Darker I rise

Chapter 4The Others

When I wake up I swiftly grab my bag that somehow ended up in the room. I open the side pouch that reveals 10 bottles of medicine, not enough for the week, but I take one and chug it down.

I quietly exit the small bedroom and walk through the hallway into a large room, the room that I met the 2 boys in, I see them talking with the Water clan girl and the Earth clan girl.

Water clan clothing is my favorite, the shirt is like the top of a bathing suit, different for each person, but she is wearing one that's longer than most, but still shows a bit of her tan skin. Her skirt, a fabric that has flowers on it is tied and glued to secure it, at her hip. Her shoes are sandals that have a bit of a heel. The Earth clan girl is wearing a crop top with jean shorts. Her shoes are simple: sneakers.

I'm still a bit dizzy when I walk in so I immediately go for a seat, but the Fire clan boy grabs my arm, "Where have you been? I was starting to get worried." He said it was obvious that he didn't mean it.

So, to teach him a lesson I stomp on his foot, turn and grab his arm and turn him around, which sends him sprawling on the floor. "Don't... touch me... again!" I say through heavy breaths.

I throw myself onto a seat and put my head in my hands while I wait for my breathing to die down. I feel the heat of a body next to me and I look up to see the Earth clan girl, "Kasdeya, I heard him call you that before on other tribe meetings, he always said that you were sick. Now it looks like it was because he punished you for no reason." She says kindly, even though I can tell by the way she talks she's kind of scared of me, I don't blame her.

"I was sick the past times, but it isn't contagious I'm still sick. The reason he never brought me along is that he doesn't really like me, he never wanted a girl, and I don't live up to my name. In the Illusion clan living up to your name is a big deal." I say putting my arms down.

On my other side Wind clan boy sits, "Then how come your father hit you earlier?" I think back to the conversation we had earlier, "It's because you guys called me polite and skittish, no one in the Illusion clan ever wants to be caught being polite or skittish."

Now the Water clan girl, with slick black hair, asks the question, "You said you were sick, what are you sick with?" I take off the flower crown and fiddle with it, "I don't like to talk about it."

I look down and feel someone punch me, not one of Father's punches, I look up to discover that it's the Fire clan boy, "Why is that?" At that, I punch him so hard that he falls to the ground coughing.

The Water clan girl puts my arm down, "Kasdeya, you're just going to make him hate you more, plus he wasn't trying to make you uncomfortable, he was just curious like we all are. He just has a different, more violent way of showing it." When she says it, I reluctantly return to my seat before I punch him a second time, but all of a sudden he starts saying, "I-i'm f-freezing."

The Water clan girl looks mad, "Kasdeya, turn it off!" "I'm not doing anything!!" Then I put it together the second I see a shadow in the hallway, "Father, turn it off." I say it as sternly as I can. The 3 kids around me all of a sudden are nervous and scared.

I slowly stand as Father enters the room, "What my darling daughter? It's an amazing illusion, I just had to continue the torture, if that's what you were doing, but I guess I'll finish it another time." He smiles the evil smile, my brain is thrashing in my skull. All of a sudden my mouth goes dry and my legs feel weak. Everyone looks at me as my breaths grow heavier.

The Earth clan girl rushes to my side, I cough into my elbow and instead of air, blood comes out. I drop to my knees, legs having failed me, when Father comes near and pushes the Earth clan girl away as he kneels down next to me, "This is the worst it's been, good, I can't wait until you're over." Father whispers as he pushes me so that I'm sprawled on the floor. I slowly lose consciousness.

I wake up minutes later coughing up blood. I look around and Father is gone and the Water clan girl is talking to the Earth clan girl, she's saying, "-Juniper! We need to get her to her room!"

The Fire clan boy is the first to notice my awakening, "No need, she's awake, care to explain Kasdeya?" He says my name bitterly, probably because of the punch I gave him.

"Pheonix! How rude, you don't have to explain right now Kasdeya. Do you have medicine or something?" Juniper says.

I feel myself slipping out of consciousness, "Bag- room." is all that I can manage before I go unconscious again.

This time when I wake up I'm gasping for air, "Here drink this," The Wind clan boy gives me a bottle of medicine, "we found it in your room." "Thanks," Is all I can manage before temptation causes me to snatch the bottle from his hand and chug it down.

"Aren't you thirsty!" I look to my other side to see the Water clan girl laughing. I try to ignore her when I say, "I realize that I've been so rude, what are your guy's names?"

Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when Pheonix speaks up, "So, are we just gonna ignore that fact that you were just fainting and coughing up blood." Man, he's getting on my nerves, "I realize that I've been so rude, what are your guy's names?" I repeat sternly, and finally, Wind clan boy speaks up, "Zyphr" "Pheonix" "Juniper" "Nerida" Water clan girl finishes.