The Fall of Eden

Chapter 12

Femi marched through the ankle deep snow behind Aiden. Her stomach was only part full after only eating a single bread roll that morning. Areli kept some now-stale bread in his sack, but it tasted as good as king's bread with their empty stomachs. Areli led the group deep into the Winterhorn Mountains. They had already climbed high enough to see snow in every direction.

The path had obviously been used for years by other travelers. A trail of loose snow and gravel weaved its way up the mountain range. Some parts were merely narrow paths carved into the sides of the mountains. The group was forced to press their backs to the wall as they side-stepped across the cliff. The air was bitter cold with an icy gust that stung like needles on exposed skin.

Still, the mountains were impressive, to say the least. Femi was always good at finding beauty in her surroundings. Her mother loved that about her. Femi could always see the white-capped mountains from Eden, but now that she was inside them they frightened her. They looked so much smaller from home. Nevertheless, she had to persevere. She had to keep walking, no matter the cost. There was no turning back, because there was nothing to turn back to, and if she sat still and gave up she would die. However, dying alone and cold wasn't what scared her. The mystery of not knowing what was ahead terrified her.

In Eden, she had plans, school, friends, and family. Every day had the potential for something new, but those things always remained constant. She had a library of books she could visit any time, exams to study for, and celebrations that she would count down the days to. Now, all of that world was thrown away. She was out of place and nothing made sense anymore. She could feel her brain freeze up every other minute, unable to handle the shock of this new world. A thought suddenly shot into her head and stabbed every corner of her skull. It made her stumble to her knee. She was supposed to have an exam today. The funny part was that the realization that she hadn't studied was what frightened her at first. Then the cold reality that there would be no exam left her heart cold. She felt stupid for having such silly thoughts, but she couldn't hide the way it rotted at her heart.

"Are you okay?" Aiden lifted her up. "I've got you." Her wrapped his arm around her waist and walked beside her. She could feel her cheeks grow warm, even in the cold.

Pull it together, she thought. I'm not myself. She wondered if the others were thinking the same things. Were they afraid? Did they consider giving up? Had death even crossed their minds?

Areli didn't seem afraid. Areli puzzled her. He hasn't looked back at us once. What is he thinking? He's different from Aiden and Damien. Not just his powers, but the way he carries himself, like he doesn't know how to handle friendship. Are we even his friends? But Femi could tell his demeanor was out of defense. Even if he was scared, he wouldn't show it. He couldn't show it, for our sake. Femi allowed her eyes to wander again, admiring the awe of the towering mountains as white clouds rose from their peaks.

"Do you know where you're going?" Aiden asked.

"Yes."

"How?"

"That sign says Lion's Grip" Areli pointed to a fading wooden sign.

"That sign also says Danger, turn back!" Aiden shouted and stopped walking. The others did the same.

"Where?" Areli stopped walking and turned his head, "I don't see that."

"How about the rotting corpse with arrows in its back lying next to it," Aiden was furious, "You see that?"