The Fire Guardians

Chapter 5

Chapter 5:   

                Breathe.

                Using all my energy, I concentrated on one thing. Breathing. I kept forcing myself to inhale and exhale. Inhale and exhale. I opened the back door of the jeep, and slid in. Claire joined me in the backseat, and I saw that Vic and Sarah were in the front.

                “Hi, Krista,” Vic said. As I turned to look at him, my eyes caught a glimpse of my house. There, before my eyes, was the place I grew up in. That place that held so many memories. I remembered the day we moved in. It was so clean and empty. Now it was filled with the cracks and dents found in a worn, loved home. Leaving it felt like losing a part of me…

                Breathe.

                My lungs desperately gasped for oxygen. I couldn’t tear my eyes from the house and every breath grew harder. Then I felt a hand on my arm. I jerked away, and stared at Claire.

                “Calm down,” she said and I tried to settle back into my seat once I realized I was making a scene.

                “Are we ready then?” Vic asked. No answer. Vic started the car anyways, and we began to drive away from the house. Regret washed over me like waves. “Go back! Go back!” My brain screamed. Yet my lips wouldn’t open. So I sat there, clutching my bag, trying to focus on one thing.

                Breathe.

                I wasn’t thinking of any other word but that one. Claire kept glancing over at me, but she didn’t speak. Her expression was disguised by the darkness that flooded into the car. The entire ride was silent. There was nothing to say.

                “Krista,” a voice said. My eyes fluttered open and I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep. Vic had the door opened and Claire and Sarah stood behind him. I stepped hazily out of the car, and steadied my feet on the earth below.

                “Where are we?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.

                “Home,” Vic said warmly. The area around us reminded me of a small dirt parking lot. This was Brent? A dirt parking lot? Perhaps I had fallen into these people’s trap. Thousands of situations played out before me. Would these people try to kill me? Or torture me for their entertainment? What if they were a cult? Was I a sacrifice?

                “We have to walk a while to get to our destination. It’s tucked deep into the forest,” Vic said. Oh God. These people were going to kill me. Deep in the forest. No one could hear me scream. No one would know. My body would be hidden. Away from everyone.

                “Are you coming?” Claire asked. Sarah had already started walking into the forest. Claire was a few feet behind her and Vic was still waiting with me beside the car.

                “Why are we in a parking lot?” I asked. Fear crept into my voice.

                “Messengers come here. They are the only ones who use cars. The rest of the population of Brent walks or ride animals,” Vic explained. Liar, I thought, imagining him slitting my throat once we reached the “destination” known as “Brent.”

                “Good day, Victor,” an unfamiliar voice said. I turned around and saw a short man standing behind me.

                “Who’s that?” I asked. The short man seemed confused and looked at Vic. The short man’s face changed once something clicked in his head.