The Blade ~Book One~

Chapter Nine: The Arrival

A force struck me, slamming me onto a hard surface. My eyes jerked open, but I still couldn't see.

"Bridger?" My voice was hoarse, "Lia?"

I felt for my sword, but it wasn't there. Since seeing wasn't working out too well, I decided to start feeling my surroundings. Something beside me felt an awful lot like a crate, which I used to help myself stand up. 

I tried to remember what had happened, but nothing came to me. The last thing I could think of was talking to Chandler in a supply closet, and everything after that seemed too faint for the details to come to mind. I dragged myself across the open space, which I found out that it was very tight in here. Not good.

A blinding light flashed into my eyes as someone lifted open the door of whatever I was in. I quickly shielded my eyes from the brightness. After a few seconds of my adjusting, I saw a familiar face. Sighing with relief, I trudged over to Mika.

"What's going on?" I managed to ask. It felt like I'd been out for days or maybe even weeks.

She handed me a canteen, which I quickly drained. "We're finally here," she spoke quickly, "and we are supposed to attack camp today. Eris wants to see you and all of your friends' blood spilled first to show the other campers that there's no point in fighting back 'especially since the great questers couldn't'."

Still half asleep, I slowly processed her words, "How- wait we're in New York?"

"Just outside of camp." She confirmed.

"But we were just in Georgia like an hour ago, right?" I rubbed my head, placing down the empty canteen.

"No. They had you knocked out for days, Beth."

"W-where's Eris? I need to-" I was suddenly wide awake.

"You need to- what?" Mika urged.

"The dagger! I had a dagger before I was captured. Where is it? I need it."

"Your weapons? They're in another truck, why do you need it?"

"Mika. This dagger is our last hope. Can you get it for me?" I pleaded.

"I- I don't know. I can try."

"Thank you." I wiped away the dripping blood from my forehead.

"They need to think I'm still on their side for now. Reed thinks I'm over here just to escort you to the others, so come on." She motioned for me to get out of the huge truck, "Once we get there, remember to play along."

-

"She somehow managed to get out of the ropes," Mika explained, pushing me forwards, "and she started to attack me, but luckily I could get her to you."

She passed me off to another traitor of our camp, who sat me down on a log. For once, I could see all my friends. They were all alive, well for now at least. I felt like crying  because I was so happy to know that they were all okay. I didn't dare say anything to them with all the guards around, but I knew that we all had a lot to tell each other.

I looked at each of them, trying to make eye contact. Lia looked so much better than she did back at the storm shelter. Haiden, on the other hand, looked terrible. What happened back in Georgia? Haiden had cuts, brusies, and blood everywhere on her. She looked like she hadn't had any food or a single sip of water in weeks, which was probably true. 

Chandler didn't look too physically hurt, but something inside of him was dead. Hope. He'd always been the one to crack a joke here and there, but now he looked like a whole new person.