The great revenge of an untouched princess

Dayton

Dayton ignores Ava and runs towards the opening side on the beach by the time he reaches the shore the water rises again closing the island off.

He falls on his knees and beats the sand over and over again crying.

Ava runs  towards  him. She stands  in a distance, she bends down to see his face  and asks "Are you ok?" She waits for Dayton to respond.

Coty prances her way though the sand and reaches Ava. Leaning on Ava's feet she stares at the boy and then at Ava.

She signals to ask,' What happened?'

Ava shakes her head. "I don't know." She whispers. They wait for a while for him to respond. Dayton just gets up and leaves without speaking a word. Dark clouds surround the island at once.

“Oops, it might rain Coty.” Said Ava picking her up in her arms and runs towards the other Nanus.

All the Nanus were busy building their homes sing and dance. Ava walks past them to the forest area to check if she can manage to find some food. The dry trees start changing shape. Leaves start to appear. Green leaves and pink flowers appear in the trees in the front.

A few rows behind many different kind of trees started blossoming. The trees looked much healthier. The island was filled with grass at least the side that the Nanus had occupied. 

The yellow sand was completely covered in vegetation. Pink, yellow flowers made it look like heaven. The fragrance was so strong Nanus covered their heads. The strong fragrance hurt their head. 

As Ava tends to Coty. A strong wind blows. She rubs her arms. Smoke comes out of her mouth. Shocked she touches her stomach and throat. Panicking she looks around. "What's happening ?"

She looks up. Dark gray clouds cast the now sunless sky. The weather was very  gloomy. All the flowers were pulled back into the ground. The trees started shed leaves fast .

The ground was now covered with leaves and fruits falling from the tress rapidly. Ava looks ahead panicking she carries Coty and walks away from the forest. 

Everything looked grey and sad. Nanus look up with their hand spread-out  towards the sky.

She furrows her eyebrows and looks closely. Something is falling from the sky. 'White sand.' she whispers.

Noticing this she runs towards Nanus screaming, "Take cover, Take cover. It will explode."

They look at her confused. Without moving an inch,  trying hard to not laugh they ask "What will explode?"

"Uhh, I don't know what it is called but when this happened before. I saw white feathers like this fell from the sky and boom. There was an explosion. The sky was filled with black smoke. It was bad." She warns them.

"No, No. This is not the same thing. Ava." Toty laughs. All the other Nanus laugh. "This is snow." All the Nanus open their hair from the bun. It covers their body from the cold.

She explains the difference to Ava. " Its harmless. Don't worry." She opens Ava's hand and a snow flake falls on her palm.

"Look at it. Its very beautiful." Toty leaves smiling.

Ava looks around, "Wow. That's beautiful." She giggles.

Coty nudges Ava, "He is back, He is back." She whispers.

Dayton walks up to her. "Do you have warm clothes?"

She looks at him with a blank look. She had never experienced such a weather. Not knowing what to expect she nods.

"Come on. I have some in my place." He walks ahead towards small house, built of red stone. A small  chimney from the back of the house let out  smoke.

The house was covered with the most hideous looking  fence she had ever seen.. "What is all this for? What are you protecting yourself for?" She asked curiously.

He looks at the fence and smiles, "I thought I needed it. When I was new here. Its fine now. Don't worry. Come on in." He gestures for her to come in.

Ava turns and whistles loudly and waves at Coty. She comes running. "Hey, do you want to stay with me here till I get out. I don't want to be alone."

Coty was thrilled .

They walk into the house .Entering the house Ava was bathed in a golden light. The house gleamed with the silence. The fireplace  glowed with radiant gold flame. The house was warm and cozy.

The rooms were small but clean. For a boy he had kept everything clean and organized.  The walls were white. There was a  bed by the end of the room and a thin green shag carpet surrounding the bed. 

The rooms were separated by a shelf . Something like Blankets were kept in the shelf. Her eyes were greeted by family portraits in the living room and  well-loved furniture of years were arranged near the fireplace. Frozen by a hundred winters, baked by a hundred summers the portraits smelled of dust and age.  

The kitchen was well organized. The kitchen was separated by a curtain made of shells. "How did you color the shells? Its beautiful, I have not seen anything  like this." She exclaimed.

"Please don't touch anything." he snarls.

Coty bends and touches a painting. Ava looks at her and smiles. By mistake they drop a painting.

"I told you not to touch anything." He yells.

