Discontinued Version of Running from Eden

A Sinking Feeling

"..." Skylar leaped into the water and splashed her hands in, grabbing her sunken ship. She tugged it out. It was drenched.

"What... what?!" Skylar whipped her body around to Naomi, who was standing now. She shoved the ship towards Naomi, as if Naomi couldn't see it herself.

"I don't..." Naomi shook her head. This made no sense. The boats were made of magic, how could they sink?

"My boat! My first boat! Ruined!" Skylar spat out curses as she tried to revive the boat. Yet, her magic kept fizzing out.

Naomi felt her stomach drop. She clenched her eyes shut, shaking her head, trying to shake the groggy feeling that had overwhelmed her.

Skylar yelled in anger and crumbled the boat within her fists. She transferred it into one hand and slammed the hand into the pool, disrupting the peace.

Naomi scratched the back of her head and let out a sigh.

"Maybe it's just this pool?" Naomi murmured.

"That would be SO annoying," Skylar hissed as she kicked the water. More ripples grew on the surface.

Naomi jumped again as a hard thump was heard behind her. She looked back to see a tall man in a red fox mask and a fuzzy cape. He also wore cargo pants, and he had the shaggy hair.

"What's with you and ruining the pool?" He scowled. Skylar rolled her eyes.

"Did you not see the boats sink?" Skylar snapped back. Naomi glared at Skylar.

"Isn't he a teacher?!" Naomi gasped.

"Yeah, but who cares? He doesn't teach us the import stuff like Mrs. Forest does."

"Hey! I teach about nature! That's important when you live here!" He snapped. "Have an ounce of respect."

"Sorry..." Skylar rolled her eyes again.

"Nature?" Naomi snorted. The man shot her a glare.

"You both act like you don't rely on nature."

"Sorry I'm not obsessed with birds." Skylar made jazz hands while making a sarcastic face.

"It's not JUST birds. Though, they are quite helpful and IMPORTANT."

"Yeah yeah, they're kind enough to share their unlimited shed of power, blah blah."

The man shook his head before eyeing Naomi.

"And you are?" She looked her up and down suspiciously.

"Eh, Naomi. You?"

"Adam."

"Birdbrain!"

Adam glared at Skylar, who had spoken out just then.

"Excuse me?"

"You like birds, so birdbrain!" Skylar beamed.

"Enough with the disrespect! You're going to stand in the rain for a minute."

"A WHOLE MINUTE?! YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME!" Skylar stomped her foot.

"Maybe you'll learn respect from a near-death experience," He snarled. "Now go!"

Skylar whined as she dragged her feet away. Adam stepped up to Naomi.

"I expect you to lead yourself out."

Adam leaned down to whisper into her ear, "The grass can tell you're no good."

Naomi felt a shiver go down her spine. Adam stood straight again before flapping his wings and shooting back up towards the treehouse.

Naomi looked down and her heart dropped. The grass around her feet was dead.

-

Naomi leaned her back against the lantern as she watched Skylar stand in the rain, shivering violently as the harsh water drained the life from her wings.

"I-I hate that... s-stupid birdbrain..." Skylar whimpered, almost falling onto her knees.

"Only ten seconds left," Naomi flinched, hating how horrible this punishment was. Was this normal for the Forest children?

Skylar was on her last limb before zooming towards Naomi, wrapping her arms around her neck as she held her close, shivering for her warmth. Naomi patted Skylar's back.

"Sorry he made you do that... that punishment is horrible!"

"Y-yeah, well... he's horrible..." Skylar stood straight, letting out a breath of relief. "Mrs. Forest would never do that to us."

"She allows him to punish you like that?"

"I guess so. At least she doesn't punish us like that."

"How... does she punish you?"

"Talking to us. Calmly. I guess they represent how the Forest is like. Mrs. Forest being calm and elegant, while Adam is harsh and scary."

"...I didn't think of it like that. I guess Forest kids are smart," Naomi said as the two sat against the wall outside of the palace doors.

"No, we just have common sense. Vault kids are the smart ones. And the nerds." Skylar snickered.

"True. So, what do you learn about in the Forest?"

"Well, with Adam he teaches us about nature and how we should like it or whatever. I like the mantas and the jellyfish myself. I go around helping the mantas when I get bored."

"What about Mrs. Forest?"

"She teaches us how to be kind and caring or whatever. Supposedly, Forest kids are supposed to be super kind."

"Makes sense, I guess."

"Yeah, well, it's mostly just full of butt kissers," Skylar made kissy noises and they both laughed afterwards.

"What about you, Miss Valley?" Skylar nudged Naomi. "What do you learn about?"

"Just how to have fun, I guess. Don't abide by all the rules, how to be swift and outgoing. Live life to the fullest."

"Sounds boring."

"Nuh uh! They basically taught me how to perfect my flying technique at the Citadel! We're great fliers AND great runners AND great sliders. We got all the speed."

"And what's that useful for? In Eden, it's all about taking it slow, as the prophets say."

"Ah, but learning how to run quickly and swiftly makes it easier to avoid the flinging rocks and the krill!"

"..." Skylar glared at Naomi. "How do YOU know there are flinging rocks? The prophets never speak about that."

Naomi froze in a panic before laughing awkwardly. "Did I say flinging rocks?"

"Yes. You did," Skylar snapped.

"Aha, guess I didn't mean to..."

"...You're a bad liar, Naomi." Skylar got on her knees to face Naomi. "Tell me the truth. Did you or did you not go to Eden?"

There was that feeling again. Like the feeling of dread where you know the inevitable was coming. Naomi knew she couldn't avoid it. She was trapped, trapped in a bad lie she had put herself in.