Tales of Aridia

Enemy

Elliana stepped forward, overtaken by guilt she said, "I can show him to you." I nodded glumly  and let her lead me into an open space. Elliana raised her arms into the air and my vision became distorted, all corners of my sight creeping in with a shadow. I stepped forward, my feet echoing on the marble floor where I now stood. The darkness receded, cast out by a beam of light. A small boy stood in front of me, his head hanging over a cradle. A brown mop of hair covered his eyes as he peered over at the child laid quietly in its' crib. The arms that laid limp by the boys side stretched into the cradle and pulled out a baby.  A pair of blue eyes entranced me, as the baby stared at me with curiosity. The boy kissed the child on the forehead, then placed it back in its' bed. "Hello..." I whispered.

I was taken out of the scene as the darkness closed in on me once more. I stepped back, enclosed at all sides and wrapped in silence. I wavered in fear, but the silence ran so deep that I could not talk.  I stared at my feet as a light gush of air ran across my skin. A small puddle of light crept underneath my shoes, and my face illuminated from the reflection. I stumbled backwards, my feet slowly sinking into mud, soaked from the water that trickled beneath the ground. The slow tap of water could be heard behind me, and as I turned around the darkness receded, crawling away from the scene. 

I crouched down, wet from the water that clung to the grass. I rested on a tree, waiting for something to happen. A small insect ran across my fingertip and I took notice of the ants that were scuttling beneath the bark of the tree, I jolted backwards, falling into a puddle of water. Sat in a puddle of dirty water, I was surrounded in a thick layer of wild grass that grew tall around the tree. Peering over the top I saw a girl, using the long grass as cover. 

The grass whipped forward, pushed by something running through it. A boy yelled my name, "Robyn!" He shouted. The boy sprinted through the grass till he tumbled down the hill before the little girl. The girl collapsed into him, as he held her tight. He mouthed something quietly in her ear then pulled her up into his arms. They both hurried away into the grass, my vision becoming darker as they grew further away.  

The grass and the trees were plagued with a darkness, each one turning to ash. the leaves fell one by one, hurdled through the air by wind. The ash from the leaves settled onto my skin, covering me in a sheet of grey.  Soon I was somewhere else, taken away like the leaves in the wind. I looked in through a window covered in steam. With the edge of my sleeve I swiped away the steam, revealing a boy who stared through the window on the other side. He looked over my head, clasping something in his hand. He released his hand and presented a gold pocket watch, scraped at the edges with markings from overuse. The gold layer had been taken away in edges, showing a dull copper colour beneath. He pulled out a picture, which he held near to his heart. It was me, stood proudly above him with my hand on his shoulder. The king and Queen stood close, bearing crowns embedded with large jewels.  The boy smiled for a moment, his eyes locked onto the picture. And then the window grew cloudy, a small crack ran up the glass, which then spread across the window. Smoke poured out through the cracks, smothering my sight.

A hand slipped into mine, pulling me out of the scene. Elliana stood quietly by my side, Jayden and Max stood a few metres behind. My clothes were dry and a small cloud floated In front of me. In the cloud was a grave, taunting me. It read, "Sparrow Woodlands, brother and son, may he rest in peace." The tears burnt and my eyes remained swollen. I gazed at Jayden, who hung his head In shame. The cloud turned to dust, the ash falling and settling into the mud. 

"We need to go." I said, barging past Jayden and Max. Jayden whispered a muffled "I'm sorry."  as I brushed past. I turned to Jayden, "Key." I said, holding out my hand. Jayden reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. It dangled in his hand but he did not pass it to me, he looked to Max for help. I sighed and snatched it from him, storming over to the van. I jumped into the seat and started the van. The engine rattled for a moment but the noise died down. I twisted the key around but nothing happened. I pulled it out and jammed it in, but still nothing happened.  I kicked open the door, throwing the key into a pile of mud on the ground. "I can't be here much longer," I muttered.  I had not noticed the rock that lay near the cliff edge. My foot was caught beneath it and I was sent plummeting down the cliff face. 

A branch that broke through the cracks in the cliff hung loosely. My hand grasped onto it, my legs swaying back and fourth over the cliff.  There was a loud crash and a piercing scream erupted from Elliana. "What's happening?!" I yelled, grabbing onto the branch with my other hand. "It's Lucy! She's here!" Max yelled. The branch cracked, slowly pulling away from the cliff. The skin on my hands began to peel, leaving my palms sore and bleeding. A head hung over the cliff, blocking the sun that glared over me. Lucy stared down, smiling gently. She was worn and tired, her face scarred. Purple bags sagged beneath her eyes and her hair had fallen out in places, leaving bald patches all over her head.  "Help me," I said softly, my grip becoming loose. Her smile grew bigger, "Please, Hope would want you to." I pleaded. Lucy stretched her arm towards my face. She placed an icy finger on my cheek and smeared a stroke of blood across my face. "Hope is dead, I don't have to do anything for her anymore." Lucy said. As she pulled her arm away I snatched it from the air. Pulling the hand close I dug my nails into her wrist, "I am your Queen." I whispered.  Lucy frowned and yanked her hand back from mine observing the bloody prints in her wrist. 

She stood up, towering over me. She waved her hands in the air and closed her eyes.  "What are you doing?" I asked. My arm was struck with a pain that travelled from my fingertips to the bullet wound. I screamed, writhing in my own skin. My blood was on fire as the pain raged through my arm. Lucy kneeled down, leaning over the edge she whispered, "You won't be queen for long." 

She stood up and walked away, the light glaring back into my eyes. "Help!" I yelled, hearing the pound of feet grow closer.