empire » h.s

chapter 6

Destiny POV

A loud sound caused me to open my eyes. I looked around confused with my surroundings.

Where am I and why does my head hurt?

I rubbed my head causing myself to wince. I placed my hand on the ground and felt something soft. I looked down and realized I was laying down on a leather jacket. I shivered slightly as a cold breeze whipped my face. Shivering and thirsty, I licked my cracked, shivering lips and picked up the jacket. I put it on and sighed with relief as warmth spread throghout my body. I heard the crackling of a fire and smiled. Heat I need heat. I blew in my hands as I walked slowly in the direction of the black smoke.

"What are we going to do with her?" a male voice asked.

"Protect her." another responded sipping some type of liquid.

"Harry, we don't even know the girl." I hear him sigh.

The sound of rustling leaves, cause me to hide behind a bush. I peer from behind them slowly and see two young men. One is sitting on the ground only in a t-shirt and shorts. His hair just barely reached his shoulder, but at this pace I think by next month he will look like Tarzan. The other was pacing back and forth while rubbing his arms up and down. He was in black skinny jeans and a red plaid button down. I recognized young tarzan as the general. I wonder what he is doing here, and why he helped me.

"Joe, you know what people in this town say about dreams. Especially when the young-ins dream. Remember my birthmark you used to make fun of?" he questioned putting down his cup.

I watched him pull up his shirt and I quickly looked away. I argued back and forth with my conscience before giving in. I wanted to look so bad, so I did. I peered back over and watched him point to a brown mark on his chest.

"Yeah, I remember. Come on man put your shirt back on. It's freezin." Joe advised, walking closer to the fire.

"Well, when I dream they have a meaning, but usually it's not everything that meets the eye." he mumbled while pulling back on his shirt.

"Where am I?"

My ears perk at the sound of the familiar feminine voice. My eyes scanned the area, and I smiled when I saw Tati walk up to the two guys. I couldn't believe she was alive. I examined her as she sat down next to the fire. I thanked God silently that she seemed to be in shape.

"I see your friend is up." Harry remarked, his eyes meeting mine.

I groaned and come out from behind the bushes.

I was doing just fine in the bushes

"Oh really now." he added, causing my eyes to widen.

Did I say that out loud?

"Yes, you did now sit down. You look like a pale smurf." Harry joked causing everyone to laugh but me. I huffed and complied.

"Tati!" I grinned as I ran up to her. She wrapped her arms around me, giving me a tight hug.

"I thought you were gone." I whispered, causing a single tear to fall down my shivering cheeks.

"I would never leave you without a reason, I promised." she vowed letting go of me, holding up her hand.

The day went by fast. I watched as Tati and Joe, joked around as if they had known each other for years. I on the other hand left and started examining the forest. I knew much from reading about the multiple leaves and berries that were edible. I know there has to be some edible berries here.

A crimson-burnt orange color blanketed the sky. I had gathered enough berries for us to eat for weeks, so I started to walk back to camp. Sounds of owls hooting and crickets chirping, filled the forest. I tried to concentrate on the direction in which I had come from. Everything looked the same, all the leaves and branches looked as though they had not been stirred. I listened for the familiar crackling of the flames, but instead I heard my boots crunching on the forest floor.

I couldn't believe this. I can't be lost. I stopped walking and listened, and then kept on walking. I stopped again, this time hearing something other than my footsteps. I started to walk again, but came to an abrupt stop. I heard it again, I realized I wasn't alone out here. I started to run, not looking back. I heard multiple shouts and hoots as I kept running. I looked to my left and saw a half dressed man covered in paint holding a large wooden stick on fire. I turned to my left and witnessed the same. I quickly picked up speed as I was being followed by the native savages of the Dabio forest. I panted harshly as I was blinded by stray branches and leaves.

The sky had now turned a midnight black and the moon was my only light. I felt my lungs start to burn with the annual amount of oxygen I was taking in. I turned back and saw two faint lights through the leaves. They were close, too close.

I have to reach the rest of them. I can't let them get killed.

I stopped for a quick breather. My hands falling to my knees as I took in deep needed breathes. My heart beats exceeding as I heard the hoots and howls getting closer. I started to run again, picking up whatever berries I hadn't lost. I searched my brain thinking out of the multiple books I have read, said something about the Dabio forest.

The Dabio forest is one of the most exquisite and beautiful forests left in the world. In fact it is the largest one out of the three forests that are left. Although the Dabio is known for it's prestigious floral arrangements and unique amphibians, it also poses a danger to what is left of the human race.

After the Council was formed whomever was labeled unfit to live in the "new world" were thrown there. This includes the mentally ill and unstable..... These people had nothing to survive on but their own selves. They had no clue about what was right to eat and what was not, but they learned over the next 100 years that is.

Now they are cannibals and eat any humans that are not of their own people, that enter the forest. They have a tradition of capturing and torturing their victims, before killing them...... No one has escaped alive from the Dabio savages, and to be completely honest I don't think anyone ever will..

I knew I had to keep running. Then I heard it. The sound echoing in my ear causing me to fall to the floor and whimper.

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[a/n: CLIFF-HANGER WOW! I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE STUDYING BUT WHOOPS. SUMMER STARTS TOMORROW!! YAY! COMMENT WHAT YOU THINK DESTINY HEARD! WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER?! IF I GET OVER 20 COMMENTS I WILL UPDATE!]