Chapter 8

More hours. More walking. That is what they had been doing ever since they got together. The group had opened up a little and told a little about their past but not much. And now they were traveling in and uncomforatble silence. To each of them it felt like this was all did anymore walk through the desert under the hot sun. "Are we there yet?" Kyle whinned.
"No and I don't know when we will be so don't ask." replied Parker.
"So Nick your going to a place that doesn't exhist?" was Kyle's desperate attempt to start a conversation. "It might not exhist. I'm not really sure but I've read about it and there might be people there that can help." answered Nick.
"Well why wouldn't they have helped already if they could it is their world too." asked Kali.
"I don't think they had the power too before." Nick informed.
"So what will you going to this..place do?" asked Steve.
"I have something that they might want and it is too dangerous to let the Daemons have." replied Nick.
"Wait what do you have that is so important and why do YOU have it." asked Parker "I don't know what I have exactly but the Daemons attacked me for it and I found it in a cave." said Nick "Well can we see what is so important?" asked Kyle. Nick nodded and pulled the green gem out of his pocket. Everyone stopped and looked at the crystal in his hand.
"Hey thats the same things we have" said Steve. Then he, Parker,
Kyle, Kali, and Jerry pulled out the crystals they had. "Where did you get those?" asked Nick "The Daemons had them and they were ranting about how with these they would be all powerful. We grabbed them on our way out." replied Kali.
"Well what are they and how many are there you each have one"
said Tyrson.
"I have no idea but I have two here."Steve tossed her the extra crystal he had in his hand.
"What am I going to do with this? I'm going north to join a resistance not to some fantasy place." Tyrson argued.
"Keep it if something happens then at least the Daemons won't get all of the crystals and you can join the resistance after we stop at this place"
Said Nick,
"What are we supposed to do if this place doesn't exhist then we just wander around with these crystals that the Daemons are after?" asked Jerry, finally speaking up.
"Then I guess we just have to hope that this place really exhists"
said Kyle.
"What place are we exactly talking about?" asked Kali.
"I'll know it when I see it." Said Nick.
"So I guess this is a change of plans we have to make a pit stop at some mysterious place before joining the resistance." stated Steve "I guess does everyone agree?" asked Kyle. Everyone nodded except for Jerry, Parker, and Tyrson.
"No I have to find my troop. I can't go looking for nonexistant places" stated Parker. "I agree I need to find a resistance to help." said Tyrson.
"Well you can catch up to you troop and if you want to help these people might be able to help destroy the Daemons with these crystals if they are so powerful." Said Nick. They both looked thoughtful for a moment then they nodded albiet reluctantly.
"Your all agreeing to looking for lost fantasy places and wasting time when we could put these crystals to use and give them to resistance leaders"
argued Jerry.
"Well we will give them to resistance leaders if this place doesn't exhist but I'm pretty sure it does and as for wasting time we can't help that"
replied Nick.
"Fine" relented Jerry. He doubted he could have argued with them anyways because there were more of them than him. "Lets go then" said Kyle and they started out. Jerry tried to start a conversation with Tyrson but she didn't reply to him. He then finally gave up.

Shae was in trouble. She didn't know where she was or even who she was. All she knew was that she was dead hot wandering around in the desert. She didn't remember her family that is if she even had a family. She didn't remember much of anything only her name really and she didn't even know if that was right. The only time she ever got close to discovering her past was in her dreams or in high emotion situations when flashes of people, places, or situations. She guessed that they were her memories but she didn't recognize anything in her visions. Shae remembered being in a slave camp for a few days when a resistance freed some of the slaves including her. She was 12 then and then she got seperated from the resistance. Since then she had been staying out of harms way and surviving on her own and getting food where she could. She was 17 now and she had no one and nothing. She had been staying in a small abandoned shack in a forest when Daemons swarmed through the forest. Luck was with her because she had managed to stay hidden. When she turned to run a Daemon saw her but she managed to out run and lose them. Then she ended up running into the desert and getting lost.
