10 Chapter 5: Desert Astray (1/2)

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There was fog everywhere

Darkness hovers between the balance of the sunlit sky and the hazy dim surroundings where even the strongest eyesight can't peer through.

Everywhere I look was just that blank gray fog and the sun above me. No clouds. No birds. Not a sign of life anywhere.

When I close my eyes, I can only hear the howling of the wind in my ears and feel the draft that passes through my feet; the dryness of it on my skin; and the warm of the atmosphere that embraces me.

Where am I???

Did I die again?

I began to drag my feet across the soft ground.

Everywhere I look depicts a barren land that stretches from all corners of my sight.

I look at my feet.

Wait a minute.

Is this... sand?

The soft ground where my feet burrows shallowly is sand after all and all the fog I am seeing are dusts from the wind that keeps blowing pass me.

I'm in a desert....

But still rather felt like being in limbo.

I went on walking, hoping to see something else aside from the vivid circle outline of the sun up high.

And then finally a shadow emanated from a distant.

”Hello??”

The howling wind slaps at me like a curtain, blowing strongly against me, I squinted.

”Hello?!”

Struggling to walking towards the figure, I dragged myself on until finally his silhouette takes form into a figure of a tall young man.

He was looking at me.

But not a sound emitted despite his moving lips.

A smile only left me staring.

I ran to him. ”You...?” I reached a hand to him. He reaches a hand back.

”Who are you?”

The wind blew one more time and dusts gather like a hurricane forming between us. I tried to keep my eyes open wide. I wanted to comprehend what I'm seeing. His dark hair that shone against the blasting sunlight. And his eyes that stared back at me... it was peculiar yet soothing.

Who....

