Nadine's Journey

Chapter Three

Nadine

The forest's myriad of colors blur as I run. My heart beats fast, and my breathing is even faster. The forest grabs at my ankles; the tree roots reach up to trip me, the branches reach towards me, and yet I avoid every single move. Everything is quiet, even the birds dare not sing. The sound of my heartbeat and harsh breathing are deafening in this silent world. I realize that even though I can't see the smoke anymore, I can smell its acrid sent permeating the air. I need to stop... and yet I cannot even consider letting whatever might be coming after me to catch up.
I run until I taste blood. My lungs are rebelling with every breath that I take. My vision blurs, the colors blending together. I have to sit down. The very acknowledgement of this thought causes disappointment to run through my veins. I sit down, my back leaning up against a tree. I just need to rest for a couple minutes, then I'll be on my way. I embrace my supplies against my bosom, closing my eyes. It must be around three in the afternoon because the sun is at it's highest, I sleepily think. I can't fall asleep. I can't fall asleep. I can't--

I open my eyes to a moonless, black sky. Dammit, I fell asleep. I need to keep going. I can't even travel with the little light provided by the stars. I shiver at the chill in the air, but I have to remind myself that I can't light a fire. By doing so, I would be basically waving a white flag, yelling 'Here I am'. Thank goodness that I am making this trip in the late spring. I would most likely die from exposure if I were to make this trip in the winter. Since I can't exactly continue on, I might as well get some more sleep. I'm going to need a bunch of it if I am to continue on my journey.

A rustling awakens me, the sun just beginning to rise. I draw my blade, slowly standing. I scan the area in the low light, my gaze finally setting on the steadily swishing bush directly across from my hiding place. Betraying my better judgement, I move towards the bush, exposing my back by moving away from the tree. It's no wonder that curiosity killed the cat. The blade gleams in the morning light as I lift it in anticipation of what atrocity I might face next. The rustling movement increases, and something small jumps out. I nearly scream at the sight of my newest foe... a bunny. There is nothing scary about the light brown bunny speckled with spots of white and red. I roll my eyes as I reflect on my paranoia. Seriously, the whole word isn't out to get me... just some crazy psychopath.

I sheathe my sword. There's no reason for me to have it on hand, anyways. If the creatures that slaughtered my entire village were following me, they would've found me by now. I may as well pack up now and continue on. I feel eyes on my back, following my movements. "It must be the bunnies," I joke.

Another rustling rings out loud and clear, coupled with the sound of snapping wood. A shiver runs down my spine and I glance around, suspicious that it might be a larger creature. I unsheathe my sword right before the creature comes out. Oh. My. Goodness. The creature could have come from the depths of the netherworld, its eyes shining like orange flames in the sunlight. It must stand over seven feet high on all four legs. What the hell is that? The beast has clumps of fur, black as midnight, that look as sharp as a porcupine's quills. On the spots devoid of those sharp quills, the area looks as though it were infected-- an inflamed red bump that is just about to burst with pus. At least it cannot be any scarier... As if it could hear my thoughts, the creature opens its mouth, exposing rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth. What kind of creature is this? Can I outrun it? All thought leaves my body, and I run away from that monstrous thing.

Of course, as I very well should have predicted, the creature runs after me, uprooting trees in its way. My heart feels like it will come out of my chest. I have to get away. No time to hide. How stupid am I? I have evaded death by some crazy psychopath only to be eaten by a creature of nature. Another two creatures appear right in front of me, even larger than the first. They are giants that can drink from the clouds before rainfall. I. Can't. Panic. Now. Unlike the first, their skin is raised with dark, black bumps of various sizes. It is as if the quills from their youth had melted and formed a thick armor, coating the previous red bumps. How do I get into these situations? More importantly... how do I get out of them?

The somewhat smaller of the two in front of me roars at the sight of me in between what I assume to be her offspring. I can see murder in her flaming eyes. I suppose that I have no choice but to fight now. I draw my sword, backing up into a tree. The rough bark digs into my back, but I need something covering it so that I'm not exposed on all sides to my foe's claws and teeth.
Before the two giants can rampage, I am yanked upwards into the tree. I do the one thing that I promised myself I wouldn't... I panic. Did the tree grab me? No, that would be impossible. I hope that whatever it is, that it is not hungry. Please don't let it be hungry. My mouth is covered by... a hand? Does it plan to suffocate me? A most unexpected sight greets my eyes-- a boy. His violet eyes beg me to be still and silent. Should I fight him and be devoured by those things, or should I stay up here where I might be safe? Common sense wins, and I cling to the boy as he helps me climb further up the tree. The boy finally pulls his hand away from my mouth. I stay silent, waiting for those things to leave.

Several minutes pass before they lumber off as a family. I begin to climb down, but mystery boy stops me. "But they are leaving," I say.

"Do you not know anything, girl?" He replies in a harsh whisper. Liquid rage runs through my veins.

"I do know some things."

He just smirks, a twinkle in his eyes. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, really."

His smirk deepens. "Then do me a favor and tell me the name of the things you were running from."

I frown at his arrogant tone. Maybe I should push him out of the tree. We'll see who would be laughing then. Amusement is thickly lathered onto his entire face. "Fine," I surrender. "I don't know."

"So I was right, then."

"You were not." I glare at him, infuriated at the twinkle in his eyes. "I don't know everything, but I do know some things. So, are you going to tell me what those creatures were or not?"

"Oh, those were just a family of Andrews," he says in an offhanded manner. "Now, I would like to know your name, fair maiden."

"I bet you would," I state, revealing in the confusion that creeps into his expression. "Why don't you tell me your name first?"

"Alright," he says jovially. "My name is Agustin. It means deserving of respect," he says pointedly. "Now tell me yours, fair maiden." His voice deepens. This boy is obviously insane.

"I will... if you stop calling me fair maiden."

"Oh, but why," he wails. "You are the fairest girl that I have ever seen. So, that would be impossible-- unless you wanted to make a liar out of me."

Fury radiates from the depths of my soul, and I give a push. Not anticipating my move, he falls out of the tree, limbs flailing like a headless chicken. Shock envelops my mind. I didn't exactly mean to do that... oops. I consider saying sorry, but he deserved it.

A loud thud adds to the sounds of chirping birds, and a wide smile replaces the scowl that marred my face. Silly, silly boy... he should know better. "What was that for," he asks in an upset tone. I climb down, my skin scraping against the rough bark.

"You should not have picked on me. I have been through way too much in the past two days to be teased." Tears fall rapidly from my eyes like a waterfall.

"Oh lass, please don't cry," he pleads. His arms surround me, and I want to fight his embrace, but I need this. I start to sob, the memories of Rachel flying through my head... ending with her scream. I envision a thousand ways that she could have perished-- each more painful and more torturous than the last. I can't stop crying. The woman who raised me-- who cared for and loved me is dead. She's dead, and she won't be coming back. Now I'm left in this world that is dimmer without her, and a whole lot frightening. There are so many questions that I wish I could ask her, but I can't. She is gone forever.

A heavy weight settles on my chest, suffocating me. No matter how much I gasp, there is no air. There is no love left. No more embraces full of motherly love. I feel as though there is a rock in my throat. Endless tears stream down my face. Emotions crash into me with the force of a horde of stampeding horses. She died because of me-- protecting me. She's gone because of me. No... she is gone because of a single person-- the person who hired her to assassinate me. Anger swells, and a hatred that I have never felt before in my entire life rises up until it is unbearable. Grief and hatred combine into a strong force that steals what little breath I have left.
Dark spots litter my vision... small dots that expand into an infinity of darkness. The last thing I remember is strong hands catching me when I collapse.