They stood in front of the beautiful view, and as they did, they scale down the gigantic wall after a few minutes.
Zion leading the way, he removes all of his gear and jumps off the wall at a height of 20 feet in the air. He kicked his feet to gain momentum to try reach the tree with little to no leaves left, which he successfully did.
"Hey Talia! Be fast, the eaglemen are going to capture us if we don't!"
They reach the bottom unscathed, then they ran at the opposite direction of the crowd. Which by now was getting shot and blown into pieces by guns and whatnot, and distant screams of terror could be heard in the distance.
As they ran away from the town, their legs started to lose strength due to fatigue, and saw a nearby oasis, which they slowly walked through the grass, and saw a clean pool of water at the very center.
Both of the kids were already thirsty and exhausted, so they couldn't resist the temptation of drinking the water in the open.
There was a nearby cave that was fit to be a shelter. However, the place was too quiet, and the only sounds were the winds and tumbleweed. As they drank the water, a footstep could be heard.
!!!
Zion reacts to the footstep and silently whispers to Talia.
"Talia! Hide in the bushes!"
"Alright Zion!" Talia whispers.
They ran inside a nearby bush, which then they hid.
Just as they had seen the source of the footstep, they realize they weren't lucky at all. In fact, luck was turning its back against them. Why? Because as it turns out, an eagleman resided in the oasis, guarding that very cave. The eagleman barely noticed them because of the giant bush blocking his view.
The eagleman's attention was focused at the spectacular sight of wreaking havoc inside the town, until his focus diverted onto a noise that was not natural.
Cough.
Damn it! I drank too fast!
The eagleman let his guard up until he heard the noise. The source was actually a slight cough from Zion, since he had been drinking the water too fast earlier, which resulted in a cough.
Both of the kids hide inside a regular bush among hundreds, watching the eagleman's every move, until he threatens them.
"Whatever or whoever you are! Come out!"
The two kids both simultaneously covered their mouth in fear, sweating profusely, and trying to not make a deep breath.
Zion, amidst all the lingering thoughts inside his calculating mind, he thought of an unsure idea in mere seconds. It was the only logical idea that Zion could think of while in pressure, and he signals Talia on what to do by communicating via sign language.
Talia tries to change her sitting position as it was uncomfortable for her, but her legs didn't let her.
Huh..? Why won't my legs move?
She sat there behind the bush, petrified and fearing the worst, Zion snaps it out of her as he explained to Talia about his master plan.
"Talia, I'm going to count to three. When it reaches the number three, jump out of the bush and attack the eagleman with sand or rocks."
"It might not sound like much but trust me. I'm scared as well but we can't afford to die here."
Talia was unsure of this plan at first, but after seeing Zion's eyes, she felt that he was trustworthy. Zion's eyes widened and flared with determination which glowed a neon turquoise color. He also has an instinct in doing whatever it takes no matter what the cost, all to survive.
Those eyes... They don't look like they're prepared to die.
Zion starts the signal with the count of three. During this, the eagleman continued to walk towards the kids.
Three.
"Whoever you are, come out. Or you will die by my hands." The eagleman continues to threaten the nothingness, hoping to get a reaction from afar.
Two.
The signal was starting to take its leave. As their face was full of sweat, Zion continues the signal which the eagleman yet again, threatens them once more.
"Oi, if you keep playing with me, I'll seriously kill you."
Zion's instincts was telling him to run away, but he persevered with a thought on his mind.
I can't do anything if I just run away. Turn this fear into excitement, and hope for the best!
One.
Zion clenches his fist as the go signal and they both jump out the bush. The eagleman startled at this, he quickly grabbed his gun, but it was too late as Zion grabs a handful amount of sand and threw it on his face to temporarily blind him.
"Go!!!!" Zion screams.
The eagleman, blinded, in a furious state, held his gun. He rapidly fired bullets with a hope of hitting someone.
To the eagleman's luck, one bullet managed to hit Zion in his left arm, which led Talia speechless.
"Zion!!" Talia screams with hopelessness in her eyes.
"Don't look back! Go to the cave!" Zion shouts at her while covering his wound.
After a few seconds, they managed to successfully traverse inside the cave. They explored the cave deeper, and as they ran throughout the narrow cave, Talia found a huge rock that was huge enough to hide behind.
"Zion, there's a rock! We can hide here!"
Rock..? That's it!
They both hid at the rock with Zion holding a ginormous sharp rock. Meanwhile, the eagleman regained his vision back, and rushed inside the cave with rage and anger.
The eagleman let his guard down for a brief second, and as he passed by the kids, Zion quickly throws the rock with all his might at the eagleman.
The eagleman instantly died, as his skull broke and ruptured. The corpse stood there with a horrid smell, which the two kids intstantly cover their mouths in disgust.
We... killed someone.. They both think in utter disbelief.
They stood there, thinking about how they just killed a person. Which their thoughts were interrupted by a shining turquoise light inside the cave's lingering darkness.
Zion and Talia, was mesmerized by the light, with the temptation and urge to explore the cave even deeper.
After a few minutes of nonstop walking, they found the source of the mysterious bright light.
It was a giant orb that was a size of a baseball, placed on top of a stone altar.
My instincts.. Are telling me to touch it. Zion thinks, while unconsciously raising his hand to grab on to the orb.
He touches the orb, which instantly glowed a brilliant light blinding them all. After this, the orb disappeared and the two kids felt something strange.
Zion touches his face, as he felt something different in his vision. He could see more clearly, he saw things that an ordinary eye couldn't see.
He could see fine dust particles, the cracks inside the stone, his individual fingerprints, and his mild calluses.
The same goes for Talia as well, which when they both looked at each other, they noticed a crucial difference between their faces.
What? My injuries are healed?
"Zion.. Why do you have the number 50 on your left eye?" Talia asks, surprised.
"Same with you Talia.. You also have the number 50, but in your right eye."
Huh? What does this mean? Zion thinks.
After a few moments, they regained their composure and walked back outside, they rushed to the opposite direction of the town, and started walking in the middle of nowhere.
20 minutes later...
"Huff.. Zion, when is this going to end?" Talia asks.
"Don't worry, we're almost there." Zion reassures Talia by saying this.
They see a large glowing blue portal, and as they look back at the town, sadness started to invade their mind.
"Do we really walk in the portal? I'm getting bad vibes..." Talia asks.
"Yes, we have nothing to lose." Zion replies, full of determination.
They walk inside the portal and mentally preparing themselves, and soon after, they close their eyes and hears a robotic voice echoing throughout their mind.
Reach the best of your strength and make this abyss tumble upon your arrival, crack time and space!
Huh..? What was that? A voice-
Zion and Talia slowly open their eyes with this thought, which was yet again interrupted. This time, by a view of a lively forest full of amphibians, insects, and more of the like.
"What is this?" They both ask.