On The Run ( Safe and Sound Trilogy: Book 1 )

Chapter 8: Violet_Burning

"You see," I said. "Anne, here, she has told us what's going on."

Anne explained to Kris what was going on. How we have to save the worlds, how we were the chosen ones. It was funny to watch Kris's face: Scared, in denial, scared again.

I know he tries to act like a tough guy, Kris, but he's pretty soft sometimes...

"Wait - so hold on," he said. "somehow, these... Gods... These legendary myths sitting on clouds probably playing cards just decided to pluck two names out of a hat or something like that to save the universe and it just happened to be us?"

Kris flipped his hair as Anne laughed.

"Well, I don't really know how it happened-" she paused so she could chuckle a few times and Kris began to look very frustrated. "-I just know it did. And-"

"Oh, so great," he looked at me. "some nutcase comes up to you, asking for food, and then tells you how we have to save everyone from... From what, may I ask?"

"I told you three times," said Anne frustratedly. "The Masked Lord."

"But you never explained what it is!" Kris exclaimed frustratedly.

"Isn't it obvious?" said Alex. "The most powerful villain ever known to Earth, ever known to man! He seems pretty dangerous... I don't know how you guys are going to get past him."

"Gee, Alex, thank you for all you caring love and support." I said. 

"Any time," said Alex. "but really, he seems-"

"Who said it was a he?" Anne asked, crossing her arms, leaning her weight onto one hip, and raising an eyebrow at Alex.

"Have you heard his voice?" he asked.

"Yeah, but they are masked, it could just be a woman with a deep, manly voice!" Anne exclaimed, but her expression went from defensive to curious and utterly confused. "But how would you know anyway?"

Alex shifted a bit nervously.

"Well, every villain is a dude, right? How many chick villains have there been?" he said.

"Well if you count Cinderella's evil step-mother I guess that'd be one," I said. "I mean, it has evil... Right there, in her name."

"Shut up, Violet." Alex said, chuckling.

"Excuse me!" I said. "I cooked your food for what? A week? You owe me some respect!"

"You burned it - Anne caught it." Alex said, shrugging, and climbing the tree back into his hammock-like 'bed' to take a nap. "Night girls."

"Ahem?" said Kris.

Alex paused.

"Night girls." he repeated.

Kris flipped his hair frustratedly and Alex called down, "My point exactly!"

Anne and I began laughing for a long time, and about half way through Kris joined in. Once laughing, it seemed hard to stop. I couldn't breathe.

"Keep it down!" Alex yelled.

"S-sorry," I said, still kind of giggling.

Suddenly, I heard a twig snap.

I whirrled around only to see three men, all with hoods, and the one trying to get to me held my head back, and somehow - even with my rapid and vicious struggling - got a strange tasting liquid into my mouth. 

And then, I silently slipped into a painful, blackness, unconsciously.

* * * * *

I didn't want to. I didn't want to wake up. Of course, the dreams and visions of the possible future were horrifying and almost unbearable to even think about, much less speak to someone about it and watch the blood splatter across the back of your eyelids and hear the swords clanging together and screams of agony replay in your mind, but at least I wasn't in pain. Pain like I've never experienced before.