Away

Ch.4: Adventure Awaits

Ryder kicked Luke's unconscious head as he trailed behind Greyson, who was holding him over his shoulder.

"Don't kick him." Rowan scolded. "You might damage the only thing we need from him, his brain."

"Don't tell me you're starting to care for this guy Row." Ryder teased.

Rowan tensed. "No way, why would I, all he ever did was kidnap us."

"Just a joke, Rowan. No need to get angry."

Suddenly, Luke groaned and opened his eyes. "Am I dead?"

Ryder smirked. "You will be if you don't help us get home."

Luke blinked and took in his surroundings. "Where are we?"

"The yellow brick road." Greyson said and dropped Luke on the ground.

Luke rubbed his head. "What happened?"

"Nothing you need to know, now come on, you have to help us." Rowan said.

Luke stood up, his blonde hair sticking up in tufts. Ryder snickered as Luke smoothed his hair down. He didn't understand why he had kidnapped them, but it certainly wasn't for any good reasons.

Luke looked at Rowan, than cleared his throat. "We go north." He said, and they all set sail to go back home.

After about an hour, they got to a glowing forest, and Ryder stared at it as Luke said "We have to go through there."

Ryder jerked his head. "Are you crazy, we are not going in a glowing forest, there's another path right there." Ryder jerked his head towards a path that looked well-traveled and was not glowing.

"It's a shortcut. Instead of walking for 2 hours, we walk for one."

Greyson raised a hand. "I, for one, don't want to walk for another hour than I have to."

"I don't care as long as we get there." Rowan said.

Luke started towards the forest with the 2 siblings following. Ryder sighed and followed them. He had a bad feeling in his gut that something bad was going to happen, and it wasn't going to be pretty. He touched the engraving on his knife, which always made him feel better.

It's going to be fine. I'll be fine. I am a fierce warrior.

He wasn't convinced.

When they were deep into the glowing trees, Ryder's shirt got stuck on his body, making him uncomfortable. He got so uncomfortable that he picked up his knife, suddenly felt a shock, and dropped it.

"Uh, guys...." Ryder said, looking up where the others were walking.

Luke looked back in disgust. "What's wrong?"

Ryder shot him a look. "There's like a shock thing in the trees."

Greyson looked worried. "What do you mean?"

Rowan took her knife out of her boot, but dropped it immediately. "Ow!" She screamed, rubbing her hand against her thigh.

Luke looked curious and touched the metal chain around his neck, his hand bounced back and he shook it. Ryder saw an emotion he had never seen on the villain before; fear.