"Sorry." Ava apologizes.

"Do you live alone? This place looks very nice. I have not seem such things before." She looks around mesmerized.

"You will stay here today. Once the weather is fine. You will have to leave." without looking at Ava, he hand over some blankets and walks up to the attic with the help of a robe ladder.

Ava and Coty are left alone to spend the night.

They look around as the  fire burns. They cozy up on the bed looking at the fire they fall asleep.

Dayton shivers and wakes up in the middle of the night. He jumps down to check on the guests.

He looks at Ava.  He leans in to check on her. Her lips start to turn blue. He panics. He  gazed open-mouthed. They were blue, but glowing. A shine on the lips made him curious.

Still Confused he jumps across the room and builds up the fire and heats up some water. 'Maybe she is feeling cold.' He wakes Ava and  offers her hot water.

Her lips still look blue. "Are you feeling cold? Do you want me to hug you?" He come close to hug her.

Ava pushes him. "Don't you dare try something funny here." She growls.

"Hey, I am not trying anything here. Its your lips. They are blue. I thought the cold set...."

She pushes Dayton out of the way and runs up to the window to see her reflection. "Yes they are blue. What did you do? what did you make me drink?" She screams.

"Calm down. I was trying to help you. All I have been doing is help you since you have been here." He said angrily.

" Why are you being so mean?" he asks brusquely

 "If you have a problem. You can leave." he sneers, pointing at the door.Ava opens the door to leave but the cold breeze pierces through her bones. She closes the door immediately. Turns to Dayton, Who stands crossing his hand over his chest breathing heavily.

"Sorry." She says looking down and goes back to the bed and sits on the edge.

"I am sorry. Yes, you have been helping me since we came here and I have been acting like a fool." She apologizes.

"My name is Ava by the way." She smiles.

"Dayton." he replies. 

"I mean it. Once the storm is out, YOU leave." He again vanishes into the attic.

Ava goes back to sleep feeling horrible about how she treated Dayton. 

They wake up, the next morning. The sun beams through the window. Birds chirping. Breakfast was ready on the small table in the kitchen. 

An omelet and hot water. Ava and Coty jump out of the bed and eat the breakfast. "Wow, that was amazing. This Dayton guy can teach us something, huh?" She laughs.

Dayton walks in with a few leaves in his hand. "No" He cries out, his eyes widen.

"Don't tell me you ate my food." Furious he throws the leaves on the floor.

"What are you people. You just come into someone's home and eat what ever you want?" He was fuming with anger.

"I am sorry. We thought this was for us." They stand next to the table with food still in their mouth. She swallows the food and walk out of the house silently.

The island had completely changed again. The trees looked dry and rusty. Upon the forest floor lay yellow leaves. The season was harsh, stripping away the bark and outer layers. The air was dry. It was almost barren in some places.

It was noticeable that the forest changed a lot.

Looking away from the forest, the view was completely opposite. Nanus had made a brand new city. It was filled with individual colonies. Steams passing through each colony over bridges.

Each house was unique. Each Nanus got an opportunity to build their houses according to their personality. It was a beautiful site. Each house had a gate with Ava's name engraved on it, as a tribute.

All the Nanus were in their homes, sleeping. They had been working continuously  from the time they reached the island.

Dayton jogs on the beach. Ava looks on. She look at Coty, "Want to explore the island?" She said raising her eyebrows.

"I am tired Ava, can we go some other time?" She requested.

"It's ok. Do you want to go to Toty's house?"

"Yes please."

Ava leaves Coty in Toty's house and goes alone to explore the island.

She walks on a trail that was already made. Maybe Dayton had made the track. She felt safe knowing that somebody had been here.

She walks through tress that bend towards her when she walks on the path.

At a distance she sees a flower. Bright red, The petals edges were transparent that were floating in the air. Ava walks towards the flower not realizing that she was walking on sticky mud. Though it was difficult to pull her foot out, she put in full effort.

Abruptly she hears a sharp roar and turns around. She was only able to move her upper body as her legs were stuck in the mud.

She looked shocked for a moment, and then her brow drew together into a  frown. All she saw was a pair of yellow eyes. Big Eyes. What shocked her was that she could just see the eyes. They were at the level of the trees. What could be as big as the trees.

She shrieks and faints.

She wakes up in Dayton's bed.

 'Was it a bad dream?' Rubbing her eyes she bearishly look's at her legs. They were clean.

