Guardians 1: Ashes

Chapter 52: Footprints

Shelby's POV

I sat alone, thinking. I was in the meadow of Golden Flowers, Cory and I had been in while Ross visited his parents.

I noticed now, there was a massive circle of dust, and dead flowers. I looked at it curiously wondering what destroyed such beautiful scenery, then recalled the memories I had with Cory here.

That day, that moment, I had felt something stronger between us, but I wasn't sure what that feeling was. I had ignored it, and decided to not base my actions on my emotions, but what would be appropriate.

Now, he was gone, now Nick was gone as well. I sighed and heard footsteps behind me. I turned around quickly.

Uni was standing there holding a sketch pad and pencils. "Uhm." Uni said then took a step backward. "I didn't mean to bother you."

"It's okay Uni, you're not disturbing anyone."I said and Uni sat next to me.

He flipped his book open and began to draw. We sat in silence daring not to speak to the other. As time went by I forgot Uni was there and began to weep to myself softly.

Uni glanced at me, continued to draw then stopped and started crying.

"Why are you crying?" I asked whipping tears from face.

"I miss Cory... And I destroyed the flower patch!" Uni cried out as if he was 4. "Why are you crying?" He asked me.

"I miss him too!" I yelled and I grabbed Uni hugging, balling, and he cried as well hugging me back.

"I-I-I-I killed the f-flowers!" Uni whined, "Cory's dad died on the flower bed!" Uni cried louder.

"That is terrible!" I sobbed and cried even harder.

"We should probably get up." Uni said laughing and stood up. I followed his lead and got up out of the flower bed.

We whipped our faces and started laughing, then walked back to what was left of the kingdom. Most of the buildings had been rebuilt so, that was good.

The king had more work then ever, so he was very busy, even Aphmua was no where to be seen. As we walked, a lot of towns people were rebuilding and clearing rubble. No one died in the attack that we know of, but some were injured badly.

Most of the bodies that we saw, were illusions and turned to dust after Tommy got bored and left. We wanted to go back to Nero, and see if they were okay, but with Cory gone, we were stuck here.

Uni and I walked down an empty road, away from the town, then we caught sight of the orphanage, and Uni's jaw dropped. He began to run to the massive building, I looked at it, and noticed there was a massive hole in it, it looked like the roof had collapsed.

We climbed through the massive hole in the wall, we looked around and it seemed empty, no adults in sight.

Uni ran upstairs I quickly followed behind and Uni seemed to be retracing his steps. He looked at a door then swung it open. The room had 3 beds in it. Uni looked at the beds, then dove under one. He pulled out a stuffed toy of a dog and smiled at it. He set it on what I assumed was his old bed. He then sat down on the bed and hugged the toy, I left him alone in the room to look around.

I noticed scratch marks on the doors, walls, and the legs of the beds. I ignored them at first then began to see areas where there were an unusual amount of foot steps.

I continued to walk and saw droplets of blood, I followed the drops, until they became puddles then, I found a body.

It was a woman, skin gone pale and cold as ice. I gasped and a scream escaped my lips. Soon Uni was beside me and fell to his knees.
"J-J-Janet." Uni said. His voice cracking.
I saw tears start to form in Uni's eyes.

"Where are all the kids?" I asked.

Uni then looked around and checked every room, I showed him the claw marks on the walls, doors, and beds. Uni nodded at me," I see."

"T-T-They took em." Uni said and went outside. We circled the building until we came across tracks of several men, perhaps an army. They all led inside then back to the forest.

Uni sighed in despair. "Another group of kids, this time... All of them."

I looked at him and sighed too. "Cory and Nick will make sure they are treated right."

"Cory and Nick are gone." Uni said sternly. "Get over it, they aren't coming back. They are better off n-not coming b-b-back."

I looked at Uni with concern, I knew it hurt to see them leave, but I didn't know how much, he seemed to try to hide it, but not well.

He sniffled and whipped his face, " We should tell Adam a-all the orphans are missing." He said and walked away.

Ross' POV

I went into Adam's room, and Shelby and Uni were there. I quietly listened and watched. Adam seemed really upset and threw some papers off his table with a yell.

"It doesn't even matter anymore!" He yelled and threw a book at a wall.

Uni and Shelby were quiet. Shelby looked terrified, and Uni just looked even more sad.

"Umm... Guys?" I spoke up and they turned to me. "What is wrong?" I asked.

"I failed at my job again! That is what is wrong!" Adam shouted.

"All the kids from the orphanage are missing." Shelby said softly.

"The rotten Prodótis kingdom took em, there are tracks of an army." Uni spoke up.

"We have to get them back." I said.

"We can't let Rex know." Jin said from behind a book shelf. I jumped in surprise.

"Why not?" Shelby asked.

"It will only make his condition worse then it is, he is going through a lot of posttraumatic stress." Jin said.

Adam looked at him and nodded in understanding.

"So where are the kids taken?" I asked curiously even though I knew it was a touchy subject.

"Hell." Uni muttered.