Chapter VII: Into the Unknown
"Hey!" The faint sound of the word left my ear drums popping as I slowly regained my consciousness.
"Come on!" My shoulder lurched and the swift breeze of a brisk swipe causing searing pain to flood into my cheek and I forced myself up.
Though my vision was distorted, I was welcomed to blinding darkness with the exception of a pair of eyes peering down at me.
Both were the shape of almonds.
Remembering the perpetrator I had fought not too long ago I instinctively reached for my ball-point pen but alarmingly retracted with a handful of air. Feeling fear set in, I scooted back and got into a defensive positioning.
"Hey man, I-I'm not here to hurt you." The unfamiliar figure replied to my actions.
I didn't let my guard down.
"I'm sorry about slapping you but you were lying on the ground and it didn't seem like you were breathing so I panicked. Although, there's no shock in that considering the circumstances..."
Silence filled the atmosphere before briefly being followed by shuffling and crumpling.
"Here," The sleek, sliver wrapping glistened, reflecting the little light that was there. "It's milk chocolate."
As if on cue my stomach started to growl.
Hesitantly, I reached for the bar, groping it's packaging to make sure that it hadn't been tampered with. Satisfying my concerns, I carefully tore it open, revealing the delectable item inside.
Giving it one last sniff, I ravenously finished it off.
"Thanks." I responded, licking the tips of my fingers.
A shadow shifted and I assumed he was acknowledging my appreciation.
I desperately wanted to ask how I had gotten to this place or why I was here but it seemed like the person was just as puzzled as I was by the whole situation.
Unable to think of anything else to say or do, we remained quiet, tension slowly increasing.
"Frank?" The voice of a female whispered frantically. A bright beam cut through the obscurity and revealed a heavy-set Asian boy sitting in front of me.
He didn't appear to be like the guy who attacked me back in the deserted mall, but rather quite pleasant looking; almost resembling a baby, or even a panda.
"Frank? What are you doi-"
Light flashed into my eyes and I lifted a hand above my brows. The girl who had been calling for 'Frank' stared at me; her mesmerizing, penetrating golden-brown eyes gazing at me curiously. "Frank, you know we aren't supposed to be talking to strangers."
"I was just, I uhhh-"
"He just helped me, I should be going." I interrupted getting up. "Thanks for the chocolate."
With that I began to blindly saunter away, not knowing where I was going but hoping I would stumble along people I could actually recognize.
"Wait."
I turned to see the girl right behind me with Frank. Her lantern illuminated against her coffee-toned skin, giving her a warm aura.
"Who are you and where did you come from?" She probed.
"I thought you weren't supposed to converse with strangers." I retorted, with a slight smile.
"Well, that was before Frank here started handing out free dessert."
His rounded cheeks tinged with cerise.
"So, are you going to answer?"
I raked through my brain to remember how to reply to such a question, but everything seemed too hazy. I mean I do remember fighting a guy at one point and owning a technologically advanced ballpoint pen but other than that, my identity left me at a loss.
"Honestly, I don't have a clue." I answered a little embarrassed, placing a palm against my forehead.
"Since when does anybody?" Frank mumbled, making a haphazard attempt to keep the words under his breath.
His friend disregarded his remark.
"So, you were about to mindlessly wander off in a forest full of flesh devouring creatures?"
Well she put it that way...
I shrugged.
She shook her head in incredulity.
"Reyna's probably going to slaughter me into little bite sized pieces and feed me to her galling hounds but, I think it's best if you join us."
I looked at her unsure, drowning in my ambivalence. Could I really trust these people?
As if sensing my contemplation, she made the decision making process a bit easier. "Well, if you'd rather travel alone in this blackness while being in your state of oblivion..."
With that a "Yes I'll accompany you so please don't let me get eaten." had escaped my lips.
She grinned triumphantly.
"I need you to give me anything you have right now and trust me, I won't run off with it. If I desired to obtain your things I would've shot you down and left a long time ago." She stated matter-of-factly.
