Chapter 4: Blood Is Thicker Than Water
"The hardest thing in the world, is to admit you have a problem. Once you can see there is a problem, your halfway to solving it."
Robert De Niro
Two dusty boots stopped in front of the large building kicking up the dust. Bruised and battered they looked as though they had seen better days, it was almost as though their pleas of rest could be heard. The person who wore them was completely oblivious to these pleas though, and soon she began to trudge along again, walking ever onwards to her destination.
She was very different this person... it was so hard to describe... there was just something about her. Upon looking at her clothes one would have mearly acknowledged the that she was extremely poor and didn't have much in the way of personal belongings. All that was true, but it was when your eye's travelled upwards and you saw her face, there lay within it such a rich, startling beauty that it totally eclipsed any state she was in. Even if she was wearing rags her face would remain perfect and naturally beautiful. Such beauty was so rare in this war torn world that it made her all the more special.
But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not?
Right now the beholder was standing a little distance away peeking from around a corner, as the girl made her way towards The Mall and was stopped by guards. He watched from a distance, holding his breath in case he might be heard. The things we do to escape attention, yet in the back of our minds we all know that he would have preferred being noticed. We are strange creatures us humans.
"HALT!" The guard demanded as the girl approached, "State your business or leave."
The girl narrowed her eyes, "My business has nothing to do with you, now get out of my way."
She continued the guards lowered their spears forming an "X" and blocking her path.
"I'm sorry but I can't allow you through, this city is a war zone, your either with the Mall Rats or against us. Now I have my orders and I will not let you through without the proper authorisation."
The girl clenched her teeth and put her hand to her temple, she hadn't come all this way just to be turned back, What's this guys problem anyway?
She was about to give the guard a piece of her mind when a voice called out behind her,
"It's okay guys, she's with me." A figure stepped out from around the corner and began walking towards the girl, "She's safe guys, you can let her through." He talked to the guards but kept his eyes firmly on the girl. The guard hesitated but then lowered his spear, his companion followed suit.
The new girl was puzzled but did not show it she simply turned on her heel and walked into the Mall. The boy dressed in black robes scurried after her, "Hey wait!" The girl looked up to the sky and stopped, breathing out in annoyance.
The boy caught up with her and smiled a little, "Don't I even get a Thank You?"
The girl turned round "Thanks," she said simply, and continued to walk on. The boy once again ran after her, he continued to walk on behind her, "The name's Joshua, how about you?"
"Angelina." With that she rounded a corner and walked off.
Joshua stood there leaning against a wall for a while pondering, "Hmm... That went well." Then he looked up at the back of Angelina, "I'll be seeing more of you soon, I hope."
Angelina stormed on completely unawares of Joshua behind her,
Bloody pestering git, could've got in myself.
Other than that his English accent was annoying her, and he was damn persistent, but wasn't that always the case? All the guys always tried forcing themselves onto her, let things happen naturally for God's sake. What am I saying?
Pah! I don't need anyone I'm fine, got this far alone.
She was here for one reason and one reason only, to see that... her. As she looked around The Mall she whistled with appreciation,
Always had to be the best, didn't ya? Big sis...
She walked on reaching the beautiful fountain she stood there just gazing for a second at the beautiful colours. She just stood there staring admiring it's majesty and splendour, for a moment she was lost, nothing else mattered: Not the world around her; Not her sister Amber; No the fact that she was tired, And that she was so lonel...
"Hi there, can I help you with something?" Angelina awoke out of her trance and shook her head. She turned to look at the speaker, What!? You've got to be kidding, who let in Miss Chop Sticks with the dodgy hairdo...
"Where's Amber?"
Tai-San was a little taken back, who is this girl? She's reminds me of someone.
"Um... probably in her room upstairs."
"Which is where?"
"First door on the right." With that Angelina stormed off upstairs, Tai-San merely shook her head, your welcome.
The Mall was a hive of activity with soldiers running around giving orders, Angelina managed to duck and dodge her way through the oncoming traffic and after what seemed like hours she finally reached her destination, she was shaking, nervous, though she didn't know why.
Come on, can't back out now.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself she walked into to the room and looked around,
What am I doing here? Why did I come al this way for no reason? I don't even like the stuck up cow. What does she care if I'm all right or not? I don't owe her anything. She left me anyway.
As these thought's and many more raged on through her head she continued to look round for her "sister". Then she spotted her, leaning over some maps, she looked different from when Angelina had last seen her adorned in leathers and boots. But the strange thing was that her face had not changed one bit, it was almost like the rest of her body had grown around her face, she was still Amber all right.