She had seen many different resistamce troops during her wandering but she had always been too young or too scared. But if she had been part of one of the troops she wouldn't be in this mess and she wouldn't be alone. She might even find someone who could help her find her past. All she had were two necklaces. She had had them all of her life or at least she thought she did she didn't really know. One neclace was a pink gem on a goldeden chain and it fit inside of her fist. The other neclace was a round silver pendant that was about one fourth of an inch around. It was about 2 inches around every way. The design was an eight pointed star made of straight lines and where the lines met was an intricatly cut and clear gem that reflected light. The pendant was on a thick silver chain. The pendant used to share the chain with a clear steel ring (that now rested on her finger) until she grew into the ring so it fit her finger. The ring is another thing that she had always had. It fit on her thumb and it had markings going around the outside that looked like another language.
Shea had never really thought about it but the pendant wasn't really all that heavy and it never got rusted or dirty or worn like other silver did. It alway stayed the same like it was brand new. But it was enough reminising she needed to find someway to help the resistance and the world rather than walking around like a vagabond. If she joined the troops she might even make some friends and have someone to talk to.
Shea sighed and continued in the hot sun wishing more than anything for some shade or a breeze. She didn't even know which direction she was headed she could be going in cirlces for all she knew. She felt helpless and hopeless. "Well well well what do we have here?" said a voice from behind her. Shea turned around and let out a squeak of fear. In front of her stood an ancient warrior. She was dressed in gold and had a staff like the one the grim reapper would carry. Her name was Scorpina. Shea had run into her a few times before and she was familiar so Shea thought she might have met her in the past before. Scorpina seemed to know who she was and tried to capture her a few times but Shea always got away when Scorpina was distracted or hid somewhere nearby. Now she was on her own with no where to hide or run. With Scorpina were about ten Daemons. 'This is it' thought Shea 'theres no where to go"
"What are you doing out here little princess?"asked Scorpina. Shea clenched her teeth, she had always hated that nickname. "Oh come on now aren't you going to talk to your old friend?" teased Scorpina.
"Your not my friend. Why are you always after me? Just leave me alone and go bother someone else." replied Shea with fear. She didn't really want to get into a fight with Scorpina.
"Aw but is so much fun to chase you." laughed Scorpina. This was the same old thing that always happened when they met. Shea questioned why and Scorpina teased her.
"Just screw off you ugly hag." Shea said with more bravery with than she actually felt. Scorpina's eyes narrowed and she grew stiff.
"You know princess if it were up to me you'd be dead already but sadly for me my lord wants you for reasons unknown to me. Seize her its time her luck has run out." snapped Scorpina. Then the Daemons rushed at Shea.
Eyes widdened turned to run but found herself surrounded. A Daemon grabbed her arm and threw her into the dirt.
"Now now just make sure shes in one piece." ordered Scorpina. When Shea tried to stand up she was hit by a laser blast issued from Scorpina. Shea let out a scream as she was lifted up ruffly by her hair.

The group was traveling along nicely and they were making pretty good time from Parker's point of view. The group had been silent for the past few hours again and they were almost hopping for some action.
"I am so bored I am almost hopping for some action." said Kyle.
"Becareful what you wish for do you hear that?" asked Tyrson.
"How is everytime you say you are wishing for some action it always happens?" asked Steve. But he was quickly shut up by Parker who was listening carfully just like everyone else. In the distance they could hear the sounds of a fight going on. Then they heard a feminine scream.
"Come on someones in trouble." ordered Parker as he started to run for the sand dune. The rest of the group followed his lead. When they got around they saw about ten Daemons attacking a girl about their age. And standing off a little ways was a female warrior of the evil type. The girl screamed again as a sharp blow was issued to her side.
"Come on" said Parker and then he rushed in and kicked a few Daemons away. The rest of the group followed and started to fight the attackers off. The girl being attacked found an opening and ran...straight into the female warrior. Jerry learning from past experinces picked up a discarded sword and took a swipe at a Daemon and turned him to dust. The other followed his example and started taking out Daemons. The seven each took out a Deamon until there were only two left. They quickly retreated to stand behind the female warrior who was holding the arm of the girl.
