Into the Dark [SLOW UPDATES]

IX

A scream escaped my lips when I felt someone roughly pull my hair. My head was pulled back, and I felt a numbing pain at the back of my head.

I tried pulling away from the hand, but I couldn't raise my arms, and pulling away just made the back of my head hurt even more. Tears formed at the corner of my eyes as I got dragged backwards. I felt like the skin on my head was going to tear off any minute now.

"I got her!" the one dragging me across the snow yelled. I struggled to get on my feet once we stopped, but I was feeling too weak to stand up. I was feeling weak; physically and emotionally.

There were loud cheers and fists were pumping in the air. I looked up to see Madrigal get shoved down on the ground next to me. Her face was swollen with bruises. I tried to call her name, but all that came out of my mouth was barely a whisper.

I looked around, trying to find a face that had pity on it, even if just a bit. But everyone seemed to be set on . . . feasting on us. I sighed and closed my eyes, letting the throbbing pain of my head consume me.

* * * * *

Wind. Rustling. Galloping. Muttered conversation.

I opened my eyes only to be greeted by darkness. The moonlight was the only thing that reminded me that my eyes were actually open. I realized that I was lying on my back with a thin blanket keeping me somehow warm, even if it was really as thin as thread.

"So when we get there . . . what then?" a familiar voice of a girl said, sounding tired and rough.

It took a while for the response to come, but when it did, I realized that it belonged to someone I do not know. A boy. "I . . . I don't know. You didn't even tell me where we're going."

"I told you, we're going to-"

"Where we're exactly going."

The girl sighed, and there was another pause.

I turned my head to the right and saw two persons sitting side-by-side. A girl-Madrigal-and a boy, whom I do not recognize. We were in a wooden cart. The wood was making my back hurt.

"Madrigal?"

My voice sounded weak and distant. I did not even know if it was me who spoke. Luckily, Madrigal seemed to have heard it. She turned her head to look at me.

"Veronica, are you feeling okay?" she asked. Then, without missing a beat, she added, "we just left the village."

What? But I thought-

"My friend helped us."

"I'm Alexander, and you're Veronica, I suppose," the boy beside her said. He looked younger than me, but still older than Madrigal. His eyes glinted because of the moonlight, and, even in the dark, I realized that his eyes were a rare shade of dark blue; almost purple.

I nodded, looking over at the road ahead of us. We passed naked trees and unpaved hills of snow. "Where are we?"

Madrigal shrugged. "Far enough."

"Past the gas station?"

"What gas station?" she asked, a look of confusion showing on her pale face. Then she looked back at me, realization slowly dawning on her. "Oh. That's where it all started, right?"

I nodded, then frowned and shook my head. "Let us forget about that. Have we passed it yet or not?"

"I think not," the boy-Alexander-spoke up.

I nodded and let silence reign over us, except for the sound of the horse's galloping on the gravel road. I was surprised that the road was still a bit clear of snow.

The cold night breeze blew strands of my hair away from my face and I let it. I noticed that my arms were now covered in bandages. The throbbing seemed to have lessened, and I could move them now.

Our cart slowed a bit. I turned around to see a distant lone structure illuminated with light, the only thing which caught my attention in the darkness of night.

"Do we need to stop there?" Alexander asked without turning around. I think he was asking me though.

I nodded, and suddenly I remembered that he was not looking at me. "Um, yes."

We had to. I don't think Kathleen could make it anywhere farther than there.

I wonder if she even made it to the gas station? I mean, she was all alone and scared and tired and traumatized by the series of events happening around her.

But of course she will make it. She is a tough girl. I just need to believe that she could do it . . .

We slowed down to a stop at the gas station. Alexander jumped down from the cart and immediately headed to the horse to check on it. Madrigal, on the other hand, also jumped down from the cart and headed to me.

"Do you need help going down?" she asked, to which I shook my head.

"No thanks, I can do it."

She nodded and I climbed down, slowly and carefully. I was surprised that she still has enough strength after everything that happened. What surprised me more was her face. It was almost fully healed. Her bruises were less obvious and less swollen.

I immediately walked around the gas station, doing a quick patrolling around, hoping to find Kathleen. I searched inside the comfort rooms and peeked inside the locked convenience store, but Kathleen was nowhere to be found.

I panicked. What could've happened to her? Where is she? Is she okay?

"Found her?" someone shouted behind me. I turned around to shake my head at Alexander. "Oh. Maybe she's walking down the highway?"

I quickly walked back to his vehicle, Madrigal following behind me. I couldn't waste my chances. I had to find her. Who knows what happened to her?