Hell's Bane (COMPLETED)

Chapter Three: Power of a God

The figure was likely expecting some ominous, shocked silence as Drea processed the news, but instead, the explorer just waved a hand and said, more curious than afraid:

"You have to be kidding me."

It was one of those questions that were harder to discern someone's thoughts from, Drea realized a long time ago. And though the figure's warning sounded promising to her, the explorer had good reason to doubt it was only a practical joke. Give me reason to believe it.

But the figure only replied: "It's not a joke. You're all in danger, and I refuse to let you stay ignorant and blind."

Drea stared, beginning to arch an eyebrow. "Ignorant and blind?" You aren't helping much just by telling me that.

The figure shook her head and replied, cryptically: "Someone blind from birth doesn't know that he's blind unless someone tells him."

"What's that supposed to-"

Drea stopped abruptly as the figure dashed away, leaving the explorer to contemplate what'd just happened.

* * *

After the encounter, Drea barely said anything – even less than she usually did, and the others noticed right away on the first day.

The explorer didn't tell anyone what she had heard. Formulating excuse after excuse, Drea replayed the events that had taken place last night over and over again – There is a war, Drea.... You're all in danger.... Someone blind from birth doesn't know that he's blind unless someone tells him...

What war? Drea asked herself. What danger? I've been in the Claimant for years now, and I've never seen anything out of the ordinary...

Drea wished that she could confide what she'd heard to someone else, but she didn't, out of fear that they would think she was insane. No, not insane. Out of fear that they were the danger that the figure spoke about, or that at least one of them was.

But do you trust that loony? the explorer asked herself. Do you trust that the person's telling the truth? For all I care, this could just be one big practical joke. You've known Davis, your leader, for years now. The others, well, you've known Hugo a few times... been on a few missions before together but otherwise... snap out of it, Drea! Just stop thinking about it! Maybe the person's lying, maybe the person's not, but you can't go looking behind your back all day just because you're scared that one of them's going to slash you with a knife!

In fact, who was the only person that threatened Drea with a knife before? The explorer shook her head. If push came to shove, she would tell Davis.

The day passed by quickly as Drea was caught up in her thoughts. She barely noticed the landscape changes as they walked wood after wood, grassland after grassland.

Setting up the campfire, eating the meals, and everything else was all a blur. Every so often, the others turned to give her a concerned look but didn't disturb her from her thoughts, other than one or two moments of polite questions.

As another day passed, Drea hardly noticed. The night was what she was anticipating, now. Falling into an uneasy sleep, the explorer waited for the figure to come again – knowing that it would.

* * *

Drea knew that the figure was here when she felt that familiar pressure on her throat.

"You're back," she croaked, looking at the still-unrecognizable figure crouched above her.