Isle of the Damned

Reality

Groggily, I opened my eyes. My body felt heavy and limp and my stomach felt more painful than I can describe. my head felt dizzy and I could barely feel my feet or hands. The evil sods had tightly tied me to my horse and then connected her to the back of one of their horses.

I didn't know how long we'd been travelling but we were still in the forest meaning there was still a chance that my group would find me. I wasn't hopeful though. They'd probably just think that I'd gotten lost. 

As I became slightly more aware I realised that my clothes felt soaking. It must be the blood from where I was cut. I could still feel it pouring out. I hoped I wouldn't lose too much. I could suddenly feel a rush in my head due to the loss of blood. My eyes flickered as I tried to keep them open and suddenly my I was immersed into pure blackness once more. 

Over the next part of the journey, I fluttered in between consciousness and unconsciousness. The scenery we headed through was barren. We were definitely in Olenthien. Thankfully, they would be taking me straight to King Seth so as to get the reward themselves. They couldn't risk others taking me from them at the queens' castle so that they couldn't claim it. I knew if Queen Yara captured me then I'd suffer over quadruple the amount of pain. In a way, I'm grateful for the current situation. 

Black. Barren scenery. Black. Barren scenery. Black. Barren scenery.  it just kept cycling. As this continued I could feel myself getting weaker and just by self-analysing I could tell I was spending less and less time aware. Time seemed to be passing so slow even with the blackouts. 

I couldn't do anything to save myself, there was no point struggling against the restraints, they were way too tight. I could feel them crushing into my wrists and ankles, to the extent that I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up losing my hands and feet by the end of this. I didn't dare say anything for the fear of incurring their wrath. 

As I woke up from passing out, I heard the movement of loud hooved behind us. The men that kidn*pped me were now stopping. My head was spinning and I couldn't work out what was going on. Is it more guards? 

Suddenly the blackness hit as I felt myself drift closer to death. I guess they didn't realise that they should at least treat me enough so that I would make it to Seth's castle, therefore giving them more reward money. 

An uncertain amount of time passed but when opened my eyes again Tyson was standing in front of me. He was fighting one of the men. He was a skilled fighter and so he managed to catch the mans neck and then proceed to stab him in the stomach. This all felt so surreal. It had to be a dream or a hallucination. Nothingness took over me again. 

Movement caused me to wake up. I was staring into the eyes of James. How did he get here? This isn't possible. They'd never be able to track me this far out. 

"Arabella. Arabella, can you hear me?" he asked frantically. 

I furrowed my eyebrows. I could hear his voice but I couldn't respond. Confusion had taken over my brain. My eyes frantically tried to stay open so I could grasp the situation but attempts were futile. My eyes shut as my mind stayed blank, refusing to comprehend anything. 

My eyes jerked open again and there in front of me were my parents. Exactly, how I remembered them. We stood in our home by the window I love so much. 

"Hi sweetie," my mum's soothing voice travelled towards me. 

"We've missed you," my father said with a smile. 

"I've missed you too! I can't believe you're here. I have so much to tell you," I said gleefully as I ran towards them for a hug. 

"I bet you do, lemon drop," my father said as he wrapped his arms around me. Lemon drop was his nickname for me as a child. 

Feelings of warmth and security spread over me. It was so nice to be home. I never wanted to leave again. I wouldn't. 

"Sweetie, as much as we wish for you to stay you have to go back. There are still things to be done. Kamaria is still not safe," my mother said smiling sadly down at me. 

I pulled away from the hug, I didn't want to leave. Kamaria was obviously fine if my parents were here. 

"NO! I've just gotten back and shouldn't it be you doing negotiations? You're more experienced." I asked with confusion. What were they talking about? 

"Lemon drop, this isn't your reality. You need to go back. Your friends need you. Kamaria needs you. You can't stay here. Just know that we love you very much," my dad said as he leant forward and gave me a kiss on the forehead. 

Suddenly, everything turned purple and then blue and the land started spinning. Versions of myself could be seen standing in different positions within the area I could see and suddenly my eyes flew open and I was on the back of a horse again. Except for this time I wasn't tied up. 

"MUM! DAD! COME BACK" I yelled as loudly as I could with my hoarse voice. 

"Hey, hey. Arabella, it's okay. You're okay. We're going to find a doctor to heal you," James said as his horse pulled up beside the one I was on. 

"Where are they?" I whispered frantically. 

"Don't worry. You'll see them again one day," he said with a saddened smile. 

One day? What was he talking about? I just saw them. the darkness took over once again as my confusion reached its limits. I just wanted to feel their warm touch and hear their comforting voices again. They couldn't really be gone, could they?