A/N:

I drew some stuff for this fanfic in my spare time, and I'm going to upload them when the moments come up in the story. Like a picture book. haha. :)

Since I don't know what I'm doing on here I uploaded the picture to muh Tumbluh. So just copy the link, get rid of the spaces and do the dot com thing in the parenthesis.

here is illustration #1:

mycardiacmuscleisyours. tumblr (dot com)/tagged/nvrt

anyway, Enjoy!

-Parker

Disclaimer: Just a fan.

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Chapter4.

It was snowing.

I could have sworn that when I had first arrived here (which could only have been a few hours ago, although I'm not completely sure thanks to my newly acquired habit of blacking out) it had been an extremely beautiful day, and now I was sitting on the back of a centaur shivering while huddling into his fur for warmth.

Everyone else seemed fine, though.

Pandora and the girl in the front (I had yet to learn her name) had on simple blouses, and they weren't quivering a bit. Cook wasn't even WEARING a shirt for Christ's sake, and here I was shivering like the puny little human I am.

I glanced at Naomi. She had a coat on which she had pulled out of her bag earlier, and a rather comfortable looking sweatshirt under that I was completely jealous of...

I mean I was jealous of her for.. Having the sweatshirt. Not jealous of the sweatshirt for being on.. Her...

Anyway, I shut my eyes for a few seconds and let out a sigh.

We had been travelling for what felt like ages now, and had been walking down a path in the woods religiously since exiting the tunnel, and although I was hitching a ride, I was tired.

Katie had kept me up all night yapping about Danny, and the only sleep I had gotten had been back in Naomi's room before we were forced to go on the run.

Unfortunately, I was far too wound up to sleep now. I had calmed down a bit after Naomi had reassured me that time halted when entering another realm, but I was still feeling uneasy. Every noise I would hear coming from the trees above and around us made me jump. I was on edge, and I had no idea what it even was I was scared of. All I knew was that they were dangerous, and that this lot was afraid of them.

"We aren't afraid. We just aren't ready." said a voice to my left.

I jolted upwards and turned to find the girl who had previously been leading the group standing behind Naomi with her arms around her waist and her chin resting on her shoulder.

I felt a weird sensation course through my chest, and felt myself frown slightly before the girl chuckled to herself and let go of Naomi, stepping away with a knowing look which only confused me more.

"My name is Effy," she said," and it's nice to meet you."

She held out her hand to me and I hesitated.

"How did you-"

"I'm a witch. I'm also a bit.. Psychic." She said calmly waving her hand out in front of me. I nodded before grabbing it and shaking.

She smirked, and turned her gaze to the sky,

"Naoms, it seems as though we may need to find a clearing and set up camp. It's getting too dark, and they won't bother looking for us out here." she said airily.

Naomi nodded in agreement before turning to a skinny tan boy with pointed ears peaking out of his dark shaggy hair and saying, "Freddy, would you mind?"

The boy, Freddy, who was obviously an elf of some sort, smiled broadly to himself and shut his eyes in concentration, everyone paused and waited as he did so.

"There is a meadow about half a mile from here north." he stated.

"Brilliant." Cook said with a grin.

I turned my glance and saw Naomi looking at me with a concerned expression set on her face.

I tried to smile a bit to reassure her I was okay, but my teeth rattled together as a breeze picked up.

She quickly threw off her jacket and removed her sweatshirt before slipping her jacket back on and holding the sweatshirt back to me. I took it, shooting a grateful smile her way before quickly slipping it on over my head. It was dark grey, lined with wool on the inside with a thin brown leather tie to adjust the collar, and luckily, it was extremely warm.

I snuggled back into Cook's fur, shut my eyes again and sighed contently when I realised how good it smelt.

"You enjoyin' the ride on the cookie express, Red?" came Cook's confident voice. I laughed,

"As inappropriate as that sounds, yes actually, I am. Thank you."

"No problem. Just promise me you'll be givin' me a piggy back ride when I get tired, and we'll call it even."

He turned and flashed a smile in my direction and I laughed again.

I liked this guy, he was funny.

When we got to the clearing it was quickly being covered with snow, so everyone quickly picked up the equipment Naomi had pulled out of her Magical-Mary-Poppins-Bag, and got to work. The meadow wasn't too large, but it wasn't small either. It's green-covered ground quickly being replaced with a thick white blanket of snow as the gang pitched three tents surrounding the outskirts of the trees, and began to load them with blankets.

Eventually, I ended up in a tent with Pandora and her boyfriend, Thomas. He was very kind, and soft-spoken with a sweat French accent, and just from seeing them together for about two minutes I could tell how much in love they were. It was adorable, and I felt myself smiling to myself as I pulled the blankets snugly around me and listened to Panda blab about nothing in particular.

It was slightly difficult for me to keep up with her, she was constantly changing the subject, but I nodded and smiled adding something in myself whenever I thought appropriate. I liked her, she was silly.

