Serenity
"Shit!" I cursed as Dime's thoughts faded. He's not yet dead, was he? No. He's not dead yet, otherwise I wouldn't feel his energy seeping from the ground. He's still alive—unconscious probably but alive. Panting, I hurried deeper into the woods where Dime led the Brotherhood and avoided the paths where their thoughts were louder.
"Let's head back! We're getting close to the danger zone!" One of the men shouted and soon I heard crunching leaves and hurried footsteps coming my way. Crap! Come on Mr. Luck, I just escaped Marco, his men and three risen. Can't you just spare me this? I swallowed hard when I felt the men coming closer. Yeah, clearly not. I rolled my eyes and frantically looked around for somewhere to hide but froze as I heard a malicious voice from a man.
"Well look at what we have here."
How smart of me to speak with Mr. Luck and forget to focus more? There's only one of him but the others would be on their way soon. Slowly, I turned around and saw a cloaked guy. He removed his hood and revealed a chocolate colored man with wide murderous eyes. "What are you doing here, girly? It's dangerous out here."
My knees trembled but I tried to hold my ground. I killed Marco and three of his men that sent those Guardians of Babylon running for their lives, a single man from the Brotherhood was a no match for me. I tilted my chin up and held his gaze without fear.
"None of your business." I said braver than I felt ,and my heart leaped straight to my throat when a cruel smile curled the chocolate guy's dark lips.
"Really there? I'm trying to be nice here and this is what I get?" I stepped back when he stepped forward.
"A guy from the Brotherhood like you?" I scoffed despite my fear. "I didn't know you are capable of being nice."
"Why of course. If you would let me, I'd take you to our place where we have unlimited source of water, food—"
Shit! I cursed for the second time when I felt a nauseating energy few kilometers away from where we stood—I wasn't sure how far but they're scattered, advancing all around. What are they? They're different from the warm and weak circulating energy that belonged to the Brotherhood. I felt this earlier too and the next thing I saw were three Risen chewing vines behind me.
Dime where are you? It was hard to concentrate with everyone's energies interfering—it's getting harder to locate him. I needed to hurry.
"Look, why don't you just leave me alone and mind your own business? I might even spare you your life." A deep husky laugh escaped from the guy's throat but I kept my face composed. Fake it till you make it. I had no idea how I did what I did and I wasn't sure if I'd still be able to do it. My heart still ached because of Ethan's death and his heartbreaking revelation, my legs still throbbed from running, I was still terrified from being haunted by the council and from the murder I committed.
Everything that happened was too much to take in and I still have the Brotherhood to deal with too. Sooner or later more of them would come together with the owners of the sickening and rotting force.
"Well, you sure have big guts for a frail girl lost in the woods. Oh, and I like your voice..." He advanced forward with a menacing smile. "It's crisp, clear, fearless but with a tinge of softness." I stepped back but Choco man's too fast as his iron grip went quickly to my throat and choked me. I whimpered when he grabbed my butt and sniffed my hair. "I wonder how you'd sound under pleasure and pain. Would you still sound so airy and confident, eh?" He pressed me against the tree and squeezed my throat more. I gagged and clawed at his hand. I couldn't breathe, my eyes blurred and I knew if he kept choking me I'd pass out. I can't pass out!
A suppressed cry escaped my lips when I remembered the dream where Dime was crying and cursing as he watched me being raped. Did they catch him? Could it be possible that what I saw was a vision? No. I frantically tried to gather energy once again but only fear and desperation filled me. "Oh, I don't think I can wait that long. I can find out now, can't I? I'd suit myself first before I hand you over. Right! That's right."
He tossed me down the rocky earth and I coughed and gasped for air. My jelly hands and legs did little to help me crawl away. "No!" I shrieked when Choco man pulled me by my feet that sent the hem of my dress up to my waist. I kicked hard and luckily hit his face which gave me chance to scamper away. "You bitch!" He said as he came running after me. "Run as much as you can girly! I like a good chase."
"Jeno!" Oh shit! Another one from the Brotherhood. I looked back and saw them talking to one another. Choco man glanced at me with disappointment, and soon they took off running towards the opposite direction. For a moment I felt like sighing in relief but darkness loomed over me as I heard their thoughts.
--Dammit, horde of them are coming!
--Such a waste! But I love my life more than fucking that bitch!
--Shit! I'm going to die. I'm going to die!
--Help! Somebody!
--Forgive me bro but you're doomed. Can't help you anymore.
A shiver ran down my spine and I stopped in my tracks when I felt the cold rotting energy getting stronger which probably meant that I was getting closer to them. I had no idea what it was but I knew it's associated with the Risen—maybe it's them. Maybe it's the energy that they possess that kept them moving. But how can dead people brought and infected by the regenerating vaccine posses that kind of force? The Risen doesn't have souls anymore so why? Was it possible that someone's controlling them? I shook my aching head, shit this is going way beyond my league.
