Changed

Chapter Seven

They laid in the grass for a solid minute before Raya propped herself back up and looked down at Veda. Veda looked up at her and let out a groan at the look in Raya's eyes. "Please don't make me run again. My legs can't take it." Raya took it as a joke and laughed softly before pushing herself to her feet before walking closer to the river.

Veda stayed where she was for a moment longer before following Raya and coming closer to the water's edge. They crouched down together and took turns splashing each other in the face in order to cool off. Raya played as if it were a game but Veda didn't really see the fun in it and stayed where she was while Raya jumped around trying to dodge when Veda splashed the water.

They kept up this playfulness for a while until a crash in the woods knocked them back to their senses. Raya's serious expression returned and the uneasiness that threatened to constrict Veda's breathing returned. They both grabbed their backpacks and started through the woods once more, walking this time.

They walked in silence for the first few minutes to reassure themselves that it was just an animal that had caused the commotion earlier before Veda finally asked the question that had been burning in her since Raya rushed her out the door earlier.

"What are we doing Raya? I mean I get you were trying to help me, but I don't understand what we're going to do from here. We can't hide in the forest forever, we'll eventually be caught, especially when my medicine runs out and things get really bad for me." Veda talked fast, wanting to express all of her worries in one breath.

Raya's blue eyes met Veda's gray ones and she smiled. "I'm sorry dear but the less you know of my plan, the safer you are. Just don't worry and trust me." For some reason, despite no knowing what was going to happen, Raya's words soothed Veda because she knew she could trust her friend to always come through for her like she had since she was little.

"Okay, Ray, but you'll make sure to tell me if there's something I need to know, right?" Veda fiddled with her necklace and Raya nodded with a grin as she gave her friend's hand a squeeze.

They walked side by side, dodging limbs and creeping around underbrush, at times crawling, before they finally broke out into a valley. From there they could see the sun beginning to set behind the tips of the mountains in the distance.

Veda watched Raya stare at the setting sun with a look of disdain as she reached to take back out her flashlight. Raya seemed to toss around an idea in her head before letting out a sigh and dropping her backpack to the ground along with the flashlight.

Veda did the same with her things before tilting her head at Raya. Raya ignored Veda for a moment as she kneeled down to pull out a blanket from her bag and hand it over to Veda. Veda took it and stared at it for a moment before turning her gaze back to Raya.

Raya finally acknowledged Veda's confusion by telling her it was time for bed. Veda immediately dropped to the ground and wrapped herself up with the blanket. She turned her back to Raya and stared out into the woods fearfully. She attempted to reign in her imagination before it got too out of hand but sadly, Kai had already appeared.

Veda let out a sigh at the sight of him and tried to squeeze her eyes shut in order to block him out but couldn't make herself as he asked, "You think you can escape?" Veda reopened her eyes to see him staring at her with a lazy grin on his face despite the seriousness of his question and their situation.

"I trust Raya. She knows what she's doing." Veda whispered before shooting a look over to see if Raya noticed. Raya continued to fiddle with a few things in her bag so Veda turned back over to focus on Kai.

"Do you though? I mean do you really think she's thinking straight right now? Her sister was just taken and now she's just pulled her supposed best friend into untold danger just because she didn't want her taken away, sounds kind of selfish to me." Kai scoffed and Veda rolled her eyes before flopping over onto her back.

Sadly Kai didn't want to give up and scooted closed so he could lean over top of her. It was getting hard to see him as the sky dimmed causing Veda to squint up at him. "C'mon Veda, there's no point in all of this. If you didn't think so I wouldn't be saying it. We're going to get caught. At least when we do you won't have to be tortured by me anymore." Kai leaned closer and Veda stiffened at the closeness he was creating.

"Get away from me Kai. I hate it when you do this." Veda muttered it louder than she had intended and Raya's head snapped up from where she now lay in surprise. Veda's stomach dropped as concern spread on Raya's face.

"It's too early to take another pill. Are you sure you can see Kai?" Raya inquired and Veda nodded hopelessly as she motioned above her where Kai remained hovering, his eyes never leaving Veda.

Raya let out a sad sigh before sitting up and going to rummage through her bag once more. After a moment she produced a protein bar that she passed to Veda. "I was hoping to save these as long as possible but I think your hunger might be making your condition worse. Kai always shows up when you're uncomfortable." Raya then took one out for herself and watched Veda reach up to swat at what must have looked like air to Raya before sitting up to eat.

It didn't take them long to finish the bars and for a few moments after they just sat in silence, letting the sounds of crickets fill the empty air between them. Veda ended up breaking the silence by asking for the final time, "You do have a plan, don't you Ray?"

Raya stared at her for a moment and then nodded to the space beside her where Kai currently sat cross-legged. "He made you doubt me, didn't he?" Veda blushed and quickly shrugged as she diverted her eyes to the dark trees that loomed around them.

"Veda, I have a plan." With that, Raya fell onto her back, and went to sleep.

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I JUST REALIZED THAT SCHOOL STARTS BACK REALLY SOON! For me anyways. I'm just glad I have now completed my summer assignment which meeeeans. I can write for you guys more often without feeling like a terrible person! Yaaaay!!!!

Honestly I kind of can't wait for school to start back though. I like having something to do every day and working towards my future. I know it's a little weird but that is how I feel. Also, has anyone else noticed that my font changes every time I write an authors note? Weird. Oh well.

I hope y'all have enjoyed this chapter and please comment any thing you want to talk about or any questions you may have. I would also LOVE some good movie, book, music, or just anything suggestions. I like to try new things sometimes and now feels like one of those times so please speak up!!!