Authors note: Well, here is chapter two of A Light In The Darkness. I hope you find it enjoyable to read, whether you read alone or with someone.
A Light In The Darkness
Chapter 2
Roz walked cautiously behind The boy, even though, a closer look at him, it showed that he was older than her, more than likely. She didn't even know for sure her age, she imagined herself about 15, 16. Somewhere along those lines she imagined. She had also noted the clank of the armor that meant that the guards were behind them, more than likely to either make sure she stayed, or protect the boy. Or both. They stopped at a doorway, a metallic door that slid apart vertically in it's center, letting them through. They walked into a large room, and in the center, as if to greet them, stood another Gundalian, this one much older than both herself and the boy, maybe even combined. She nearly let out a short laugh at that thought, but quickly choked it down. She looked closer and found that the older one was trying to seem emotionless, but even past his own mask she could feel one emotion that was at its peak. The old man was excited about something, and so was the boy, now that she concentrated. She stopped as they boy did, he nodded at the older Gundalian then moved to the side of them, walking away then leaving through a door behind the old man. She noted that the guards themselves remained, and she glanced at them uneasily. "You don't need to worry about them." She snapped her head towards the old man, and as she did, strands of her hair flicked forward, and swung back to her, always mimicking her movements to a certain degree. The old man had a amused look on his face. Roz wasn't amused however, and she scowled. "You seem to have went through a lot of trouble to find me. I think I would like some answers as to why I am here." The old man ignored that, and said "My name is Nurzak, I have been looking for you for four years." Roz let that information digest a moment before she asked "And why is that?" the old man raised a hand. "Come now, I technically answered a question already. Surely you will allow me to ask questions as well?" Rox hesitated. He was right. He did answer one of her questions, even though she did not ask it, he knew. "Fine, you question is?" The old man came closer until he stood before her, held up one hand, snapped the fingers on that hand, and two chairs materialized out seemingly thin air, but Roz knew better as a Gundalian that they were transported in by a teleportation device. The old man held out his hand to one of the chairs as he made the move to take the other. "Please, be seated." Roz looked at the chair with uncertainty before she did sit, her gaze on the old man never moving away too far. "Did you know your mother?" Alarm flashed upon Roz's face, before her eyes closed, and she slumped back in the chair. "No. I mean, I do but I don't." Nurzak frowned. "Explain please?" Roz sighed. Might as well just tell them what she knew. "I did know my mother at some point." Nurzak raised an eyebrow, and she continued. "My mother, or I presume she was my mother, only appears to me in one memory, with me in one place." The old man never took his eyes off her either. "What memory is that?" he asked. Roz smirked. "Now, what happened to that fair pattern of questions between us?" a small smile appeared on the old mans face, though physically, he did not show it on his face, but she could read it in his emotions, for some reason, the old man was happy. Happy? Why would he be happy with these answers? "Very well then, ask your question." "Why have you brought me here?" Roz shifted in her chair, crossed her legs, revealing some of the scars on her legs that she still couldn't remember. Her shorts extended down to her knees, then ended there, leaving her scars to be seen. The old man glanced at her scars, then looked away. Roz picked up a new emotion from the man that she could read: Unease. Roz smiled lightly to herself. "Well?" Roz asked. Nurzak cleared his throat before he replied "We brought you here because we believe you are more than what you seem, even perhaps being connected to the Emperor himself, before he was defeated by the brawlers for the second time." Roz nearly fell out of her chair, choking on air, and looked at him strangely. "I beg your pardon?" The old man raised his left hand, again hiding a smile. Ah, the old man was smart. As smart as her it seemed, maybe more so. The old man asked his question. "What memory was the one you know? Please give me details." Roz tilted her head back to rest it on the back of the chair, and closed her eyes. She let out a groan, not wanting to remember the memory, it was painful not because her mother left her behind, but because it was the only memory she had. " I remember a voice, urging my mother to hurry, I cannot open my eyes then even if I wanted to, I remember hearing her crying, whoever she is, she was not happy to leave me behind." Roz raised her pointer finger to prevent any interruptions. "I remember the ground quaking beneath us, all around us, the rattle and shake of building as they crack and break, and dust rolls off the surfaces of them." "I remember being placed on the bed in that place of which your Gundalian guards found me." Roz raised her head and opened her eyes, to find the Nurzak had a look of surprise on his face. It wasn't hidden behind a mask this time either. "I remember a cool hand, touching my face, then as soon as it was there it disappears, and so does she." Roz bent over, resting her arms on her knees, head lowered. She raised it for a second to ask her question. "What makes you think I'm related in any way to the dead Emperor?" Nurzak composed himself before drawing out an old tattered book. "I found written evidence suggesting whose child you are. Now, this is a question I should have asked when you first entered this room, but I would like to know your name." Roz straightened up, as she did, she felt her back crack in several places. Nurzak apparently heard it too, for he looked at her in a concerned way. "I'm fine", She reassured. "My name is Roz, Rozuirina." A large, almost boyish grin formed nearly immediately after she told him her name. "What?" she asked, a confused expression on her face. Nurzak leaned forward, giving her the old book he found. "I think you should read this, as I have." Roz took the book from the old man and placed it in her lap, gazing at it before she finally flipped it's hard cover.