Dayton gets her some fruits. "Eat up. You have not eaten anything for a while." Leaving the fruits on the bed he leaves.

Ava runs behind him. "Where was I?" She asks with a puzzled look.

"Look, This is a very strange place. I would suggest you don't go around unannounced."

"Unannounced? Whom should I announce it to?" She asks with a genuine concern on her face.

"Why do you have to talk so much? Its irritating."

Ava's lower lip shivers and tears roll down her red cheeks. She covers her eyes and sits on the steps next to the door.

Dayton looks back at Ava feeling ashamed he comes back. Sits next to her. He confesses, "I am sorry. I was angry at you. When you came here I was hoping to leave the island but the portal got closed. I some how blamed you for that. I am sorry. I am not that bad. I.. I am an ass. Don't cry because of me." He stammers.

Ava looks at Dayton wiping her tears. "Its ok."

Dayton asks her, "I am worried about your lips. Where they always blue?" he enquires with concern.

"No" She replies touching her lips.

"It doesn't hurt, though." She continues shrugging her shoulders.

"Look, I am not sure if I dreamed it or was it real. I saw something in the forest. Do you know something about it." she asks curiously.

"Nope. I don't know what you mean." His tone changes again. 

Coty comes running towards Ava, "Drak asked me to fetch you." She says panting.

"What for?" Asks Ava.

"Don't know." Ava carries Coty and walks towards Drak

"Hi Ava, We are building a plank for you. 

"A plank?" asked Ava curiously.

"Yes, a plank. The plank will be thrown on the water. It will split the water for you to walk on it and walk out of the island." He gushed.

"Thanks Drak. You are a life saver. Literally." She babbled.

Nanus murmur because it was collectively their idea and Drak took the credit.

After Drak leaves. Ava smiles at the Nanus with a thumbs up, "Thanks guys."

They clap and start working on making the Gold Plank.

They had to make it extremely heavy and thick. So that it can withstand the extreme pressure of the water.

They all had seen how the stone man was disintegrated into stones when he came in contact with the water curtain.

Ava leaves the Nanus to work and takes Coty with her to Dayton's house.

When they knock on the door a flash of yellow light shines bright from the crack of the door. 

Dayton stood behind them, "I am here. Did you guys need something?" he asks politely for a change.

"No" Shaking her head.

 "Yes! I have good new" She shouts in excitement.

She explains how the Nanus can help them to leave the island.

Dayton's eyes widen. He covers his mouth. "Really?" He hugs Ava and laughs uncontrollably for a while and then jumps enthusiastically.

 Ava and Coty just look at him smiling, probably thinking that he has gone mad.

That night Dayton serves an amazing dinner. The three rejoice and retire for the day.

Ava has an uneasy night. She sees the yellow light again but this time from under the fireplace. 'Perhaps its the fire.' she thinks. 

She turns to the other side. She hears a voice, 'Don't do it Ava. Its not the way. Find the right path.' The light flashes and she wakes up in cold sweats but goes back to sleep.

The next day they pack up some food. She picks up her sack. Looking at it she sighs. 

They both walk up to the shore. Coty kisses her on the forehead and runs back to Toty.

Ava waves at everyone. They get ready to push the plank. First the Nanus push the plank.. It doesn't move at all. Then Ava and Dayton also try to slide the plank. It doesn't budge at all.

Drak says, " Its ok. We can make longer plank."

Dayton interrupts him, "No, These incest's don't stand a chance near the water."

Ava screams, "Dayton. How dare you?" She pushes him and walks to Drak. "Sorry." She apologizes to him.

"Its fine Ava. You helped us. we helped you as much as we could. We are even, Yes?" he asks assertively.

She nods. Drak gestures all the Nanus to leave. They walk into their homes. Coty included.

Ava looks at Dayton, Tears in her eyes but she doesn't blink as she didn't want him to see her cry. 

She walks off.

Dayton stands looking at the plank. Wiping his eyes he looks away.

Ava stands by the shore throwing stones at the water curtain. It breaks into pieces but falls on the other side.

Her face glows. The sun light falls on her through the water making her look extremely beautiful.

Dayton walks up to her. she continues throwing rocks, now even more aggressively.

"I was left in the island when I was very young. He said.

"Soon after my father died. I was not told why I was here. I didn't know if this was a test, If I was supposed to live here for ever." He recounted.

