Land of the Hidden

Saving Tammika

Stepping out of the car, Ria crept behind a cluster of houses to sneak up on one of the two Elitians standing guard. Her doc martens scraped on the gravel, causing the guard to turn around, lightening fast Ria caught his hand and pinned him to the wall, knife to his throat. The other guard turned to see what was going on only to have Raphael twist his arm behind his back.
"Where are they keeping Tammika?" Ria demanded. Terrified, the guard gave them directions.
"Tie them up, take their weapons." Raphael instructed and Jared and Louise obliged swiftly.

Moving swiftly through the empty corridors the four teens finally made it to great oak doors. They flew open as the approached. Stand on a slightly raised platform Tammika stood with her back to them, facing a mirror. Her dark, curly hair was swept up into a meticulous updo, she wore a deep red dress that complimented her dark skin tone perfectly. She turned to face her once friends and smiled. But it wasn't Tammika's smile.

"I was wondering when you would show up." Her voice was smooth. Hands folded carefully the belled sleeves of her floor length dress fluttered in a breeze that was not there.
"Tammika? What?" Jared looked up at the unrecognisable girl.
"What happened to me? Well you could say, I grew up. Realised what you were to me. Nothing but childhood memories. You never cared for me. Not really. I was always the odd one out, you considered me stupid, thick, pathetic. Yet here you are. You have walked straight into my trap." Tammika started descending the steps. Frozen in their tracks the four stood stock still, hearts thumping in their chests. Tammika turned to Ria
"Clodagh tried to lead us off your trail, poor little lamb. She died for you. Died protecting Ria Lirten and her friends. You were her favourite."
Tammika leant forward and whispered in Ria's ear, "she loved you"
Ria blinked back tears, "Tammika, what have they done to you?"
Tammika laughed, but it wasn't Tammika's laugh. It was cold and harsh and sharp.
"Oh Ria.  Ria, Ria, Ria. They have done nothing except show me how wrong I was to trust you. Any of you."
Moving on to Jared, Tammika's lips curled. "You're stupid too. Stupid like I was, you think they like you. They don't. They don't respect you, they think you're pathetic."
"Don't listen to her!" Raphael shouted. At this point guards had come and held each of them by the elbows.
"Ha! Raphael." Tammika moved to stand in front of him.
"That anger will be your undoing. Keep that anger."
Silent tears slipped down Louise's face. Tammika lifted her chin up.
"What's the matter Louise? Crocodiles tears won't help you now." Angrily Louise pulled away from Tammika's touch.
"You are insane! How can you believe a word that bitch Esmeralda says? How can you trust her but not us? You were family once Tammika Earl!"
"Ha! Family wouldn't give you up to a grim."
"We didn't!" Shouted Jared angrily. "We never would, not even if it were to save the world! Listen to us Tammika, you have to listen to us!"
For a second Tammika's angry face dropped. She shook her head and sneered. "You'll not win me over like that!"
"I'm sorry about this Tammy, really, really sorry." Ria struggled away from the guard and slapped Tammika across the face, hard.
"SNAP OUT OF IT!"
The force knocked Tammika back a few steps, she stumbled and lost her balance. Jared broke free and caught her before her head hit the steps. Dizzily Tammika sat up.
"God am I glad to see your stupid face again." She grinned. A proper, Tammika grin before swiftly fainting