Surviving the Dark

Chapter 5 - Alone (FlashBack)

I watched as Jamie and Xavier left the café. I could vaguely hear Olivia explain to me what Jamie was talking about. I turned to her hoping that would help me focus on what she was saying. But it didn't work.

Seeing them all together as a family, only made me miss mine. It doesn't help that Xavier reminds me so much of my youngest brother.

The day I lost him, and the rest of my family haunts me everywhere I go. But I know they would want me to try and live my life.

********~Flashback~********

I took off running once the crystal finished working its magic. I wish I could be a pixie again. Flying around and crying is a little easier than running and crying.

I don't recommend doing either, but sometimes you don't have a choice.

I knew The Grove like the back of my hand. As I ran, I kept stumbling over every fallen branch or upturned rock.

Sobs racked my body. I wanted to stop but I couldn't, not with the Soulless around. I couldn't let them catch me.

I was the last of my kind. Before today The Grove was the last area where pixies lived. We knew we would be next, but dad was stubborn and didn't want to leave. He wanted to protect out home, protect our kingdom.

The sobs were making it hard for me to run. But I didn't stop until I got to the town. The fast I got to a populated area, the easier I could blend in.

Shadows are the embodiment of death and destruction. Pixies are the opposite; we are the embodiment of life and restoration.

Being in a well-built area, or as I call them 'concrete jungles,' is the best for me right now. As the area is already dead. Rid of almost all forms of nature. Which is why Shadows always find significant areas of nature and release their acid fog.

I stumbled out of the forest, onto a road. I fell to my knees, sobs overtaking me. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I was in the middle of the road, but for all I cared a car could come past and hit me, I would happily stay right here and take it.

'You are the last pixie. Your parents and the entire pixie civilisation would want you to live and bring back as much life as you can to nature.' The rational side of me thought.

It only made me cry harder. I was alone. If I ever felt safe enough to make friends, they would never truly know who I am. The friendship would be built on lies.

They would never know what it's like to be the last of your kind at ten years old.

I was on my knees sobbing in the middle of the road for a good twenty minutes, and no cars had gone past.

'Must be a quiet road.' I thought.

I look a few deep breaths, trying to control the sobbing enough to stand up and work out where I am. I needed to get around humans.

I stood up but almost collapsed back to my knees. I felt hands on my arms, supporting me. I looked up, only to start hyperventilating. All I saw was black. I could still feel the hands on my arms. I was being guided to a car I hadn't realised pulled up. The headlights were facing away from me.

My panic attack was getting worse. It was pitch black, but it was also the middle of the night, and I was with someone I didn't know.

In my panicked state, my mind went into overdrive.

'What id it's a Black Eyed Soulless Shadow?! What if this is just a sick and twisted way of prolonging the torture they have already inflicted?'

By the time I was helped into the car I was gasping for air. Trying and failing, I looked for an escape route. I just needed to get out of here.

The light inside the car came on and eliminated the face in front of me.

A man, probably in his late thirties, stared back at me. Concern was written all over his face and pale blue eyes. Once I looked into the man's eyes, I started to regain control of my breathing.

"Sweetheart, what's your name? Are you okay?"

I didn't answer him, just stared at the forest past his shoulder.

"My name is Peter, can you tell me where your parents are?"

I understand Peter was concerned; it's not every day you see a hysterical ten-year-old girl in the middle of the road.

I looked down at myself assessing the damage from running through the forest. My top and skirt were torn from getting snagged on branches. My arms and legs were covered in scratches. My bare feet and legs were covered in mud and leaves. It was safe to say I looked like a mess.

"I don't live too far from here. If you come back with me, my wife will help clean you up, and we can see about contacting your parents." Peter said.

I know about stranger danger. Dad was always going on about how we shouldn't trust humans, as you never know if who is a Soulless Shadow until its too late.

I was always told that humans could be very much like the Shadows. But they always feel like when they destroyed something it was for some greater good purpose.

Peter got into the driver's seat and pulled away from the curb, heading in the direction of what I imagine was towards his place.

"Isadora."

Peter glanced at me.

"Is that your name sweetheart?"

I just nodded.

We pulled into a driveway only minutes later. Peter came around and helped me out of the car and guided me to the house. Once inside his wife came into the front room. I look of surprise spread across her face. It was quickly replaced by concern as she hurried over to me and led me to the couch.

"Claire, honey, this is Isadora."

Claire got up, Peter following her, probably to explain how he found me.

When they came back into the room, Peter held a first aid kit in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Clair was holding a pile of clothes that looked too small to be hers.

"Isadora, there are some clothes my niece left here. I'm sure she won't mind if I give them to you."

I took the clothes from her, and she led me to the bathroom to change. The clothes were nothing flashy and were just a tad big for me, just a pair of jeans and a top with a turtle on it.

I came out of the bathroom and headed back to the couch. I stopped by the door when I heard Peter and Claire talking.

"We have to take her to the police station or child services or something," Peter said.

"Can't we just do that in the morning? The poor thing looks as though she has been through enough for one day."

I backed away from the door and went straight to the front door.

'I need to leave before I cause trouble for this family.'

I opened the door with a bang and ran. For the second time that night, I wished I was a pixie again.

I could hear Claire and Peter call after me as I ran down the street, but I didn't look back. I couldn't bring myself to. It's better off if I was alone.

"Isadora!"

"Isadora!"

********~Flashback~********

"Isadora?"

I blinked. I was back in the café.

"Is, are you okay?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, sorry. Where did Jamie want to meet you again?"

I blinked back tears as Olivia started talking again. Olivia was so sweet. If I didn't need to run, I could see us being friends.

But I was on the run.

And I was all on my own.