Steel Ethereal

Ch. 24 Armored Assailant

            

Rob   

Jenna rubs her eyes as she spies an ideal place for camp. The light attached to her noir armor illuminates the dark and prevents us from tripping.

            "We'll rest here." She says suddenly. The forest is deathly quiet and out footfalls are the only sounds so late at night.

            As soon as Jenna's last word left her lips we all unloaded. With no belongings, we were forced to sleep on the soft, unpacked dirt. It wouldn't exactly be comfortable and messy as well.

Luciana dropped, stripped her work jacket and made a makeshift pillow. Her hair flopped over her face and she began a dreamless sleep. Sam crept up beside her, straying far into sleep as well. Janeiro lay next to Sam, but held himself up on his arm, watching Sam sleep. He brushed her hair out of her face as she slept.

            Tyson found a tree, and with strength I didn't know possible for any of us to have, he climbed and found a sturdy branch to rest against.

I found a spot away from the others and turn to Jenna who sat on a fallen tree trunk.

"Aren't you going to get some rest as well?" I ask.

"Considering what you've all been through, I can risk a bit of sleep. Besides, someone has to keep watch." She says with a small smile. She undid her pony tail. "Get some rest, we make for Promenade tomorrow."

I nod and thank her for coming for us. I lay into the ground as Jenna deactivates the light on her armor.

I fell asleep much faster than I thought I would. My shirt and pants were torn, but the night was warm. My arms still ached and my legs felt like they wouldn't help me up. My dreams still took me.

And dream I did that night.

My eyes opened and my body ached from head to toe.

My team were gone. Even Jenna who said she'd keep watch. Maybe they went to gather supplies.

I rose, ignoring my protesting body and stumble through the forest. Every tree appears dead, but the night before I could have sworn the forest was lush with life. It was as If the fires from the night before crept on our sleep and made away with all the fauna and flora.

It was foggy and muggy, making it difficult to breathe. I could barely see and I couldn't tell wat time of day it was.

Something dropped on my nose, making it itch. I brushed the irritation away and found it to be ash smeared on my hand.

I look up into the grey void and see more ash fall, like snow.

Panic set as I felt the need to find the others. I wished for anything, Luciana's singing, Janeiro cracking a joke, Sam snickering at his joke....

A twig snaps nearby. It feels the fog will blot out any sounds. Thunder crashes in the distance.

I steady myself ready to fight. I find my arm weld is not on my arm and neither is my alto-mitter.

There is a silhouette, one about the same size as mine, but there is a feminine quality to it. Long hair is done into a braid that hangs off to the side of her shoulders. I can't make out facial figures, like the fog is purposefully blotting out those details.

In the blink of an eye the figure is in my face. No clear images, only erratic distortions and haunt my dreams.

It stood there, staring at me, wordlessly. I couldn't see eyes, but I felt as if I were being watched.