Freedom's Horizon (WLW) (Full Trilogy - Ongoing/Editing)

Book Two: Part Three: Chapter Ten

June 1746, On the Island of Roatan

"...but she ran off before I could grab her." Ines heard from someone speaking closeby.

It was odd. The last thing she recalled was taking Gen's hand and venturing behind her into the forest which only one of their party could successfully navigate. Perhaps it really was impossible for anyone to travel within this jungle, aside from Colel of course, without being lost and that was precisely where Ines found herself.

About thirty minutes prior, the sun was high in the sky, she heard the chirps of nearby birds and the chatter of the monkeys and the family was all together. Fifteen minutes ago, however, she found herself in entirely differing circumstances. Ines had realized she was slowly drifting upward away from the others and Gen, unable to call out to them as nothing but a slight whisper would leave her lips no matter how hard she tried to yell. Soon enough, she realized that she was lifted right out of the rope around her torso and watched as Gen peered back at where she previously stood.

Gen began to panic and before Ines knew it, she was running into the jungle, calling out her name. She was unable to do a thing as the family, one by one, separated and began acting erratically as if led by some unknown, unseen force. Not again! Ines refused to lose anyone else and finally noticed a vine was wrapped around one of her suspenders, keeping her hovering just out of sight. She took the sword Gen gave her from its sheath along her hip and swiped it overhead, plummeting to the soil below.

When she was able to get her bearings, Ines stood and hoisted her saber from the ground, replacing it in its sheath. She swiveled her head as she registered which way each crewmate scattered, fixing her gaze in Gen's direction, but an opaque fog had rolled in and the light around herself appeared to be dwindling more by the moment. The dense mist even traipsed as high up as the jungle's canopy and she found herself at a loss for words. It made no sense. It was still the afternoon, so why was it so dusk outside?

Ines marched her way through the trees until all around her was darkness only slightly highlighted by the light escaping past the thick tent of the greenery overhead. She felt her breath speed up as she looked every which way, trying to regain any sense of footing in the foreign land, until she heard the faint sound of laughter. Letting it guide her to what she hoped would be one of the crew, Ines traveled through the heavy brush as best as she could and pushed the last vestige she could muster.

Freezing in place, Ines peeked through the shrubs lining what appeared to be a small campsite and spotted a man sitting in front of a fire. She didn't recognize him, but all she saw was his back, so it could have been one of the younger men, Gustavo or Felipe. However, she was made sure it wasn't upon noticing a person whom she did recognize on the dirt covered ground nearby where he sat perched on an overturned log. There off to the other side of the fire lay Margaret who was turned over on her side and hanging on the unknown man's every word.

"It would have been nice to see her again and I know you would rather be with them, Yewubdar." The man stood and walked over to Margaret, though it appeared he was referring to her by another name as he kept his back to Ines and she maintained her vantage point. He knelt down in front of Margaret and sat her up, but as she went for his throat with her hands still bound together by her wrists, he struck her across the face. She hit the ground with a resounding thud and yelp, and then her head was forcibly lifted by the back of her hair. "Do not force my hand, little one. I do not wish to hurt you of all people. Please, call out to them."

"No..." Margaret wrenched her head to the side and glared at the man, only further enticing his paramount rage.

Throwing her face down into the mulch hard enough to make her gasp and shudder as he then raised her head once more, he repeated in a calm and steady tone defying the anger his actions held, "I said I do not wish you pain, though not that I would hesitate to use it if need be. Call out to them, Yewubdar."