The Devils Advocate

Any other day

I wake up,sweat pouring down my face and ribbons of heat wafting my way. I sit up, my head throbbing from the impact of the fall. Levi is still laying next to me, but it seems he's already been up because he made a makeshift bed for himself. "Thanks a lot," I mumble, pushing myself up off the ground. I brush my hands on my now shredded jeans and head off towards the least threatening looking area in search of other people. The area seemed almost deserted, the landscape red and orange. There seems to be no Sun either. I look down at my favorite shirt and growl. The once pretty yellow color was stained an ugly orange.

"This is your lucky day, first the birds nest, then the jeans, and now this." I look up and smile. In front of me is exactly what I was looking for. A house with a smoking chimney.

Knocking on the door, I lean against the frame, my patience growing thin. I hear voices behind the door and lean my face against it.

"I've already told you Anabell, we don't open the door for anyone, we don't know what they want." I could hear someone stomp their foot.

"Obviously she's not dangerous. She has no idea where she's at if she's wandering around outside with no protection.

" Seconds tick by and I grow even more impatient. I knock again and hear a loud sigh

"Fine, let her in, but your dealing with it." A little girl, maybe eight, opens the door. Her curly brown hair reaches her waist and her sparkling brown eyes glimmer in delight.

"Hi, I'm Ariel. I like your eyes." I giggled at her bounciness.

"Do you guys have any clothes I might fit into?" She bounced up and down, all while turning and heading down the hall. I smirked and followed her, aware of the sudden uneasiness in the house.

"This place is magical. We can get whatever we want here. It annoys my brother but he'll get over it." I grinned, looking down on her small frame.

"I have a brother too." She stopped and turned to look at me.

"Where is he?" Her hazel eyes were full of question, but a bit of concern lay behind it.

"He's asleep in the woods. Why is there something wrong?" Her small eyes shot open, fear filling her face.

"Jason, her brother is still in the woods!" I heard rushed footsteps, and her brother came flying around the corner. My heart stopped and my mind was enveloped in a fog. His curly brown hair enveloped his piercing blue eyes. I could see him talking but his voice melted around me like chocolate on a hot summer day. his eyes became frantic as he rushed up to me and shook me.

"Do you hear what i'm saying? If your brother stays out there he could die." My mind registered what he was saying and I snapped into action. Kneeling in front of Anabell I pointed at the door.

"You lock the door. Don't open it. Leave the window to the kitchen unlocked, that's how we'll get back in. Got it." She nodded, her bottom lip quivering. "We'll be back, I promise sweetie." She nodded and smiled. I swooped her up in a hug and grabbed Jason's hand. We stumbled out the door, headed in the direction I had came from.

"Levi!" My voice quivered, my fear coming alive.

"Levi!" My hearts pounding a mile a minute. How could I leave me brother out here all alone? I pounce through the trees, not really caring what i might come across. I stumble and fall over a big, black log, landing face first in the dirt.

"Do not move." Jason's voice carries to me, a subtle fear evident in his tone. A low growling rings out from behind me. My heart accelerates.