"Freak!"
A young girl stumbled out of the store, tripping and falling onto the dirt road. She scrambled to get up while the villagers around her were throwing stones and dirt at her. Running away tears streamed out of her amber eyes, she clutched a small package to her chest. With the edge of the village in front of her, she forced the last bit of energy she had into her legs until she crossed the imaginary line into the forest.
Stumbling forward she walked on unsteady legs, swaying back and forth refusing to fall even as pain and fatigue clouded her vision and judgment. Letting out a small yelp as she tripped over a root, the package she held on to desperately flew from her hands, landing on the flat ground a few feet in front of her. She tried to reach for it but the last of her energy had left her and she could no longer support her head and it fell to the ground with a thump.
Two weeks later
After having gotten back to her makeshift home that was deep into the forest she had tried to continue with her raft that would get her off this island one way or another but with the lack of food and the recent gash on her arm she couldn't lift much and needed to rest. This was a major set back and she was worried the villagers would realize what she stole and come after her, but thankfully they were terrified of the empty forest saying it was cursed. Even if it was with her luck the curse would stay away from her because it might get bad luck itself but that was just her opinion.
Currently she was down by the creek doing nothing but staring at her own reflection reminding herself of who she was so she wouldn't forget.
"My name is Ember Willow I'm six years old my hair is red like fire and my eyes blue like the ocean, my skin is like moonlight shining on the sand of a beach. I have two dreams to find my father and be free living on the sea with those I call Nakama. I will learn about the world from my experiences maybe even almost die but I will find a place to be happy in the end either by my fathers side or up with my mother," Ember paused a single tear slipped from her eyes and onto the last photo she had of her family.
Her mother was tall she had dark brown almost black hair and blue eyes, she also had freckles and pale skin, Her father was also tall but his hair was red it kind of reminded her of a tomato, his eyes were dark but they were full of joy as he held Ember up in his arms. Her mother was wearing a navy blue shirt and jeans on her feet she wore sandals and around her ankle was a small bracelet with a star shaped jewel on it, her father wore a plain white button down shirt with the top part unbuttoned and he had floral pants on with a red sash holding them up he also wore sandals, around his wrist was a small bracelet with a star on it, Ember assumed he got a matching set for her mom at some point but she didn't know for sure she never bothered asking. The only thing that was really out of place in the photo was the fact that both adults had weapons her dad had a sword on his hip and her mom had staff strapped to her back. In the center of the photo was Ember herself looking to be around two years old in a baby blue flower dress and white sandals.
They looked so happy when they were together but her father had to leave so her mother could raise her without constantly being on the run. Even if she was six she knew her father was wanted by the same people that came and killed her mother and leaving her to die on this island. That was six months ago, Ember had taken all of what she could from her home before it was burned down by the villagers who had turned against them.
A loud crash from behind her ripped her out of her thoughts, she shoved the photo back into her shoe and stood up. Hurrying over to a tree she hid behind it and peeked around the tree and saw that there was a group of adults walking through the forest. Thinking quickly she climbed the tree and hid in its leaves hoping they wouldn't see her, as they passed underneath her, she listened to what they were saying.
"Why do we have to find this girl again?" A man complained to the one in the front.
"Because, idiot boss wants a little girl to brain wash and turn into an assassin and this girl went through a major trauma so it will be easier and we're getting paid handsomely," The man in the front growled annoyed.
There were three men in total, the one in the front looked the oldest, he had a black beard and green eyes. The one that complained looked to be the youngest, he had blond short hair and brown eyes, the last one, who had stayed quiet, had brown hair and brown eyes he looked the gentlest out of the three but that didn't mean anything of his personality.
Ember leaned forward but the branch she was holding onto couldn't hold her weight and it snapped sending her falling out of the tree and right in the middle of the three men. They all jumped back in surprise which gave her enough time to get up and run, but it didn't take them long to go after her. She managed to stay just out of their reach but she was getting tired and her chest hurt, it hurt more than it usually did when she had to run long distances but all she had to last was a little while longer. Up ahead was the densest part of the forest and there she could out run the three men with ease and get back to her camp, there she would be safe.
A few minutes of weaving around trees later she was now hiding behind a tree having gotten out of the site of the three men. Thinking they had gone another way she relaxed letting out a heavy breath, she brought a hand up to her chest it hurt a lot.
"There you are," A hand grabbed her mouth and lifted her off the ground.
It was the man with the beard, Ember squirmed trying to get out of his grip but it was no use, she was weak and with his hand around her face it was covering her mouth and nose making it impossible to breathe.
"Hendrick she needs to breathe." Someone from behind her commanded and Hendrick the one holding her let her drop to the ground.
Ember started coughing and wheezing once she hit the forest floor, black dots crowded her vision as she tried to look at the man who was now next to her.
"You're too soft Alain she would have been fine," Hendrick huffed annoyed.