I heard shuffling near the entrance of our tent before the flap was lifted, and Naomi poked her head in. She smiled at us half-heartedly, and fiddled with the side of the tent flap with one hand before she said,

"We'll be leaving for the fort tomorrow morning, so make sure you are up and ready once the sun is up."

Pandora nodded at this and plopped back onto her blankets next to Thomas who held up a thumbs-up in Naomi's direction.

I turned back to look at Naomi who was looking at nothing in particular on the grass covering the bottom of the tent before she brought her gaze up to meet mine. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and she gulped visibly before nodding and mumbling a "goodnight" in my direction before shutting the tent back up.

I heard someone chuckle from outside followed by Naomi defensively saying "Piss off, Eff." before the night went silent. I smiled at that, and fell into a deep sleep.

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I woke up to a loud noise outside, and muffled curse words before the tent was opened by an alarmed looking lad with curly hair, JJ.

"Sorry to alarm you all, but it seems as though.. Well there has been some kind of mingling with.. What I mean to say is the sun has disappeared." He stuttered.

I frowned and watched as Thomas got up, and threw his shirt on over his head before exiting the tent.

"We need to start packing. The sun didn't rise like we anticipated," came Effy's voice from outside.

"What time is it?" asked Thomas.

"Around ten, the wind is picking up, so it would be best we take these tents down now before it gets too overwhelming," said Freddie.

I stood up, and wiped my eyes with a yawn before waking Pandora up, and telling her we had to get going. She nodded and followed me out of the tent, blankets in hand.

Within ten minutes Pandora, Cook, Effy, Thomas, Freddy, JJ, Naomi and I were all on our way, and I was glad that I finally knew all of their names. At least I knew something about this strange place.

Pandora confirmed last night that I would be with them for a while, although she didn't go into detail about what it was we were running from. She did tell me that we would have to go into hiding for a bit in a fort they used to live in during "the war".

I had thousands of questions, but I never had the chance to ask them, and I wasn't quite sure who I should be asking in the first place. It was starting to frustrate me how I was being so obviously shut out.

"something wrong?" asked Effy from my side. We were walking a bit behind the others and I had been so deep in thought I hadn't even noticed her there. Her tone irritated me, and she was giving me that stupid all knowing smirk again.

"Me? No, I'm perfectly fine. I love being confused." I said, my voice thick with sarcasm.

"Have you asked?" she asks raising her eyebrows.

I sighed, "Not exactly, but wouldn't at least one person consider how confused I am? The only person to even try to explain something to me was Pandora and... I don't know, I'm just confused."

I frowned to myself for a bit before looking towards Effy once I had realized she hadn't responded yet.

She chuckled under her breath.

"We all have a lot on our minds, Emily. Our families are gone, and we are running from a man who wants us dead. So I apologize if we aren't exactly meeting your needs."

"I didn't mean it like that."

Effy smiled to herself and lifted her gaze to the black sky.

"I know."

This only confused me more. Why did Effy have to be so frustrating? Honestly. She wasn't helping at all, and she obviously wasn't planning on it so what was the point in asking in the first place?

"You still haven't asked." she said airily, her eyes still locked to the sky above.

I decided to play along. I wasn't getting anywhere anyway.

"Could you please just tell me what's going on?" I sighed.

"No."

This response did not surprise me.

"And would you mind explaining why not?"

"Because it's impossible to grasp correctly without experiencing it. Seeing it. It's too painful." she said calmly.

I sighed and stared at my feet as we followed the others down the trail.

"Would you like to see?"

I raised an eyebrow and turned my head to see that she was looking at me once more.

"Wha-"

"I mean, I could show you. In here." she brought a finger to my face and pointed to my forehead, gesturing slightly to clarify that it was my mind she was speaking of.

"You would have to relax though. Or it won't work."

"I am relaxed." I said folding my arms across my chest.

She laughed, and turned her head towards Naomi before nodding her over.

"erm... What's up?" Naomi asked.

Effy leaned over and whispered something into Naomi's ear, and I watched as Naomi's eyebrows shot up and her cheeks flushed again.

"Eff I-"

Effy shook her head and laughed before whispering something else to her and then flicking her ear playfully.

I looked away. They seemed so comfortable with each other, and it made me feel uncomfortable. It didn't make sense though, because I didn't feel this way seeing Thomas and Pandora around each other.

I was trying to consider reasonable explanations for my odd reaction when I suddenly felt a warm hand in mine. My stomach dropped when I realized how familiar it felt.

Naomi.

I had been holding it for hours yesterday, and I would recognize that touch anywhere. It felt amazing. Comforting.

It calmed me instantly, just like it had done yesterday, and if it hadn't I sure as hell would have been overcome with another rush of confusion directed towards.. Other things.

"Don't move." I heard Naomi whisper softly in my ear.

I stopped walking and closed my eyes. I could feel her breath on my face, as she whispered for me to relax.

