The Disaster Born's

Chapter Twenty One - Alysia

The cold weather clings to my face, a biting chill that seeps into my skin. The atmosphere has changed; it's dark and ominous, the kind of darkness that feels alive. "Ash," I whisper, my voice barely audible. Despite the eerie surroundings, I'm not worried because I can still feel his reassuring touch.

"Lys, where are we?" he asks, his voice tinged with confusion. I frown at him, then continue to walk, pushing through the dense forestry. Ash follows closely behind, his presence a comforting shadow.

We finally reach the edge of the forest, and the moon hangs still in the sky, casting a ghostly light over what appears to be a cemetery. The soil is rich and dark, and the air whistles through the trees and bushes, making them rustle like whispers in the night. I glance at Ash, and he purses his lips together. We exchange a synchronised nod, a silent agreement to investigate further.

The Cemetery is protected by a medium sized wall, Ash crouches down, offering his knee to boost me over the wall. I laugh softly, shaking my head. "I'm good," I say gently, running towards the wall. I jump and hoist myself up, my hands gripping the wet moss that covers it.

He shrugs his shoulders and follows my actions. We both hop over the wall, landing on our feet, though Ash stumbles slightly. I laugh, amused by his lack of balance. My eyes are immediately drawn to the gravestones, countless in number, covered in moss, dirt, and spider webs. Their names are barely readable, showing just how ancient they are. I crouch down at one of the stones, rubbing my finger across the indentation of the writing, trying to decipher the faded letters.

"Why hide a cemetery?" Ash asks, his voice mirroring the confusion I feel. I shake my head slowly, my mind racing with possibilities. "I'm not sure," I say softly, the mystery of the hidden cemetery weighing heavily on my thoughts.

I stand from my crouching position and begin to walk around the cemetery, trying to piece together the puzzle. "Whatever it is or whoever these graves belong to, they didn't want them found," I say softly. Ash walks beside me, keeping the fire in his palm alight, casting eerie shadows on the ancient gravestones.

"LYS!" Ash suddenly shouts, crouching down at a gravestone that looks newer than the others. He uses the flame to illuminate the writing. I extend my hand, brushing away the cobwebs from the grave. "The Forgotten," I read out loud, the words sending a chill down my spine.

"MOVE IT!" A shout from deeper within the cemetery startles me. Ash quickly extinguishes his flame and pulls me down to crouch behind the gravestone with him. He lifts a finger to his lips, signalling me to stay quiet. I hear rustling and footsteps—two sets, to be precise.

"If we don't get back in time, he'll have both our asses," one of the voices says, clearly a man's voice, rough and impatient.

I peek over the gravestone and see them. One man, tall and muscular, is digging into the soil with a shovel, flinging dirt aside with each forceful thrust. His face is rugged, with a thick beard and a scar running down his cheek. The other man, smaller and wiry, stands nearby, his eyes darting around nervously. He has a more feminine voice, contrasting sharply with his companion's deeper, more intense tone.

Ash pulls me back down and whispers urgently, "Lys, we need to go now." His voice is filled with concern, his protective instincts kicking in.

"Then go, Ash," I say gently, determined to understand what is happening. I crouch-walk to a grave closer to the men, trying to get a better view. Ash widens his eyes at me, shaking his head in disbelief, but he follows nonetheless.

"I can't see anything!" the man digging shouts in frustration. The smaller man tuts at him and walks away, heading towards what seems like a vehicle. He places the keys into the ignition, and the headlights flick on, casting a harsh light over the cemetery. The larger man gives a thumbs up and continues shovelling the dirt.