When Embers Grow

Chapter Seven: Run

Edited.
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They headed straight for the forest.

Leaves whipped past them as they ran deeper and deeper into the gloom of trees. Alex ran a few feet ahead of Ivy, his arms pumping in a steady rhythm as if to a melody.

When Ivy had been taken to the Sanctuary, she had spent years and years training to become an expert killer, more than half of those days were spent on running up mountains and across counties. Long story short, she was a rather good runner and so was her companion.

They rounded a corner after a few hours of running without disturbance when Alex slowed to a jog and then stopped altogether. "We should rest here for the night." A large cave entrance lay in front of them hidden behind shrubbery. As assassins they had been taught to see through things and people.

Ivy turned her head up to look at the sky, the first star lay high and mighty on its lonesome; glaring down at the ground with a gleaming eye.

Ivy turned back to the cave with a shiver, she'd heard stories that the North star led to the Witches and their horrifying caverns. Ivy assumed that the stories were children's myths to stop them from eating cookies or something but it still sent dread through her stomach.

She watched as Alex walked cautiously inside the mouth of the cave, casting a glance back at her to follow. She walked over to Alex and they went in together, darting their eyes this way and that checking for any threats.

The cave was empty and a sigh of relief escaped her mouth. Exhaustion crept up on her and she slumped slightly, posture wasn't a priority at that moment. Alex yawned and she smiled slightly, she wasn't the only tired one here.

They left the fire, not sure if any nearby predators would sniff them out for dinner, and curled up to sleep. Ivy wrapped her cloak around her and drifted off.
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She dreamt of a small village. The sun lay in the middle of the light blue sky and a rainbow danced and twinkled in its wake. People gathered at the entrance and cheered for someone beyond her. She turned in the direction of the villagers eyes and froze.

A dozen or so men and women rode on horseback in steel armour with swords at their sides and smiles on their faces. Royalty. A voice hissed in her ear as she gaped at them. She turned back to look at the villagers and frowned. Instead of a frenzy of shouting and waving, there stood a boy with stark white hair and big blue eyes. Daniel stood with his hands in his pockets and pity written all over his face. He stared at her with mild curiosity and she with confusion. Why was he here? Her mother had always told her that dreams had a deeper meaning to them and that they sometimes echoed the future.

She took a step towards him and stopped when his eyes began to change. The blue liquidised and morphed into black, so black that they swallowed up the pupils. Something cold and sharp was pressed against her kneck holding her still. "Wake up." She frowned and wriggled about, only to have the blade tightened to her throat. "Wake up, Anora." Ivy froze stiff and prayed that the dream meant nothing. That, that name meant nothing. The dream started to blur and the strangers voice turned into something more familiar, to familiar. And just like that, reality snatched her up.
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Ivy gasped awake, her eyes flung open and the world spinning around her. A face hovered over her own with malice and fury. She looked into Voyheii's eyes in a daze. She glanced at where Alex had been and stopped her struggle.

"Where's Alex?" She asked in a deadpan voice.

"Gone."

"Where?"

Voyheii shrugged and pulled her up. She stared at him in confusion, then anger, and finally frustration.

This was going to be good, but not for him.

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Hey, wonder what happened to Alex? Thank you for reading and I appreciate votes!

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