The Beginning Of The End

Chapter 5

We have set up a campfire in the dense forest. This has been the worst year ever. Mum dead, Dad dead, Aria sick. I can't do this! It's been almost 6 months since we left the house. Tom is almost 2, Kat is 3, the triplets are 4 and Aria is 12. She has been sick for about a month now and her condition is growing steadily worse. I have tried everything. But nothing works. Robin has been hunting for food the last few months with a makeshift bow. We have been camping here since Aria got too weak to travel. She just lies there now and I am starting to fear that time is running out for her now. She doesn't move. I have to find help. I see Robin walking towards me with a hare slung over his shoulder. Peter and Mara have started to call everyone back to the campsite. Robin and I have established a rule: once it starts to get dark, everyone must return to the campsite. In the forest, many animals lurk after dark. Once everyone is here, I draw a line around the camp and set some traps.

I wake to feel a warm, pleasant ray of sun on my face. I just lie still, trying to plan out my day. I need to go visit Megan. I haven't seen her for 6 months. I have no idea whether she is still alive. I get up and start to make a fire. Great. We are out of sticks. I almost walk off when I remember the traps. So now, I have to make breakfast, extinguish the traps, collect sticks and tend to Aria and I have only been up for 10 minutes. I set to work with the traps. Megan could be hurt, alone, dead or perfectly fine. I need to see her, to warn her to run before its to late. But I can't leave everyone here. They could be raided, captured, killed or again perfectly fine. Plus I have to look after Aria. I finish destroying the traps and wander out of the campsite. I can see a blue light. A clear blue light. Definitely not natural. I follow it. I find myself in a cave. The sunlight is dancing around the cave and a white flower stands tall and alone in the middle of the cave. I walk over to it and examine it. It is strange. The leaves have a white outside and edge but meld into blue and black. In the middle of the flower is what seems to be seeds. I've seen this flower before. But where...........................................................

THAT'S IT! This is the white whikler plant. It can heal almost anything and can grow in the harshest of conditions. The only problem is that it can only be consumed after a special liquid is pored over it. I step back and retreat to the walls of the cave hoping to get a better view of the area. As I lean on the wall, I accidentally press a button and a part of the smooth wall slides back to reveal a high-security pad. I place my hand onto the pad, I have no idea why, but I have a good feeling about this. The pad beeps and nothing happens. Oh. I slide down the wall and sit there, pondering how to open it. I look down. Mothers necklace was out. Now I remember. Mother pressed the necklace to the pad and then her hand. I jump up and press the necklace to the pad and then do the same with my hand. A person-sized door opens up beside the pad and I walk inside. A blue light shines in my eyes blinding me for a few seconds. My eyes adjust to the dark and wow. There is a sword lying against the wall on the other side along with a bow and a quiver full of arrows as well as a bottle of the special liquid. I just can't believe it. I hear a faint buzzing noise behind me. I spin around only to find myself face to face with a hologram of my mother. She starts to explain.

"Artemis, I know and realise what I have just put you through. If this is playing I must have already died."

I feel a tear running down my cheek.

" That neckless is one of the main things the Syphons are hunting for as well as you. You are one of the most powerful half-Tografess. I could tell you when I was alive for many reasons I still can't say. But I owe you and explanation. For some reason, you are one of the most powerful half-Tografess of all people. And yes, this does mean that you might possibly have all powers. You just have to unlock them. Beware, the Syphons will be hunting you down. Everyone you care about will be in danger and you will have powerful enemies."

Great. I can't put my siblings at risk. I will go back and pack..........

"And Artemis, don't leave your siblings. You will only put them in even more danger by leaving them. I may not be here, but I still know you. Have a little faith."

The hologram flickered out. Ok then. Back to the camp.

As I near the camp, I see a single wisp of smoke. I get nearer, and I hear shouting, screaming and yelling. I can hear a sound. I turn around and suddenly get swept off my feet. That I snap into war mod. Twisting around with lightning speed, I look for a tree. I can feel myself falling. I take my chance and lunge at the tree. I can feel the bark brush against my fingertips........... I miss. I hit the ground extremely hard. I can see no more.