I almost laughed. I was so relaxed at that moment that a tree could have fallen inches away from our faces and I wouldn't have even flinched.

Naomi chuckled and squeezed my hand softly before letting it go.

"Go ahead, Eff."

I watched as Effy placed her hands on my face and stared into my eyes.

I heard screaming as the colours in her eyes shifted from blue to green to brown until a mixture of colours filled my head.

Effy was gone, and so was the forest.

I was alone in a stone corridor as I watched as someone rounded the Corner to my right and stopped in front of me.

"Elizabeth," they said.

Elizabeth? Clearly they couldn't be speaking to me.

I wanted to turn my head to look behind me for another person, but I couldn't move.

"Tony.. What is it? Is something wrong?" I asked.

What the fuck? Who is Tony?

And why did I just-

"it's mum... She... She's..." suddenly "tony"'s eyes closed and tears escaped them.

I felt myself running down the corridor past tony and towards a large door. I opened it, but it was empty. I cried out in pain and sunk to the floor.

Then I saw colours again, this time reds and oranges, yellows and black, until I was on a cliff overlooking a large gate leading to a large castle surrounded by an assortment of strange trees.

I looked at the fence as it was jerked open by four large men. Too large to be human.

"There's mum." came Tony's voice from beside me. I felt my hand reach out, and hold his.

Entering the gate was a line of people. Their heads were all bowed and their arms were chained as well as their legs. They walked in a line towards the large stone building, as the giant men spat in their direction laughing mercilessly.

"This is horrible." I said.

Tony pointed a finger to the top of the gate. There above the opening carved into the dark metal was the word "witches" gleaming orange as if it were on fire.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to find a much younger Naomi looking at me intently. She had a gash on her cheek, and blood was dripping down it slowly soaking into her shirt.

"I'm Naomi. I'm on your side. Please, follow me."

I nodded, "my name is Effy, and this is my brother."

Then I saw colours again and eventually found myself in a forest. It was too bright to be present day so I knew I was still in effy's memories.

I heard a scream, as I saw a figure appear from the woods. He wore a deep red cloak, and had familiar piercing blue eyes. But what frightened me was his smile. It was so beautiful that it couldn't be real.

"Little Liza has come to play has she?" he said holding out his arms.

"what have you done?" I scream between sobs.

"what have I done? Ha! This was you! You did this! All you needed to do was give her back to me and no one would have been hurt."

Lie.

I could feel his lie. His mind was so easy to read.

Like a book..

all I had to do was-

"your brother would have made a lovely addition to my garden. It's a shame he couldn't hold still though."

"what the fuck are you talking about you psycho?"

The man laughed,

"I thought you could read my mind. Like a book, was it?"

Shit.

"You see this lovely tree right here," he said tracing his hand over the red bark, roughly tearing off a chunk of the wood as he grazed the trunk,

"Well," he laughed," let's just say your brother is now one with nature. Isn't that right Tony?"

He patted the tree as a breeze picked up causing the leaves to wave frantically.

I screamed and launched myself at the man, shaking violently.

He laughed and grabbed me by the front of my shirt.

"Oh, little Elizabeth. You shouldn't disobey your elders. It's rude. Didn't your mother teach you that?"

He smiled again and I felt tears falling down my cheeks before he dropped me to the floor and disappeared.

I was alone.

The colours returned once more, this time slowly shifting into each other until I felt myself back in reality staring into darkness and Effy's blue eyes.

Tears were streaking down her cheeks and Naomi quickly moved her hands across them wiping them away, and pulling her into a hug.

I couldn't move.

What I had just seen was the most terrifying collection of events I had ever experienced and I suddenly understood our need to hide away.

Effy gently pushed Naomi away, giving her a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Her tears had subsided and she was suddenly back to her indifferent expression.

She looked back at me wordlessly, and then smirked before turning and walking ahead of everyone.

"Let's go, we are almost there." she said.

Everyone started to move again, but I couldn't find my feet.
I suddenly felt an abundance of respect for Effy. She had lost her mother, and her brother as well.

I couldn't imagine losing someone that close to me. I suddenly really missed Katie, and it only made me want to get home faster.

"Emily," I heard Naomi say from beside me.

"Naomi." I mumbled.

She bit her lip and furrowed her brow. It was rather cute.

"Look, I know that may have been a bit much, but I promise I'll help you understand better once we get to the fort. We aren't safe here." She said.

I nodded, and took a deep breath before giving her a smile and walking forward with the girl at my side.

Cook trotted to my side and shot me a smile.

"I know you didn't sign up for this, but I'm glad you're here, Emilio.. Despite the putting your life in danger stuff." He said with a grin.

I couldn't help but smile back.

"Me too, Cook." I said.
And it makes me sound completely insane, but to be honest, I was... Well, besides "Putting my life in danger stuff".

"You're in for quite an adventure, my friend." Thomas said patting my back.

I caught Naomi's eye and she smiled at me I grinned back.

"I sure am, Thomas."

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