"Aaaah! Help me!" Shrilling cries filled the forest and soon came one after another. My body trembled with fear. There'd be lots of them roaming around later when their corpses rise. I can't get stuck here in the middle of the forest. I need to find Dime and ignore all the tormented cries that made the entire place like hell on earth.
--Micah...
My head popped up at that. Dime. His energy was stirring faster than when we conversed earlier—he's probably regaining consciousness.
--I'm coming for you Dime. Just hang on.
I didn't waste time to wait for his reply, I immediately took off to where I sensed his energy. My heart drummed heavily beneath my chest, something swirled inside me at the thought of being near him. Why?
The cold rotting energy circling around Dime's interrupted my reverie. No please, don't. I prayed over and over as I forced my feet to run faster, but tears stung my eyes as more of them got closer—they're looming over him. "Dime!" A strong sense of loss washed over me at the thought of another person's death—but there was something more, much more painful that I just couldn't quite point my finger at.
Three or four Risen blocked the way ahead. They're heading towards the place where Dime was. I slowed down when more of them emerge behind the towering trees that surround the place. No need to see that hundreds of them have already crowded the forest because the strong urge to puke is enough warning. It was hopeless to save Dime because soon he would be just one of these monsters seeking for fresh meat to sink it's teeth in. No, I can't give up, not until I see him rise and be one of them.
I advanced noiselessly behind the risen but my breath was taken away when I came face to face with one of them that emerged out of nowhere. I stepped back to run but stopped when the moving corpse of a salivating old lady just growled and seethed at me. What the hell? It advanced forward but didn't attack, or tried to eat me.
My eyes immediately found the chewed part of her neck, dry blood surrounded it. Her skin was rotting and there were worms crawling their way inside and out. I fought the urge to puke when the putrid scent of decaying flesh filled my nose. So much for the regenerating vaccine.
A horde surrounded me soon enough. They snarled and fumed with rage as they can't get to bite or chew a part of me. Still overwhelmed with terror and confusion, I tried to step forward. My eyes immediately shut tight as I waited for them to grab and tear me apart, but relief flooded me when I realized that I was still in one piece.
The path cleared with each step I took. I covered my eyes and my knees trembled when one of them lunged to grab me but slinked away as if an unseen shield had scalded it. I took advantage of the moment and hurried towards Dime's location and saw three cloaked men being devoured by the risen. A sigh of relief escaped me when my "feelings" led me somewhere far from the lifeless men. It led me to the edge of the crack on the ground—probably five or six feet wide and ten to twelve feet deep. Oh crap!
"Dime! Hey can you hear me? It's me, Serenity." I shouted as I got down on my knees and leaned closer. I waited for a few seconds and hurried to find a way to get down to him when his pained moans echoed. I hoped his condition wasn't as critical as he sounded. I went to the other side of the crack and saw the slanting slope. Oh, thank heavens! He must have slipped all the way down while walking blindly—he was lucky he didn't break his neck.
Slowly, I made my way down the rocky and grassy slope until my feet reached the ground where an overwhelming force was channeled through my entire body. I shivered at the blissful feeling. It was his energy, his soul that gave me the feeling. It felt warm inside.
Breathing hard, I advanced and felt my way through the darkness to where he lay.
"Mi-Micah..." Who's Micah? His girlfriend? Something odd stroke me, something painful, something close to what I felt when Ethan died and it was weird to find myself feeling this way for someone I just met.
I knelt beside Dime and carefully checked his body for any broken bones only to find his head damp. Oh shit, just shit! He can't stay untreated for long. If not for blood loss, he'd die out of infection. I looked up to where I came from and anticipated it would be impossible to drag Dime all the way up there—or if I make it, it would be impossible for him to survive with all the Risen sourrounding the place.
I shut my eyes tight and kneaded my head to think of some other way but the sound of an old woman's voice broke my trance.
--Serenity.
I looked around, my senses hyped but didn't feel anyone nearby.
--I know you can hear me.
--Who are you? I responded still looking around with eyes wide open.
--You need to trust me. I know where you are. We're coming to get you. Both you and Dime.
A shiver ran down my spine. How the hell did she know about me and Dime? And she said "we are coming to get you." I search her thoughts deeper but found nothing.
--Answer me! Who are you? Are you from Babylon or from the Brotherhood?
--Neither.
--Liar! Dime and Marco were the only people who heard me and whose thoughts I couldn't penetrate deep. They're both one from each side. Whose side are you?
--And you? Whose side are you?
--We're not talking about me.
--You have to stand for something or you'd be lost forever.
I felt my forehead crease at what she said. Stand for something? I almost laughed out loud. For five years I stood for Babylon, for the God they taught us about, and now look at where it got me. Look where it got Ethan. I tried to hold back my tears but it escaped anyway. This chase, this puzzle, this whole survival of the fittest is tiring. I wanted to rest, have something to eat, take a shower and get some sleep. I wanted to wake up from this nightmare and find Ethan waiting for me.
