:Standard disclaimer and such goes here:


Mhm...well as for updating I'm not sure if I will get a system going. I hope to though. I really want to get at least six pages (I'd like ten) done for each chapter, so at least when I do update, it will be more than, 'She ran away...mwaha.' And plus, I want to get another story going. I have this idea and it keeps on yelling at me because I haven't started it yet...and yes...I talk to myself...it's comforting....and rather entertaining....



~*~




Chapter 2


Ambience



I knew as I ran that the state my body was in after such a short battle was not adequate. I was week and slowly becoming weaker.


The reason for this was the fault of me and the unknown ambitions of the Ambience. Placing the blame solely on their shoulders would be ignorant and naive on my part.


My knees screamed with pain every running step I took. My muscles were already straining from what I stressed them to accomplish. My body was calling for my sword to return, for I had not mastered this skill yet, and my butt hurt from that damn root tripping me.


Although I was happy that I was able to escape (and hopefully kill the first challenge thrown my way) I knew that it would be foolish to think it was over. They knew what I knew and they couldn't afford to lose me due to my knowledge. I was too valuable to them, too essential to their plan; whatever it was.


All I could do for now was to run and hope I was running in the right direction.


The path twisted and turned through the low brush and dense trees and soon began to rise, possessing precipitous slopes on each side. The humid, moist air was far too dense to satisfy my lungs as I became short of breath. I was struggling to continue my rigorous pace, but to slow down could mean death.


I did not know why I continued to run. No Manakin could survive such an elemental attack as that one. They were merely foot soldiers. Well, very well bred foot soldiers, but they were defiantly not masters of mental manipulation. They held no such powers. But the uneasiness in the back of my head continued to scream , "Run! Run faster! Faster dammit! Run why you still can! Don't stop! Dammit, run!"


I proceeded like this for miles, never letting up on my aching legs. The path seemed unending and the pitpat on my feet slamming the earth echoed undisturbed through the artificial mountains. Pitpat pitpat. I couldn't stop. Pitpat pitpat. One two, one two, left right, left right.


By now I was drenched in my own sweat. It slipped into my mouth and eyes, dripped off the tip of my nose. I squinted and drove on, sprinting.


'One two, one two,' I counted in my head, 'One two, one two.'


Whether it was the lack of hydration or the fatigue shooting through my body, I began to rhyme, 'One two, one two, buckle my shoe. One two, one two, jump over the rabbit pooh. One two, one two, I have a booboo. One two, one two, I have a backache too.'


Then bam. Like a sack of logs I slammed into the ground and rolled off the side of the path. I slid and tumbled overturning dead ferns and rocks. Head over heals and side over side I was tossed, thrashing through bushes and small trees. My sword slipped from my hand and cartwheeled behind me, coming dangerously close to lacerating my body.


When the ground finally leveled, I stopped on my stomach and was afraid to move. I just wanted to lay there and sleep. Everything hurt so much. The throbbing and pulsing and pounding. It was overwhelming.


I heard small rocks and such continuing to tumble down the incline and then eventually come to a rest near by. More leaves and plant decay came and piled up around my limp body.


I picked my head up from the ground and attempted to look at my surroundings, but I was suddenly overcome with nausea as everything spun and churned. I slowly rest my head and closed my eyes.


My heart rate slowly ebbed as I attempted to regulate my breathing. I concentrated on all my senses, omitting vision. The ground was soft and damp. The air was fresh, the dirt stunk. I tasted blood in my mouth, but not an alarming amount. I continued to regain my whits and try to feel where the pain was coming from on my body, but suddenly I heard a faint sound in the distance.


One two, one two.


My eyes flew open as I gazed up the monstrous slope. A burst of adrenalin squirted through me and my heart skipped with terror.


There was no mistaking it. The Manakin was still alive. Though I my have stunned it, it was coming. I laid there motionless listening to my heartbeat match the oncoming pitpat.


Thud thud. One two.


Thud thud. One two.


It was moving fast and becoming louder.


'Pitpat, pitpat, it knows where I'm at.' My heart pounded so loud I would be surprised if the Manakin didn't hear it.


'Left right, left right, I don't have the strength to fight.' My body was numb and closely resembled jello...or chocolate pudding.


'Thud thud, thud thud, my face is covered with mud.' The mud smelled like crap, I couldn't breathe.


'One two, one two, dammit I'm doomed.' I lost my sword and my strength. I had nothing.


The sound had a grotesque manner to it. Heavy and foreboding. I dared not to move, not to breathe. I was afraid.


Fear, I always thought to myself, was foolish and feebleminded. It was a weakness. Allowing yourself to fear meant that your enemy had control of your actions and therefore the battle.


I then realized I was more than afraid. I was petrified. I didn't want to go back. I couldn't go back, not after tasting freedom, even if only catalectic, for this long.


I just couldn't go.


The steps slowed. 'Just lay still. It won't see you.'


I won't go back.


The steps stopped.'Just don't move.'


Never.


Silence.


"I see you." The hot wretched breath grazed against my year. My eyes exploded open as I whirled onto my back.. It stepped on my stomach to keep me still.


It played with my sword in it's hands.


I couldn't breathe.


"Dropped something?"


I glared up into it's cold eyes, not wanting to back down despite my fear.


It grinned, "Now, why don't-"

"Get off me," I growled between my teeth, "now."


My chest was heaving, my heart was skipping a mile a minute.


"Oh, don't be so rude." It glared down at me as if I was nothing.


"Get the hell off me."

