CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Thirteen

AADYA

Fear became a tangible, living force that crept over me like some hungry beast, immobilizing me, my brain, holding me captive. A cold wave embalmed me as my hair rose on the back of my neck and my mouth ran dry. I wanted to run for safeness, but my feet would not allow me to do so. It wasn't until the man began moving toward me that my mind and entire body unfrozen from their shocking state and I jerked, shifting backward.

A few more rearward steps before he surged forward, coming straight at me, and I quickly made for a run, though I wasn't able to make it out of the place before he roughly pushed me to the ground. I tried to crawl out of his grip but the man holding me captive was more of a beast than a male, he took control of my entire being, almost choking me to death with his large hands squeezing my throat and my life flashed before my eyes. I could feel my lungs fighting for the tiny flow of air and I could feel the color slowly draining from my face, but to my greatest surprise, I was somehow able to keep breathing.

Abruptly the huge fella was attacked on the head by the young chap causing the male to forcibly shove the spooked boy away. The boy returned with a wood and immediately slammed it directly on the fellow's head, the impact caused him to release his grip on me and went for the boy, pinning him to the ground. Realizing myself I quickly reached and wrapped my right arm around his neck, supporting it with my other arm as I tightened my hold, pulling him off the young chap. He was tall, hefty, and vigorous but that wasn't going to thwart my strength, I wasn't going to let him capture any of us.

The boy staggered up once I had pulled the fella off him, panting heavily as if he had just witnessed death himself. My grip on the hefty fella tightened as he struggled to get free, my back merging with the earth while trapping him from behind. No matter the struggles he pulled I was determined never to let go until he'd collapsed. I was beginning to think he was immortal before his struggles gradually starts to slump.

Immediately, I shuffled away from his torpid frame. "Hey! Are you okay?" I choked out, patting the boy's shoulder as he came off horrified.

"Uhm? I-yeah... Yeah, I'm fine" He faltered, but his eyes soon grew wild as he looked over my shoulder and I instantly turned, catching sight of a fella who had the same livery as the hefty one. His eyes went from us to the other on the ground and right away, my body rebelled as my hands were out in defense while I took two small steps backward. I was exhausted but I needed to survive this. My heart ceased as I detect him reaching for his whistleblower. In my terrified mind, every breath of wind was as loud as a blood-curdling-scream and unexpectedly he became swamped in burning flames.

I would have denied being the reason if it wasn't for the flame manifesting in my both palms. I watched the anguish in his eyes, they were appealing to me as they stared back at me. He was suffering bitterly, one which I caused, a great tremor overtook me, my lips trembled as I mumbled "Sorry" to the burning male, and my eyes immediately welled up with tears threatening to fall. His cries filled my ears and a single tear squeezed out of my wild eyes and soon I felt cold tears start to stream down my face, the guilt of not being able to eradicate the blaze I had induced. My body wracked with an onslaught of sobs and tears and I instantly turned and dragged the younger by the arm and hurried out of the place.

****

ALISDAIR

"Ali!" Bellamy yelled, but then I was already lost as the pulse beating in my ears tackled, blocking out all other sounds. A cold wave embalmed me as the sound of her heart kept pounding furiously and I could no longer control mine as it pounded oddly in the same rhythm as hers. I could feel Bellamy's hands on me but could not hear whatever he was saying for my mind was clouded with fear, fear that she may not make it this time.

I clawed my fingers at my throat uselessly, trying to eradicate the abrupt pain there. Small ragged gasps were escaping my throat as the force tightened, my lungs started to ache and my eyes were bulging. I wasn't sure how to dominate the ache, I was sure this wasn't directly happening to me, Aadya was in pain, and I could feel every strength of the grip around her throat, it was that of a man, someone who was determined to kill her at any cost. All I could do at the beat was use my resilience to outweigh the clasp around my throat and hope that somehow she feels the relief.

