Ana shot up, ears ringing, gasping for air. Before she got to look at her surroundings, she felt a hand close around her shoulder, pulling her from the mossy ground. As her hearing started to fade back in, she registered the forest around her and the monstrous growls that seemed to be following them.
"Get moving, come on!" As Ana turned to see who was pulling her, she was met by a girl about her age, with medium length black hair that was pulled back into braids on either side; the top looking almost gelled back. When she turned her head behind her, she got a glimpse of the creatures chasing them. Huge animals. Ana would chalk them up to wolves if it weren't for the fact that they were all bones and purple-black mist. The longer Ana looked, the more details she spotted. These wolves were much too large, at least half of her 5'7 stature, and all of their joints were backwards, like they were broken and bent the wrong way. They ran at a slight limp, but fast as hell. They had large claws, much sharper than any wolf she'd ever seen, and giant sabertooth teeth to match.
"What are those things?" Ana shouts to the stranger, tuning back into reality and taking in a large gulp of air.
"Stop talking and run!" the girl responds, turning just enough to pull an arrow from the quiver on her back and take a shot at one of the creatures. It fell and rolled, whimpering. They ran faster, picking up speed and veered off onto a denser path. After running for what felt like forever, The mysterious girl pulled Ana into a clearing with a waterfall and river. She pulled harder on Ana as she led them up a rock formation until they were scaling a ledge next to the fall.
"The path is narrow, I can't hold onto you. Hug the wall, and slide behind the fall. don't let the water hit you, it's stronger than you think. It'll knock you clean off the ledge." All of a sudden, the girl just let go of Ana and with one hand on the wall, disappeared behind the fall. Ana, hearing the growls closing in, reluctantly followed where the girl had once been. As she carefully went behind the fall, she was met with a large open cave. A pile of furs and blanket looking materials laid out, different kinds of satchels and bags, a small circle of stones and charred wood where a fire must have once been, and the mysterious girl sitting on the floor unwrapping her hands from the dirtied bandages that covered her palms, wrapped around each finger individually, and secured at her wrists.
"This is hell! We're in hell!" Ana pants out.
"Nah, hell's better. At least in hell it's consistent, you know what's coming. Here there's suspense; you think you might be safe sometimes." The girl smirks.
Through panting gasps, Ana briefly regrets quitting track, then asks, "What is this place? What happened to me?"
"You died, and now, you're in The Gone. At least, that's what I've been calling it. From what I can tell," She leans over, retrieving a canvas bag full of papers. As she spreads them on the floor, she continues explaining, "The creatures here are insane. They don't have the same instincts most animals do, they just want to kill. I don't know if they were created by God, satan, some guy named Dave, or what. I don't even know if I believe in God. But I do know that when you die here, you don't come back. You're the fourth human besides myself I've met in The Gone. This," she pauses, thinking of a correct word, "Place, is endless. Twists and turns and always new areas. I've been all over and yet, no humans besides myself, and now you. What I don't know about it is why you show up all of a sudden. But we probably have no hope of finding out. Our min priority is surviving. It's not safe to be alone here, especially if you don't know your way around. We need to stick together. Work together. To do that, you're gonna have to trust me. Can you do that, Sunshine?" Then, she was looking up at Ana. Her eyes were the color of dark mahogany, with shines of sienna; along with a mischievous glint seeming to reflect the corners of her mouth, which were fighting a smile. In fact, they were every shade of brown you could imagine. A raw umber and caramel mix, dotted with bits of dark chocolate. They glow with humor and playfulness that gives you shivers and wraps you in a warm embrace all the same. How could Ana possibly say no?
"I'm not sure. Should I?" The girl gives her a lopsided grin and slight nod before moving on,
"Now, we should go clean off. Follow me, " The girl leads her through an opening at the back of the cave. On the other side, it opens up into a hot spring with clear, bubbling water. "It's a natural hot spring, so we can bathe and get water from here." Then, Ana covers in a pink blush as the girl strips down. "don't be shy, I don't bite," she smirks and gives a low laugh. She slowly lowers into the water. Ana quietly pulls off her clothes and wraps her arms around herself as she climbs into the warm water next to the girl. They sit in silence for a while, just enjoying the warmth on their aching muscles. Eventually, Ana lowers her head into the water and soaks her hair, combing through the naturally red locks of hair that just barely brush the top of her shoulders until all the tangles are out.
"Do you want help with your hair?" Ana shyly asks the girl, seeing that she hasn't touched her hair.
