The Chosen Dawnseeker

Chapter 11

Hannah woke up in Whispering Willows, with Aria, Rylan, Ethan, Kieran and Blaze, Evelyn, Lena, and even Eldran standing outside the gated door. Hannah looked to them all. "How long was I out?"
"Long enough. What the hell were you thinking? You could've died" Kieran said.
"But I didn't. I'm alive, just like I promised" Hannah reassured him.
"Thalia now has a bunch of people convinced that they should kill you to stop everything bad that's happening. She believes it's all your fault" Aria informed her.
"Would you be mad if I said that she's partially right?" Hannah said, having all her memories back, just like Branor said. "What are you talking about?" Rylan asked.
"I remember. Everything. This place? We weren't out here because we were shunned or forgotten. We were put here because we were focused on, seen as important. This is all an experiment, a test. The people who put us here were using us as human lab rats, via injections and training. And then people were disappearing. Every few months, they were being sent here. But not everyone was sent here though" Hannah explained.
"What?" Aria asked.
"I remember, something Jenna told me. She said she didn't get why they sent me here as I was always the special one. Guys, I did this to you. I made everything here, I helped them make this place. I worked for them, I was a key figure in this. This was all my fantasy. I'm the Chosen Dawnseeker because they made me the chosen Dawnseeker, on the outside. Something happened to me that made me The Chosen Dawnseeker outside of this, but I don't remember what it was. It started this whole thing. Even you, Eldran. You were one of their most important subjects for experimentation. We trapped you here, giving this place a reason for adventure. I watched you guys for years, watching you struggle. Thalia's right, this is all my fault" Hannah explained, just about on the verge of tears. She hated herself, for putting everyone through this.
"Y'know what? That doesn't change a damn thing" Kieran said.
"Not at all" Aria said. "And you wanna know why? Because you ARE the Chosen Dawnseeker. No matter how you became it, it's what you are" Aria said. "The person that you were before being sent up is gone now. That was the consequence of being experimented on. But what does matter is that you don't give up on us"
"Hannah, you went into the jungle and you found a potential way out. You became the Chosen Dawnseeker, you became it. Because you risked your life countless times. That's what makes you the chosen Dawnseeker" Rylan said.
"But Jenna and Aelar paid the price because of that" Hannah said.
"Ok but we can't bring them back. But like Rylan told you earlier, if they were here, they'd tell you this: get your ass off that floor and finish this. If we do nothing and we sit here and sulk, that means that those two died for jack shit and that's not the truth. I can't have this, Hannah, I can't. You are the bravest woman I've ever known, and like I said, I will follow you and stay by your side forever but I can only do that if you decide to go forward with this. Do you understand me? You started this, you finish it. And we'll all be right with you when you do" Ethan said. The words stayed in Hannah's brain as she got a hold of herself. She told herself to get a grip. "Ok just get me out of here then. And I know how to handle Thalia, just let me out"

