Eyes Of the Lost

7- Remember

My eyes flutter open to a blinding light, blankets covering me from my feet to my shoulders. I feel someone put something next to me, and I reach to pick it up. They're a pair of sun-blocking glasses. I put them on immediately and realize we are still deep in the forest.
"Hey," Ethan whispers. "We should get going. There may be some food left if we get there in time."
I groan aloud. "Why do we have to walk now? After all of that?"
"Its hidden, and besides, its not big enough for a truck to get there anyways. We don't want them to follow our tracks."
I sit up, my back aching from such a foreign and uncomfortable surface. My stomach feels empty and sour from not eating for so long. Which in turn makes me feel exhausted.
I make my way out of the truck bed, nearly twisting my ankle jumping out of it. I hear the doors upfront open and Jack steps out along with a stranger I assume was driving the truck.
The stranger looks to be thirty years old or more, his short hair an auburn color that shines in the sun, streaks of gray beginning to show. He has small freckles on his face, his eyes a light shade of purple. He looks strong and able, his face thin with stubble along his cheeks. When he sees me, his eyes light up with excitement. The tired look on his face exchanged immediately with excitement.
Ethan walks over to the stranger and nods at me. "Vivi, this is Nathan, me and Jack's father," he says somewhat cautiously, though I don't understand why.
"Hi... Are we going?" I ask awkwardly, unsure what to say. I see disappointment in the mans eyes, but it is quickly hidden with a smile. "Yes, just follow me and Ethan," he puffs as he slings a bag over his shoulder from the truck. I stand and watch as they grab their things and Jack walks over to me, chewing in his shirt sleeves.
"What are your powers?" He asks as he tugs on my arm.
I shake my head. I've never had to really deal with children before. We rarely see the children back at school because they're in a completely different area than us. When we do see them they rarely ever talk to us. Therefore, I honestly have no clue how to handle children, let alone talk to them. I'm not really much of a talkative person in the first place.
"Ehh... I don't know," I say.
"Daddy says your -"
"Jack! Come get your toy!" Ethan yells suddenly, and Jack walks off.
Nathan comes over to me, giving me a weak nod. "Stay close behind me. If you hear anything, get down. I'm still not completely sure about the Howlights in this area," he demands.
"Oh.. Okay."
As Ethan walks over, we set off through the woods. The crunch of the leaves beneath my boots is new and soothing. As we wander over sticks and stones, I start to feel tired. Yet, I don't know why. I just slept, therefore there's really no reason for me to be so sleepy. I shake it off though, just assuming its from my lack of food.
We eventually come to a few ledges and jump down them with surprising ease. I begin to fall in love with the colors of the forest that I get lost in my head. The orange and red, the tall and dark trees... Its just like how I dreamt it. Yet, its even more amazing than I could ever imagine.
"Get down!" Nathan whispers harshly. I begin to hear rustling as I fall to my knees to the muddy ground.
No... Not again... I shake my head with intensity. "Stop moving!" Ethan, who is in front of me, whispers angrily and kicks me in the shoulder.
The bushes before us rustle and shake. Just then, out jumps a deer. I gasp in awe. I've never seen a real deer before. I stare at it's antlers as they shine wet with dew. It is huge, bigger than I could ever imagine. Then, for just a second, my eyes begin to droop.
Suddenly, I collapse to the ground, the last thing I feel is mud splashing against my face and the quickened hoove steps of the deer trotting off into the forest.
I open my eyes to find myself alone. I stand and see a thick fog surrounding me on all sides. Then, I see her. A child who can't be very old staring at me. Her hair is long and orange, freckled cheeks red from the cold. The way she holds herself is fierce and strong despite her young age. Her purple eyes glow, powerful. Then I realize. I'm staring at myself.
How? I don't have purple eyes. I'm not a little girl. I watch as the girl shivers in the cold before me. Everything is quiet for a moment. Then, screaming erupts from the distance. The girl grabs my hand, fear in her eyes, and drags me along. Running. Running towards the screams and the shouts and the... Smoke.
We reach a village, shrouded by fire and smoke. The outline of a deer can be seen in the distance, staring at the scene almost mockingly. I watch as the girl cries out and crumples to the forest floor.
Suddenly, soldiers begin to rush at her from all sides, shouting at her to stay calm. They're trying to capture her. Take her away. The girl cries furiously and puts her hands on her head. The soldiers begin approaching her more slowly. The girl stands suddenly, shaking. Some soldiers begin aiming their guns out of pure fear. They've decided its too dangerous. To much to deal with. "Fire!" One announces. And the sound of gunfire erupts over it all. Then, almost in slow motion, the girl puts her hands to her temples and opens her puffy eyes with anger. The bullets begin flying backwards, away from the girl. Instead, they fly straight into the soldier's heads impossibly through their helmets. They each fall to the ground, a pool of blood forming around the girl. She screams out in anger and sorrow, her purple eyes staring straight into mine.
"Remember!" She shouts furiously at me and shoves me with so much sadness. "Please remember..." She whispers as she cries into me.