"Can you imagine I was all alone. I was lost, scared and depressed. I didn't even get an opportunity to see my dad for the last time." He continues crying.

Ava looks at Dayton. She gives him a hug. "I am sorry. Shh... I am sorry." She consoles him.

"I have to get out of here Ava, I want out." cries in her arms.

"What can we do Day, The water is very powerful. You saw it. It is very difficult to push. The Nanus will not come out now. They are small but they are not going to help us if you call them incest's ." She said.

The sit at the shore for a long time. Dayton asks Ava to go home. He stays near the shore looking at the sunset.

At night they hear a big crash and a continuous ringing sound.

Every one run outside. Broken gold piece fall from the sky. Ava looks closely, Its the plank. Its broken and the gold pieces are falling from the force of the water.

It looked beautiful.

Dayton was busy clearing the sand with his hand kneeling down. 

"Who pushed the plank?" She demanded.

"Don't know." Said Dayton standing up with his hands in his pocket.

"I came out just a few seconds before you came out." He assured her.

She walks inside keeping the door open for Dayton, "You are a strange boy, Do you know that?" She said.

The yellow light flashes again. She stops Dayton with both her hand on his chest.

"Did you see that?" Ava thundered.

He lifts her hand off of him gently, "Yes, It happens once in a while.  Its an old, Old house. What do you expect?, He snarled.

"It was a rather exhaustingly disappointing day. I would like to sleep." He throws the bag aside that they had packed for their journey.

Ava closes the door disappointed but her frown turns to smile when she sees Coty near the door.

They both Sleep in for the night. 

The next day Ava and Coty wake up early and make breakfast for Dayton. They stand near the table waiting for Dayton to wake up.

Dayton come down from the attic. Looks at Ava confused, "Did you break something?" He asks firmly.

"No, We made breakfast." She points at the table.

"Ok?" He says doubtfully.

"Let me freshen up. Then I will eat." 

He leaves. Ava and Coty feel extremely disappointed. They had put so much effort. They leave as well.

They go on a walk. Ava tells Coty about the flower that she had seen last week.

They go on the same path looking for the flower. When they reach the entrance they find trees been cut into shreds and thrown in the swamp. The flower stands strong but the path to reach the flower was blocked with the pile of trees with pointy tips sticking out.

"WoW, who could have done this?" asks Coty.

"I don't know Coty. It could be the yellow eyes. It was huge. I am sure It was that thing." She snaps her fingers.

"Lets get out of here Ava, this place gives me the creeps. said Coty.

"Yeah, It does. When I came before It was different." They proceed into forest.

At the other end of the island they find a trunk. "Its locked Ava."

"Why is there a perfectly good trunk here? Lets check with Dayton." They turn around to go back to the house.

The trees look different. Its not the same path that they came through. It almost looked like the trees had moved.

"When we came through this path the trees were pink, right." Asked Coty still looking at the tress with suspicion.

"Yes. I even plucked a flower and put it in my bag." She opens her bag to look. A terrifying sound startles them both.

Without looking back Ava runs. "Don't look back Coty." She warns.

They reach a well nearby. Ava stops. "I can smell the fragrance again." she smiles. "Maybe we could find the flower somewhere here." She continues.

As Ava walks towards the well  her foot gets caught in a branch on the ground and she stumbles and falls inside the well.

In one hand she holds on to Coty. To make sure she doesn't lose her she holds Coty close to her chest. With her right hand she holds on to anything that she can grab.

She feels a creeper and she holds on to it with a tight grip. It breaks and she grabs on another creeper.

She screams as her hand burns. She somehow manages to get a strong creeper and start to climb back.

Both Coty and Ava laugh. She asks Coty to hold on tight so that she can use both her hands to climb back.

As they start climbing Ava's hand start hurting, so when she realizes the opening is narrow enough to keep her back against one wall and  feet against the opposite side, holding herself off the ground.

She rests for a while to build some energy back.

"Ok, Lets go Cots." She looks up.

Looking at the yellow eyes again shocked her muscles stiffen up and she falls down. The fall knocks Ava unconscious.

They falls on the wood boards that were laid to cover the opening of the well. Due to her weight the board breaks and falls inside.

Tremor sets the whole place shaking. Ava opens her eyes, Looking at the water gushing from an opening in the opposite direction. She dashes down the corridor narrowly avoiding the crumbling wall through which more water crashes in.

