Water's Edge

Chapter 6

I take the path up off of the beach into the woods. As I pass by trees, I start to get the feeling of being watched.
     An involuntary shudder passes through my body. Why didn't I bring my gun?
     I start to have second thoughts about my little adventure until I start to see the first buildings of the town. Nothing seems out of place and no one is outside.
     I start down the main road. There are no cars, only the high up government people have them. They race around, thinking what they will.
I reach the first house and I try the door. Locked. That's a good sign, I tell myself. I turn away from the house and continue on down the street.
I look at all of the doors I pass. None are kicked in or show any signs of damage. The trading center is still, all of the employees at home.
By the time I search the whole town the sun is coming up so I head to a thicket of trees and wait there. I watch as people come out of their homes like every other day. Nothing out of the ordinary happens until I see a familiar figure exit a house. Apollyon.
He darts out of his house and walks toward my cluster of trees. I am about to walk up to him until I see his face. He looks angry. At what, I don't know, but probably nothing good.
I duck behind a thick tree when he passes. He was walking calmly on the street, but now he is at a jog. I get a rush of courage so I follow him at a distance. I follow him across many roads and he doesn't exchange pleasantries with anyone he passes.
Strange, I think as I duck behind another building. He continues to weave his way through the town.
      We reach the the path that leads down toward the beach, toward my house, when it hits me; my family. What if he is going after them?
I step off the path and start to go another way to my house. Even though the path is through the woods, I sprint. I have taken this small path many times, usually to get off the main path when it is hot.
      I feel dread in my gut but I push it down. They will be alright.
      I continue to sprint down the path. The sun is now up and I can tell it is going to be a hot day.
      When I reach the end of the path and I stop. No. Standing outside my front door is at least twenty Barrens. I put my head in my hands, why did I leave.
      I sit down and try to think.
Okay, I know I have the element of surprise. I know the landscape better. I am fast, so I can do this. I look back at the Barrens who are now knocking on the door, who am I kidding? The Barrens are now opening the door and charging in. Now my friends are captured. But.......my friends and brother aren't in there.
     By now the Barrens are inside so I stand up and make a break for the rocks. I sprint like I've never sprinted in my life. I almost make it until I hear a shout. I turn around and I see the end of a gun barrel. Attached to the gun is a Barren's arm.
I suck in a breath and turn around and run, this time fro my life. No, no, no, no, I scream in my mind. When I am almost at the rocks I let out a sigh. I am safe.
I slip around the rocks. No one is there. Where are they? I whip my head around and I see that the Barren has blocked my only exit. I have to fight him.
I take a couple steps back toward the ocean. I hear it churning and I draw strength from the sound. I now take a step forward instead of back. The man points his gun at me and is prepared to fire. Suddenly, I feel powerful and on instinct I flick out my hand and a wave of water knocks the man down. I open my mouth in shock. Did I do that?
      "She has the powers," I hear the Barren I knocked over shout. I am so confused. What powers?
      Bang. I feel a piercing pain in my shoulder. I seem to fall in slow motion. I hit the sand and see blood start to flow across the sand and mix with the water.
      I force myself to look up at my shooter. He looks afraid. I start to flick my wrist but am stopped by one of the Barrens talking.
     "I wouldn't do that if I were you." I flick my gaze over. There is my brother and friends standing there with guns pointed at their heads. I shut my eyes as I try to shift my weight off of my right shoulder, but my left is screaming at me to stop. I manage to get on my knees.
     "What do you want from us?" I spit out at, what I think is, the lead Barren. He wears the same attire as the other Barrens but he has a red band around his wrist. The head of this group, I think.
     He regards me with curiosity in his dark eyes. "I know what you are, so don't try to hide it." What?
     "You are special. We need you so you will come with us." Through my pain I notice that his accent is clipped where mine is smooth.
"What if I don't go?" I ask, trying to put malice in my voice. The Barren slowly points his fingers at Arroyo, Lisa, and Val. Now I look at them. They all look scared.
"Leave her alone," Arroyo yells. He has fear in his voice. I try to muster some courage and it works.
     "Let them go and I will go," I say as I look at the Barren closely. He has short, dark brown hair with bronze skin to match.
     "Fine," he replies. He makes a gesture and the other Barrens let Lisa, Val, and Arroyo go. Val and Lisa start to run away. I don't blame them, if it were me, I would run too.
      I think they are going to get away until the lead Barren points his gun at Val and Lisa.
     "Since we have to travel quite a bit, I think I should introduce myself. My name is David Quincy," he says to me, offering a harsh smile.
When David's finger twitched on the trigger scream,"No!" I flick my hand toward him and water rushes forward to knock the gun out of his hand. He actually looks startled for a moment until he neutralizes his face.
"Impressive. No training and you can already use your power with accuracy," he says to me. He walks over to another Barren and grabs his handgun. I look at my older brother as David walks behind me.
"Darya," Arroyo yells before I get hit in the head with the gun. My vision fades and I am thrown into darkness.