💫 Starburst ⭐️

Starburst; Part 15

Lost And Found
Lacey trembled with fear, all kinds of flashbacks entering in her head.

The time she'd entered the portal and then fainted in front of the farmhouse, hearing her mother whispering 'believe' to her, the introduction to Astiana being Katherine's sister, Katherine storming off, Astiana wearing the raggedy dress to look like a Fear Sucker, throwing sand on the people... it all seemed like it was years ago.

She shook her head, returning to reality. "Come little girlie..." sneered a nearby woman. They were closing in to her, their arms outstretched and wiggling. A woman's hand fell down and wriggled on the floor. Lacey ignored it as it clutched her foot.

A mans eyeball dropped and he bent down to pick it up. Lacey looked up at the dark night sky, the stars twinkling and standing still, almost like they were waiting. "Help me..." she whispered. The star seemed to wink at her, but Lacey knew it was no use.

Stars couldn't help. Nothing could right now. She was going to die, be suffocated, something terrible and painful.

And then, the same soft voice murmured to Lacey. It was soothing her, comforting her, protecting her. And it was her mom. Believe. Lacey heard it over and over again. Believe. Believe. Believe. She started repeating after it, louder by the word.

"Believe... believe! Believe!" Lacey yelled at the top of her voice. A star shot down, grabbing a person and throwing them up until they were but a dot in the sky. Lacey watched slowly as the stars followed the first one, copying everything it did. Lacey cheered, unaware of the fact that the woman was still behind her.

The stars flipped and twirled, twisting the people here and there. The woman grabbed Lacey and put her hand on Lacey's mouth. "Shush now girlie, before I make you!"

Lacey wriggled and squirmed, trying to scream, but she couldn't. Believe. Lacey heard it one more time before the woman dragged her away into the darkness of an alley. She threw open a door and slammed Lacey down inside the room.

It was a cold room, metal walls and chains hung on the side. Lacey shivered a little. "Too cold for ya? Dean'll heat up..." she shoved Lacey into the wall and chained her. Lacey turned to her side in search of an exit.

Instead, she met the eyes of two other prisoners. Blonde haired women. Katherine and Astiana! Lacey would've jumped with joy if the woman didn't come to gag her with a bandana.

"Now... you stay quiet here while I fetch my crew," she muttered and left. Astiana turned to look at Lacey and smiled sadly. They glanced over at the silent Katherine, who had closed her eyes. There had to be some way they could escape... but how?

Astiana looked at the air conditioning vent, her shivers causing the chains to rattle. The door burst open and a star sped over to Lacey. With one touch, the chains dropped down, melting.

Astonished by this, she stood there, staring at the bright glow. And then, slowly, an outline showed itself. It made the shape of a man, yellow and all. His glittering eyes fell on Lacey, and they shone through her.

"I am the Guardian Of Thee, and I am here to serve and protect you," he declared. Lacey ran over to Astiana and freed her from the chains, then Katherine. "I'm sorry..." she whispered.

Astiana nodded in forgiveness and followed Lacey to the man. "You must run to your forest Lacey Moore. Find the Cloaked Night-Maiden and she will explain everything... but I fear it may be too late," he rubbed his finger on his beard.

"Too late for what?" Astiana pushed him further to speak. The sun creaked through the holes in the wall, a sign of dawn. "Just go! I may only help you at night! Hurry! Reach there before sunset or the world will..." his voice trailed away as he started to fade.

Katherine reached out to grab him, but he was gone. All that was in her hands now was mist. "You heard him! Hurry! Reach there before sunset or something bad will happen!" Lacey screeched at them.

Astiana nodded at Katherine, then looked at Lacey. "You need rest. Nighttime has past yet you haven't slept a bit..." she murmured. "Rest is for the weak... we have to reach there," Lacey grumbled.

Katherine sighed and turned her eyes to Astiana. "She's right. I hate to say it but... we have to get there."

Astiana examined Lacey, then Katherine. "Well then, what are you waiting for?" And without another word, they slammed the door down and raced away from the town of Rimester.

As they passed the sapphire, Lacey grabbed it and threw it down the cave, hoping that the people would find it. As they continued to walk, their destination becoming more and more unclear, the light sky started to fall.

Katherine paused in front of a nearby tree, then turned to look at Astiana. "Where are we going?"

"You're leading us," Astiana murmured. "Don't we have to summon the portal for this part?" Lacey demanded. Katherine smacked her forehead, then sighed. "The six year old is right," she murmured.

Lacey thought about how she had opened the portal in the first place. She'd dipped the amethyst into a black pond. "Okay... so I need a black pond of eternal darkness," she clicked her fingers.

Katherine and Astiana exchanged looks, then murmured something about true darkness. Lacey didn't want to hear it, so she held up her hand and tapped her chin thoughtfully.

Maybe if she drew out the amethyst, the portal would open? She reached for her bag, then realized she didn't have it. "Um... did any of you take my bag?"

Astiana shook her head, and Katherine shrugged. And then, as they realized how serious the situation was, their eyes widened.

The bag had the amethyst.