The Fallen (On Hold)

Chapter Four

One Year Ago
*****
Patrolling the woods alone is not fun, especially when anyone can just appear out of no where and attack you. Then boom, you're dead or worse, a POW.

The bright sun is cascading down through the foliage and birds are chirping in the distance. Along the cleared path winding through the trees, wild flowers are sprouting through the leaf covered floor. And if you're quiet enough, you can here the hum of the city dwellers inside the base that's about half a mile away.

To be completely honest, I have no clue why I need to walk around with a gun or how this war even started. All I know, well all everyone knows is that at the age of five, you're taken from your family to start training to be a troop. And for years after, that's all that happens until you complete your training. Luckily, once you are finished though, they release you back to your family but you still have to serve.

But, the Council does know almost everything so I think they know about the war. And if they're withholding information from us it's probably for the best.

Suddenly, there's a crack a few feet to my left like someone has just stepped on a twig. Slowly peering to the side, I pull my gun out from behind my back and aim it in that direction, sticking it in between the trees.

"Who's there?" I call out stepping in that direction. You're so dumb Phi, they're probably going to kill you now.

Taking tiny steps forward as quietly as I can, a giant figure falls out of the trees and onto the ground.

Before I can even react, he pushes himself off the ground then charges for me, ripping my gun out of my arms and pulling me into a headlock.

"State your name, NOW!" He yells at me in a deep voice.

I haven't yet seen his face but that voice and height alone is enough to know he's drop dead beautiful. No, you can't think that. He's a Fallen, a disgusting and barbaric person.

"Umm, I-I... M-my name is Seraphina, but most people call me Phi," I manage to get out.

"Well Phi, take today as a lucky one because I'm too tired to take you back to camp and I don't feel like killing you, it doesn't appeal to me," he let's go of my neck and hands me back my gun.

"You're not going to kill me and you're handing me back my gun?" I turn around to look at him. And boy, was I right about his looks.

I had to strain my neck up to look at him because he stood well over six feet tall. He looked about 5 years older than me and had dark brown hair with some gold specks that brushed across his forehead then reached up to the sky. And his eyes, they were so dark and cold but so beautiful that you couldn't help but get lost in them. Then those lips, dang they were nice lips.

What are you thinking, he's the enemy! Ugh, why do you have to be so beautiful... Actually I don't know his name.

"No, why would I? You look like a sweet young girl who had her life taken away by those stuck up jerks you call a Council," he snorts.

"The Council are none of what you said. They are brilliant, kind, and teach us to fend for ourselves. I don't know what more they could give us."

"Well if it wasn't for them you wouldn't have to fend for yourself."

I take high offense to that and my blood starts to boil, "Well at least we live like civilized people instead of wondering the woods like nomads!"

"That's what they tell you about us?" He starts to laugh. "Honey, don't listen to every lie they feed you."

"They don't lie to us, they're all knowing," I cross my arms over my chest and flick my head up.

"Sorry to burst your bubble but has it ever crossed your mind that actually they are the bad guys?"

His words shock me. "No because they are trying for peace while the Fallen run around randomly killing people!"

"That is not true!" And with that he turns his back on me and walks back into the shadowed forest.

"I'm not done talking to you!"

"Well I'm done with you," he starts moving faster and I can see his back muscles moving under his grey shirt.

I run up to him and catch his arm. "Please, I'm sorry if I have offended you but that is only because of the bad things you speak of me. What's your name?"

"I'm not speaking bad about you, only the people you side with. And Michael," then he rips his arm away and runs into the woods.

*****
Picture of Michael Potter