"Do I have to spell it out for you? I. Want. Them. Out." His cold glare stabbed in my direction

"But, why?" My voice shook, this couldn't be happening.

"You lied to us. How could you do that? You said you weren't a criminal, you were innocent, and you had no reason to be locked away in that prison and I believed you. I can't believe I let you endanger us all!"

"What? I am innocent; I wasn't lying to you or anyone else. What made you think I would?" It was set in his eyes, there would be no use in persuading him, I could tell, but that didn't stop me from arguing my innocence in the matter.

He pulled two pieces of crumpled up paper from the back of his scruffy jeans and tossed them at Onix and me.

"This told me." He growled.

Onix uncrumpled one piece, and I the other. I gulped in air, suddenly feeling clammy all over. In the centre of Onix's was a picture of me and on mine was a picture of Annie. Wanted was scrawled across the top of the pages. Underneath the pictures were our names: 'Annabelle Croft' and 'Kennedy Alice Blake'. Across the bottom said '13000000 Unit reward'. Down the sides was written 'Warning: Dangerous fugitives'. Wow. I stood there gob smacked for a minute or so. Finch broke the silence.

"There are guards swarming the woods, they're turning over every rock looking for you, so if you're not dangerous, who are you and what have you done?"