Whisper

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

121 hours remaining

(Amaria's POV)

It was full out morning now. I shielded my eyes as I looked up at the sun. Mama and Daddy had to be awake by now, they wouldn't check on us until breakfast and they'd find us missing. First off, they'd think we were in another cave, playing, or that we were playing a prank on them. By lunchtime, they would have figured out that we weren't there.

I predicted all of this in my mind. Then I remembered one missing variable.

Chili would probably tell them what he knew and Mama and Daddy would figure it out and realize we had left sooner.

That means we have less time on them. We may need to step up our game.

Ama glanced at the sky and seemed to be thinking what I was thinking because he creased his brow and sped up.

I matched him pace for pace down the road.

We came upon a wooden cabin. I tapped on Amalric's shoulder and pointed at the window. A large burly man was on the other side. He appeared to be in a brown jacket. His hair was a Sawsbuck brown with gray streaks slicing through. The man turned and saw us out on the road.

The man recoiled in shock and literally rubbed his eyes. Then he disappeared from the window and I could detect the sound of thumping through the house.

Amalric tensed next to me and simply whispered. "Run!"

The aging man burst out of his door and waved to us frantically. "Hey! You kids! Wait! Stop!"

We turned and ran for our lives. The man followed us for a bit, but his age and his heft made him eventually fall back until he just altogether stopped.

But we kept on going until we couldn't breathe. I supported myself against a tree while Ama slumped over with his hands on his knees. We were both gasping for air and holding our sides from the intense pain.

When it stopped feeling like my lungs were going to burst I staggered over to my brother.

"What do you think that guy wanted?"

Amalric shrugged. "Who cares? Better safe than sorry." I nodded.

"So, where exactly are we going?"

Ama stood straight and continued down the path. I followed silently, waiting for his answer.

It was deathly quiet between us. Then, so quietly that I had to lean in to hear him, he whispered,

"Striaton City."