Vivid - #JustWriteIt

4

I wake up after sunrise but find myself completely alone. I sit up, looking around and trying to spot Haze's bright hair against the dull brown of the cracked Earth but there was no sign of the fire elemental across the barren landscape. I stand up, panicking slightly. If The Hunters have gotten to him, well, god knows what he will say to save his own neck!

"Haze! Oi! Haze, this isn't funny! Come on! Don't do this! Haze! Haze!?" I run down the hill, swing round in a panicked rush.

I hear a clatter of stones roll down the hill and turn around to see Haze approaching me.

"Hey. Whats up?" He asks, seeing my angry red checks as i glare at his smirking face.

"Oh, nothing." I reply sarcastically. "I only woke up after a very bizare night to you missing and everywhere else completely barren!" I start pacing as i rant at him, watching his face fall into a worried frown.

"Chill. I was just looking for some berries. OK?"

I nod my head and roll my eyes. "So, did you find any?" I begin walking in the direction of the forest where The Hunters set up camp last night, in hopes of spotting a clue as to where they are heading next.

The forest is dim, lit only by the deep red of the early morning sun. Crouching down, i pull out my binoculars. There is very little movement from the camp a few feet in front of us, but when ever there is movement it is only a scout or two swapping shifts.

"So, any sign of life." The leaves crackle under his feet as Haze crouches down next to me.

Shaking my head i give him the look that means 'shut-up-and-stay-still-or-i'll-make-you'. Luckily we have been travelling long enough for him to do as he is told, he says put as i move a little closer, careful not to be spotted. That's when i see it.

On a large wooden table, lying next to a couple if markers, is a large map of vivid, including all the cities. Across this map is a big fat red line, decorated with red crosses to mark where they have been. This is their plan, this is what we need to hunt The Hunters!

I memorise as much of it as i can and then rush back to where Haze is sitting cross-legged on the dark grass. Seeing my accomplished expression, he leaps up and grabs his bag. We begin to make our way out of the gloomy forest and towards the brightly lit barren plain beyond.

We are almost out of the woods when my shirt gets caught on the branch of a bush, tugging it free, i cause about twenty berries to fall from the ripening bush. I catch a few and pop them into my mouth before rush to catch up to the fast walking Haze.

🌏🌏🌏

Its about three in the afternoon when i decide to walk into the nearby city. Haze makes the decision to just stay away from civilisation,he says that he would rather get a tan, but i think he is more worried about meeting someone he knows, or rather, used to know.

The moment i step foot on the tarmac pavement of the city two things happen. First of all, i find my mind filled with long forgotten memories of a young girl, running beneath a beautifully blue sky, laughing as her parents walk along behind her, just enjoying the sunshine and having fun as a family. The second thing is the feelings of familiarity, questions and watchfulness.

"Haven't seen round here before. You new?" I turn to see a teenage boy with dark hair and free eyes staring down at me.

"No." I reply confidently, "I live round here."

He smiles, stepping forward."That's a lie." He sounds more confident than I did, its almost as if it's a fact. OK so, maybe it is, but he wouldn't know that, unless...

"Jesus, did you just read my mind?" I stand my ground as he smirks a little.

"Don't fret little lady, I cant seem to be able to get full accsess, its like you have a wall up, blocking me." He tilts his head to the side and looks at me with his bright eyes. I have to admit, if he wasn't being so creepy right now, he would have been cute, hot even. His features are sharp and chiseled and his skin is beautifully tanned. His black hair is in messy spikes,not quite sharp but more soft and scruffy, like he didn't spend much time on it this morning.

"You know, I really should be going now, but, umm, thanks for the chat." I turn on my heel but almost walk straight into him. he can teleport, of course he can!

"Its not everyday I meet someone who can block my readings,especially someone as cute as you, I know we just met, but, can I be honest with you, its frustrating. You see, I was sent by some guy to  read that prreety llittlle mind of yours and find out all i can, who you love, why you are following The Hunters, who you actually here, what makes you trick, stuff like that." His dark eyebrows pull together at this. "But I can't hear or see anything, spare that little fib you to told me earlier.

I frown a little, what guy? "Who was asking about me?" I ask, getting curious now.

He shrugs. "Just some guy, dark eyes, black and green hair. Said his name was k or h, something like that just one letter. at first I thought he was a jealous ex or stalker, someone scared that you're stalking him, but then he started rambling on, told me t tell you that it isn't safe to be tracking The Hunters tribe. so I don't know. showed up in my dream tough, couldn't give me your name, just a description, an accurate one at that."

"Ok... well send him my best and a message, tell him that I don't know who the hell he is but just because his saved me does not give him the right to show up in my dream and send telepathic teleporter's to stalk me." I spit, turning to leave.

"Hey, you cant leave yet. I still cant read you mind. its going to irritate me for a while now. how abut," he appears in front of me, blocking my path, "you just let me in. yeah?"

I roll my eyes. "not one chance. I don't want you poking around in my head." I cross my arms.

"Come on sweetie, what if I gave you something in return?" I raise my eyebrows at this. "I cant read your full mind, but I can hear passing thoughts. you like I'm hot, don't you?"

I shake my head, "no, I think you could be cute if you topped all the creepy mind reading shit. but some girls might be into that kind of stuff." I shrug, resisting the urge to back away.

"You know, mind reading isn't my only talent." he says, leaning against the wall.

"I know, you can teleport too, whoop di do." I say, sarcastically.

"Nah, you know what I mean, don't you." he leans forward, watching my mouth rather than my whole face and mind. Seeing that he is too distracted to read me for a second, I focus m thoughts on him.

I lean towards him, watching his reaction. As our faces come inches apart I smile a little as his eyes widen, reading my vibrant thoughts that I am almost throwing t him like loaded grenades. I press the gun against his toned stomach, making sure that he knows my confident ability to use it.

"Crap."  he says, backing away slightly. no-one bats an eyelid at the red haired girl pointing a gun at a guy in the middle of the street. On Vivid, it's just accepted that everyone carries a gun or weapon of some sort, if they don't have a power or link useful for attacking or getting out of triky situations. Making the right decision, the teenage boy standing at the end of my gun uses his power now, teleporting far away, I hope.

Smiling, I place the gun back into my belt and casually walk right out of the city. having given up on the shopping I had planned to do, I made my way over to a snoring Haze to get a little rest and go over this drama filled day so far.