Second Chances

Chapter 2

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I am hoping that this next part will be a little more action packed. If not, hopefully, you guys will think so in the future. 

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During the days of traveling, I had no idea where we were going. I didn’t know when we were going to get there. All I knew was Eldred was taking care of me and teaching me things that I would have never imagined.

            On the first day, as we walked, he taught me the basics of how to talk correctly and properly. Already taking advantage of the fact that my mind was still moldable to any real knowledge.  It took me a while, but after two days of struggle I was able to talk as well as a ten year old. Then he taught me a whole arsenal of vocabulary that most Americans wouldn’t even know and everyday he would throw some vocab word at me and I had to give the part of speech, define, spell, and give a synonym. On top of all that, he also taught me the basics of survival and the diversity of all the living creatures around us. I now knew how to tie five different types of knots, how to make a fire with or without smoke, how to skin and gut an animal for safe eating, and how to tell directions using the stars.

            One night after, we had set up camp (on the eighth day of traveling) I opened my mouth to speak but Eldred beat me to it, “Parricide.”

            Immediately, I said, “The act of killing one’s parents, noun, P-A-R-R-I-C-D-E, no accurate synonym given.”

            “Juxtaposed.”

            “To place close together or side by side especially for comparison, verb, J-U-X-T-A-P-O-S-E-D, pair.”

            Eldred smiled, “Good work.”

            “Eldred, when are we going to arrive at this destination your taking me to? And what’s so special about it?”

            Eldred thought for a moment, then I thought if I was being intrusive. After all, did it really matter? He saved me, the least I can do is to sit still and follow orders.

            “We’re going somewhere where we can manifest your strength and character. Maybe you’ll teach the others something new.”

            “Others?” I don’t know why I asked, Eldred wasn’t the most talkative person, but my curiosity was aroused.

            He smiled as if laughing at an inside joke, “Yes, you aren’t the first unfortunate child I have come across, there are others I have seen potential and decided to train. Including my own son,” He quieted after that, staring off into the distance, probably thinking of the past he never talks about.

            But I couldn’t keep myself shut, a thousand questions crowded my mind all at once, “You have a son? What do you train them for? How many other children are there? Are they nice? What does your son look like? What’s his name? Who’s the mother? Wh-”

            “Keena!” The austerity of his tone made the flow of questions stop, “Curiosity might help you learn more but it may just kill you, remember that and maybe you’ll live a bit longer.” After this happy thought, there was no more talk, only the cackling of the flames and a sad, bitter gaze from Eldred.

            I lay on the rocky ground and looked at my surroundings, we were surrounded by huge oak trees that seemed to touch the twinkling lights far above. Last night, Eldred taught me a bit about astronomy, he started to talk about constellations and the great people who were captured in the midnight sky. Eldred had already explained that stars were just rocks floating a billion miles in outer space reflecting light from the sun. Still, this didn’t stop me from thinking, if I were strong enough and skilled enough then maybe I could make a new picture in the sky. One that would finally make the world acknowledge me and that I wasn’t an orphaned girl anymore, I was someone that was worth something and I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone tell me otherwise. I fell asleep with this dream playing in my mind.