Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 18

Upon reaching the waterfall, the sight of crystal-clear water glimmered beneath the sunlight, as if inviting them to leave their worries behind. Zayn was the first to undress and leap into the refreshing water, soon followed by Kyle, Eva, and Xavier. Ellen, however, remained perched on a large stone, watching her siblings with a soft smile as they splashed and laughed.

She stared up at the sky, her hand instinctively reaching for the locket around her neck. As she held it close, a feeling of surrealness washed over her. Is this really happening? she wondered. For a moment, it felt as though the peace they were experiencing was a dream—fleeting and fragile.

“Hey guys, I’ll be back. There’s something I want to check,” Ellen said suddenly, standing up.
Eva, smiling brightly from the water, waved her off. “Okay! We’ll be here when you get back.”
As Ellen walked deeper into the forest, the sounds of laughter and water splashing faded behind her

. The thick greenery enveloped her, and she felt a strange pull, as though something unseen was guiding her steps. After a while, she stumbled upon a patch of plants, their branches heavy with medium sized, sweet-smelling fruits.
The scent stirred memories of her time with the old man—of the afternoons when he’d bring home similar fruits from his farm, their sweetness filling the air around them. She could almost hear his voice as she plucked one from the branch. These, however, were different from what she remembered; their colour was a bluish hue, unlike the green fruits she’d once known.
Cautiously, she examined the fruits they smelled quite enticing, she carefully picked several of them before turning back toward the waterfall.

“Alright, that’s enough, we should be moving now,” Ellen called out as she approached the group, holding the strange fruits she had gathered. Eva, still dripping from the water, tilted her head curiously. “What are those?”
Ellen smiled, tossing each of them a fruit. “Oh, these? I’m not sure what they’re called, but they smell and taste just like the sweet greenrose fruits the old man used to bring me.”
Xavier, examining the bluish fruit in his hand, raised an eyebrow. “Are these safe to eat, considering you just found them on an unknown island?”

“They’re safe, trust me,” Ellen reassured him with a confident smile.
After a moment of hesitation, they all took bites, and soon the sweet flavour filled their mouths, refreshing them for the journey ahead. They quickly got ready, gathering their belongings and following Ellen as she led them deeper into the forest. The sounds of the waterfall faded behind them as they ventured into the dense greenery, guided by the map.

Meanwhile, far behind them, the royal ships finally made landfall. The king’s men disembarked, their weapons ready, each arrow laced with the deadly poison that had been promised. As they spread out, scanning the area for signs of their targets, Amina who had arrived with them kneeled beside a set of footprints in the soil. She placed her palm on one of them, her eyes narrowing.
“She’s not alone,” she murmured. “There are five of them—three males, two females. They haven’t gone far.”
The king, standing nearby, gave a curt nod. “No time to waste then. Let us proceed.”

Without further delay, the group pressed on, their pace quickening as they followed the trail through the forest, determined to catch up with Ellen and the others before they reached their destination. The air grew thick with tension as the pursuit began, the dense foliage around them seeming to close in as both groups moved deeper into the island’s mysterious heart.
As they stepped into the vast desert, the sudden shift in the landscape confused them all. "Huh... is it supposed to be like this?" Zayn asked, scanning the endless stretch of sand.

Ellen furrowed her brow, looking down at the map in her hand. "No, it's not. There should be more trees and a path in between them." She pointed to the spot on the map, her voice laced with concern.

Xavier glanced at the surrounding desert, frowning. "We didn’t prepare for this. A desert wasn't in our plans."
"It doesn’t matter," Kyle said firmly, stepping forward. "Standing here won’t get us anywhere."

The others exchanged worried glances but followed him into the barren expanse. They trudged across the hot sand for miles, sweat beading on their foreheads as the sun beat down on them. Suddenly, without warning, arrows rained down from above, whistling through the air.
"Watch out!" Ellen cried, quickly forming a protective shield with her abilities, but she wasn’t fast enough to block them all. A single arrow slipped through her defence, striking Kyle at the side of his abdomen.

Time seemed to freeze.
Eva’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Kyle stagger and fall to the ground. Her heart pounded in her chest, panic flooding her mind. "Kyle!" she screamed, rushing to his side as more arrows thudded against Ellen's shield.

The rest of the group huddled around Kyle, their faces filled with fear and concern. Blood seeped through his shirt as he clutched the wound, his face pale. Eva’s hands trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.
Ellen's face was grim, focusing all her energy on maintaining the shield around them. "Stay low!" she commanded, her voice tight with strain. "I’ll hold them off, but I can’t do it forever."

Eva, frozen in place, stared at her brother, her mind racing. Memories of their childhood, their adventures, and their bond flooded her thoughts. A wave of helplessness washed over her.
She reached out to Kyle tears landing on his face.
"Eva..." Kyle whispered, his voice weak, “I don’t …like that look on your face.” He said trying to put on a smile.