At the doorway Ava holds Coty tight, when they see the water gushing towards them. She tries her best to outrun the water but it soon catches up behind them.

They reach a dead end. The water hits them hard and the Ava looses hold of Coty.

Coty floats to the top. She grabs a metal grate in the ceiling. She holds herself up gasping for air. The water rises, covering Ava completely.

Something crashes through the wall and the water floods through the opening taking Ava with it from the other side.

She falls over a small waterfall created by the flooding water and fall over the main corridor. She slides along the floor until she reaches and stops at  Coty's feet.

Coty looks around and then looks at Ava. Coughing Ava lies on her back to relax for a bit. 

Coty shakes Ava, "Get up."

Ava opens her eyes, "What is this place?" She looks around. She covers her nose to block out the odor over powering the room.

Ava gets up and squints to look around, She whispers 'Cots.'

Coty opens her eye. A faint light from her eyes brighten the room. "Wow, How are you doing that?" asks Ava.

"Well, we have to get out fast. I cant use this light for a long time. I will lose energy." She informs Ava in a very stern tone.

Ava had never heard Coty be so serious. Coty was a kind who would made jokes even when she knew it was not an appropriate time.

So Ava understood the importance and picked up Coty to hurry out of the dungeon  .

It was a  dungeon alright. The odor was unbearable. Or perhaps was it a sewer? She was not sure.

Why would a sewer start from a well and who opened the wall for us. Ava had a million question running through her head.

Coty looks at Ava, looks away. Then again looks at her in shock. "What happened?" Asked Ava.

Coty looks at her in a confused gaze. "Ava, You have something on your cheek." Coty points at Ava's cheekbones.

Ava immediately touches her face and feels some kind of uneven feeling on her skin. Her heart starts beating fast and breathing heavily she asks, "Am I bleeding?"

Coty says, "No, Its strange. I don't know how to explain it to you." Coty stuttered.

Frantically, she looks into her sack and pulls out a broken mirror. "Oh, Yes. What it that?" She tries to rub the markings off her cheekbones but it doesn't budge." They were blue markings engraved on her face, both sides looked identical. 

They looked like wings. 

They started from her cheekbones and the end of the wings were connected to the end of her eye brows.

"Do you think Dayton did this to me?" She murmurs.

"This looks good on you. You look amazing and I am sure you didn't have this on your face when you were climbing down the well." Coty confirms.

They hear a soft roar. Ava jumps. "What the hell was that?" She starts to walk in the opposite direction from where the sound came.

They stumble upon the same chest that they had seen previously. Coty jump on the chest. It unlocks. Ava opens the chest, they both look wide eyed, "A map." screams Ava. The map to Salmar.

Coty screams, " That's my parents. Ava, that my parents." They hug each other in excitement.

Ava covers her mouth in excitement.

Coty starts to lose consciousness in and out. Ava shakes Coty, "Wake up." After a couple of jolts Coty wakes up.

Lets take this and get out of here Coty. Coty agrees.

A dark figure from behind looks on quietly. 

Two men approach them. They wore golden robes with headdress that covered their faces.

Ava and Coty turn towards them.

Ava grabs a sword from the nearby stand. They stand covering the chest. Move away from the chest you two.

Seven more robed men arrive blocking Ava and Coty.

"We don't want your chest. You can take it along." Said one of the men.

Ava and Coty smile at each other and proceed to pick up the heavy chest. It doesn't move or budge.

"However" He continues.

"Only one of you can leave. One must stay. That's the sacrifice you have to make to fulfil your dreams." He pauses so that Ava and Coty can make the decision as to who stays.

Coty begins, "I th..." Ava interrupts her.

"I have to leave Cots. I have the quest remember. The map is right there. 

I don't have to spend anymore time looking for Salmar. Imagine the amount of time I will save?

" She continues, "I saved your whole colony for God sakes. 

You should be thankful to me and sacrifice yourself." She screamed.

"Who cares about your quest. I have an opportunity to live as a family. 

Look at my parents, they look so healthy. 

I have a chance at life after ages, 

I am not giving it up. 

Also, we saved you and so you helped us. 

Moreover Ava, I care two hoods about you. Die, live do whatever you want. I don't care. 

All I care about is leaving this place with my parents." She smirks.

The old man claps excitedly and suggests, "Why don't you both fight for your place? Who ever wins can leave."

"What do you say Cots?" He asks with a wide smile.

.