RED

The Last Congregation

© APOORVA 2014

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The night was unnaturally quiet and starry. The silence alone made this whole situation eerie. I had anticipated this day in a lot of ways in my head, but those ways did not make me feel this scared. I repeatedly told myself when I realized who I was that I am ready for battle, although I was apprehensive and unprepared now. The Elders often said that I have a big heart; I wished I could trade it for a lion heart.

Chirac and Kea crouched on the ground as their black eyes glowed frivolously. I, on the other hand remained as calm as I could possibly manage to be and held on to the Deodar tree's rough bark. I was colder than normal and the little blood I had in my system was rushing to my feet. Moreover, my mind was playing tricks and was having a very unhealthy conversation with me by displaying images of the worst line of attacks. I trembled at the intensity of violence my brain could put on show. But what if they were here? What if they were very near? What if they were watching me from behind? I quickly glanced back, and then sighed in relief.

"No one's there Maya," Kea said, "They won't attack like that. Rules, remember?"

"Yes," I muttered

"Good," she said, smiling a little

I closed my eyes, trying to compose myself and the string of my gibberish thoughts. If I had a pulse, I could have heard it beating tentatively in my ears and my heart would have landed on my palms from this anxious pressure. Nonetheless, my hands were terribly quivering and my breaths were uneven; I was the only one respiring here anyways. Everyone else had held their breaths so that they would not track us. Chirac assured me that my breaths would not attract anyone because I was in the heart of the forest and my scent was already masked. But then again, Chirac and Kea were not breathing, making this state irk me a little more.

The stillness lingered for another hour until a crisp sound of a branch snapping echoed in this air. My eyes snapped open as I looked straight ahead, trying to detect any moment. I felt a cold droplet trickle down from my scalp and rolling down towards my neck. Chirac was on his foot, as though ready to run away towards the trespasser.

"Take care of her," he whispered to Kea, lopping in the forest

"What, no...wait!" she exclaimed, the ran behind him

I froze on my spot. Did they just leave me here?

"Erh, Kea?" I said, hoping for her to return

She did not. What was I suppose to do now? Should I stay here, or run back, or run to other? They swore to be with me till the very end and so I had no back-up plan now.

"What do I do now?" I whispered to myself

"Let me make this easier for you my child," a husky reply came from behind

So my mind was not really hallucinating, someone was actually there. I surreptitiously turned around and noticed a tall silhouette in a distance. My breath caught up in my throat as I saw him advance slowly towards me. I tried to think straight and take a quick decision. I stepped back as his scent hit me; he was not one of us. I dashed in the opposite direction, unsure of where I was going but making sure I was far from his reach.

My hair whisked back from my face and I picked up countless other scents. The reverberation of his pace made me want to quicken my own speed but he was definitely stronger and faster. I tried to change my course but out of nowhere the man stood stagnant in front of me. I crashed in his chest but before I could collapse on the ground, he clutched on to my arm with a deadly grip. I winced at the force he was exerting on me, his bony fingers grazing on my skin.