"No she wouldn't have we were told she was around six and by looking at her it looks like one of her ribs are broken, this is why I was sent here with both of you buffoons," Alain muttered the last part to himself while gently picking her up being careful of her injury.
By now she was too tired to be able to struggle so she put her head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep. The next time she would wake up it would be in a entirely different place with new people and someone new to tmake care of her and many others
Once she woke up and open her eyes Ember found herself being stared at by four sets of eyes. She screamed and scrambled on her back until she hit metal bars and pain exploded from her chest.
"Hey, be careful you have a broken rib!" A panicked voice came from in front of her but since she had her eyes closed she didnt see who said it.
"Where am I who are you?" Her voice was rough and shaky.
Looking around her she saw four other kids all looked older than her all were covered in dirt and dried blood, it seemed they were all in a cage and by the gentle swaying they were on a boat.
"Um I'm Jake," A boy with light blue hair spoke," I'm the oldest one here," He conituned.
"I'm Clare and this is my sister June," A younger girl with jet black hair spoke and then pointed at a shy looking girl with white hair," Im 10 and she's nine and Jake is 13." She smiled at Ember.
"Alex I'm 11," a boy with auburn hair said while staring at the cage floor.
"What about you what's your name?" Clare asked with a cheerful tone that looked forced.
"I-I'm Ember you're not going to hurt me are you?" Her voice shook as she curled up into a ball.
They all looked shocked at what she asked Alex's fist clenched scaring her a little.
"No why would we hurt-," Jake was cut off by Alex grabbing his shoulder and shaking his head.
Alex crawled slowly over to her and sat down next to her while Jake got the attention of the other two," Hey, you don't have to be scared we aren't going to hurt you, sorry about the other two Clare is just trying to keep her sister from crying," Ember relaxed a little.
"Its okay Im six by the way," Alex gasped at that.
"Did they, did they take you away from your family?" He asked tentatively
"No my mothers dead and I don't know where my father is and the village hates me I was living alone in the forest," Ember explained sadly while looking at her feet.
"Oh, Im sorry," Alex looked away.
"Don't be I know why my father left and I'm glad he did so he wouldn't have to see what those men did to my mother and me," She smiled and Alex looked horrified and confused.
"Why are you telling me this you don't even know me?" Alex's voice cracked.
Ember shrugged," You seem like a good person just in a bad situation like me the village beat me up saying I was a freak or monster but I don't know why, maybe it was because of the men in blue and white," she mumbled the last part to herself and as her eyes closed she leaned onto Alex's shoulder exhausted.
She hated being so tired all the time she wanted to stay awake so she could talk to Alex and the other three but her body wouldn't let her. As she closed her eyes she felt Alex shift her around so that she was laying on him in a way that wouldn't hurt her.
Ember groaned as she was pulled from her peaceful sleep, someone was shaking her and calling her name in an almost panicked way.
"Ember come on you need to get up he's almost here," It was Alex who was he talking about.
She didn't need to know as she opened her eyes and sat up quickly, soon to be pulled to her feet by Alex who kept her steady as she stumbled disoriented still waking up. Once she could see clearly she looked around her Jake was holding onto the two girls as they cowered into him. About ten feet away the large man she had seen in the forest the one who had tried to strangle her, Hendrick she recalled, was standing in the doorway with an evil grin on his face. Beside him was another man it was one of the three who had taken her but she didn't know his name, he looked to be enjoying the scared looks he was getting from the two girls.
Alex put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him, he was trying to look brave by glaring at them and standing up straight but she could see the well hidden fear in his eyes. He looked down at her and a shock was clear on his face and she only tilted her head in confusion before turning her emotionless gaze back on the two men who were now walking towards them.
"Alright maggots single file line lets go!" Hendrick shouted in his deep voice.
They all got in a long like ordered to and cuffs were placed on them with a chain linked through all of them. Ember had to old hers up so they didn't slid off her hands as she was walking. She had been put in the front then it was June, Clare, Alex, and finally Jake. Hendrick led them up through the ship and then off onto the docks, taking a look around her there was nothing but ocean behind her and in front of her there was an enormous mansion with jungle surrounding it, nothing else was here and by the way the jungle didn't extend very far on either side of the mansion she guessed the island wasn't that big. Ember was jerked forward by Hendrick who didn't like her slow pace, she caught herself so she didn't fall but it hurt her chest, shaking her head she started walking faster trying to keep up with the set pace. As they neared the mansion she saw that there was a man in a deep red suit, he had white hair and was carrying a cane in a hand that had many rings on it.
"Welcome to your new home maggots,"
Alright this took sooooooo much longer than it should have. I have so many ideas it's hard to choose which one to do and I think I'm going to do 1000 word chapters next to I can focus on a certain point and be able to get chapters out faster.
Well I would like to thank those who have been waiting forever for me to come back to this and I do apologize for my lack in updating I promise to make this more interesting and fun to read well mostly hehehe.
Bye Bye!
