RYLIE
When we got back to my treehouse, it was fully dark.
Firefly lanterns hung from some branches on the porch, casting the entrance in an enchanting glow. Insects buzzed around, rays from the lantern calling out to them. In a different lifetime, under different circumstances, I would be interested in this place; it was a marvel and deep within me, regardless of my need to escape and go back to my family, I couldn't deny that this place called to me, offering something I thought I would never have — peace. But times were different and so was I.
Shaking my head to rid it of unnecessary thoughts, I continued my accent to the building.
"I'll get you some of my clothes, but they won't fit; you're a tiny human," She muttered, looking the length of me. "It will do, though, until you can get yours." She turned her attention back to the door, pulling it open.
"Ok, thanks; I won't be staying for long, though." I followed her into the house, she pushed a switch and a white light came on. "There's electricity?" My eyebrows kissed my hairline in amazement.
"We generate our own; we're tree people, not savages." The strained pitch of her voice did nothing to hide her annoyance. "And you probably will stay for way longer than you think."
"You guys live in trees." I gestured around the room. "Pardon me for thinking you'd not have access to a lot of things."
"And you lived on solid ground, Rylie, but I bet you'll have access to a lot more things here." She smirked.
"I won't be staying, so we won't find out," I uttered flatly.
"We'll see about that." She smiled a big smile, her eyes twinkling in the light. I could feel my lips stretch into a mirroring smile as well. I was starting to like her.
"I guess there's no need for that anymore." She pointed to the shackle.
"There was no need for it in the first place." My smile disappeared, replaced by a hard frown.
"I don't make the rules around here." She shrugged, the thought was not comforting in the least. Bending, she pushed the heavy metal underneath the bed, heading for the door. "See you in the morning, it'll be a big day. Goodnight Rylie." And with that, she left.
"Goodnight, Rayah," I murmured into the quiet room.
I was no longer bound; I should have left right now and found my way back home, but instead, I sat on the fluffy mattress; the sheets were cool to the touch, and I smoothed out with both palms.
My thoughts ran wild and free in my head now that I was alone once again; was my family ok? Was Dad really a god? I giggled at that and it echoed in the empty room. It sounded totally unreal to me, I was the child of a god? It was stupid, and they were wrong, but still, I put my hands in front of me, staring at them over and over again. What were the odds? And If it were true, what were the possibilities, and what also were the dangers?
I let myself fall back onto the mattress and the thoughts collided in my head. Soon, my eyes were closing in sleep. I let the calming waves take me under, thoughts of escape floating far away from me. Tomorrow, I would try to escape, I said to myself as I gave in to the pull, admitting to the peace that was there, and I was dead to the world.
Morning brought Rayah with a handful of clothes to my doorstep, and though I had had a restful night, I wanted to enjoy the comfort of the bed some more, but she did not allow it. Moments later, I was dressed and following behind her again.
There was a lot of hustling and bustling this morning; the gentle hum of people starting their day filled the air, accompanied by bird songs and the chirping of nature. The aromas of different cooking foods reached my nose on the morning breeze as well. It was a calming sight and several people called out greetings to Rayah as we crossed bridge after bridge to get to our destination. Everyone knew everyone here it seemed, and I could do nothing to avoid the numerous curious glances that were thrown my way.
"I do not like your clothes," I complained bitterly, willing the sleeves of the shirt to somehow grow shorter instead of extending past my wrists. The shorts were too long to be called shorts and too short to be anything else. They went below my knees, the baggy material too big for my small body. I felt ridiculous and on display.
"You could go without them." She replied, unconcerned and I speared her with my eyes, not that she could see as she was walking ahead of me.
I fiddled with the sleeves, trying to fold the excess. We were headed to my first training, so she had said. This was not my reality yet, but I decided to play along until I could figure out how to leave; my hopes of being found had diminished greatly. Moments later, we got to a hall similar to the one from the night before; this one was smaller, though.
The wooded inside revealed several people training with different weapons, the likes of which I had never before seen. Some were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, and a small separate area showed some children learning the art of fighting, too. I was impressed, everyone seemed engrossed in their business, none noticing my arrival.
She led me through a door to a different room; it was smaller, with fewer people, lockers lined the wall on one side of the room, and the center of the room boasted a sparring ring. Two men were going at it in the ring, they huffed and puffed, circling each other and punches flying through the air.
The base of the ring was wooden and topped with something soft, and the four posts were held to each other using twine. I studied the structure amazed by it like I was by every other thing I had encountered here.
She led me to them, and they stopped when she neared.
"Rylie, meet Silas. He'll be your trainer." She gestured to one of the men, Silas's blue eyes met mine and I sizzled on the inside. He was a hulk of a man, dressed in dark shorts and nothing else. His perfectly sculpted body was on display and I mentally had to force my eyes from roaming the exposed skin. He was beautiful; his face was a canvas of perfection from his sharp cheekbones to his sharp jawline, his strong nose to his lips. I stared at his facial features, unable to control my eyes.
His slightly long black hair fell into his eyes, giving him a rugged edge, and he looked young, too, probably not much older than me. His sweaty form stared back at me from above while he panted, trying to catch his breath.
Something about his perusing glance, about all of him, made me feel. It was a new thing for me. I had never been interested in boys before, but there was something about this one, and I felt self-conscious about my awful outfit. Internally, I cursed Rayah and her huge clothes.
He stared down at us still while the other man left the ring. "Rylie, it's a pleasure." He spoke; his timbre voice was smooth, too!
"Hi," I managed, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. Focus, girl! I screamed to myself, this had not started and I already felt stupid.
"I'll just get going." Rayah casually added.
Failing to hide my dismay, I swung around to face her, "you're going to leave?" I didn't want to be left alone with Silas, even though there were other people in the training room with us.
"I have my own stuff to do, munchkin, don't get attached," she smirked, walking backward.
"You are a pain." I didn't find her funny. "And I just can't get back on my own, I don't know my way around yet."
"Silas will get you back." Soon, she was out the door.
I stared at the closed door, unwilling to face Silas who I knew was still staring at me.
"Yes, I will, Rylie. You need not worry, and I do not bite." He chuckled softly.
I felt that blush rise faster to the surface. Forcibly, I made myself turn to face him. "I never said you did." I forced out, trying to maintain the normal pitch of my voice.
"You act like I will, munchkin." He murmured, his voice so low, I could barely hear.
My eyes narrowed in their sockets; that name better not stick, or I would kill Rayah. He moved to the edge of the structure, offering me a hand, and I took his offered hand, climbing into the ring with him. I was barely as tall as his shoulder, and I put some distance between us immediately I climbed in.
And so it begins, I whispered to myself under my breath.