As night fell and the forest embraced us, a twisted nightmare haunted my attempts to find comfort. The absence of my left arm made every movement a struggle, and rolling over sent waves of agony through my burned body as it rubbed against the pelt. Eventually, defeated, I settled into a stone chair, tending to the fire, adding logs as needed.
"Mind if I sit?" Amelia's voice cut through the crackling flames as she conjured a stone chair beside me.
"Sure," I replied, my gaze fixed on the flickering dance of firelight. Amelia's presence always brought a sense of comfort to the tranquil night.
Breaking the silence, she delved into a deeper conversation, asking about my well-being. "How are you holding up? We haven't really had a chance to discuss everything that's been happening."
"I don't even know how I feel," I confessed. "It's all so surreal—powers, losing Owen and Ethan. It's happening too fast."
Amelia nodded, her eyes reflecting the flickering flames. "I get it. With everything happening, it's a wonder we're not all going crazy."
"Honestly, I'm scared," she admitted. "With Benjamin disabled, and Emily, even though getting a core helped, she seems so disconnected. I just don't know what to do."
We sat in contemplative silence, the fire crackling between us. Tossing another log into the flames, I shared my thoughts, "I'm not the best at dealing with this kind of thing. Death around me has almost become normal, considering my time in the army and uncertainty about whether my parents live or not. But, if nothing else, just try to be there for everyone and offer support."
Amelia chuckled. "You got that from Ella, didn't you?"
Caught off guard, I chuckled in return. "Dammit, you caught me. Yeah, I got it from Ella."
"Anyway, I think we should stay here for a bit. The density of this forest gives us a good defensive structure, "Amelia suggested.
"I think that's a good idea. Everyone needs rest and time to get their bearings straight," I agreed.
Amelia's voice broke the quiet night, curiosity evident in her words, "Anyway, what did you mean about you being uncertain about whether your parents are alive or not? If you don't mind sharing."
Sighing, I shifted my gaze to the unfamiliar constellations overhead. "I might as well tell you," I said. "I was 17 when my parents went missing. It started as a normal day; they went out shopping. As the hours passed, I didn't mind, enjoying the place to myself. But as night fell and they didn't respond to my texts, worry crept in. I thought maybe they were partying and lost track of time, but the next day, with still no sign of them and unable to reach them, I called the police. They found their car off the side of the road, but my parents were nowhere to be seen. The police investigation turned up nothing—no trace, no money withdrawn from their bank, just an unsettling void. Days turned into weeks, and I ended up in foster care. When I turned 18, I joined the army. And now, here I am," I explained, the weight of the memories heavy in my chest.
"That's horrible. I can't even comprehend the pain of it all," Amelia said, a genuine attempt to offer comfort.
"It's fine. Who knows, they might be on a beach somewhere, just enjoying life. But I just don't know. Maybe they're in a situation like us," I joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Amelia chuckled, "Well, that would be a plot twist if we find them here."
"Anyway Are you good to watch over for a bit?" yawning, she got up
"Yeah, I'm good. I can't sleep anyway, so go ahead and rest," I assured her as she disappeared into the enveloping darkness of the night.
In the morning, the enticing aroma of sizzling meat jolted me awake. "What's that smell?" I called out.
"It's bug meat!" Ella's enthusiastic response echoed back. "Ugh, bug meat. Well, I guess it's not the worst," I grumbled. Rubbing my eyes, I beheld the surprise that awaited me—a fire blazing in the middle of a round stone table, surrounded by stone skewers adorned with cooking meat. "Dang, Amelia, how long did this take to set up?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Not too long. I just thought it might be nice to have a decent breakfast," Amelia replied, pouring water into rock cups.
After an enjoyable breakfast, we decided to stay in that location for a couple of days to get our bearings straight. By the end of the first day, we erected stone walls, having discovered the area was infested with fire snakes, reluctantly named by me, as Ella had already given them a different moniker in her journal. With each passing day, we gradually became more comfortable with our surroundings.
"So, Benjamin, what are you sketching?" I inquired as he sat back, engrossed in his journal.
"It's a secret," he said with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, come on, tell me!" I complained, attempting to peek at his sketch.
"You'll know when I finish," he teased, shielding it from my prying eyes. "Trying to hide something, are we?" I playfully wiggled my eyebrows. His chuckle morphed into a coughing fit, which he covered with his hand. When he moved it away, I noticed blood. "Benjamin, are you—"
"Quiet!" He hissed, straightening up and looking at me intently. "The last thing we need is a panic over a bad sore throat," he said sternly, cutting off any rebuttal. "Enough of that. I'll get over it soon enough. Anyway, no need to delay us getting moving again," he added, giving me a pointed look. Leaving the subject behind, I begrudgingly packed up, leaving our campsite behind.
