Redemption

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Barrier

When I placed my palm into the air, I was surprised to feel a solid surface pressing back. My pulse quickened in anticipation as I stood there, waiting.

At first nothing happened, and I began to feel a nagging disappointment in my stomach. Was this all too good to be true after all?

No sooner had the thought crossed my mind, there was a bright flash and the scene around us changed. We were no longer standing in the unbearably hot Mojave Desert, but in the midst of a place unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I was in the heart of a beautiful meadow filled with flowers so thick that you couldn't see the ground beneath them. They were very unusual, types that I had never seen before, varying from a mixed breed of a lily and a dandelion, to some that were striped with every color of the rainbow.

The surrounding forest showcased leaves of the greenest green, and the sky above it the bluest blue. Shades I had never even imagined existed surrounded me in a polychromatic paradise. The colors around me were so vibrant and animated, it took my eyes several minutes to adjust to the intensity.

I could see plush plants and bushes growing all around, surrounding us in a vivacious green wonderland. A stream flowed gently nearby with water so crystal clear, I could see striking purple and red fish swimming in it from several yards away.

The trees were ancient, larger and broader than any I had ever seen before. They had to be hundreds, maybe thousands of years old.

They hung high overhead, forming a canopy above us. Their russet limbs were weighed down by heaps of fresh buds. I took a moment to breathe in the sweet smell of the blossoms, and listened to the birds singing happily in the nearby boughs. A cool breeze blew through the leaves and over my raw, sunburnt skin, easing its discomfort.

It was a beautiful sight, like a scene straight from the Garden of Eden. This place was truly nirvana. If this was what citizens of Kapanathy got to experience each day, the fact that anyone would ever leave was a mystery to me.

At this moment in time, standing in the middle of this beautiful and bizarre land with Micah and Fletcher beside me, I felt like everything was perfect. I no longer cared about the Malin or King Casimir. I forgot about my bodily ailments- my thirst, sunburns, and knee pain couldn't distract me from the nirvana of this magnificent sight. For the first time in a long time, I felt calm and at peace.

But I was only able to bask in the sweet tranquility of the meadow for a few minutes before a loud pop resonated from behind us. I recognized the sound immediately, but was too slow to react. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, Micah yanked me to my feet, and we begin running through the meadow, with Fletcher following close behind.

"What's going on?" I asked, panicked.

"The Malin found us!" he yelled, pulling my arm to make me run faster.

I looked over my shoulder and saw not one, not two, but dozens of soldiers running after us, firebombs already at the ready. They released their weapons, but we veered right just in time. The bombs hit the ground and caught fire, creating a burning inferno where we were standing only moments before.

We picked up speed, eager to get away from the danger. There would be no stopping to fight this time; we were outnumbered ten to one. All we could do now is run for our lives and hope that would be enough.

The flowers that were so beautiful only moments before were now a hazard, as we ran through the field, stumbling and tripping over their roots, slowing our progress. We miraculously made it to the edge of the meadow without getting hit by any other firebombs, but the Malin were gaining speed; they would overpower us within minutes.