"Oh princess don't think you would have gotten away so easy this time" drawled Scorpina. Gripping tighter to the struggling girl.
"Let me alone Scorpina" cried the girl.
"Let the girl go alien" Parker stepped up. Scorpina looked over at the people who had interfered wtih her plans. "I don't think so human. My lord wants her. And she is coming with me" replied Scorpina.
"We won't let you take her." Said Kyle.
"Ha you think that a group of pitiful humans is going to stop me"
laughed Scorpina. The group looked like they were about to attack but Scorpina grabbed the girl around the throat and held Shea in front of her with the point of her staff pointed at her throat. Scorpina then moved her other hand in front of the girls mouth. Struggle as Shea might she couldn't break free.
"How about you...trade one of us for her." Parker suggested on the spot. The others nodded their head trying to save an innocent.
"Yea right! My lord wants this one and she won't manage to get away this time." cried Scorpina. The group looked lost they didn't know what to do. Suddenly Scorpina cried out. Shea bit her hand and pushed her back and fell to the ground. When Scorpina was about to hit her Shea threw a handful of sand into her eyes. The others rushed the remaining Daemons and Shea crawled a safe distance away. The Daemons were taken out quickly and the group surrounded Scorpina. "Theres no where to run now surrender." Yelled Jerry.
"No I have to go but don't worry I will be back." Scorpina then looked at Shea "and I'll be back for you princess so be ready." and with that she disappeared. Shea breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you okay?" asked Kali.
"Yea and thank you who knows what Scorpina would have done if you hadn't shown up" Shea smiled at them. Nick who was closest to her extended a hand and helped her up. As she was getting up her pink necklace slipped out from under her shirt. Kyle caught notice of it.
"Hey where did you get that?" he asked pointing at her necklace.
"This. I don't really know. I've just always had it." she answered.
"How can you not know?" asked Tyrson.
"I just don't" Shea shrugged helplessly. "Why?" "Because we all have one" then the group each pulled out their crystal and Shea gasped.
"What are they?" "We don't know. Only that the Daemons want them because they are supposedly really powerful." Nick informed her.
"We are going somewhere to give these to people who can put them to proper use and then the Daemons can't get them and use them against us. They might be the key to save Earth." Steve said.
"You mean these little crystals are going to save the planet against the aliens." Shea asked skeptically.
"Yea and you can come if you want to give them to these people and then we are all going to join a resistance troop." offered Kali.
"Really I was going to join a resistance troop but it is kind of hard in the desert and it would be better to travel in a group." Shea said. Jerry and Tyrson looked like they detested the idea of having someone so weak in their group but it was too late now.
"Sure. I'm Steven by the way and this is Kali, Nick, Jerry, Tyrson,
Kyle, and Parker." "Great I'm..uh..Shea." She hesitated not really knowing if that was even her real name. The group started to walk. Steve decided to make conversation.
"So that uh Scorpina you've met her before"
"What..oh..yea I've managed to escape her a few times before but she somehow always finds me." replied Shea.
"Why does she want you so bad?" asked Tyrson "She's always talking about taking me back to her lord other than that I have no idea." Shea said honestly.
"Why did that thing call you princess?" asked Kyle.
"I don't know she just took to calling me that for some reason"
Shea replied. Truthfully Shea looked like she could be a princess. She was tall about 5'7" and she had semi tan skin from being in the sun so long. She had long blond hair with natural hightlights from the sun that went down to her midback. The old rags for clothes she was wearing weren't very flatering but they didn't harm her looks. But she did look worse for the wear. She was tired her hair was tangled, her skin was dirty, and her she was brused and had was slightly bleeding and had dried blood from where she was attacked. But it was nothing a shower couldn't fix.
The group then dropped into a silence. They walked for about an hour when they saw a building up ahead.
"I told you it was real." said Nick as they looked at the legendary building.

TO BE CONTINUED...