For some unknown reason, I laid my head on top of Dime's rising and falling chest. "I'm not Micah." I paused for a while and listened to his slow beating heart for a while. "You lost her, didn't you? I lost someone too, someone I didn't get the chance to love right."
Footsteps echoed lightly and I flew up on my feet and braced myself in front of Dime. "Who's there?" I squinted my eyes and saw fire from a torch advancing from a corner. A passageway! Odd. I didn't notice that earlier.
"Serenity?" Said the guy.
"I asked you first! Answer me."
"My name's Kota. Sensei Rosario sent me here." Filled with confidence, Kota advanced forward and revealed a guy who's probably around twenties. His hair that fell just above his chin was black as ebony, his pale skin was tinted with the light color of rose, and his mere slits of onyx eyes stared back at me. He looked so clean.
I tried listening to his thoughts to find out their intentions but just like the old woman, Marco and Dime, I didn't hear his. "Who is she? What are you? How did she and you know my name and Dime's?"
"I believe your friend isn't in a good condition. You may want us to treat him first before we answer all your questions about us." He said brushing me off but I pushed him away and braced myself. No one can be trusted, especially people that can shut me out.
"Liar!" My voice sounded fiercer than I felt. I wasn't sure that I can take him down. The thing I did with Marco and the Guardians of Babylon didn't work with Choco man or what was his name again? Oh yes, Jeno. It didn't work with him. I was too tired, too exhausted to do something like that again.
"You have to trust us. I'm sure you want to know what happened earlier with Marco and the Guardians. We can help you." He caught me at that and upon seeing my teary and widened eyes, his stern face softened. "I know you've been through a lot in a short span of time. We can help you."
He stepped forward, his right arm outstretched but I brushed his hand away and took a step back. "How do I know you're telling me the truth? I can't hear—" Should I even tell them I can hear their thoughts? They knew what I did with Marco. How on earth—
--We're friends, we can help. We may not have all the answers but we're here.
I stared at him still contemplating whether I should or should not trust him. "Those are the thoughts that you wanted to communicate me."
A smile curled his thin lips and soon I was drawn to his mind.
--This is dangerous, once the council from the Brotherhood feels our wielding energy they'd be able to locate us. Kill us and suck our powers. And it won't be good for Serenity, I couldn't imagine them performing the ritual on her or anyone else. I don't want to see that. And Sensei Rosario, what will become of her? And Yukino, my little sister? And Dime... My ability's still lacking but I know he's been through so much. I could feel his anguished soul crying and wailing in pain...
I blinked twice or thrice when Kota's thoughts vanished. Those were his fears. "Enjoy eavesdropping?" I scowled at him and saw his playful face. "Do you trust me now?" he cocked his head on one side. I nodded slightly and in an instant he shoved me the torch, his face serious once again as he carried Dime on his back.
"You have the light, you go first. I'd tell you whether to turn left or right. We need to hurry and by the way," I was already going towards the passageway but I stopped in my tracks to look back at Kota. "Try shutting your ears. We can't risk being located." I opened my mouth to ask what he meant but he cut me off. "Later. Hurry up if you want to live."
My heart sank when we reached a dead end. The path was blocked. I was tired.
"Keep going." I turned around and stared ludicrously at Kota.
"This is a dead end, you stupid jerk! What are you—"
"Turn around and you'll see what I'm saying." He said rolling his little eyes. I shook my head and turned towards the blocked—what the?
"I—I saw—this path was blocked earlier, I swear!" I said staring at the cleared and dark path in front of us.
"I know, just keep moving."
"You knew? But—"
Kota groaned. "Oh for chrissake just move. We'll fill you up with details later." Biting my lip, I continued my way. I wanted to ask many things, they seemed to know a lot. I wanted to know the answers.
"I know you're confused but, please just hang on for a little while. Sensei Rosario would explain you things better." He said after a few minutes of silence.
"Who is she?" I said resuming our walk.
"She acted as our mother since she took us in. Me and my Sister. She's like us, gifted." Gifted. I swallowed hard at that. I felt more like cursed than gifted.
"I was from Babylon." I waited for him to say something but continued when he kept silent. "I—I killed Marco and three Guardians. Something happened too back there before I murdered them. I—"
"We know. We know everything about what happened. Sensei Rosario, she can't stop dreaming about you. We've been waiting for you to come." A tinge of hope tainted his voice but I shrugged it off and chuckled.
"Waiting for me?"
"Yes. You and this guy." Before I could even ask why, Kota spoke. "We're here." I looked in front and saw another blocked path, though this time the stone moved to one side and gave us a narrow way to go. I looked back at him and he nodded, assuring safety.