Navigating the dense forest, we treaded cautiously, mindful of the relentless flying snakes that had plagued us during the past days. Fending off their persistent attacks, I acquired a few new burns, but with Emily's assistance, the pain was manageable. Surprisingly, the burns were healing rapidly, bringing a sense of relief.
For two more days, our journey through the forest continued, the snakes growing fiercer as we delved deeper into the densely packed woodland. Progress became increasingly arduous, with trees tightly interwoven, forcing us to resort to chopping to make headway. The thought of turning back crossed my mind, but the prospect of losing our hard-earned progress held us in place.
In the midst of our trials, a more pressing danger loomed—Benjamin's relentless fever. Each passing day seemed to worsen his condition, his breaths growing labored, his energy fading. The hope that the fever would relent transformed into a grim reality as Benjamin's strength dwindled, rendering him unable to contribute. Panic simmered beneath the surface, bubbling up in tense moments.
"It's getting worse, Benjamin," I whispered, my voice heavy with worry. "We need to do something."
Benjamin's eyes reflected resignation mingled with determination. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't want you all to suffer because of me. Let's set up camp here," he suggested weakly.
Amelia's frustration erupted like a storm, her usually calm demeanor shattered by fear. "No, we can't afford to stop now! We have to keep moving," she insisted, her voice tinged with desperation.
"We can't keep going like this," I interjected, feeling the weight of Benjamin's deteriorating condition pressing down on us. "We need to find a way to help him."
Benjamin's response was unexpected, a calm acceptance that sent a shiver down my spine. "We all meet our end someday. Maybe it's my time," he said softly.
Amelia's eyes filled with tears, her resolve crumbling. "I can't just stand by and watch," she choked out, her hands clenching into fists.
But Benjamin's tone was firm, a rare display of assertiveness that silenced us all. "We're stopping here. We need to rest and figure out our next move. It's not a debate," he declared, his voice carrying a weight we couldn't argue with.
In the quiet aftermath of his words, a somber realization settled over us, the urgency of our situation hanging heavy in the air…
While setting up camp, Emily and Ella tended to Benjamin while the mood lingered somber, disturbed only by his frequent coughing. As the hours passed, Amelia, grappling with her own thoughts, ventured into the forest alone, returning exhausted after attempting to create a path. My mind swirled with thoughts as I observed Benjamin's deteriorating condition, knowing that there was little we could do. As night descended, sleep eluded me, burdened by the weight of Benjamin's fragile health.
In the hazy morning, fatigue clouding my senses, I was abruptly stirred by Ella's piercing scream. Rushing to the source, I found her in a desperate attempt to revive Benjamin. My steps faltered as I beheld his lifeless figure, an eerie pallor casting a haunting stillness over him. Despite the urgency, I was gently nudged aside as Amelia joined the frantic efforts. Deep down, I knew, though unspoken, that we were too late—Benjamin had slipped away into the cold embrace of death hours ago.
The air turned heavy with the weight of sorrow, and time seemed to lose its steady rhythm as the reality of Benjamin's demise sunk in. Amelia, with the stern composure that often belied her emotions, gradually pulled away, her hands stained with the futile struggle to revive our fallen comrade. Ella, tears streaming down her face, retreated into a numbing silence, her hands trembling as she clutched onto the faint hope that perhaps it was all a cruel nightmare.
Henry stood rigid, his eyes fixed on Benjamin's lifeless form. Unspoken words lingered in the air, as if the world itself mourned the loss of a vibrant soul. My own breaths felt shallow.
Emily, crumpled under the weight of grief. Her shoulders shook with sobs, her cries echoing through the desolate landscape. In the midst of this profound loss, I struggled to find words that could provide even a shred of comfort.
As the shock began to loosen its grip, I gathered the strength to address my shattered companions. "We... we need to... we need to give him a proper farewell," I stammered, my voice strained by the sorrow that clung to the air.
“I'm not burying him in this fuckign place!” Amelia hissed, forming a stone coffin around him.
Deciding not to argue i just watched in silence over the scene
“I need to get out of this place “Amelia mumbled as she walked down the path she made the prior day with the coffin floating behind her.
We all were silent as the sounds of explosions rattled the earth as Amelia carved a path forward.
”We should do something," Henry said.
“Don't stop her, let her vent her frustration. We have enough to handle here,” I said looking over everyone with Emily muttering nonsense as she huddled against a tree.
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