Shadow Moses [Fransykes]

Chapter 34

I stood on the side, in the shadow, leaning on a tree as I watched the flames dance in a small pool between the rocks where the Phylumins scrubbed the stone off the soil to make a fire.

I didn't dare to get too close as laughter of my best friend intertwining with the one of her captor made my skin crawl. They were alone, sitting on the rocks as the Sun slowly faded in the distance, painting the sky dark orange.

The smell of smoke flowed through the the air as Hannah kept adding branches onto the fire, letting the flames devour them to ash, throwing warmth on her poorly covered skin.

She had nothing but a gray towel wrapped around her tiny figure as Alissa crouched behind her brushing her wet hair with her fingers and knotting it into tiny braids.

A smile didn't leave my friend's face and it made my stomach clench. Just a couple days went by and her and Alissa were fine as if nothing had happened. Hell, the very day they fought it was as if nothing happened.

It couldn't be right.

So as we moved along with the Phylumins I kept an eye on them. And now as finally stopped for a day, after three of walking, I followed them when they went for a swim in the lake near by and then here where Alissa had ordered her people to make sure a fire stands when they return.

Watching them, Hannah truly seemed happy, but I knew better. It did seem arrogant to think I knew how she felt better than her, but that was the case. She was brainwashed and I needed to help her whether she hates me after it or not.

Alissa laid her head on Hannah's shoulder, pushing her black bangs, slightly curled from the moisture, out of her eyes.

"I wish I had hair like yours," she said with a sigh before she kissed Hannah's cheek, "mine never listens." 

Hannah turned her head to look at her captor's face. "Yours is wild and free, like you. Like the things I love about you." 

Alissa smiled then went back to knotting her hair.

"You know, I wonder sometimes," she said, "what I've done that fate decided to bring you to me."

Hannah shrugged. "Before, I'd probably tell you I didn't believe in fate, but when I was banished I was certain I was gonna die so... I'd be an idiot to say I didn't believe everything happens for a reason." 

"Perhaps the first Sight Keeper attack happened for a reason," Alissa said, "perhaps fate wanted me to lead this march and you were sent to me to keep me on the right path, the Moon of my night."

"The Sun of my day," Hannah clicked her tongue, "I'm happy to be on your service."

Alissa giggled. "Can I ask you a question? A stupid one, just to warn you."

"No Al, you can't." Hannah chuckled.

"What made you like me?" Alissa asked. "I know how I appear in the eyes of most people but you never seemed to buy into that image of me - the heartless killer one, right?"

"You're not a killer to me, you never were," Hannah said. "There was something in your eyes that told me otherwise."

"My eyes are practically black," Alissa said. "People say my glare is literal death, as if the souls of all the people whose lives I've taken reside in there."

"And that's bullshit," Hannah clicked her tongue. "I saw bravery, will to survive and power - power I needed in my life."

"Interesting," Alissa said, "when I first saw you, I saw a dork whose life I just saved."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

"Let me finish, babe." Alissa smiled. "That was a change, you know - to save someone's life. It was almost as if a part of my soul revived when you opened your eyes and they met mine. It was like I knew there, that was how I wanted to wake up every morning."