"Oh no, it's alright. I had a friend who used to put the braids in and all for me, but she's gone. I don't really know how to do it myself, and if it's not up it gets in my way. So I try not to take it down, since it takes way too long to figure it out." She responds, smoothing over the tangled mess of dark brown hair with her hand, looking deep in thought. "She always used to laugh, said it was 'so easy' and it was funny that I couldn't do it. And, me being me, I was so determined to get it on my own. Surely enough though, every time it ended with her coming over and hitting me on the back of the head and telling me I'm hopeless without her. She'd grumble and complain the entire time she put the braids back on," she lets out a small snort, "as if I didn't know she was trying not to laugh too." Ana doesn't respond for a moment, letting the girl have a second with her thoughts. "Anyway," She laughs a little and goes quiet, done talking for now. Ana speaks up, decidedly not liking the silence of the room and trying to prevent the mood from sombering.
"I know how to braid. My mother was a hairdresser, so I've got a lot of experience with hair. I could pull it back so you can see, and it won't fall out easily? only if you want me too, though." Ana suggests, running some of the warm water over the back of her neck and shoulders.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble. I'm not even sure if you can get the knots out now though, it's been way too long." The girl says, her confidence faltering for what seems like the first time.
"Trust me, I'm an expert with hair," Ana says, moving over directly behind the girl and shooing her to turn around, seeming to gain the confidence that the other had lost. Ana slowly undoes the small bands holding the braids, and starts individually separating the strands with knowledgeable pulls, making sure not to hurt her. Once most of the knots are out, she tips her head back, submerging her hair, and finishes separating the last tangles, and rinses out the dirt. After she finishes that, she lifts her head up and carefully weaves her hair into a side braid, letting it fall down over her left shoulder, being sure that it's tight and secure so it won't fall out. Ana cups some more water in her hands and runs it down the back of the girl's neck, her hands finding a final resting place on the tops of her shoulders.
"There. All done." Ana smiles, and the girl wades over to the edge of the spring, leaning over the side. The girl returns with a shard of glass that Ana assumes she's using as a mirror. At first, Ana can't tell if she likes it. Then, a smile breaks across her face.
"Thank you. It's great." The girl says, looking at Ana with those honey-mocha eyes.
"I'm glad you like it," Ana responds, giving a shy smile back. "Could you do me a favor and hold the mirror for me?" Ana quietly asks.
"Of course." The girl holds the mirror in place while Ana weaves two braids on either side of the front of her hair then wraps them around, securing them in the back, then thanks the girl. Shortly after finishing, they get out of the spring and grab their clothes, then make their way to the other room.
"Shit," Ana whispers, examining her wet clothes.
"They must have gotten splashed or something. Here, I have extra clothes. they might be a little big, but they should be good enough," she says and shuffles in a corner, returning with a thin long sleeve gray cotton shirt and a pair of white joggers in one hand, and a black sports bra and pair of underwear in the other. Ana thanks her and starts dressing, seeing the girl is also dressing in a black bra and a pair of old, worn down black sweatpants. "If you walk north it takes you into the city and suburbs. That's where I've found most of my supplies. Tomorrow I'm going out to refill on a few things, and if you're feeling up to it, you can come with me and if not, I should only be gone a few hours." The girl says, finishing up setting the blankets and furs in a way to sleep on. She then lays on a few blankets, shuffling herself under the ones that are piled up and laid out. Ana sits next to the fire the girl started, legs to her chest, shivering. The girl looks at her with sad eyes. "Ana," Ana looks up, responding to her name. "You can come sleep with me, you know." The girl beckons Ana, stretching a hand out, waiting for Ana to walk over and take it. Ana blinks a few times, surprised.
"Are you sure?" Ana asks, making sure this isn't a test of some sort.
"Yes, I'm sure." The girl says slightly confused, but from the look on Ana's face she knows not to ask. Instead, she just smiles and beckons her over once more. Ana slowly stands and moves over to the furs. She takes the girl's hand, and the girl gently pulls her down. "Ana, your freezing." the girl says, wrapping an extra blanket around Ana's shoulders and shifting a little closer. Ana was just focusing on the heat that was radiating from the other girl, trying to stay awake. "My name's Chase Sienna Kane. What's yours?" Chase whispers.
"Ana Elise." Ana barely manages to respond, sleep lacing her tone.
"So Ana, what did you like to do before? You don't look much younger than me."
"I wanted to be an artist. That's all over now, though. I doubt I'll get a chance to draw again. Not here." The silence stretches, and Chase wonders if she's asleep.
"Goodnight, Ana." Chase says low.
"Night, Chase." Ana slurs, unconsciously shifting closer to the warmth that is Chase. Mere minutes later, both girls are in a deep sleep.