Amber's world was a haze, she might have been looking at the map but her thoughts were not on any land mass this side of the planet.
Number's, Lines, colours, more lines... God I miss her. I love her so much, why can't she see that? If only she knew what happened that night. I wonder if she's alive?
Amber immediately shook her head at the thought,
No, she's alive I know it, she's a survivor.
Seeing some movement out of the corner of her eye, she glanced up and her mouth dropped open in amazement.
Angelina watched as Amber glanced up wide eyed and gaping. Amber slowly started walking towards Angelina all of a sudden breaking into a run and upon reaching her grabbed her in a tight hug, tears falling out of her eyes.
Angelina closed her eyes and bit her lip to stop herself from crying but she kept her hands firmly to her sides,
No... I... I... hate her.
Amber drew back and held Angelina's face in her hands, "Your alive, God... your alive, I've missed you so much." She hugged Angelina again and still did not receive any response from the latter, but Amber was past caring. All she knew was that her beloved sister was alive and well. "You've changed so much," Amber said, "You look just like Mom."
Angelina listened to all this and stayed silent, still and unemotional. When Amber stepped back she looked at Angelina through teary eyes, "What's wrong, aren't you happy to see me?"
Angelina looked at her for a while, when she spoke her voice was flat and unemotional, "I am fine and I'm alive, I wanted to tell you because your my sister and I felt that you deserved to know. I have nothing else to say to you so I'm leaving, goodbye." She turned around to walk out but Amber grabbed her arm.
"IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY TO ME?!" Amber was aghast, "I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR TWO YEARS!"
Angelina angrily turned around pulling her arm from Amber's grip, "AND I WONDER WHOSE FAULT THAT IS AMBER!"
"I'M SORRY, LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. I THOUGHT I'D COMEBACK FOR YOU..."
"YEAH, WELL YOU DIDN'T, YOU JUST LEFT ME THERE TO DIE!!"
At this Amber stopped following Angelina and hung her head down, her shoulder's dropped, it seemed someone had just sucked the life out of her, but Angelina didn't stop there.
"YOU WERE ALWAYS MOM AND DADS FAVOURITE, THEY THOUGHT YOU'D TAKE CARE OF ME, SO DID I. YOUR A SELFISH WITCH. YOU LEFT ME TO SAVE YOUR OWN HIDE. I HATE YOU!!!"
Amber didn't say anything she just stood there her head down. Angelina looked like she had a lot more to say but she turned and ran out of The Mall. Amber tried to call her but her voice failed her.
She hates me, my own sister hates me.
She fell to the floor and began crying her eyes out.
Angelina was not aware of anything, everything was a blur, all she knew was that she had to get out of there; fast. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care. In her blind panic she almost ran Lex over.
"Hey watch where you going lady!" Lex shouted after her, she didn't seem to hear,
Who the hell was that? he thought to himself. Paying it a nevermind he fell back to whatever he was doing... Which was what again?
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Amber on the floor,
Hey, she sure missed this place, looks like she's kissing and hugging the floor... What?!
As he walked closer he heard muffled sniffing sounds coming from Amber.
Oh my God! She's crying. Man nothing fazes that woman, what the hell happened?
More out of curiosity then genuine sympathy, (as Lex would have you believe), he walked over to her.
"Hey Amber what's wrong, get up." He received no reply, so he inquired again, "Amber! What if someone sees you?"
"I don't care, I don't care, she hates me, she hates me," Amber sobbed. Lex was shocked he had no idea what she was on about, but he decided to act fast. What if the troops saw their leader in this state? Their morale was already low as it was. Without further question he picked her up and carried her into the nearest room laying her into the bed.
What do you do with crying women anyway? He thought to himself.
"AMBER! YOUR THE DAMN LEADER, NOW SORT YOURSELF OUT BEFORE SOMEONE SEES YOU!" Lex hoped this would snap Amber out of... whatever state he was in,
Amber stirred for a second, "I want Bray, Lex please get Bray."
"Okay no problem, you just hold on tight I'll be back in a minute okay?" Amber nodded.
Lex hurried out of the room to find their "exhalted" leader.
"It's all happenin' today," he said to himself once he was outside the room.
To be continued...
Disclaimer: Um, sorry it took so long I had some, family obligations to tend to. Made some improvements other chapters aswell. I knew I said I need five reviews to continue but I changed my mind, 'cause I can. So this is dedicated to all... One of my readers Artemis921. Thanks for the reviews, it would be nice if you could look over my chapters and suggest improvements. I could use the help my man.
Notes: More action, soon.