Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
*SALEM JONES*
The sun is bright in my eyes as I fight to get them open. I immediately access my surroundings, checking for my bag and my gun. My bag is still by my side but my gun is missing, I see walls around me but they are not familiar. They are made of cloth, with a clear roof above my head, I see no one. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and slowly go down to the ground. I felt the ground under the soles of my worn shoes. I slowly walked to the edge of the doorway, sticking my head out. I saw people walking around as if they were camped. My head still felt a little dizzy from whatever they had drugged me with. I decided to make a run for it, I'm small and fast enough to get away without them noticing. But I would have to leave everything behind, and I'm not 100% sure where I am. I duck myself back into the enclosure and take in what's around me. The bed on which I was laying, a side table that had nothing on top, and a bag. I ran over to it and quickly opened it, seeing a water bottle and some granola bars inside. I quickly closed it and put it on my back. They stole from me, time to pay back the favor. I look through the opening again, trying to time my escape perfectly. No one is looking my way so I start to run. I put all my energy into how long my legs stride. Then I fall, flat on my face, into a pile of dirt. Not very graceful, or effective. I heard gasps and laughs behind me as someone helped me up. I yanked my arm away from them and looked at who it was. It was the boy from earlier, the one that had betrayed me.
"Woah there. Looks like we've got a runner." He laughed and looked behind him as if signaling for everyone to go back to work. I rolled my eyes and looked back at the tree line.
"So what are you, the leader around here or something?" I asked, sticking my hip out and crossing my arms over my chest. He chuckled and looked at me while smiling.
"Yeah, I guess you could call me that. Since I founded the Visions," my eyes widened at his statement. This was Anthony Berry, the boy everyone had only heard rumors of.
"You're kidding. So you kidnap me and take me to your base? What if I was working with one of the other groups?" I question him, trying to point out the flaws of his plan. He only looked at me and gave me a small smile, as if seeing no reason for me to be pointing this out.
"Some of my scouts had been watching you for a few days while we were scoping out the forest. We knew you were alone." My eyes widened then my cheeks went dark. I had walked around shirtless for hours because my shirt needed to be washed. He chuckled again at my innocence and I looked down at the ground, feeling like a child.
"Don't worry, there is no evidence of anything I promise," he hit my shoulder causing me to almost fall again. I gave him a hard look then began to walk away from him. He followed me, trying to cross my path. I sighed and stopped walking.
"Am I not allowed to leave?" I asked, giving him a look as he made his way in front of me with a smirk on his face. He stood in front of me for a second, squinting his face from the sun. I found myself staring at him in awe, a sort of halo had emerged around his head.
"It's almost nightfall, couldn't let a lady like you out by herself at night. Plus you have no idea where you are." I rolled my eyes, hating that he was right.
"Fine, but just so you know I'm not joining your little gang." he shook his head and began walking back towards the camp, I followed. People watched as I followed closely behind their leader, not cowering but standing tall. They didn't scare me. They might have the numbers but I'm small, I know how to hide. As we were walking a girl with long blonde hair walked up to us. She gave me a mean look then turned to Anthony.
"I told you we should have tied her up or locked her somewhere more secure." I examined her clothing to try and see what kind of person she was. She had a black leather jacket on, a little scuffed and worn, black and grey plaid flannel tied around her waist, ripped skinny jeans, a black shirt, and doc martins on. She gave me an offputting vibe like she shouldn't be trusted.
"And I told you that she isn't a prisoner," he turned towards me and stopped walking. "um, what's your name?" He looked confused as if he should have known.
"Salem," I look at the girl, who was staring back at me. She looks me up and down, and Luca only looks back and forth between us.
"Okay, Salem this is Laura, aka my second in command," He slapped the girl-Laura- on her back causing her to give him a look.
"Luca we have more to worry about then introducing this fairy to the whole camp," I tensed at the nickname, it made memories run through my head, I tried to push them out. Laura grabbed Luca's arm and dragged him away, leaving me standing there awkwardly. Luca kept looking back at me and Laura looked thoroughly annoyed. I stood there, making a hole in the ground with the heel of my toe. I tried to listen to their conversation but the sounds of living all around me drowned out their voices. Laura shot me one more look before storming off, I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, watching her walk away.
