The Falls

Chapter #1

Reika;       I walked for miles. My feet are screaming at me to stop. But I can't stop or go back. I think of my father's hazel eyes burning furiously up at me as I told him my decision to leave. Is he still mad? I wonder if he misses me. Up ahead I see a small black bump protruding from the cream-colored sand. This isn't much different from home I thought. Same sharp, black rocks. The same sun seeping into every crack and crevice. Warming the backs of the creatures who call the beach home. Same calming "whoosh, whoosh" of the icy blue waves going up and down against the sand, grabbing every small item that lays on the tide and dragging it down with it. But there was one hidden difference in this archipelago. The falls. Some say it's a curse, others say it's a blessing. I say it's a myth. I believe it's a myth because  people who visit the Falls NEVER come back. There hasn't been not one return documented. I myself believe the world works naturaly. Life dies for a reason. From the island I come from, we have doctors Or as we call them healers, that use various plants to heal people. But when you get a laceration, sickness, or terminal disease, in the Falls, you get healed. No matter what, or how big it is. But I didn't have any scratches or diseases. I had come to the falls to find my mother. After about an hour or so walking, I finally talked myself into resting. My resting spot of choice was a smooth black rock 15 feet away from a pile of the same black rocks. I slowed my breath and looked out at the ocean. The waves always found a way to calm me down. It looks like Shadow was thinking the same thing because she sighed and rested her head on my lap.

Train;       She just sat there. Nothing but her black and white patched dog in her lap. Her brilliant blue eyes narrowed against the harsh sunlight. I tried to work out a plan to approach her without leaving with a bloody face. From my position on the rocks, it took me a few seconds to realize she was looking my way. I quickly ducked behind my hiding spot behind the rocks, making the gravel under my feet crunch in protest, revealing my hiding spot. "Shit," I whispered through clenched teeth.

Reika;       

"Bark, bark." My whole body is  hot with fear. I suddenly feel a lump of regret rising up from inside me. My mind flooded with questions. Why did I leave? Why am I so selfish? What does my dad think of me? Shadow's ear piercing bark forced me back into reality. It doesn't matter now. I've already made my mistakes. I'm here and I can't go back. I quickly bend to grab a big stone. With the stone firmly in my grasp, I met shadow by the jet black rocks. Shadow's paws were digging at the base of the giant rocks wishing she could dig a hole through them. "Crunch." there it is again. I looked at the end of the pile, expecting to see a hairy beast. But instead, I find a boy. He slowly walked sideways, not towards or away from me with his hands up. I quickly grab shadow and tell the stranger to stay. Shadow not letting her guard down, had her lip curled showing her two sharp rows of  white teeth. "Who are you?" I ask. My voice a little shaky then I would have liked. "They call me train." the boy replied. "Who's they?" I asked, feeling my eyebrows meet my eyes. He made a tiny gesture to somewhere in the distance. Knowing that if the boy or train, tried to move, Shadow would happily leave a scar he would remember, I glanced to see a small hole in the nearby mountains. I turn back to train. "Stay where you are or I will throw this at you," I say quickly as he moved ever so slightly in my direction. I felt Shadow's whole body rumble as Train inched closer. "I just want to help you,'' he said. "Stay over there.'' I hissed. But he didn't. In fact, he ran towards us. I let go of Shadow's fur. But just as she gathered her hunches to tackle Train he reached into his pocket and grabbed a handful of green herb like substance. I watch as shadow leaps and Train grabs her scruff and shoves his hand on shadow's nose. I watch, both confused and terrified as Shadow staggers back a few steps and falls back. "NO!'' I screamed and threw the rock at him. It hit his head. He hesitated as he felt the blow of the rock. But he soon gathered his strength and ran at me. I stand my guard. I already made a mistake by running away, I'm never doing it again.

Train;       I underestimated her. She is a fighter. I ran up to her to tried to calm her. "I'm not trying to hurt you," I say ducking under well-aimed punches. "What did you do to my dog?" She replied hastily. "He's not dead if that's what you're asking." I have to get her under control I thought frantically. She wavered with that response. Just enough time for me to grab her. She kicked for a while then gave up. "Look, you seem like you need help, I'm taking you to my village." She looked up at me with a fierce fire burning in her eyes. "First of all, I don't trust you. Second of all, MY DOG!" "I will get your dog," I said, trying to act serious. "I will go with you to your stupid village if you let me get my dog." "Fine," I said letting her go. She ran to her dog. Seeing that she is still breathing, she picks her up and starts bolting. "Hey!" I yelled. I knew I shouldn't have let her go I laughed to myself.

Reika;       I ran like I've never run before. My shoes were to the point of slipping off when I was stopped. "You must be Reika!" a female voice says. "How do you know my name," I asked breathlessly. "I'll get to that later, why don't you come with me. I can get you new clothes and food," she says cheerfully. "I would love to stay but I have a psycho man trying to kill me at the moment. So bye!" The girls face lit up with fear as she saw me run past. "Train!" I hear the same voice exclaim as my killer runs around the corner. "YOU KNOW HIM!" I roar as I stop and turn my head. "Of course I know him! He's my friend!" "He almost killed my dog!" I told the girl. "TRAIN?" She crossed her arms at the boy. "She threw a rock at my head!" he protested back. I smirked. "Plus, her dog isn't technically dead." "Close enough," I reply, rubbing my dog's non-responsive ear. "Give me the herb you used." The girl said as she looked Train in the eye. "I know my way around herbs." He said defensively as he reached into his pocket. The girl took the fabric bag from his protesting hands, studying the substance. "Relax Reika your dog will only be like this for a couple more hours." "I'm going to just pretend I didn't hear a complete stranger say my name twice." hearing relief flooding out of my voice. "I'm Amarachi. Now we aren't strangers!" , the girl replied happily. "Clever." I remarked.

"Come with us to our village." Amarachi said. "Only if you help my dog." "Deal." replied Amarachi somehow tripping over nothing in a hurry to shake my hand. My father's words rang in my head as I made my way to this village. "Trust no one and keep your eyes on the true goal. Save. Your. Mother." But my feet still continue to move. So this is what freedom feels like, I think to myself. I like it. In fact, I love it.

Train;      I don't notice anything unusual about her. She seems incredibly healthy. If there isn't anything to heal, why did she come to the Falls? "Cute dog." I say to finally break the awkward silence. Reika gave me a look of pure adversity. "You mean the one I have limp in my arms because a complete stranger tried to kill her?" Amarachi chuckled. "To be fair" I started but was quickly shot down by Reika. "Don't even!" I put my head down and mumbled loud enough that both of them could hear, "I knew what the herbs would do." Rieka sighed making a pshhhhbb sound with her lips. "You two stop arguing, we are here!" "The tribe?" Reika replied. "The tribe!" I said happily. We pushed our way through a cave entrance. Reika taking the back, Amarachi the front, and me the back.

Reika;       The cave walls separated farther apart the more we walked. It seemed as if Shadow was getting heavier. What am I getting into? I think to myself frantically. My mind always made a way to overthink things and worry me to the point of breaking. One of the many lovely factors of being me. I light suddenly poured into the dark and wet cave. As we inch closer I hear voices. Welcoming voices. "GUYS! YOUR BACK!" was the actual first voice I could clearly distinguish. When we are all out of the cave entrance and surrounded by light, I am welcomed by the creator of that loud voice. "Hello, Rekia." the girl said. "This is kinda creepy," I reply "How is it that everyone around here knows my name?"  "She seems to have that effect on people."  Amarachi said while turning to me. "Let me introduce you two." (Next chapter)