23. Stuck
1048 Words
A strange light made me close my eyes for a moment. I open them only to see what looks like the sun. But it was red and hotter than I ever felt it before.
As soon as it made contact with my skin, blisters start to form. I run searching for some shadow with the sunlight on my tail but there were no trees, only rocks and sand.
I finally stopped coming to a dead end. A large boulder blocking my way. I knew there's no time for me to climb it or to go around it. So I just stayed there waiting for the sunlight to scorch me to death. Involuntary I thought about my family. I will die without even have the chance to say goodbye.
My skin starts burning and I scream due to unbearable pain. Just when I thought I can't take it any longer the ground under me collapse and I fall into darkness again.
I landed in ice-cold water that took all the air out of my lungs. I was now freezing and it feels like I'm breaking into pieces. My wings were numb and so was all my body. An ear-deafening scream left my mouth when I try to move, then my vision blurred. The last thing I saw was the red light coming through the small hole that brought me here. But it couldn't reach me. It was so far that it seems to be a star in a foreign sky.
......
Zariel pov
I can not stop thinking about what Invicta said. Is it indeed Samoa the bad guy? Did he trick so many generations? But if he did, how did he manage to do it alone?
"Zariel? What are you thinking about? I've been talking alone for the last five minutes."
I look to Calista and smile while shaking my head hoping that these thoughts will disappear.
"Nothing important," I said and kissed her forehead.
"Zariel, baby, I know you too well to believe that. But I won't insist on you telling me unless you want to. Now come, help me prepare the dinner table. Invicta should be back soon."
I nod my head and made my way to the kitchen to bring the food, but I decided to drink some cold water before. I swallowed greedily the ice-cold liquid and almost choke when the sound of broken glass filled the air.
"Calista! Are you ok?" I ask running towards the dining room. The floor was covered in small pieces of glass and Calista was on her knees crying. My heart aches at this view. I kneel next to her trying to find out what's going on. But before I could say anything, a voice made me get up in a blink of an eye.
"I'm so sorry, Calista! I've been trying to convince her to stay a bit longer but you know how stubborn she can be sometimes. She asked me to come here and tell you that will take her probably another few months before she returns."
"Samoa! What is going on here?" I ask worried as I knew there must be something pretty serious that made Calista cry.
"It's Invicta! She already left!"
"What? But why? Did she say anything?"
"Well, she said it will be harder for her to go if she's coming back home and you'll keep asking her to stay."
"I see..." I said knowing how true this is. She must feel so alone.
"Well, I will leave you to it. I need to go take care of our people. We might need to leave here sooner than I initially thought."
I nod my head before kneeling back next to Calista.
"Baby, come on! Let's get you up, you'll hurt yourself in this glass."
I offer her my hand for support and she took it without saying a word.
"I'll bring you some water, but please all down. I know you're hurt but think about her. Think about how hard must be for Invi! She was gone for so many months and now she needed to leave again. We need to respect her decision. Please baby!"
She looked at me and a small smile appear on her face.
"You know what? You are right. She did what she thought was the best. She is so brave, Zariel! I'm so proud of my little sister!"
"You should be, baby! You should be!"
We start cleaning the mess when the door burst open.
"Hello, kids! How are you?" The general asked not looking at us.
"We have a guest tonight. I'm sure you both know my right hand, Octava. She just wanted to say goodbye to Invi. Is she home yet?" He closed the door and turn to come to us, but bumped into Octava who was frozen in her place at the sight in front of her.
"Father..."
"What happened here? Calista are you ok? Zariel, what the hell happened?"
"Father... It's Invicta... She left."
His eyes flooded with tears showing how much pain he felt at that very moment.
"But why? Why did she leave like that?"
"It seems like it was too hard to say goodbye one more time to us. She must feel much worse than us. So lonely for so much time."
"I know...but... I just wanted to see her one more time."
"I know, father! Me too. But Samoa said..."
She was interrupted by Octava whose voice held anger and pain.
"Samoa? Was he here?"
"Mmm... Yeah. He was the one who told us she left. Why!"
"That bastard! I told her to watch her back! I was sure he is up to something!"
"Octava, what do you mean? Is there anything that I need to know?" Belatorx asks.
"Well... Nothing is for sure. But I think he is hiding things. There's something off."
"This is exactly what Invi said... We should have listened to her." Calista said sighing.
"Yeah... She told me too. But I'm sure she is fine. She is a smart and strong one!" Octava added.
I took a seat on the chair, running my hands over my face, then look at all the worried faces in the room.
"Of course she was right! We need to find out what Samoa is planning to do."
- Writer
