“Where am I?” I asked in a hoarse voice as I rubbed my eyes, the way my brother Noël did whenever he was sleepy. Trying to get up on my feet I asked again, irritated that I wasn't getting an answer.
“ RUN!” Someone bursted in, trying to catch his breath.
“ RUN!” he repeated and left as quickly as he had come.
His words triggered emotions and everyone dispersed. Not having time to think anything through, I followed suit. A stab of pain, from my lower abdomen, caused me to falter in my steps. Nobody seemed to care, so I held on to my side and used up the strength in me.
It seemed like we were on our heels for hours, passing through turns and corners as swiftly as possible. My weak self, was behind the rest of the crew, trying to catch up to them. This is ridiculous, running with some bunch of strangers. Away from or towards heavens knows what. Where am I? What I am doing here? Why does my body hurt so much? And what the hell are we running from? I was too busy, frustrated to notice the stone in front of me. Tripping, I fell with my front hitting the ground. The loud thud, alerted the others as they halted in their tracks all at the same time.
“ What are you doing on the floor?” The informant from earlier asked as he scrunched up his nose.
“ Taking a short nap” I shot at him, rolling my eyes.
“ Get up and keep moving, we don't have much time”
“ Much time! What are we running from? Where are we going? Who are you, people? And what am I doing here?” I let out a frustrated sigh, as I ran my hand through my hair, wanting to pull it out.
“ You talk too much” The older one spoke, for the first time. He seemed to be the reserved one, not that that I knew him well.
“ Of course I talk too much. Don't you think it's necessary in this situation?”
“ SHUT UP!” He yelled at me, before throwing me over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
“ PUT ME DOWN!” I yelled back, feeling uneasy over his shoulders. My protests fell to deaf ears. He simply motioned to the rest of them to keep walking, falling behind. If I thought we looked ridiculous before then I was mistaken. At least, then they were only running from unseen forces. Now, they had a crazy-looking tanned skin girl, squirming to be put down.
Abruptly, they stopped in their tracks again. What's with the synchronized movements? At the top of a cliff, some tents were arranged in a row. Some logs of woods in a circle and a bonfire in the middle was the highlight. He dropped me like the sack of potatoes he thought I was. My back was the one to hit the ground this time.
“ Ouch” I whispered, whimpering.
“ Get into that tent, and try to shut up.” He pointed to the last tent on the row before walking into one of the arranged tents.
*****************************
The tears I had been holding, streamed down my cheeks. Breaking down into gentle sobs. Mother once told me that bottling up your feelings won't do you any good. This was so surreal, I was heading back home from school and the next thing I know, I'm running. Everybody I knew was nowhere to be found, what I'll give to see Melissa's stupid face again. I needed answers but no one seems to be providing me with answers.
Not even having enough time to look around. Suddenly, anger flared up inside of me. How dare they treat me with contempt! “ I live to please myself” I chanted in my head, as I unzipped my tent and snuck away stealthily. Nobody was outside, I assumed everyone was snuggling inside the not so cozy tents. I just walked by without causing much noise, I had questions that they'll not be able to answer.
Despite it been the dead of the night, there was no need for me to worry about it being too dark. The stars in the sky glistened brightly, complimenting the illuminating full moon. I wanted to be on top of the roof and stare at the sky as I gently fall asleep. Picking up pebbles from the ground, I threw them on the ground one after the other. I desperately wanted all of this to make sense. This place is unusual, really unusual.
One of the many pebbles I threw, hit a tree. I stopped under the tree, resting my head on the trunk. If Stacey could see me now, she'll flip. Partly because of my fashion sense right now and also because I look like a deranged woman. The blue ripped jeans I wore this morning, was stained with dirt. It looked more like blue and brown dyed jeans. A bird's nest was better looking than my hair. For some strange reason, my body hurts, was it from tripping in the cafeteria? I hadn't remembered hurting this much, I barely hit the ground then. I remember going home, pissed but...... how did I get here? I can't remember. Allowing my emotions to overwhelm me, the warm tears spilled down my face. My head was still pounding. I need a pain reliever of some sort and sleep too. Good sleep! It didn't look like I'll be getting any of that soon. Despite my worry for myself, I couldn't help but wonder about what these people are running from. It was more than strange. Although the group seemed close and had an understanding of themselves. I hadn't had enough time or patience to take a good look at their faces. I hadn't even had time to take a good look at where I was. The roads we ran through were filled with houses. It was like we ran from block to block{ Being carried also counts} and magically appeared on the top of a cliff.
Maybe I was taking this too far anyway. Maybe I fell asleep in the middle of the park {as illogical as that sounds.} and now I'm dreaming. Telling myself I fell asleep in a park was way better than saying than trying to explain how I got here.
“ Yes, that's what it is! It's a dream!” I said aloud, convincing myself.