It started to get better and soon the grip was totally withdrawn leaving me to pant for air. "Hey, hey, hey. Ali!" I hear Bellamy calling for my attention. "Alisdair!" I turned to look at him and that was when I realized how far I had moved from where we had sat. He pats my shoulder lightly "Was it a vision?" He asked and I just shook my head trying to focus on her heartbeat. It was still pounding fast and loud but slightly less than earlier, it took some time before it gradually slowed and I let out a breath I wasn't sure how long I had held it.

"Alisdair. You're acting strange. I beg you, tell me what's going on. I need to know what's happening to you"

I took a deep relaxed breath. "She was attacked. Almost strangled to death" I told him and ran my fingers through my salty black hair, pushing the desperation backward but I soon ceased as my heart abruptly began to hammer against my chest just as hers initiated it. I wasn't sure what was causing the sudden change of scenario though I could feel her grit in my blood. None of the emotions I was going through could be controlled by me, I only felt whatever she felt and could sense what was happening around her. The energy I felt pulling from her made me believe she was exploiting her power.

I first noticed Bellamy's strange gaze at me before I felt the wet hot tears fill up my eyes and the hot torrents of grief I never understood coursed down my face. My fingers moved to my face ripping off some portion, I stared confusingly at the salty fluid on my fingers, I was indeed tearing up, how my body responded to whatever force this was was quite unclear to me. I was feeling sad but not knowing the cause. I just gazed openly at my fingers as I wiped out more tears.

****

AADYA

We didn't stop running, only hiding behind some walls when sense some troops coming our way until we were close enough to sight the entrance of the kingdom. My heart was filled with regret but though one thing must be achieved tonight. "Hey" I nudged him as we stay hidden in a corner. "Thanks for what you did back there. Seems you're a hero after all" I told him wearing a gentle smile.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" He chuckled.

"No. I knew it from the moment I met you" I told him, I'm thankful he pulled through this chaos. "What are you called?"

"Reve," He told me.

"Thank You, Reve," I said sincerely. I know I wouldn't have made it this far without him, and for that, I owe him my sincere gratitude and more. He smiled and just nodded before the loud sound of a whistle abruptly encircled the surroundings and a few troops began to surge in the direction of the sound, which meant one thing. They had probably found the fella I had consumed with flame. The remaining two guards at the entrance pulled the gate close preventing a carriage from exiting the kingdom. It wasn't a good sign but I was determined to leave this town before sunrise.

I watched as a man stepped out of the carriage and walked to the two guards. "Who's he?" I whispered to Reve.

"The man is Ronan. A slave master. He must be traveling with some slaves in his carriage" He whispered back. I watched as he handed something to the guards and one moved to open the gate. "I think this is the only chance I would get at leaving this town alive. I know I can make it past there if I go now"

I watched as his eyes went wild "You are heading to the jaws of death to judge if you are correct. I cannot comprehend that"

"I doubt you would" I replied rising "You know young hero this is not the end. It is the beginning. Will shall meet again and then I can properly thank you" I whispered and sneaked out of the corner heading for the carriage before he could utter a word. The man was about to get into his carriage when Reve appeared from nowhere.

"Sir Ronan" He called bringing the man's attention to him. "Would you mind if I come work at your yard by the weekend?" He asked.

Carefully l dropped to the ground by the carriage and crawled underneath it. "I won't be needing anyone for now" I hear Ronan say and felt as he climbs the carriage.

"Oh, okay" The young chap let out and I found myself smiling. He knew I won't be able to do whatever I had planned to if the carriage had taken off sooner.

"Go home, boy," The man told him as he settled down. "I will send for you when I need someone" I grip on the carriage brzzing for support as I lifted myself from the ground and the horse proceeds, strolling out of the kingdom. I took deep, relaxed breathing as the gate was finally closed behind us, I had only succeeded in escaping the town by a miracle, one brought upon me by the young hero.