Chapter 5

*trigger warning*

Isolation and traumatic experiences

All protagonist perspectives

All was normal for the villagers of Fitagataner, a summers day that blistered with heat. The villagers had not known that just this day they would receive seven guests. They would stumble past the village not even recognising its presence as they pass. Like magnets, they would draw closer together from each face of Fitagataner driven by the need to drink the fresh waters from the never-ending stream of an abandoned town. The town they find though dead and dreary leaves them with time and safety.

It is exactly noon when the seven newcomers arrive all by salty sea. Ade arrives first the clock before noon landing in hot sand. Fenya next diving into wet caves not begging for breath like any old person should. Lillina arrives on the port of the main town but villagers do not bother helping the begging children. Allie arrives soon darkness clouding the shadows who used to warn her. When Ivan arrives, he tackles and claws at the cliffs climbing them slowly. Ryley begs for the burns of their fire to melt the cave walls that surround them chills crawling up their spine. And finally, Edan takes heed at the head of the island were the mangroves are the thickest and trees loom tall their slippery branches blooming with life.

Ade coughed as the salt water and sand left his broken lungs. And as his red eyes scanned the area. He was alone and it bothered him. There is no way for him to judge a situation without another person there. He felt as if his lungs had been screaming for air for hours in the chilling oceans. But how could the sea possibly be so cold when it felt like the heat of the sand would be enough to burn him. As Ade stands his vision staggers and his feet stumble.

Across from Ade stands Fenya her body blue from the strain she forces on her lungs. She drags her body from the water and paces the mouldy cave aimlessly. She wanted her frozen tears to fall but what would the point of that be. It was clear that she was far away from her mother so there was no point of attempting to kill herself again. It was clear that whatever was in control would not let her die. What was the point of any of it anymore? Without a care Fenya walks out of the cave and walks. What was the point of caring?

Lillina cries at the port her small body shaking violently. A large hand shakes her shoulder violently. Degrading eyes shine over her in the heated night and the mans smile leaves her feeling sick. She would follow the man she knew she would, she was alone and cold. And as she passes villagers, she looks closely at the people who look much different to her brother. These people looked exactly like all the people in her dreams. The people's eyes followed the captivating child as she walked behind a fairer and still as he places her in his trailer. If anyone was worried of the small girl being whisked away in the trailer of a horse buggy, they did not do anything to help her.

The people of Daganheimr believed perhaps too much in legend too much to stop the child from being taken by the wrong man or about the banished boy who arrives in the marshes. He groans as he drags his body through the slime his black wings dragging behind him like a cape. When Edan finally stands on his feet he attempts to fly but the branches of the trees obstruct his path and he falls back to the mud. Grabbing the thick parts of his white hair he throws his head back in frustration. With another grumble he pulls himself to his feet, the trees had no branches to climb and their foliage is to thick to fly through, so he walks. Edan walks with struggle towards the town he knew would be waiting for him.

Ivan crumbles the mountains under his paws as he drags himself upon the rocks. Growing in anger he throws is head back and howls in the wind. It was enough to had died the amount of times he had he thought but now he was in a completely different place and he was sick of it. With fury rivalling the blood in his veins Ivan tracked the mountains that shadowed the seas. His paws dug into the land with each step marking his trail. As he walked, he allowed instinct to lead him to where he had no clue.

At the base of the town angered cry's crumble the rocky caves. The icy walls of closed in underground dripped as they warmed. Rylee's scar burned on their back their body engulfed in crackling flames. The agony was no worse than the distinct feeling of defeat. So close to freedom they had been so close. What was the point of wallowing longer now they had gotten to far? With raw hands of flame, they clawed at the walls and floor of ice and stone. She would free themself from this cage.

Allie pulls herself from muddy waters, it feels like the shadows wish to pull her farther I not the water drowns her. Whispering lips reach her ears and grewsome shapes slithered towards her. No. now they shout they scream orders and warnings into her ears. They drown her out as she screams. They trip her and stop in her path when she tries to ru. She had thought that her ex's shadow was cruel but these vile creatures they had malice In their tone and vengeance in their words. She wondered as she ran in fear of her life who or what had maddened the shadows so.