Chapter 10

Talya and Dianna both cocked their heads up at the same time at the sound of the scream. If their ears could have perked up, they would have.

"Did you hear that?" Dianna asked.

Talya quickly slapped Dianna's lips with her cupped hand. She brought her other hand up and brought one finger to her own lips, making a shushing gesture. Talya then crouched and walked over to the bedroom door just in time to hear the front door crash to the center of the room. Flying from its hinges and causing splinters to fly in all directions.

"Hellooooooooo?" A voice sang out from the doorway around the corner.

Talya closed the door and pointed to the window. She slapped Dianna's lips again with a cup hand when she saw that she was about to speak and began to make her way to the window. There was no time to waste. Talya wasn't about to risk both their lives. Especially when she knew absolutely nothing about this new enemy, or old one, for that matter.

Dianna quickly made her way to the window and slid it up into the open position. Talya thanked the heavens she wasn't putting up a fight.

But as first Dianna's feet then Talya's hit the ground outside, they looked up and saw that they were already surrounded.

A man in all green camouflage stepped out from the rest, who were all wearing matching clothing. From head to toe they could have blended together into the grass on the ground. It was like a miniature army. None of them stood out from the rest. They were almost like clones.

The one who stepped out pulled his mask off, making himself known. "Why hello there."

Talya stepped out for them both. She meant to challenge his authority. "Hello to you as well. Who are you?"

"That is none of your concern. We are here for the girl." The man chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry, the other girl." He pointed one finger at Dianna.

Talya put an arm in front her protectively. "What for?"

"Again," the man spoke. "that is none of your concern. Just let her come with us."

Dianna stepped out passed Talya, moving her arm. She spoke to the man harshly. "Where's my mother?"

The man looked puzzled. "Your mother?"

"Yes, my mother. Where is she?"

The man snapped his fingers. "Leo, here, now!"

One of the clones stepped out from the collective mass and jogged over. He was a bit shorter than the obvious leader. Still wearing all matching camouflage. There was no part of him not covered. The leader bent down so his lacky could whisper into his ear.

"Ah, I see." He stood back up. Shaking his head and a small smirk crossing his face. "I'm afraid she got in the way, miss."

Dianna shook her head. Talya knew that wouldn't mean anything good. Not at all. She stepped forward and attempted to get in between the two as best she could, but Dianna pushed her backward.

"What the hell do you mean she got in the way? Where is she?!"

The man closed his eyes and brought his hand to his nose, pinching the bridge of his nose between his eyes. "I'm afraid you are not catching what I'm saying." He was visibly annoyed.

"Tell me!" Dianna shouted.

The man laughed. Amused by the way Dianna had become hysterical. Talya tried to grab Dianna but she wouldn't budge, pushing her back again. Talya took hold of her but she struggled, trying to force herself away from Talya.

"She's dead, miss."

Dianna stopped struggling. She went limp and Talya moved her easily. Her eyes were wide and she stared blankly at the man. She locked eyes with him, but at the same time looked passed him.

"Dianna we have to go. Let's move now. We need to go." Talya spoke quickly, urgently. But Dianna didn't hear her. She was gone, lost in shock. She was suspended in a world of disbelief.

Talya brought a hand up and across Dianna's face. A loud smack echoed through the woodlands. But she didn't feel it.

Talya did it again, a bit harder this time. She used her left hand up across Dianna's opposite cheek. But again, Dianna did not feel it.

And again.

And again.

And again.

The soldiers who stood behind Talya yards back did not move. They watched the scene in front of them quietly. Their faces which showed remorse, which indeed showed empathy, were hidden behind their masks. Their arms crossed behind their backs as they stood in lines horizontally, shoulder to shoulder, and all tried to hold back their regret.

The death of the girl's mother was entirely unplanned. But necessary, to say the least.

Dianna suddenly snapped out of her comatose-like state. She took Talya by the shoulders and tossed her to her right. Talya fell to the ground and began to stand immediately. But Dianna had already lunged forward and swung her hands up, then down, spinning her body in the air, then pushed her hands forward. She launched flames tinted bright red and orange from her enclosed fists.

Her mother's murderer stood unflinching as the flames passed over him, engulfing him in his entirety.

Dianna began to thrust her fists wildly, again and again. Flames upon flames flying directly in front of her.

But still the soldiers did not move. They all turned their heads simultaneously and looked in the direction of their commander. The commander who was painted red and orange, completely engulfed in a fiery prison.

Talya sat back on the ground and watched in awe at the raw power of Dianna's flames. She was at a crossroads between impressed and frightened. But she didn't know which she should be. The flames flew at a rapid pace, growing ever brighter.

Finally, Dianna began to calm. Her hands dropped to her side and she looked forward. In front of her, a wall stood six feet high made of stone. Obviously scorched from the flames which had been attacking it relentlessly.

Talya reached down to her waistline and poked at her pouch. She could feel the seeds within it and poked her fingers inside. She pinched three within her fingers and held them in her palm. Talya felt she just might need them.

A thunderous crash was heard from behind the wall. Accompanied by a crack which appeared in the wall. Another was heard, then the wall crumbled to dust.

Through the dust cloud the man appeared. His smile wide and his laugh beginning to grow loud. His hands were on his stomach and he was doubling over himself.

Talya looked at Dianna and could see she was growing angry. Far too angry to be controlled.

Talya threw her seeds and weaved her hands together. Two large leaves shot up in front of Dianna quickly, covering her and blocking her view. Vines which quickly grew bark began to grow in all directions from the sides of the leaves. They creeped and crawled, weaving together to form a protective sphere around the two of them. Talya ran to Dianna and spun her around to face her.

"We don't have time Dianna! We need to go! Now!"

The man could be heard shouting on the other side. "Go! Hurry! Get them!" Talya pictured the man pointing to the enclosure, an army of camo raining down from either side of him. As the picture left her mind she could that projectiles had begun showering down around the protective bubble.

Dianna shook her head fiercely, tears welling up in her eyes quickly.

"He killed my mom, Talya. He killed her…" She could hardly speak.

"I know Dianna." Talya shook her shoulders. "But we need to go. We need to get out of her."

Dianna nodded her head. Showing she understood and was willing to go. Even if she couldn't say the words.

Talya raised a hand and a vine appeared. A leaf expanding at its tip. Talya stepped onto the leaf and took Dianna's hand. Helping her onto it. Talya steadied herself and raised her hands on either side of her.

She felt Dianna wrap her arms around her waist. Her face being placed on Talya's back.

Talya split her hands apart, causing a tear to appear in the bubble, and quickly shot her hands backward. The leaf they were on shot forward, exploding from the enclosure and rocketing them deep within the forest before any of the soldiers could react. The air tore around them and soldiers dove out of the way to clear a path.

Before long the girls were far out of sight. Talya made sure the vine receded back into the enclosure before they could be tracked.

For now...the girls had escaped.