• This is the second book of The Collected series •
"Those who bring pain are here to save, and those who bring hope will bring death. A great evil rests on the horizon, eating away at each setting sun. Nothing is as it seems while you beg for salva...
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As much as my body ached, I couldn't sleep for long. Eventually I was walking again, if you could call it that. My feet were dragging across the ground, and I was realizing just how hot it was on this planet. No wonder all the trees were red.
This pain I felt, it was one I was used to. One I hoped not to feel again. The pain of abandonment. Of being left behind.
First it was my father. Where really, I was the one who abandoned him. Still, his loss felt like abandonment. Then it was Char. Who saved my life but still left me alone. All alone. I was sick of being the last one.
"They can't be dead." I sobbed, chest aching. I'd been repeating the words over and over again. "They can't be dead!" This time I screamed it- and something answered.
Through the rows of trees came dark shapes. Creatures in cloaks to protect them from the sunlight. I didn't flee as they surrounded me, nor did I fight when their many hands picked me up off of the ground. Their words weren't making much sense and my knees buckled when they'd gotten me into a standing position.
Water was splashed across my lips and a cloak over my shoulders. Again, I didn't protest as they pulled me along with them.
✶ ✶ ✶
I woke in a small confined space. My vision blurred as I set up, but I could tell we were moving. Small vibrations and bumps could be felt rising up from the floor. Beams of light shone through small holes in the walls, illuminating the area. It appeared to be some sort of carriage. Crates and bags were stacked in the corners, and when my eyes adjusted further- I noted there were two others as well. One was curled up against a few sacs, snoring loudly, face covered by their cloak. The other was crouched in a corner, it's bright eyes staring intently at me.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." It croaked, straightening up slightly. Despite the fact it's dark skin had a blueish tint to it- it was the most humanoid creature I'd seen. Even after all my time with the Collectors.
"Who are you? Where are we?" I asked, throat raw.
"I am Lithum. I am nobody, just as you now are. As of were we are?" He shrugged, "No idea. They picked you up not too long ago, I was picked up over a day ago."
"They?" I questioned, looking around for something to drink.
"Some sort of scavengers. They ransacked my ship and when Rosco and I fought back, they took us captive." He gestured to the body sleeping against the sacs.
"Scavengers you say?" My heart skipped a beat, "what do they look like?"
"Ugly things." He shrugged again, "Scaly heads. Not really sure, didn't get a great glimpse of them."
