Heart Of The Storm

-Chapter 1- The Chase-

Aella

The sound of pounding feet assaults my ears as I sprint across the snow covered earth, weaving in and out of the thick vegetation and dense trees as I evade my pursuers, knowing that if I slow down too soon my mission will end.

Leaping over a fallen tree, I stumble a bit, and feel a twitch of pain in my right ankle. I keep running though, tiny pains can be dealt with later. I keep my eyes ahead of me, not daring to look back, it will only distract me from my goal.

I push even faster as an iced over river begins to appear in the distance, I'll have to jump that too, or risk getting hypothermia and freezing to death by trying to walk across and then falling in. As I reach the edge, I push off of the ground, hurtling myself three feet above the frozen water as the bone chilling air slams into my face. As I near the other side, I tuck my body in and roll when I hit the ground, quickly pulling myself back up and continuing my sprint; those men can't be too far behind me.

It won't be long now, only a a few more yards and I'll be there.

After about ten more minutes my destination appears before me. With a last burst of speed, I put as much distance between me and the men behind me and rush through the entrance, slowing down to a stop once I reach the middle of the damaged meadow I'm standing in.

With nowhere else to run, I stand still, allowing myself to recover from my run, my breaths appearing in the cold air as puffs of smoke. The meadow is a dead shell of its former glory, the grass that peaks above the snow is either black from fire or browned by death. The once vividly painted flowers, and lush green grass is now nothing more than an old memory...a ten year old memory. The towering rocks form a virtual wall around the dead field, with the only exit being the opening I just ran through. So even if I want to run, which I don't, I can't.

Which is exactly what I planned on, so as I wait for the men to catch up to me, I allow myself to daydream, if only for a moment.

The lush grass sways in the breeze as the sun shines down warmly. The cool air blowing through my hair as I watch a small boy play in the distance, chasing after a butterfly.

"Be careful, don't run off too far." I call to him and he laughs, half ignoring me in pursuit of the winged creature.

"I won't, promise."

I snap out of my reverie when the sound of booted feet enter behind me, opening my eyes, I turn my head to face them, taking in all twenty two of the armed and uniformed individuals. The man in front stares me dead in the eye, and his face brings back old memories.... memories I can never forget, and the faces of people I couldn't save. He grins at me, noticing I am cornered, and a bit of smugness laces his expression.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Five long months of chasing and now, we're all here." He says smugly, almost strutting towards me.

I turn around completely, taking in every gun pointed in my direction, and every stare as their leader strides toward me.

"Come on now Aella, just give up. Aren't you tired of running?"

I sigh deeply as he takes a step closer, letting my body relax, the last thing I need now is to be tense.

"I am tired of running." I reply honestly.