Ashes to Ashes

Where To Now?

Cass woke in the morning with a start. 

She had had a dream about her family's death. She dreamt that they were all at her house, and settling down for the night. It was just a normal dream... Then The Majesty arrived. 

They were like the wind. They just showed up in her town and targeted her family specifically. But why? Why her, why not her neighbour, or the people that lived across the street? 

That night changed her life, and she still had no idea why it had been her family murdered. The scariest thing, though, was the fact that she was spared her life. And why they were revoking their kindness now. Was it because she was a trouble maker? Or because they had thought better of their kindness?

Honestly, she had known that she would eventually be hunted down and killed brutally- just like her family. 

Her night had been rough. She had had to get a decent enough spot away from her town (The Towns were never named, they were always just called 'Town') and set up a small camp from there. She hadn't dared to walk to the next town, too afraid of The Majesty's influence and how easy it would be to be picked off by any one of the Wardens he knew would be on the look out for her.

Last night, she had carefully picked a spot far east of her town, trying to head slightly in the direction of Paradise. It wasn't the best spot as it was a little out in the open, but it was the closest thing Cass had to shelter, and she was taking every chance at sleep as it came.

Once she gathered her bearings, the blond gathered the little possessions that she had taken out last night before she had settling down. She didn't change, deciding that it would be silly to do so when it was just the first day on the run.

 As she stood up fully, she felt the full extent of her rough night. Her back was sore, and she could feel a bruise forming on her left shoulder. Fantastic, She thought, That's all I need- to be in pain on the first day...

She pulled on her bag, ignoring the rumbling in her stomach- she would need to save the food for emergencies.

 Putting the map on the ground and placing rocks on it to hold it down, Cass stared at it for a minute. It was lucky she knew how to read a map, otherwise she would be even more lost than she was now. 

"Okay... So, I'm... Here, which means I need to move... That way..." Cass murmured quietly, pointing east to the map. 

Sure she was right, the girl rolled up her map and placed in gently back in her bag, careful not to tear it. She set off east, unhappy about the flat land and little habitat. 

                                                                               *

Dusk eventually settled and Cass stopped walking. Her feet were killing her and her back was even worse. The pain in her shoulder had thankfully weakened and she could wiggle it gently without wincing. 

She was just settling down for the night when she began to think about the town she left behind, then about her parents and sister- then she thought about Annunciata. With a heart wrenching lurch, she realised that she may never see her best friend again. A tear escaped before she could stop it and soon, she coudn't stop the tears flowing. 

That night, Cassandra Fletcher cried for the first time since her family's murder. She didn't only cry for Cia. She cried for her parents, her old life, the people that died at the bloodthirsty hands of The Majesty. Cass cried for herself.

Near midnight, Cass managed to cry herself out and fell into a fitful sleep on top of the cold, hard plain she would be forced to call 'Home' for however long it took to become safe. 

                                                                                       *

The next morning, Cass - once again- pulled out her map and an apple. She left nothing, yet she was still hungry. Luckily for her, the juice acted like a drink, so she didn't need to pull out her water just yet- best to leave it while she could. 

 Something on the map caught her eye, and she squinted her eye close to it. A flash of silver on a spot that seemed to be close by. Cass gathered her things and, tossing the map in her bag- a big difference from yesterday- she ran in the direction of the flash, uncaring of the noise she made with each footfall. Once she got a reasonable distance, she pulled the map out once again, and saw the silver flash even closer. She kept the paper in her hand as she ran again, stopping every now and then to see she was steadily getting closer. 

Eventually, she reached it. The once barren lands was transformed into a beautiful forest. Cass knew that she wouldn't have been able to find it without the map, it was so off course for where she needed to get. 

Fanning herself from the heat, she moved forward into the wood. Unsure of her footing, she threaded slowly. Coming to the entrance, she stopped for a moment, unsure of whether or not to go in. Ten she saw the water, and decided to chance it. 

Walking quickly, she fell to her knees at the edge, cupping her hands and taking a long drink. The water seemed alright to drink and she couldn't help herself going back for seconds- then thirds- then fourths. She was shocked as to how thirsty she actually was, but so thankful she had managed to find it. 

Her las thought brought anoter question to mind. In her rush to figure out what was here, she didn't stop to wonder how she could find the place. How did the map know- and more importantly- what caused the silver shine on the map? So lost in thought, she didn't realise it getting darker until a noise shocked her out of them. She jumped and looking all around her, before laughing quietly at how jumpy she was being. 

Looking around herself again, she became aware of how dark it was becoming. She caught sight of a tall tree and quickly scaled it, thanking her lucky stars there was a huge tree right outside her house. She settled in the canopy, finding a comfy spot to nestle for the night. Lucky she didn't move much in her sleep, she settled quickly and was soon out like a light.

                                                                                         *

She woke, once again, with a start the next morning. 

Only this time, there was somebody else looking back at her. A male someone, with chocolate brown eyes.

                                                                                   *

CVGBNJUHCHKDKGC! I GOT TO 181 ON THE ADVENTURE LIST! THANK YOU ALL!!!

Oh, and my bloody 'h' key is broken so I had to go back to every friggen mistake and correct it. I never realised how much I rely on that one bloody button Dx 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter- who the HELL is that guy?! ;) haha, I'm messing ;) I know who he is :P heh :D (His casting is on the side- for those of you that have read/are reading The Hunger Games, he plays Cato (I think)! I can't WAIT to see it!!! :D) 

Tell me what you think- You like the new title? Thank you @Kara_Bananas for it!! :) 

Well anyway, VOTE.COMMENT AND FAN!! :D thanks <3

~bobtthestrawberry :)