Tales of Aridia

Elliana

Guns smashed against the van, though barely any breached through the metal doors. We rocked back and fourth against the force, trying to even the weight by sitting at each corner. The van stopped, something large was blocking the way. I peered over the chair at the thing that stood stiff and motionless. It was a man...but he was not Aridian nor was he human. He was made out of flowers and sticks, with pits in his head for eyes. It was hideous. A bright light protruded from its stomach. "What is it?" I asked. "He's Abraxas's puppet, the kadupal is its energy source in the center of his stomach!" He shouted, raising his voice against the gunfire. We were nearing the creature when the van span out of control. I held onto the little girl tightly, covering her eyes. The van sped along, continuously swerving but never tipping over. I was thrown to the side still holding the child.

Finally it halted and Max stepped out side to check if it was safe. Jayden had woken and stepped out of the vehicle too. I stayed inside with the girl, until I knew it was safe to leave. She sniffed and coughed as she woke, pulling herself out of my arms. "Max?" I called, staying out of the light that poured from the door and into the van. There was no answer so I called again. Still there was no answer. Cradling my arm with the other I hopped out of the van. The little girl was  covered in mud and dirt, her white dress soaked with water so it dragged on the ground. She also followed close behind, clinging onto my arm and wrapping herself around my legs. As we walked I stroked her head to calm her and swiped the hair from her face. Max and Jayden stood side by side, motionless. 

"Wait here," I said to the girl, pulling off the small soft hand that tugged on my shirt. I edged closer to Max and Jayden till I emerged into their sight. "Robyn..." Jayden muttered, staring beneath him. My foot slipped backwards and I toppled onto my knees as a rock underneath my feet gave way. Max leaped forward and pulled my arm, throwing me beside him. after a few seconds a faint echo could be heard from the rock that had tumbled down. I looked over the edge at the fall, a huge cliff plunged down into the ground like an enormous pit. The pit was lined with rows upon rows of gravestones, each tightly packed together. Some didn't have stones, but rather a few twigs in the ground to mark the burial of a body. In the far distance A mound of earth climbed high, almost reaching the the tops of trees. When I looked closer legs and arms could be seen protruding from the mud, each one rotten and devoured by flies. 

I gagged at the smell, which forced me back into the van. Jayden and Max didn't seem phased, but a sadness had overcome them. The girl wandered over to Max and poked him gently in the side. Max looked down sorrowfully, kneeling to her height. He put the necklace that dangled around her neck in his palm for a few moments. Max became isolated in thought. He called Jayden over to look and they both conspired quietly. "What's wrong?" I asked. Max looked up glumly, "What have you done Robyn?" He said. I shook my head, "I don't understand," I said hesitantly.  Jayden stopped crouching and turned the girl to face me, he walked over and whispered in my ear, "Look at her badge." He said. The girl was scared, the pain in her face called out to me for help. She was so frightened by these men that she stayed with her arms outstretched, waiting for me to come rescue her. I looked as I was told, Sewn into her little white dress was a gold badge. 

"It's the mark of Abraxas," Max said. I had walked over to the girl and let her collapse into my arms, to feel the speed that her heart was racing broke me. "Most of Abraxas's soldiers wear silver badges, those of higher authority wear gold." He explained. Jayden had been pacing back and forth, tapping his fingers on his leg nervosuly, scuffing his feet on the ground. "Who are you?" He finally said, breaking the silence. The girl had been watching Max and Jayden, scanning their every movement. "I am Elliana, daughter and successor to Abraxas." She said confidently. The girl must have been no older than 8, yet she spoke with such maturity. The words flowed of her lips like they had been said a thousand times before. "And that was our grave mistake," Jayden said.