The village was destroyed, every house and every building. Smoke still remained in the rubble. One of Thalia's goons had Hannah and Eldran by the arms, walking them out to the veil of mystique. The others followed behind. They dropped Hannah on the ground and Thalia walked over and lifted her head up. "Y'know, I really didn't wanna have to do this but you are the epitome of death. So now, you're gonna get what you deserve, you little shit" Thalia said, as she lifted Hannah up. Hannah woke up, and stomped on Thalia's foot before elbowing her in the mouth. She grabbed her dagger and pointed it towards Thalia. Eldran used his magic and smashed the goon's faces into the dirt. Kieran, Ethan, Rylan, Aria, Lena and Evelyn walked behind Hannah, each with their own weapons in hand.
"You knew this was coming, Thalia. There is a life out there, outside of those big walls. I know there is. But we have to find it first" Hannah tried to convince her.
"You're gonna kill all of these guys, just like you got Aelar and Jenna killed. I don't care if you're the chosen dawnseeker, I won't let you kill them. You think you're a leader? You're just scaring them" Thalia said.
"Scaring them? I'm not scaring anybody, alright? And if they are, that's fine. I'm fucking terrified. I'm scared out of my mind. But I'd rather face my fears than run from them. I know the Baneclaws are back out there but we have the silver weapons to kill them. We get past them, we get out. This place was never a home, to any of you. This was just a replacement, while you're being tested on by people who think they're above everyone. I would know. I'm not proud of it, but I used to be one of them. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna sit here feeling guilty. They trapped us here for their own little game, and now it's time that we get out and show them why they shouldn't have. We'll get out, I can promise you that. All you have to do is trust me" Hannah said, trying to convince them. Two of Thalia's goons stepped over and got behind Hannah but the rest stayed.
"If you want to stay, that's your choice. But I'm done begging. So make a choice now or stay a human lab rat" Hannah tried one last time. No one moved. Hannah looked Thalia in the eyes. "It's over, Thalia. I know you don't like me, but once we get out, we never have to see each other again. Just come with us, save yourself. Please" Hannah begged. Thalia stayed quiet and then spoke. "Ok. Alright I'll come. You better know what you're doing" Thalia said as she stepped over. Hannah looked to the others who still stayed and felt sorry for them. She holstered her dagger and turned, running through the veil of mystique with them. Lena stayed closer to Hannah, and Aria stayed by Rylan as they sprinted through the Ethereal Grove. It wasn't long before they reached the Shadowthorn Hollow. Hannah didn't waste any time, she ran and launched herself off the body of a tree and threw her dagger into the mouth of one of the baneclaws, sending the rest into a frenzy of attack. Hannah and her group did a good job, fending off the baneclaws with Hannah, Eldran and Aria killing the most of them. She looked over and saw Kieran get tackled by a baneclaw. "Kieran!" She shouted, and started to run over when the baneclaw was knocked off of him by some orange shape. She helped Kieran get up, and looked over and noticed that it was Blaze, the fox. He was actually going ham on the baneclaw and Hannah halfway smiled at this. But it was about to turn grim real quick. The baneclaw that Blaze was attacking was one of the last ones, and Kieran was scared shitless.
"Blaze! Come on, we have to go. Just leave it" He pleaded. But the fox kept attacking. The baneclaw bit down on Blaze time after time but he still attacked. He attacked and attacked until soon, the baneclaw collapsed out of exhaustion. It went limp, not moving. Blaze stood there, all bloodied up. Then he began to whine and trotted over to Kieran. Hannah's heart broke, knowing that the fox wasn't going to make it. Kieran hugged the fox tightly. "Thank you so much, buddy. I love you" Kieran said, fighting back tears. Evelyn was trying to comfort him, and the fox took his last breath. Kieran dropped the body of the fox and kept back his tears. He looked to Hannah. "Lead the way. Get us out of here" He said, clearly hiding his sadness. Hannah nodded and led the way, but she side-hugged Kieran first. Then she looked to the group. "Ok just up there are the mechanical electronic doors. This is our last chance. Baneclaws are up there, protecting the doors. We get through this now, or we die like heroes. You got it?" Hannah said. They all nodded with Lena looking at Hannah with seemingly stars in her eyes. Hannah turned around and began running, pushing past the trees and making it to the series of massive metal gates that were the mechanical electronic doors, adorned with intricate steampunk gears and glowing force field barriers, emitting a faint hum of power. A baneclaw saw them and immediately barreled over to them. Hannah jumped out of the way, and Rylan took a spear and shoved it into its mouth, and it thrashed around in pain. Hannah jumped onto its back and smashed its head in with the dagger, killing it. Then she turned to the doors behind them. She looked at them and placed her hand on them, and then what sounded like gears began to turn. The area around them changed to a yellow glow and the area around them changed, the doors shifting open and them all stepping through. They stood in front of a shimmering, ethereal veil that reflected a distorted image of Hannah and the group, with intricate engravings of ancient symbols and runes etched along its edges. Hannah put her hand forward and felt something, almost like a liquid. It was a cover. Hannah grunted and ran forward, the rest of the group following her.