Hi guys! New chapter!

Chapter 4: Wander No Farther

POV Ember

The next few days were a blur.

No school, no traveling, no going outside. The gnomes collected our food.

My favorite gnome, Isa, would come and tell me stories. She would reassure me that the plague would be over soon, that they would probably find a cure based off Calla's flowers.

This was slightly worrying, though. Why didn't Calla's flowers work on the elves? There were officially 115 elves already sick. The plague was spreading fast.

Two days later, we were all moping around inside. A messenger came.

Evangeline thought it was a monster. He had at least ten layers of clothing and a scarf around his face. His hands were covered in multiple gloves. He left very quickly.

The scroll said to open it at 11:00 at night. We all moaned. Evangeline's bedtime was 10:00, mine was 9:30, and Faybelle's was 9:00. We wouldn't get to know until tomorrow.

POV Faybelle

My plan was to eavesdrop, but I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I had been jumping around all day, trying to steal the scroll so I could open it. But Mom and Daddy were too quick. Yes, I say Daddy. Moving on.

I woke up the next morning and rushed over to my dresser. Once I was ready in my short midnight blue dress and leggings, I rushed down stairs. Mom and Daddy were sitting on the couch, silent.

I sat down, and soon Ember came down in a lime green dress, and Evangeline came down in a long sleeved pink one. We all sat, waiting.

Finally Evangeline cleared her throat, gesturing at the scroll. Mom took the hint and picked it up. She read aloud:

"We, the council, have picked up hints that the plague has been caused by the Neverseen. We have to find out the cause before the cure, meaning we will be sending a scout troop out to their suspected hideout. Unfortunately, the path we have chosen will be to small for adults, and we will send teenagers between the age of 13-16. The names are listed below."

She took a deep breath and read on. "Armelle Bexley, Brealynn Camari, Ina Shaleen, Effie Farren, Faybelle Vacker, and Jaelyn Song."

"WHAT?!" All three of us shouted. I was stunned. My head was split in two. One side was telling me all the danger ahead, how I might never come back, the usual safety rules.

The other side was telling me how much fun it would be, that I would be a hero when I got home, how Jaelyn, someone I knew well, would be there with me. The latter side won.

I sat back down, awaiting my parents response.

Mom burst into sobs, muttering about the unfairness between breaths.

Daddy just sat there and said something I never dreamed he would say. "You leave at 10:00 this morning. Better get packing."

Those words were followed by an outbreak from my sisters, and screaming together they were just drowning each other's words out.

I walked silently upstairs, going over a packing list in my head.

POV Ember

Faybelle came down in an hour wearing a light blue shirt, a midnight blue jacket, black leggings, a midnight blue mini skirt, and dark blue heeled boots. She had a satchel and announced she was ready to go.

I checked my clock. It said 9:45. I had 5 minutes to say goodbye. Then it was Evangeline's turn.

I walked up to her, not able to speak. I hugged her tight, crying into her blonde ponytail.

Another pair of arms joined mine, and I turned slightly, and found Evangeline hugging us both, tear stained cheeks and all. I never wanted this moment to end.

Sadly, we broke away, letting Faybelle go. She said nothing, turning away, wiping her eyes.

We approached the door. Mom and Dad were right behind us, crashing into Faybelle with a giant bear hug

They were both crying, a rare occurrence for Dad, but, considering the moment, an appropriate one.

Finally, they let go, and we all just stared at Faybelle, trying not to think of the terrible plague that could kill her the moment she stepped out the door.

She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She slowly backed out the door.

POV Evangeline

(A/N: Yay! This chapter has Evangeline's POV, but in first person.)

How am I supposed to describe the pain? It is almost impossible. But I'll try...

I feel as though a fire is breathing down my neck. If I make the wrong move, it will kill me. If I make the right one, it will stay right there, and the anxiety and stress will kill me.

I am confused. What move is the right one? Even worse, I am trying to ignore the boiling tar in my stomach, eating away my happiness, while trying to comfort a weeping mother and hysterical sister. Dad doesn't even leave his room anymore. What am I supposed to do? I'm the older sister.

But I am just as mortified as everyone else.

POV Faybelle

We are in the forest, on a path completely sealed off from plague. The girls are in pairs. I am with Jaelyn.

POV Ember

I don't think anymore. I don't feel. I just cry and sit, wishing I had done something, anything, to make her stay.

We can't even say her name anymore. It's to painful.

A scroll comes by. We don't bother looking at the time, if it's about Faybelle we have to know now. It says:

We, the councilers, would like to announce that 2 of the children have returned. One girl, Armelle Bexley, having the plague, and her companion escorting her home, Effie Farren. Effie will not be returning to the woods.

Mom put the scroll down. It didn't matter. Faybelle was still out there. She could be dead. No one else matters.

Drama! Heartbreak! Good story! (I hope). I was free this weekend, so I wrote 2 chapters. I will post them tomorrow. I will be posting very quickly, I hardly ever have writers block. 'Till text time, my wonderful readers! R&R!