Paradise Among Metal

Chapter 10

Things just got better and better.

As Mara, Jacob, and Emerson continued down the path, that happened.

Of course, these changes didn't happen all at once. They happened over a course of days. Whenever they did happen, it filled them with hope. Hope accelerated the changes, as Mara came to find.

The first several days on the path were dull. As the trio did was walk and walk, with the landscape changing little. There weren't that many colors, but whenever Mara saw one, she'd grin. She never smiled at the path, though. Mara never thought she would, but she got tired of its gold glint.

The path took them through the forests and hills that surrounded Metal. The forest wasn't that interesting. It was just full of gray plants and dead trees.

Whenever they needed to rest, or the sun went down, the three would go to the side of the path. It wasn't as comfortable as Errid's hotel, but at least it was safe. The path was deserted.

Speaking of Errid, he had packed their supplies well. They lasted until the trio reached the Perimeter, seven days from when they first set off.

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"That was our last Meal of Misery." Mara said, stuffing an empty plastic tray into her backpack. "There better be some settlement ahead, otherwise we're going to starve."

"You can't starve here," Jacob replied. "Well, you can't die from starvation, but going without food is really uncomfortable. It'd be a sure way to break our spirits and determination."

"Couldn't we just go back to Metal for food?" Mara asked.

Jacob shook his head.

"No. No one ever returns from a quest to Paradise. We passed the point of no return days ago. We'll just be stuck out here forever, starving."

"Anyways, I've noticed that nobody seems to die here." Mara said. "Is there a reason behind that?"

The boys ignored her.

"Excuse me, I asked a question."

"The trees have been getting sparse in the last few miles," Emerson said, looking around. Instead of the thick forests they've been trekking through, the path now led them through dead meadows. Small groves of trees dotted the landscape.

The path had led them away from the city and into the mountains. Now, they were deep in the mountains. Civilization seemed so far away.

"I've never imagined mountains to be this big," Mara said, out of the blue. It was true, she always assumed mountains to be the size of the foothills that surrounded Metal.

"There are bigger mountains in other places, like Paradise," Emerson replied. "These are about the size of most mountains in the Appalachian Mountain range."

"Where's that? Are those mountains in Paradise?"

"No," Jacob said. "You ask too many questions, Mara."

"Really, dude?" Emerson said. "You used to ask the teachers zillions of questions a day when we went to school. And you're being rude."

Something clicked within Mara.

"You guys are hiding something from me, aren't you?"

"No!" Jacob yelled. His eyes widened as he realized his harshness. "I mean, no, we're not hiding anything."

Emerson looked at Jacob, wearing an exasperated expression.

"Dude. Just tell her the truth."

Jacob shook his head.