Dime
The Brotherhood split up to search for me as I lured them into the darker and rockier part of the woods. The huge old trees gave me chance to hide myself. They moved fast, looking at every side, corner and spaces where they thought possible I could hide. Too bad none of them ever thought of looking up—well, if so I would've drop dead with an arrow through my head. But I couldn't be over-confident with my position, someone brilliant might just climb up quietly behind me and end my life. I can't let that happen. I made my promise and I'd do my best to fulfill it this time.
With one sweep of glance around, I saw one of the men wandering around alone—probably slacking off. I saw my chance. Slowly, without making any sound I went down from my hiding and followed the man's trail. Without hesitation, I grabbed him and twisted his neck.
I dragged his body behind an upturned piece of land covered with creeping plants and weeds. My dirty and torn cloak would be a give away to them so I switched mine with his, I just had to get another one for Micah.
My heart drummed at the thought of us being together once again. Babylon was just a few kilometers away from where we were and once the Brotherhood's away we can finally go there and start a new life together.
A prickling sensation in my hand broke my trance. I looked at my hand and examined it closely but there was nothing to see aside from the cuts I got from the thorns. I winced as another pierced my arms. What the fuck is going on?
"Ah!" I gasped when I felt more scratches on my arms and back. Shit! Then I was taken to another place yet again, this time underneath thorny vines. What the fuck is wrong with me? Instead of answers, I was bombarded with more images.
Bloody hands trying to tear away thorny vines but it was too heavy, a swift turn around and I was faced with three Risen clawing and chewing their way through. Two men and a girl. They were slow as always and tangled by the spiky creeping plants. Worms swarm the man's left eye socket, the other had its neck chewed and half of the little girl's head was missing.
The vine field. Micah. I went on without seeing my way, hoping instincts would lead me to her like how I found her earlier. I only just got her back, I can't lose her again.
Someone seized me but all I saw were the Risen advancing. I felt the sting as Micah leaned against the thorny vines as she drew as far away possible from the monsters. She couldn't lift the vines. She couldn't get out.
"Micah!" Panic swept over me and I didn't know what happened but the hands grabbing me suddenly went away. I didn't waste time figuring out where they went and why they left all of a sudden, but focused on feeling my way through the woods instead.
Slowly, Micah's petite and fragile hands created a small opening. She pushed them wider apart until she could squeeze her way out and barely noticed the pain of being scratched. "N-no." I uttered as she headed straight to where I lured the Brotherhood. "Shit! Micah, stop. Don't come here!" But she couldn't hear me, she ran straight ahead.
I need to see! Let me see please!
--Where are you?
It's that voice again. Where is that coming from? What does that has to do with what I was seeing?
–Are you the one from Babylon?
--Yes... I noticed the hesitation in her voice.
--Micah. Save her please. We-we're at the intersection. At the woods. The Brotherhood is after me—I was with her—please.
--You-you're the blood-red haired guy? I stilled at that. What? --Tell me exactly where you are.
--Just please save Micah!
--I am not Micah! My name's Serenity, now tell me where the hell are you?
I scoffed. What the fuck is this girl talking about? --I know well enough that you're not Micah!
--No you don't. Stop seeing what I'm seeing!
I stopped on my tracks, unable to comprehend. I was dead sure that whatever I was seeing was what Micah was seeing. What the hell was that girl talking about?
--Oh great! You hear my thoughts and see what I see, but you have no idea of your abilities. Just great.
What the hell? I didn't mean to communicate her that, that was supposed to be a private thought.
--Well yeah, I can hear thoughts so no thoughts are private from me. Stay where you are, I'm sure I'll find a way to locate you.
Just like that and she's gone. What's going on? I saw the woods in front of me and Micah's hands feeling the dry ground—but the girl said it was her. But I can't go wrong. It was Micah! Who else could I have seen? No.
My heart sank at the possibility that I was hallucinating. I was sure it was Micah. Her hair, her face, her hands, her lips, her eyes. Her eyes. I knew something was amiss with her eyes but it had to be her. A searing pain from my head brought back my sight and right before me are the stems of dry tress with the view of dark sky peeping behind. It's already night. Micah. I can't let her out alone. The Risen and the Brotherhood are out there. I have to-I have to protect her.
I felt the rocky earth beneath me and as my eyes swept around, I realized I fell from a crack on the ground.
I tried to stand up but was drawn back by my aching body. Exhaustion and fatigue from earlier chase kicked in, and I suddenly felt like sleeping.
--Hey! Can you hear me? It's that girl again. I chuckled. What did she say her name was again? --I am Serenity. Can you tell me yours?
--Dime... Everything seemed hazy and my eyes felt heavy.
--You have an odd name. How old are you?
--I'm a bit sleepy. I closed my eyes for a while.
--Hey! Don't sleep. Don't sleep! Stay with me. Who's Micah? Can you tell me? I groaned and I heard the panic in her voice.
--My-she's my...
But I didn't get the chance to finish what I was about to say. Darkness closed in and I was drowned away by oblivion.