✟ ✟Book 2: Black Hearts: Redemption ✟ ✟

✟Chapter TWELVE: CHILDHOOD FEARS✟

"That's all she told you? Are you sure?" Karlyn anxiously ask's Jet. He nods head. Keoki groans in annoyance as he continues swapping away at mosquito's. Lana and Redrick both lean back against a tree listening attentively. Karlyn gives Keoki a concerned stare, she raises an eyebrow at him. "I know." He simply say's. 

"You know what exactly?" Jet suspiciously ask's. "The end is almost here. We have mere day's maybe less before the final battle begin's. Which is why we must hurry and make haste. We'll make it to the Bridge of Hollow's by morning. Follow me." Keoki say's as he begin's walking through the wood's, they all follow him for a few minute's uphill. Keoki stop's in front of a large tree, "Hold on." He say's as he put's his hands on the tree, his eyes begin to glow yellow. The tree begin to groan and crack as it begin's to bend.

Everyone watches as the tree stop's revealing a beautiful view of two mountain's beside each other with a small gap in between them to show a tall tower. Karlyn smiles as she sees the surprised faces the others are making. Keoki and Karlyn hold hands as they leap up onto the tree and begin walking towards the tip of the tree. Everyone quickly follow's behind them, "Keoki, this is awesome! How in the world?" Redrick say's flabbergasted. "It's just something new I recently found out I could do." He say's giving Karlyn a huge grin.

"What is that?" Lana ask's pointing at the Tower. "That's where we're headed. It's the Facility. But before we go there we have to cross the Bridge of Hollows down there." Keoki say's pointing down the hill to a large Bridge crossing over onto another piece of land with a rushing river underneath it. Redrick eyes widen in fear, he gulp's loudly. "We-....we have to cross a Bridge?" 

Keoki nods his head, "Yup." he simply say's popping the 'P'. Redrick begin's to visibly shake. Lana puts a hand on his shoulder, he looks back at her. "Why are you afraid of Bridges?" Jet anxiously ask's. 

"When we were younger, we were allowed one hour outside the Facility, in a heavily gated forest...." 

10 YEARS EARLIER

"Hey! C'mon you guy's need to quit messing with me!" Redrick screams out as he look's around him. Walking over crunched up leaf's he begin's shaking as he hear's the birds chirping and cricket's ticking. He immediately hug's himself as he begin's walking through a cleared path with bushes on both sides of it. "Lana! Rai! Charel! Zalez! Leila! Please come out! I'm scared!" Redrick calls out. He begin's whimpering and sniffling when he receives no reply. 

He stop's walking and looks down at his feet, "I hate you guys." He softly say's to himself. Looking up he sees Leila ahead of him watching him with a hand on her hip. "Your such a cry baby Redrick." Leila says chuckling. 

Redrick frowns, "No I'm not! I'm just scared, why did you leave me!?" He shouts at her. He runs after her and embraces her in a hug. "Please don't leave me alone anymore." He say's under his breath. Leila nods her head, "Let's go find everyone else. They might be at that old bridge." Leila say's as she holds Redrick's hand. They both begin walking down the clear path. 

"But we're not allowed to go there, remember? We'll get in big trouble if they catch us." Redrick say's looking around cautiously. Leila grins, "They won't find us! Even if they did find us, they can't hurt us. We're little kids. We'll just be in time out or get sent to the Lime Room." Leila say's boldly. 

"Alright, but if we do get caught. I'm telling them it was all you're fault." Redrick say's as he tightens his grip around her hand. "Tattle tale." 

They continue walking down the path till the come to an empty field. Stopping they see an old wooden bridge connecting to another piece of land. They walk towards it, stopping in front of it Redrick looks over the edge to see a rushing river underneath it. "I'm scared, Leila."