The foot dug into my torso. I winced.


"That was mean back there. That whole," it twirled the sword, "fire thing, and do you know what?"


It looked down at me as if expecting an answer.


I returned the glare and said nothing.


The Manakin drew back it's foot and kicked my ribs. As I skidded from the impact it yelled, "Do you know what!?"


My torso was burning inside, the pain unrelenting. I felt tears beginning to gush from my eyes. I curled up into a fetal position.


Between gasping breaths I said, "Fuck you," with satisfaction.


It smirked. "Fine, be that way."


I didn't want to go, I couldn't, I wouldn't. I will never be seen back 'there' again.


I would rather die.


The Manakin took a leap and dug it's foot into my back. On reflex my back arched and legs extended when I screamed in pain.


I would rather die. I know I would.


It kicked again, this time connecting with my knee.


I heard a crack, a pop.


Tears surged from behind closed eyelids. I wanted to reach and hold my leg, but my back could no longer bend that way.


Once more, the Manakin placed a foot on my stomach.


Looking up I was unable see the foot soldier, for my tears blinded me.


I would rather die.


"Don't be stupid," it growled, "you know you can't run forever."


I let out a shaky cough.


The sword dangled from the Manakin's hand. I looked at it gleaming in the sun and although I know the sun was fabricated, it was beautiful nonetheless. That sword was not made from bronze or steal, but my own flesh and blood. Having that in it's hands was like having it hold my arm or leg in front of my eyes.


If I was to die, I wanted it back.


The skill of acquiring a weapon from my own flesh and blood was not taught to me. I did not witness it in action one particular day. All I know is that it just...happened. And before I knew it, it just 'happened' again.


I managed a deep breath and whispered, "Deo decorum, fortiter me fauceo, dedire ad me quid est te."


The Manakin squinched it's eyebrows in confusion, "What the..?"


"Tu sunt ingens," I wheezed.


The sword began to vibrate.


I didn't feel guided by a God, I didn't lose control of my actions, I just continued to speak through phlegm and blood.


"Tu sunt waendex. Necesse est mihi auxilium recipire." The sword glowed a radiant white and shook itself free from the clutches of the Manakin.


He staggered backwards.


I didn't know what to do.


The light blazed brightly, out glowing the sun, capturing all shadows.


I took another wheezing breath, "Dedire quid est mihi ad me."


My chest suddenly shot up into the air. The same light streaked from my eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and heart. My body rose into the air, glowing erratically .


I did not know what I had done. I only prayed it was the right thing.


The with great force the sword rose above me and sunk into my heart, digging and churning, trying to find it's place between my shattered ribs. A scream of pain escaped my voice as everything went white. The sword disappeared into my torso with one final jolt. The pain was unbearable, the amount of blood, unbelievable.


Then, the light abandoned me and everything went black.


~*~


Waves slapping against the shore. Birds singing. Wind blowing. I opened my eyes only to be bombarded by astonishingly bright sunlight. My body was sprawled and halfway buried in golden sand.


The wind blew tickling my skin.


Waves slapped the shore once more, then receded only to return seconds later with another slap. I freed my head from the sand and browsed briefly at my environment. At short glance I noticed an ocean of crystal blue water foamed and gently lulled in the breeze creating a hypnotic rhythm. I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees with ease. I felt no pain.


That, however, did not seem...unusual.


I then stood on my feet and twirled to take in my full surroundings. The beach itself seemed to go on forever on each side. If you walked long enough, maybe you would end up where you started.


Behind me lay and oasis of life filled with beautiful trees and grasses waltzing in the wind. The trees were tall, but not overbearing. The grass was long, but not cumbersome. All it needed was flowers, and yet it didn't.


None of that truly interested me.


I slowly turned once more and looked out to the ocean. It seemed to be endless, for it blended perfectly with the sky.


Blue on blue.


Then of in the distance, an unnatural wind came, contradicting the forces of the earth.


I wanted to see why.


No. Actually I didn't want to, but I felt that it was my responsibility to know why. So, I decided to go.


I ambled into damp sand leaving footprints that were soon erased by the clear ocean. The water foamed against my shins and splashed against my thighs.


Another wind blew.


I stopped when the body of water engulfed my waist looked for my destination.


Knowing good and well that to swim would be a bunglesome experience, I looked to the sky.


Slowly at first, I raised myself from the water, and then once clear I shot upwards. The wind howled and swirled against my damp body, but what should have been annoying, I found quite pleasant.


I stopped a hundred or so feet from the ocean surface.


What I had just done may have been described wrongly. I felt that it was not I who was moving, but the world around me. I had the strange feeling that 'I' had not even moved from my point of consciousness.


I took this perspective into view and felt to where the wind was coming from. The world suddenly flew past me with unimaginable speed until it reached another shore.


It stopped.




Okay. Why I decided to end it there...I'm not too sure. I guess I didn't want too much to happen in one chapter...I think.


So about the whole language thing. That was Latin if you didn't notice and if anyone who read this and knows Latin, I know it's not right, I was just too lazy to do correct tense usage. I just wanted it to sound like something mystical-ish.


Uhm...sorry about another short chapter^^;;. I was really hoping to do more, but for some strange reason I can't get more words into this. Oh well :shrugs:.


I'll update soon...once I think of what to write next....oh boy...this is a challenge for me cause fantasy is my worst genre. I'm not a fantasy person...but I guess it's a change of pace for me. I am really enjoying this story.


Well, see ya soon! Toodles!