“ Didn't I tell you to stay in the tent?” An angry voice yelled, as his figure hollered over me.“ Leave me alone mom, the bed is hard” I muttered sleepily. The bed or rather the floor was really hard and uncomfortable.“ I'm not your mother you idiot!” He shouted.“ Ahhh” I panicked and landed a kick in the middle of his legs. I stood up immediately, trying to figure out who the person was. It was the jerk from yesterday, I guess I'm not only a sack of potatoes.“ Ouch” He jumped, greatly pissed at my actions. Okay, so I panicked. I thought a strange guy was in my bedroom. They weren't any bedroom because I cried myself to sleep last night. Heavens knows how he managed to find me under my tree of depression. I quickly apologized. It was really my intention to.... hurt him. “ What was that for? Are you out to commit murder?” He asked as he groaned in pain, ho
“ Is everyone ready?” The informant asked, quickly glancing around. I suppose I should stop calling him “ The informant” but I didn't know his name. I don't know any of them's names. So for now, that's how I will address him. In my mind at least. He quickly took a roll call, which I found hilarious. His older siblings rolled their eyes at him but mumbled their yeses regardless. I could pick up their names from his check.Aghan was the oldest and the one I've spoken to since I got here. Lafeya was a teenager but not as old as Aghan. Adrian and Alhadera looked alike so I assumed they were twins.. The thought of my twin siblings caused a sinking feeling in my heart but I casually pushed it aside. The one person whose name I wasn't able to hear was the informant's, he was the one calling everyone's name and didn't bother to call his. They led the way and I followed. It wasn't like I had a choice, I didn't know the way around. And I wasn't interested in sta
“ We are here” The deep voice informed, I stirred in my sleep and yawned loudly. “ Wake up!” The person said again, a little bit deeper.“ Yes?” My eyes fluttered and I immediately shut it. Too bright. I covered my eyes with one hand, using the other to hang on to Aghan's back. So I fell asleep. The short naps I was having had me worried but I haven't really slept properly recently so I guess it should be expected.“ We are here. I want to put you down now” How gentlemanly. I felt sorry for his back though, but he said I didn't weigh much so that made me less guilty.“ Ok” Releasing my hold around his neck, I swung my feet over his body and let it drop to the ground. He led the way and I followed. Discreetly, I wiped the trail of saliva on my face away. I wanted to crawl inside a hole. I drooled on him, even though he didn't seem to notice. I tried har
My eyes were puffy, but my face was free from tears by the time we left. I'm not sure if we'll be returning here tomorrow. They always wanted to come to the old building, even though it was more stressful. Staying at the cliff will guarantee safety for a longer period rather than walking to and fro. Balmoh led the way, as usual, the twins behind him and Aghan gliding by my side. I took slow steps, enjoying the peace while trying to keep calm inside. “ Your pendant is cool” “ Yeah. It was a present from my Dad. He dragged me along with him to the store and I was forced to see him pick out the one he deemed perfect. I felt it was perfect and it has never left my neck since then, up until now” I explained simply. It was a promise I made to myself. Never to take it off, but know I didn't want to put it back on so I stored it safely in my Jean pocket.Nobody said anything after that. We just kept walking, this time I walked on my o
“ She talked about loss, what happened to her?” I asked Dera on our way back. She wasn't much of a companion and left me to walk behind, I constantly increased my pace to catch up. That's all I ever while walking with anyone, catching up. When I get back, exercising must be my priority. Who am I kidding?.... I wouldn't exercise even if a gun was pointed at my head.“ Dee lost someone very important to her. "“ Oh” I decided to drop the topic, there's no need for me to go sniffing around trying to figure how what anyone has lost. That was the least of my problems. “ Her son Hugh was the volunteer from her family. He was to turn 23 today and had a pretty fiancée named Shannara. San's skin was the prettiest color ever, black and shiny. Unlike my regular white skin, hers was entirely dark without any patch of white and never pale. From what I heard She wasn't from Charlaedon or anywhere nearby but she has
I laid down in my very uncomfortable sleeping bag. You would think after a month of sleeping here I would be used to it by now. That was the opposite of what I was feeling this sleeping bag was just as uncomfortable as the tent. Some find this padded bag warm but it shouldn't be consistently used in place of a bed in my opinion. Oh, the things I would trade to be able to sleep on my comfy bed at home. I have been thinking about home a lot. Not like I had anything better to do. I was stuck in a tent, given three square meals daily and I only step out when I want to shower. I haven't even been to the old building since the first time and I don't intend on making such long trips to see a house. Being left on my own has given me enough time to think. I still haven't figured out how I got here or what I would to get back. I am as clueless as I was one the first day I got to Charlaedon. Nobody had answers for me, I didn't have answers for myself. We were all sailing the boat of cluelessne
“ How can Charlaedon not exist? That's utterly ridiculous. We have school but even Balmoh is done. It's just for children between 1-7, he is 8. But detention sounds exhausting, it must be impossible to sit still for more than an hour.”“ Yes, detention sucks but now I will like to have detention for the rest of my senior year if it means that I can go back home. I'm pretty sure that Charlaedon didn't exist before. It wasn't even on the map of the world.” It must be semi-formal education, they will be sent off to learn a trade or acquire a skill. I guess school is for basic everyday knowledge. Poor guy, it's almost impossible to understand that your home only exists for you. If a month ago, someone had walked up to me and told me that New York doesn't exist, I would have laughed so hard in the person's face that I will be arrested for disturbance. “ Charlaedon is not a map? It has always been on the map.” He scratch
“ Isn't your governor doing anything about the incidents? I'm guessing a lot of things have been destroyed. From the way, you people basically abandoned your home to live on the top of a cliff I'm guessing it's pretty serious. Having one governor should rather be an advantage for you guys. He should have done something but instead of you guys rallying around to save yourselves. And the whole war thingy is still confusing, nothing has happened since I arrived here. Just running and no casualties.” I said, rubbing my throat. Suddenly, I wished I hadn't drank all the water at one go. I get uneasy when I'm parched.“ Governor Roan? We have reasons to believe so”Rolling my eyes, I face-palmed at his response. The amount of faith they had in that guy was a little too much.“ What exactly has he done? His people can't be suffering and he's watching from wherever he is. Shouldn't you guys{The northerners} have the upper hand because