For some reason, the way she had said it, I felt as if I had hear something similar previously.
I patted myself but didn't feel anything.
"I don't have anything on me."
Just as a precaution, Hazel rapidly frisked my clothing (in a very non-sexual fashion) to assure that I wasn't being deceptive or vague.
After making sure I wasn't lying, she linked arms with both Frank and I.
"I'm Hazel, by the way." She introduced herself. "I think by this time you know who this big guy is."
She placed a hand on Frank's shoulder and he his face expressed what I interpreted as a combination of adoration and longing.
The kid was definitely crushing on Hazel.
Hazel began to inform me on their camp and people. Though she appeared to be quite younger than I, she spoke with such depth and maturity, it was almost like she had life-experience beyond her years.
Though she had an unmistakable perkiness about her, there was a trace of sorrow in her voice.
She turned to me, her eyes displaying her initial interest sparking back up.
"So you really have no recollection of anything?" She queried, changing the subject back to me.
"Well…"
I told her about the crazy kid who had ambushed me and the violent feud that had flared up.
Hazel's mouth grew slightly agape.
"What did he look like?"
I elaborated further on his appearance all the way from his onyx tresses to the shady clothing he had on his back.
"He sounds like Frank." Hazel stated, her eyes darting to him.
Frank narrowed his eyes but kept continued to be mute.
"No, no." I rubbed my temples with the feeling like I had failed to recall a significant detail, one distinctive one I had been unsuccessful in recognising when I had seen Frank for the very first time. "There- There was an eye-patch." I finally managed to get out.
Hazel's eyes widened and Frank's countenance darkened.
Simultaneously, they opened their mouths as if to say something but was interjected but the crackling of foliage.
We diverged our attentions toward the sound.
Both teens looked ready for a brawl with their weapons out and fighting postures. As for I, well I was just grateful for the somewhat serviceable rock I had hurriedly seized.
To our delightful fortunes, it was only a squirrel, though a very antagonistic one at that. It chased after another one of its species, the poor little guy sprinting for his life.
My new companions placed their sharp objects back where they were as I released the earth material.
It seemed that they had either forgotten what they were going to say, or decided against telling me whatever they were going to say.
I had a feeling it was latter.
Hazel didn't ask anything more and we all ambled in peace.
We stopped in front of the Caldecott Tunnel, its two-hundred seventy degree entrance leaving me with a peculiar sense, almost like beckoning us in.
We made our way down the elongated pathway, a dim, flickering bulb the only way of perceiving our surroundings due to the dying battery of Hazel's lamp.
The road was a long stretch and the most generic question of 'are we there yet?' formed on my lips but it wasn't necessary.
My eyes to pleasure in the most breathtaking view.
Pastures of pure greenery with the delicate blossoming of multicolour florets dispersed across the fields.
Dawn was making its debut as soft rays of maroon, magenta, and gold extended, dancing across the sky.
I almost hadn't noticed Hazel and Frank gesturing for me to come.
I followed them close behind and we trekked across a broad stone bridge.
"River Tibet." Hazel announced like a tour guide, as I pored over it.
The pristine cerulean waters sparkled and I had the impulsive urge to jump into it right then and there.
I was led to a large building. It wasn't as magnificent as the landscaping but it definitely wasn't unpleasant either.
With the turn of a key into the lock and a push, we entered and my heart ceased to beat.
A/N: My deepest apologies for my tardiness, though I do have a legitimate reason this time. My computer broke down and only recently had I replaced it. It is shared so please bear with me. I will give my greatest efforts to update a lot more frequently (for real this time) but I'd ask that you'd still be patient and tolerant the fact that there aren't more hours in the day.
Anyway, thank you so much IIII Winter Wolf IIII, Camocommander72, xxPockyStraw21xx, and again to Emunoz for your support and I hope you can put up with my update issues XD
Thanks so much guys!
Question: What do you think Percy saw? What made him freeze in his tracks? Write a comment saying what you think!