Not My Home Anymore

Chapter Ten

Avery’s POV

Leaving Victoria in that damn bunker wasn’t what I wanted to do, even when I knew I could go to her anytime. When I had to watch her look at me with such fear and loneliness being spun throughout her irises, it was torture. I knew I told her that she shouldn’t trust anyone which was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t help feeling worried.

I couldn’t help but feel impatient as I sliced a MindShredders abdomen open, and calmly stepped to the side to let it fall. Faint gurgling noises escaped its mouth in their last attempt at words until its face finally slumped into the ground. All around elves fought these dreaded monsters, while those monsters fought us. There was only one thing these things wanted, and it wasn’t our forest.

MindShredders were rightly named, throughout the entire forest. A group of monsters that didn’t mind using your greatest fears to manipulate the way you saw them. People continuously see these things, as just a neighbour, a store clerk, even a family member. A MindShredders job is to do simply that, peer into the depths of your mind and tear it away. To tear it away, until all you are is a empty vessel, that they can either feed on, or use for their next objective. Once they get into your mind, nothing looks the same, and you are their little marionette.

Sick creatures.

“When can this be over!” I exclaimed loudly, to no one in particular.

I was answered, by a voice that came behind me, “Distance makes the heart grow fonder.” Tosh replied, standing smugly.

I raised my sword quickly, narrowing my eyes suspiciously, “Tell me why I shouldn’t believe you weren’t taken?”

Tosh rolled his eyes and tapped the end of his sword against mine smirking, “Do you really think your instructor would get beaten?”  

Laughing, I lowered my sword and peered around watching as the MindShredders began to slowly inch back into the shadows of the forest, all of them seeming smug, though they lost more of their people.

It only took me a moment to summarize why these monsters would gladly take a step back from a bloody battle… they got their objective.

I whipped my head around and started sprinting towards the hidden opening of the bunker, “Victoria, Victoria can you hear me?” I screamed, fumbling to get the latch open.

I basically slid down the stairs and stared into the dark abyss of the bunker. My optimism was crushed when I saw the fresh blood next to me, a small pool of that ugly liquid in the shape of a small handprint.

My next move, what could it be? I fell to my knees and held my head in my hands, shaking in anger.

“Avery? Avery is she down here do you-“Tosh paused as soon as he saw me, moving past me without words.

Holding his candle up, I saw as Tosh looked across the soggy ground, looking for Victoria, or anything else for that matter. We found the small candle I gave her left in the corner, and a bag full of medical supplies near the stairwell. Other than that, only a few blood drops were found, and dragging marks.

I couldn’t believe that Victoria had been taken so easily, so freakin’ easily! Slamming my fists on the ground I clenched my jaw tight trying to remember if I saw any of those things come in here.

A strong hand fell on my shoulder, and I could vaguely feel Tosh pull me up and smack me against the head.

“Ow!” I looked at him angrily, shooting daggers into his eyes with my glare.

Tosh looked at me gravely and pushed my shoulder back so I was facing him, still having to look up slightly because I still wasn’t as tall as him, “Avery, you have the resources you need, the intelligence to find her and you have the total support of Adrianne. Go out and find her. Find her before you lose what you finally want to fight for.” Tosh’s words stuck with me, and I turned to head back up the stairs.

I knew where I was going and I knew who I needed. But most of all, I knew who needed to die.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry this was so short, just had ideas... and I needed to write them down. We also haven't heard from Avery for a while ;)

Please leave some feedback, what do you think about the MindShredders now..?