Chapter 7

Cold Path

A dark forest against a snowy backdrop, with the cloudy sky above allowing the frozen water to slowly collapse down upon the hills below. Luna couldn't help holding herself tight, unable to even care about her wounds as shivers brought themselves over her skin. She bit her lower lip as her booted feet struggled to break through the snow, with her hands smashing hard against the ground as she tried to breathe.

She clutched her chest, looking about at the branches scratching from above. She gripped against every piece of bark she could find, hoping to find any sort of answer that could ease her mind. Where in God's was she? How did she even end up here? A cough that nearly drew blood forced her to march faster up the forested hills.

"Wasn't I... in Linc's bed?" She asked, pushing her way through a few bushes, hearing a lone bird fly off towards the horizon. Each step she took was a risk, knowing how dark it was, but she had no choice. Her mind was too hazy to even care about the dangers, anyways. She was supposed to be home, contemplating leaving with Doug and Michelle so her family could be safe. That was the plan, correct? She should be comfortably underneath those blankets, holding her dear brother in case a nightmare tried to claim them both once more.

But somehow, she ended up in a hellish situation, feeling like she barely survived a terrible attack. Fresh cuts against her skin, bruises that burned deeply, along with what she knew were broken fingers that struggled to rest against her tattered shirt. Was she assaulted? She must've been dragged from her house, but she knew Royal Woods rather well. No part, not even the close-by parks, looked anything like this.

She stumbled over a loose root, feeling a tear against her eye. "Oh God... did somebody attack us? Oh no, Linc...," she spoke weakly, thinking of that little bro she cared for so much. Too much happened to him over the past year; she could barely accept the fact that he was kidnapped and hurt by that terrible man, even after being rescued. It still stung her to this day.

Where was he now? Hell, what about the rest of her family? Where were they? Dammit, why couldn't she recall a single thing? That blasted dream made her lost, and all she could do was wander in the dark, slowly freezing alive.

Wherever she was, dream or not, she had to get warm quick. Her injuries were bad enough; she wouldn't survive so long like this. "Where am I going? Am I... Am I going anywhere?" she chastised herself, feeling each muscle in her body scream loudly. "Dammit... what the hell? Wait, my phone!"

She reached for her phone deep in her skirt pocket, and unlike last time, actually managed to keep it on her person. She smiled, feeling some sort of relief. At long last, hope could be found within her. She quickly pressed the power button, watching it boot back to life. A deep breath released from her lungs; she will find her family, and get out of this hell.

But all chances of help left as soon as she saw her splash screen. The picture she normally had, which would've been a classic pic of her hanging out with Lincoln and Sam, was no more. Her eyes grew wide staring down at a whole new picture... or what she had to call a picture.

It was a sign, made out of standard paper made for the usual printer. Written with crude ink, a small message was made out for her: "No signal. You Screwed!"

She clutched her phone. "Oh no... oh no, no, no!"

Luna picked up the pace, marching her way through the heavy load of snow still leading the path. The branches grabbed, and a lone wrong step brought her face-first into the snow. She shivered harder as the darkness seemingly swallowed her whole, with her vision blurring. What was this new pain? The feeling that it was all over, and she should just give up? Die all alone and confused?

"No, get up! There has to be an answer! Get up, girl!"

She stomped her way up, coughing but refusing to yield. Perhaps her efforts were paying off, for the moment she rose up passed another snowy hill, bright lights began to form against the horizon. Society? Somebody close by? She couldn't help but smile, forcing her body to push even harder. "Go, girl, you're almost there... come on!"

She felt like a little kid running to the Christmas Tree, ready to love her gifts like all her siblings. A chance to survive; she needed to take it.

One step, two steps, three... the cold of the horrific hills was going away, with a feeling of warmth she quickly accepted. It was as if the world was awarding her for taking the risk.

Four steps, five... a roaring fire? Bigger than the trees? Was that normal? She didn't care. She needed the heat.

Six... seven... but the eighth stopped abruptly. Luna found herself standing tall against the falling snow, gulping as her chest compressed in pain. Her eyes came on to the sight of the roaring flames, watching as they burned bright against the dark branches. They were powerful as they were destructive, hovering over what appeared to be remains of a helicopter.

"A... helicopter...?"

Against its metallic body, mounds were spotted against the white snow. Five of them, all wrapped up in uniforms that were made and ready for combat. Fatigues that were prepared to kill, with weapons on their persons that were locked-and-loaded. She quickly marched over to one, looking him up-and-down, praying there was anything to salvage.

"Hey, hey! Are you okay?" She turned to the others, all with the same expression: agony. "Come on, one of you! W-What is this?"

There was nothing she could do. They were dead on the ground, bodies scorched and brutalized by the apparent crash. They all poured out of their craft's open wound, barely lasting seconds after impact. Luna covered her mouth, nearly stumbling back. What made this happen? Why was it so horrific?

Was... Was she on this helicopter? She looked it up-and-down, paying attention for any symbols. Even the uniforms the men wore were different than what she was expecting. If it was Doug's squad, they would be in all black, with his own chopper matching the style. All of this didn't match him.

But... if that's case, then what was this she was looking at? Standard military? Dang it, she didn't know. She rubbed her eyes, before noticing a glint on one of their belts. A bottle of sorts, one that survived the blast. White liquid jumped about within.

"The... healing stuff...?"

The very same stuff that kept her alive on the mountain. Pour it on her person, and watch as the wounds just magically go away. The power of the white hairs, and with the aid of her brother, it worked perfectly. But... why would they have this? Even Doug barely had anything like it on his person.

Well... did it matter? She quickly unscrewed the top and poured it over her body. It stung at first, but soon her wounds were no more. She took a deep breath, at last feeling refreshed. The wounds patched up, and the bruising disappeared. She felt like a whole new person, though the cold still burned her away.

Against another soldier, his rifle was fully prepped, and undamaged from the crash. The rest looked a little too scarred. She shook her head. "Am I really... do I need a gun?" She asked herself, before nodding in agreement. "I...I'm in danger, aren't I?"

She took his rifle, and bowed her head at him, giving the fallen members a solemn farewell before marching even further up the snowy hills. "Gotta find out where I am. Dammit, they didn't have any radios. Oh God..."

Her journey luckily wouldn't last much longer. She moved up and up and up through the wood, climbing over yet another hill, before she realized the forest was clearing out. Her eyes grew wide as she saw the sky grow more fierce, even seeing the moon popping out of the heavy clouds.

She kept moving forward, finding the snow getting less as she reached the top of a hill, at last breaking out of the forest. She felt a smile emerge; she finally found something, right? Get out of here, and give those guys a proper burial. She could escape at long last.

… and then she looked over an impressive lake down below the hill, one that stretched out towards the horizon, leading to another section of land completely covered in an icy fog. It was almost impossible to make out, but one specific landmark was unmistakable to the naked eye.

A castle. A castle she knew all too well. Her eyes grew as she fell to her knees.

"Loch... Loud?"

Her ancient homeland smiled back.

FROM: A forgotten paper, found recently in an ancient tomb. Name unknown

"Dearest brother, I hope you are well. I'm sorry that you have left us. Is the family okay? Will they be? Please tell me you found a home to survive and live in. You deserve happiness, you know that? You always did. Oh, how I wish I could've joined you. We should still be together, but alas this dreaded night... please keep your health. I love you, brother... please, take care..."