Walking Between Dreams

Chapter 35

Someone kicked me awake sending more agony through my already hurting body. My face ached in pain with each movement: each twitch my of my mouth or motion of my jaw. Freezing air surround me as I slowly lifted my head from the rocky floor. Manon's harsh eyes glared down at me and picked my up by the collar of my shirt, dragging my limp body. Earthy fragrances were released from the stony caverns carved by humans in the mountain. Down a flight of stairs we went until we arrived in a grand room that had high ceilings supported by metal rods, murmurs of witches could be heard, servants walked by without lifting their heads.

"Aren't you curious where we are going?" inquired Manon viciously, her burnt gold eyes glowing.

Without gazing up at her as we went into a nearby hallway and by some wooden doors I let a small grunt. Pebbles got caught in my boots as we continued down a hallway that was dimly lit that seemed to never end.

Lolos did not make a sound when he died, it was useless, he did not need to die. It would make no difference if I struggled against the witches now.

An iron door was slammed open by the white-haired witch, spooking even me. Darkness filled the spacious room with nothing else in there, no light, or furnishing. Coldness wrapped its arm around me when Manon tossed me in and closed the door abruptly. Metal hitting rock rang out in the area, making my ears ring. I laid on the floor, too tired to curl in a ball, and rested my head on the tough floor that was more stone. I stared into the blankness of the vaults and let my thoughts wander to never forgotten places.

Thickness of smoke suddenly choked me, I held my chest while struggling to gasp for breathes. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I stayed still but as quickly it came it was gone. Only dust clouds circulated the room once I hit something with my head.

I reached out and touched a tin can that was dented from use, rust coated the edge of it. I could barely make out unfamiliar sketches of curvy swirls that were engraved on the edge of it, hugging it self along the roundness of it. The scent of decay drew stronger as I pulled myself up and towards the other side of the ill-lit room. Gravel rustled underneath me and jabbing into my stomach when I moved towards the stench. Curiosity held my attention of what was there; maybe a relief of escape.

It suddenly became warm once I crawled a bit more forward and then felt wind brush back my hair. Free falling air rushed past me, slightly elevating my limbs, and whistling by my ears. Then, slim tree branches snapped under my weight and I landed into a clearing of dirt surrounded by shrubbery. Long shadows were casted down from tall trees that hid most of the sky, but the edge of a sunset could be seen.

Low murmurs met my ears while adjusting my self, so I could see through some of the bushes. A fire was blazing surrounded by about twelve people, two were children. In the night light I crept forward keeping low to the ground, grass itching my hand and wrists till my head bumped into something wooden. Making it rock a little, deep breathes hitched slightly, then going back into a steady rhythm. Peaking over the edge I saw a man of shorter stature wrapped in bandages covering his face except for one eye. His black hair was speckled with stars shining on it.

Further ahead I inched my way on the ground towards the fire, the crackling flames sent chills down my spine. The soft talking of the people ahead became unrecognizable and foreign with voices being raised. A sound of a punch stilled the conversation and another hit followed. Concerned voices followed the commotion with the sound of footsteps darting away into the forest where I was.

Quietly, I curled myself up behind an oak with sap running down the side of it. The freshness of the scents filled my nose pleasantly, my muscles relaxed a little.

Almost silent pants I overheard on the opposite side of the tree and the crunching of sticks and leaves. Peeking around the bend of the tree bark I discovered a young man with long, dark brown hair with his knees pulled to his chest as if he was hiding. He let out ragged breathes, enough to indicate hyperventilation.

Carefully and without much regard to my safety I revealed myself to the man in the twilight, his coco eyes widen dramatically, and he let out a yell for help. Without a second to waste a woman of Asian descent and a man with short cropped, blonde hair ran to to his rescue. Both swiftly grabbed my arms while pulling me up to my feet, my knees buckled under the weight of me. I hung there like a limp noodle, swaying between their steps as they brought me back to the camp.

Bright light shone from the fire that scorched the wood to cinder and ash. I scrambled away from the flames where they set me down, foliage dug into my back.

A woman with shoulder-length, oily brown hair with glasses glinting in the fire but missing one eye crouched before me. She was speaking rapidly in a foreign language to me; I was unable to comprehend anything.

"I do not understand you. Do you speak English?" I mustered to only a whisper, my lips trembling.

The brown-haired women shook her head at me and pointed at herself. "Hange."

I lifted my finger to myself. "Ymir."

All of their eyes widened and she left me by the fire. The others exited the area by the campfire to converse except for a blonde man who was trying to stop a bloody nose with a worn cloth. Crickets softly echoed the breeze in the leaves, it melded together. Soon the heat became overbearing , then I crawled into the underbrush into the cart from before.

Making sure not to disturb the sleeping man I ducked under the wooden cart and saw something glimmer in the darkness, it was silver. The touch of cool metal met my hand as I reached up to it and tracing the hilt of two swords with the Mirkwood dagger. It was the same necklace from Erilea, swallowing up any light from the fire.

Faint smell of leaves swirled by me while I pulled out a piece of parchment reading: You might need theses young traveler.

With an almost grateful sigh I placed back the letter and half crawled, half dragged myself back to the fire making sure not to be seen. The soft muttering rose in volume once I settled down and Hange was watching me, she appeared to be deep in thought. No one made a fuss about me, so I closed my eyes and listened to the chattering into the night.