SPIRIT- The House of Hope

Fourteen

Cameryn

"How's everyone doing? Not feeling too lost?" I asked "Oh! I've stopped walking, just so no one bumps into me" I added in.

No response.
"Guys? Where are you?" I frowned "well, crap. I've lost them. That's great"

I looked around me.
How had we been separated? One second I could hear them all the next, silence.

Something to do with the forest I imagine.
"Forest of deception huh? What kind of horrors do you have in store for me?" I asked jokingly, I didn't believe much of what Ani and Serena said about it.

Most of it was tall tales or legends. I know legends tend to have some place in reality but I'd bet anything that a bunch of people just got really lost in here and said it was the forest or something.

I always hated that everyone explains everything by magic.
Jeez, not every little thing has to have some kind of meaning.

Then...I heard running.
"One of the others?" I asked out loud. Probably found a not so friendly forest animal.

"Cameryn?!" a voice echoed.

I froze.

No way.

No. Bloody. Way.

I had to register what I'd just heard, I should know that voice. I do know that voice.
"Oh it is you! I was so worried about you! I'm glad you're okay" I couldn't turn, I needed to know but I couldn't turn around.

I just...it couldn't be. I slowly turned my head and gasped.
Long brown hair, pulled back into a ponytail.

The typical green uniform of the council members of Taro even having Miral's crest resting on the chest of the jacket.
Deep blue eyes, normally full of joy, this time full of fear.

And...around his neck...a small necklace with a bunch of random beads on it. Red, blue, pink, green and in the middle a small gemstone that I remember all too well.

An amethyst that was shaped like a heart. I found it one day while playing with Joeri and Darrien in the creek outside Taro.

I remembered going to Darrien's mother to help me make it into a gift for my dad's birthday, he didn't stop wearing it.

Not even on the day that he...

"Dad?" I asked disbelieving "H-How are you here?"

"Cameryn" he replied "have you see him? Has he been by yet?" my dad asked desperately, he sounded terrified.

"Who? Dad? What's wrong?"
"He hasn't? Good, the guards in the council chambers tried to hold him off but..." he looked away.

"Dad?"

"They couldn't...they just...all..." he mumbled then shook his head "I am the only one who got away okay? You can't go into the main town. Half of it...it's like a war zone..."

"Okay, Dad? What are you talking about?" He looked at me, tears were in his eyes but he smiled sadly.

"Cam" he said "I know how much he means to you. Countless times...I stumbled upon your conversations with your mother about him..." I felt tears pricking at my eyes. This time. These words! They were all so familiar.

"You need to understand darling. You can't trust him. He's...not the same boy he once was..."

I remember...

"I don't...understand...how..."
"Cameryn, do you understand me?" I stared in shock. I couldn't believe any of this, how?

Was this the forest? Is that what is was? Or am I just delusional?