The Lost ( A Sequel To The Forgotten )

The Dead Land

We follow the river in one direction, but it ends quickly at a small pond. Everyone looks around the pond, but it doesn't seem to hide anything. We agree to follow the river the other way and see what we find. And after a few minutes, it seems that we're headed in the right direction.

"We still haven't found the end," Person says. "That's a good thing, right?"

"I think so," I reply. "A journey is better than finding a little pond." But, after a bit more walking, we're all tired ad the sun is setting.

"Okay, guys," Tarna says with a yawn. "We'll settle down here." Everyone finds a spot to sleep in. My spot is a patch of soft grass. Cass squirms a bit closer, as usual.

"Wrive?" she asks. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"The mermaid bite," Cass reminds me. I gently touch my neck.

"Oh, that? It just stings now, really." Cass smiles in relief.

"Good. I was worried, Wrive. You didn't come up for air, and we knew the mermaid was attacking, and..." Cass trails off. "Wrive, why didn't you blast it with your shadow stuff?"

"I don't know," I reply. "I mean, I did, eventually. I guess it just didn't occur to me immediately, with the shock of the attack and all that." Neither of us speaks for a moment.

"That's never happening again, Wrive," Cass says firmly. "I'll make sure. You need to get that sword back."

"The sword I made?" I ask, nearly laughing. "Cass, I don't think I have time to make a sword while being drowned."

"Well then, you need to get quicker," she says. "You need to practice." I sigh and begin to stand up.

"Okay, fine. I'll practice." Cass springs up, too.

"Good. Let's get started."

Let's? I think. But I don't comment as I walk a bit away from the temporary camp, Cass not far behind. I take a deep breath and picture the black, sharp sword. The colors and shapes of the world begin to fade, and now I'm standing in a vast, empty land.

Sword, sword, sword. I need a sword. The black dots begin to swirl, faster than last time. But suddenly, I feel pain in my gut, and I bend over. The white Nothing Land snaps away, and I'm bending over in a plain, with color and shape now returned. I look at Cass in time to see her preparing a kick. I duck the blow this time and stand up straight again.

"What was that, Cass?" I exclaim angrily. She smiles.

"You gotta be quicker. Or else, in a real struggle, you'd be more than winded." I grit my teeth.

"Fine. So if I'm not quick enough, you'll 'kill' me?" Cass nods and grins. I sigh. This adds a new, annoying element to Nothing Land. I focus and try again. The sword forms itself in my mind.

Speed. I need speed. The world turns grey, and immediately the black dots begin flying. This time, they're all in the sky before I feel Cass' kick. But again, I'm snapped out of Nothing Land. Frustrated, I glare at Cass.

"I can't make a sword that fast," I complain.

"You have to," Cass replies simply. I groan and begin focusing again. But this time, the world doesn't turn grey. It might be my frustration. I know Cass' kick will be coming in a second or two, but Nothing Land doesn't return. I can almost sense the kick, coming soon. In three, two, one... I twirl and grab Cass' leg, which is inches away. I twist her leg, and she falls to the ground.