A new beginning

Chapter 4

__"Maeve! Run!" She screamed at me. I could hear the urgency in her voice, but my body refused to move. The fear of what was chasing us paralyzed me, leaving me trapped in place. Senna is fighting her way to me, but there are too many of them. Desperation set in as I finally found the strength to stand, run, and help my sister, despite the darkness that seemed to swallow me whole as I struggled to help her. Everything began to blur around me as I pushed through the shadows, my heart pounding in my chest. The adrenaline fueled me as I raced towards Senna, determined to protect her at all costs. "I can't lose her." I thought, my breath ragged as I fought against the overwhelming urge to give up. The sound of Senna's voice calling out to me gave me the push I needed to keep going, knowing that we had to make it out of this alive. I fly my knife, landing right between the fays eyes. I took an additional knife from my belt to frow, just as one was about to bite Senna's arm. Senna's eyes widened in shock as she watched me take down the Fays with precision. We locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between us as we continued to fight for survival. The ground appears to shake violently beneath us, causing us to stumble and lose our footing. Despite the chaos, we held onto each other, determined to make it through together. Rocks and debris fell around us as we navigated the unstable ground. The ground began to crack open, revealing a deep void that threatened to swallow us whole. Senna lost her balance and fell into the widening crack when my footing gave way, leading me to bump into her. We both reached for one another, desperate to keep her from falling any further. Our fingers barely touched before she slipped out of my grasp and disappeared into the darkness below. I could hear her muffled screams as she plummeted down the abyss. "SENNA!" I frantically shouted, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to come up with a plan to save her. The sound of her screams echoed in my ears. They slowly faded away, leaving me with a sinking feeling of dread.__

When my body abruptly rose, I yelled out, "NOO!" I was dreaming of her death, an awful fact that hit me as I trembled from attempting to gather my thoughts and make sense of the disturbing recollections. The memory of her unexpected death continues to plague my thoughts, even after all this time. The memory of her falling into that abyss is etched into my mind, causing me to feel a sense of guilt and sorrow that I can't seem to shake. I tried to clear my head and slow my beating heart, but the image of Senna falling still reappears in my head. "Who is Senna?" someone asked while standing nearby, breaking me out of my trance. When I looked up at the one who had spoken, Celest was standing there; she must have heard my cry of dread or seen the anguish on my face. It dawned on me that I was no longer in the cave but in a bedroom that had been transformed into a cell. With my body covered in bandages and restraints, I realized I was a prisoner. Celest's eyes held a mixture of concern and pity as she approached me, her voice soft as she asked, "What happened to her?" I turned my back on her because I didn't want to tell her anything about my sister. "For what's it worth with what I'm about to say?" She stated, "I'm sorry that you had to go through that." She spoke with a voice full of understanding. I felt uneasy after hearing what she said. Was there a hidden meaning behind her words? The words she spoke moved my heart. Just to add more to her resemblance to my sister Senna, her gentle yet authoritative tone was reminiscent of Senna's own way of handling difficult situations. I needed to concentrate on what was essential right now, I told myself, pushing away the terrible memories. As I attempted to shake the feelings away, I told myself to be on guard and not allow my emotions to cloud my judgment, particularly in the presence of someone who reminds me so much of Senna. A man approached us, interrupting my thoughts. His piercing gaze and confident demeanor immediately put me on edge. Was he a friend or a foe? I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. "After an extensive search lasting nearly five days, we found you." The man said it in a low, gravelly voice. "You've been unconscious for almost two weeks." My heart sank at the realization of how much time had passed while I was out. The man's words sent a wave of panic through me as I struggled to piece together what had happened. I couldn't help but wonder what had transpired during those two weeks of unconsciousness. "You are one tough cookie." he continued, a hint of admiration in his voice. "But now that you're awake, we can finally start getting some answers." Now I was looking at him. The man is quite tall, dressed in blue, worn-out pants, and a black shirt. His dirty blond hair went over his shoulders, and his piercing blue eyes held a sense of urgency. I didn't feel safe around him because he seemed so authoritative with the gun across his chest. The man seemed to demand power and control, making me wary of his intentions. Despite his intimidating presence, I knew I had to stay alert and figure out my next move in this unfamiliar situation. "What are you going to do with me?" As a result of that, I had not used my voice for such a long time; it came out hoarse. The man's expression softened slightly at the sound of my voice, but his grip on the gun did not waver. I could sense a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, as if he was also unsure of what to do next. What he had to say next was going to be significant, and I knew that I needed to pay close attention to what he had to say. Despite the fact that I was experiencing a growing sense of dread, I made an effort to keep a level head. It was essential for me to maintain my wits about me and properly evaluate the situation before making any abrupt movements. "The outcome is based upon the specific information you provide." The way he hesitated before speaking only added to my anxiety. Is this an intentional method to deliberately increase my anxiety? His cryptic response confirms my suspicions that there is more to this situation than meets the eye. I intend to remain focused and carefully consider my next steps in order to effectively navigate this situation. "Have you shared the information that I revealed to you?" I gaze at Celest with a curious expression in silence, prompting her to respond with complete honesty. The outcome of her reaction will dictate my next approach to managing this sensitive circumstance. "They desire to receive the information directly from you." In response, Celest holds a protective posture and refuses to provide any further details. This further solidifies my belief that there is a hidden agenda at play. This is just getting more complicated by the second. "Escort her to the courthouse within a time frame of ten minutes." He commanded Celest and departed from the cell without even glancing at me. Upon hearing the words "The Courthouse," I involuntarily displayed a look of disapproval. "Do you really possess a courthouse?" Never did I envision encountering those words again in this world. Upon learning about the courthouse, I freely conveyed my skepticism, as it seemed to be an artifact from a bygone era. The inclusion of a courthouse added to the mystery surrounding the event. "Who will be representing me as my legal counsel?" I asked Celest while she was unfastening me from the bed. The hole idea made me want to laugh out loud—a courthouse in this post-apocalyptic world seemed absurd. However, when Celest chose not to speak, I came to the realization that the gravity of the issue was far more severe than I had previously thought. Contemplating the prospect of appearing in court in this unfamiliar location, I couldn't help but have a sense of unease. "Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough." I muttered to myself as Celest led me down the dimly lit hallway towards the unknown. The floor creaked beneath our feet, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the broken-down building. As we approached the courtroom, the sound of shuffling papers and hushed whispers grew louder, intensifying my nerves. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to be a long day filled with unexpected twists and turns.