Tales of Aridia

Escape

"What is this?!" I shouted, running to Elliana. The men stayed silent and still as I ripped the tape from her mouth. Jayden did the same with Max, untying the rope. I looked at the body again, Jessica's mouth was gaped open and an apple lodged between her teeth. I lugged Elliana up onto her feet, rubbing the marks on her wrist were they were sore.  "How could you?" I said, holding Elliana behind me. The men held vacant expressions,  their eyes were blank and they did not blink. Suddenly they looked upwards, staring me dead in the eye. "She said not to trust you," They said in unison. "Who did?!" Max shouted defensively. They were all silent once more, bowing their heads. "It was Lucy wasn't it?" I asked. Outside the window villagers had enclosed us, all of them shouting in frenzy. The elder shook his head, "It was Robyn." He replied. I was flooded with confusion, "But I'm Robyn!" I yelled. "Robyn said she would pay us good money to do this," One of the men said. "She's a liar! I am Robyn!" I screamed. A man crept up behind me and grabbed my wrists. He buckled my legs and I fell to my knees.  

And then came a shout, the men charged at us. throwing their fists in the air. Elliana ran under the table, curling herself into a small ball. A pair of hands wrapped around my throat, pinning me against the wall. I threw him off with my powers into another. "Robyn!" Elliana screamed. "It's okay Elliana!" I screamed back, while I was dragged by my hair to the doors. Max and Jayden were preoccupied, using their magic to defend themselves. A man had Jayden against the floor, holding him down as he wriggled and writhed. Max pulled a dagger from beneath his belt, piercing it into the mans back. The body rolled off  Jayden, who recollected his breath. The fight had began to diffuse when I was suddenly pushed to the floor. I twisted my body around and was kicked violently in the side. "Robyn!" Max yelled, before being punched along the Jaw. I threw the man on the table, and watched him land on Jessica's rotting corpse. Elliana jumped as a sudden thud came above her. And then, there were no more men, just limp bodies splayed about on the floor. I kneeled down and helped Jayden to his feet while Max picked Elliana up from beneath the table. 

We rushed to the back end of the hut.  As we approached my arm seared in pain yet again. I fell slowly to the side, my shoulder sliding down the wall. Jayden spotted me first, running towards me he lifted me up into his arms and carried me into a separate room.  I  clawed at my chest, my fingernails leaving deep red marks in the skin. "It burns," I stuttered. Max looked back worryingly, "You're dying." He said.  My chest was red hot and the pain came like contractions.  They laid my body down on the floor, pacing back and fourth about what to do. Max rummaged through his bag, pulling everything out from inside. "There's nothing here!" He yelled, slinging the bag across the room. Sweat poured down Max's face and he buckled under the pressure. Max threw a sudden fist at the wall, scaring Elliana who sat by my feet. Jayden clenched my hand, "Stay with us Robyn," He whispered. 

And then, a figure bounded in to the room, one which I recognised instantly.  "Why are you here!?" Max yelled, pinning her cold body to the wall. Her voice croaked as she pleaded, "I want to help," She murmured.  Max let  her slide down the wall, loosening his grip around her neck. Lucy cleared her throat, spluttering on the floor. Elliana hid behind the door, covering her mouth with her hands. "Why would you want to help?" Max asked suspiciously, Lucy gulped and lowered her head, "I feel guilty," She said convincingly. Slowly and cautiously she made her way to where I was laying. Jayden and Max looked at each other nervously, unsure of what to do. "I need water," Lucy said, holding her hand out. Max reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of water one of the villagers gave him, reluctant to hand it to her. Lucy splashed the water on my head and watched it drip down into my hair. The water burnt, but I was too tired to say much of it. Jayden had grown sweaty and pale, his rapid breath being heard over everything else. Lucy passed the water to him of which he took a huge gulp. 

Jayden's face went blank, but his eyes widened. The bottle dropped from his hand as his legs shook uncontrollably.  "Jayden..." I muttered, pointing at him. Max gazed over, running towards him. Lucy stood up, edging towards the door. Max grabbed the bottle and sniffed it. Glaring at Lucy, he came to his feet. "Poison," he said. Max lunged himself towards her, but was thrown back onto the floor. "That water is set to be distributed throughout your school Robyn in the next few days," She grimaced, still holding her hand over Max's head. My eyes rolled back, closing on the scene. 

The door creaked shut and Lucy had escaped yet again.