The Stolen Ones

the fall

Author's note: guys, thanks to everyone who read this.Lots of love to you.Here's the final installment of this short story, hope you enjoy it.

When the earth trembled and cracked,splitting in half right in front of them she was ready.She jumped sideways, avoiding the rockfall.

Some of the others weren't so lucky.

They fell into the abyss and she watched them go,not particularly caring what would happen to them.

The ones falling were also very calm.Not a single one of them made a sound as they went down. One young man even looked directly at her, for an instant she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes-fear?- but the expression vanished and he smiled (a small serene thing,that had her feeling at peace).

Yes,there was absolutely nothing to fear, all was well.

***

For a long time after the falling sacrifices,there was silence.The noise that broke the quiet wasn't a sound.

It was a feeling.

Her soul hummed and she watched as something began sparkling from the depths.The gleaming light got closer and closer,sparkling in a million places,yet never seeming to move,but somehow it was...flowing?

'Water?'

***

The chasm filled until it was spilling at the banks.The more she looked at it,the more she felt something in her slipping away.

But why would she think that,afterall...it was just a river.

She couldn't remember its name-how strange-she knew the names of all the rivers in their land.

Come to think of it-what was her name?

Panic assailed her when she realized she couldn't remember her own name.She gazed into the water to try and jog her memory and an instant calm came over her.

Why was she worried about such thing anyway?

Names were names,passing things that died with their owner,she didn't need any of those.She had a job to do afterall.

There was a splash from the left of her and she saw the outline of a body sinking right before the water settled.

The others followed the first diver,one by one they all fell in until she was the last one left.

She took a step forward.Hesitating for the first time since she'd started her journey.There was something...off..about the sweet melody of the world around her.She'd felt it as she was preparing to jump and she knew she shouldn't dismiss it.

'Ngwanaka'

My child.

She startled,the memory of the soft voice igniting something in her.The rekindled spark withi her fought and she was beginning to feel like she was lifting somesort of blanket off of her,when some water lapped at her feet.

Just like that,the fight left her.

She jumped right in and let herself be carried into the depths.

Her body didn't struggle as she was pulled in,but something in her wouldn't give up.

'Ngwanaka'

That word was only used by parents,to their beloved children.

Did she have someone like that out there?

A Mom?...a Dad?

'Yes!yes!....she did,she was someone,somebody's child,someone love her,se had to get back,she had to...'

She tried to swim upwards but her body wouldn't allow it.The darkness of the water overcame her vision and in an instant all her thoughts had gone quiet.

She was blissfully unaware as the darkness carried her away.