The Beginning Of The End

Chapter 6

It is dark and again I can't see. Oh well. I stretch out my hand. Why can I feel wood. Duh! It suddenly dawns on me that I must be near, or rather in, a tree. I think. I roll over onto my back and stretch my legs up. Strange. No roof. I stand up. Still no roof. Ok. This is getting confusing. I turn around and behold! There is light. I move towards it. As my eyes adjust to the light, I can make out a door. I walk up to it and open it. I step over the threshold and fall out of a tree. Ok. That is one of my many questions answered. I glance around to make out where I am. I think I can recognise this place. Actually, I know where this is. This is where I was attacked. Oh no. I run to the camp. It is totally ruined.

"Mara! Robin! Peter!"

I can't see them. Once again, I hear a noise behind me. I spin around and find Mara.

"Artemis!"

"Mara! Where is everybody?"

"This way."

Ok 2nd question answered. Sort of.

Mara leads me to a tree.

"Uh, Mara?"

"Yes."

"What are you doing? Unless my eyes deceive me, this is a tree."

"No kidding."

"So what is so special about this tree?"

Mara smiles at me and presses her hand against the tree trunk. A green light shines in her eyes and the cool voice of the interface sounded.

"Mara-08."

" Your turn. When you finish, you have to get up to the 5 highest branch on the tree. Good luck."

Ok. I turn to the tree and copy Mara.

"Artemis-01."

Um. Where to now? Wait Good luck?

"Mara? What do you mean Good luck?"

No answer. I guess I am on my own.

I focus on doing a mega jump onto the tree branch. I have to focus. I close my eyes and reach into the void in my mind that I have always felt, yet avoided. I open my eyes, and jump. The tree branches loom towards my. Now it is time not to miss. I again stretch out my hands and close them around the lowest branch. I now have to pull myself up. One......two.......three......heave! I pull myself up on top of the branch. Ok. What now. I look around and spot little holes in the trunk of the tree. Perfect. Tree-climbing by holes. Not my idea of tree-climbing but anyway. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. I still don't see why we were attacked. We left no trail, no hints that we had been that way. Yet someone found us. Someone attacked us. My foot slides down the tree. Right. I need to keep my mind on the here and now. Boom! The tree shakes. I'm hanging on for my life! As the tree is shaking, I still climb but a lot slower. Bang. Ouch that really hurt. I hoist myself onto a near by branch and inspect my shoulder. I can see that a large red patch is forming through the rip in my t-shirt. Oh well. At least it isn't a bruise. It suddenly dawned on me that I still have no idea what hit me. I look up.

I crash-land on the branch below mine. Luckily I looked up just in time. A large nut fell onto the branch I was just on and snapped it. Wow. That is one big nut. I have the strangest feeling to wait. So I do. Just as well I do. Another nut falls and breaks a second branch. Ok. If this is going to be ongoing, I may as well go now incase this is going to get harder. I start to climb the tree again. YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I can see the top. About time too. I can see Mara standing on the branch waving at me. I reach the branch and stand beside Mara. She looks up and I think I can see a faint look of concern slide across her face.

"Quick. In here Artemis."

"Mara. What are you doing?'

"I SAID INSIDE NOW!"

I go straight inside. I have never heard her yell before. Mara shuts the door in the tree trunk. She leads me wordlessly away from the door and down. Down a staircase. Down and down and down and down. I think I can see a light after some minutes. Mara strolls into the light. I follow her.