Wait—

~~~~~~~

I wearily opened my eyes and saw wooden parquet floor; my cheeks pressed against them.

My head is aching so bad.

I sat up slowly while trying not to shake my head too much. I looked around and realize Aeron was sitting beside me.

Oh thank god that was just a dream. I'm still alive.

”You're finally awake” he says in a sigh.

I focused my attention on him and finally realized his feet were tied up. I looked at mine...

I'm tied up too.

But they weren't ropes.

They were some kind of black material strap.

I groped at it, hoping there's something that can help me figure out how to open it.

”Give up. It's hopeless...” he murmured.

I looked at him as he glared at me with such scary looking eyes, ”You... tell me the truth. You looked back and stopped, didn't you?”

Everything that had happen up until how I end up here suddenly flashes through my memories.

Those men in cloaks....

”Aeron, are you oka—?”

”I told you not to look back!?!” He yelled at me even before I could finish my sentence. ”It was a simple instruction! Don't look back and just run! Now look what happened! Who is going to help us now?!”

I can see his eyes were filled with so much anger.

I remember...

That scene—

Two men in cloak... carrying Aeron's unresponsive body. A small frail body of a boy...

My brother....

And there were blood spills by the doorway from the lifeless palace guards they killed.

That horrible, ugly and mortifying scene.

I wanted to open my mouth and explain.

But surprisingly tears came gushing out of my eyes; my body began to shake violently as my heart races wildly against my chest, painfully.

Aeron's face suddenly shifts and looks at me in surprise.

He purses his lips and then grit his teeth.

He turns his head away but pulls me into his arms.

”I'm sorry... I know this is not your fault. I'm not really mad at you. I'm just frustrated with myself.” He says very calmly now, his hand gently stroking my head. ”I know I can run faster but I can't leave you behind. I figured if we ran together, it will be easier to catch us both at the same time either way so I thought I could at least delay them and give you the headstart. It was a better chance for at least one of us to get out of that situation— it was the only way I could think of. Sorry if I made you go through that...”

”Sorry for not being strong enough, Aerra”

I can feel his muscle tenses.

I shook my head and wiped my tears.

”I have my fair share of faults too. The moment my guards were missing, I should have figured it out that something wasn't right. I was careless. And I'm sorry really if I looked back...” I said, my voice felt weak.

What have we gotten ourselves into?

Even for my 18years old self is no match in kidnappings like this—

In the end, I'm just an incapable weak little girl who can't fight back nor can I protect anyone.

My powers nor Aeron's haven't awaken yet too so the only thing I can use now is my wits.

That's right...

I need to gather my wits now, more than ever.

”If only I'm stronger now. I could have protected you...” Aeron murmured, staring at his open palm before closing it into a fist.

I lay a hand on that fist as he turned to look at me.

”We'll find a way out of this” I replied. Trying to sound tough.

He looks at me as if studying what I really feel.

He nods.

I took a deep breath and began to assess the situation.

I took a look around us.

First... we're inside a wooden cell.

No windows. No other furnitures.

Both our feet are bound but our hands are free, and there's a collar around our neck that can't be taken off.

Outside the cell is a short hallway where a sconce drew enough light. At one end of the hallway is a dead end, and at the other is a wooden door.

It all looked like a regular jail with the metal railings that partitioned the space between our cell with the hallway.

Nothing.

There's nothing I could see to help us.

I focused my attention on the restrictors that bound my feet together.

It doesn't look metal. It actually looks fiber glass but stronger but there was no hole to open it with.

How to open this contraption, I wonder?

”We're in a ship” Aeron murmured, he might have realized how I was trying to gather information from looking around.

”A ship? As in an air ship or a water?”

He shook his head, ”My best hunch is an airship” he replied, pointing at the sconce. ”Those insects on the lamp” he begun as I turned to it and saw tiny black winged insects that resembles a butterfly but with four wings. The size of a coin. ”They only eat a specific type of algae that grows usually in high altitude types of terrain. More or less an air ship's bottom parts can support those requirements”

”And if you listen carefully, the creaking below us sounds similar to when we rode air ships back at Grantzæl.”

I stared at Aeron, dumbfounded.

”The insects are weak against the sun rays so they usually only go out at night... they need warmth regardless so they stay close to a fire source instead.” Aeron's fist clenches, ”I think we're here for almost a day and a half already” he concluded.

What—

”You were out cold for a while... I had the chance to study the insects behaviour by then...” he explains. ”I've read about those insects in a book during our morning lectures about Herbs. I never really thought those useless lectures can be helpful after all”

I wanted to commend Aeron's brilliance but from what he's implying here is that we're currently miles and miles away from Grantzæl by now.

That means....

”Even if we do found a way out of this cell, there's no exact chances for us to escape from our captors, is there?” I murmured, my chest tightens. This situation is... dire.

”Unless we find a flying boat or animal of sort then there's none. Who knows how high we are now from the land below?”

”Then we are....” I stopped. There's no point in admitting how hopeless we are now.

I watch Aeron as he just grabbed my hand. ”Just stay close to me no matter what happens. I won't let anybody hurt you.”

I squeezed his hand back. If he's planning to protect me then who will protect him?

I wish at least one of us can awaken our powers now....

But how though?

Our birthday is still six days away.

What will happen in that span of time by then?

Another day has passed.

When finally the door by the end of the hallway opens.

A hooded man walks to our cell and warns us,

”Just be good and no one gets hurt, ya got that?”

We nodded.

He opens our cell and stretches an arm at us.

Suddenly the black contractions broke apart. ”Now follow me” he instructed. Is that magic???

Aeron insisted to walk ahead of me as I followed close from his behind.

Out from the cell and pass the hallway, and finally towards the open deck.

Aeron is right. We really were on an airship.

The sun blasted at my eyes the moment we stepped out from the shade, I squinted and tried to adjust as I looked around.

All I see are sandstone mountains that surrounds us. The grounds were all covered by thick blankets of sands. Even the wind gusting by carried sand as it blew pass us.

I remembered my dream.

I wonder what that was about?

A tall guy with dark hair— Levi?

I don't think I know anybody else with black hair.

”Now listen to me. If you follow the rules you will be given food and will be able to enjoy living another day. Hik hik hik” says the man before us while we stepped down from the airship and towards the hot sandy grounds.

One man in cloak led us as other two followed from behind. Before we could reach the entrance of some sort of ruins, which seems to be chiselled directly from the sandstones of the mountain, we halted.

This must be their lair, I thought.

I looked up and studied the structure. To my dismay I realized there wasn't any other egress to the ruins. No other holes aside from the tall but narrow entrance but there were carvings of what seems like windows to it but it didn't bear any function worthy to note. I suppose one way in also is the only way out.

There were also 2 men in cloaks that stood patrolling the highest cliff of the ruins on both sides

There were also 2 men in cloaks that stood patrolling the highest cliff of the ruins on both sides.

The look outs, I presume.

As we stood waiting by the entrance, another man greeted us. ”Welcome to our humble abode, your graces! We are the Ouboros. I prefer calling us as Dealers since we are all merchants here!” He says in such a shady tone I could sense the sarcasm in it.

Merchants? What kind of merchant kidnaps children? What a joke.

The other men in cloak soon left us with him when he swayed his hand at them.

This man before us might be their leader then.

I eyed him tentatively. He looked like he's around his late 40's. He had dark sun kissed skin and a tattoo under his leering eyes. He looks familiar. Where have I seen this man before?

”I've been expecting for your arrival! This is such a happy day! The name's Cerguz. From now on, Ouboros will be your home too until you bloom and show us your powe—!”

”Stray!!!”

”Stop him—!!!”

”He's heading your way!!?!”

Suddenly an uproar emerges and all men started to yell and shout in all directions.

What's happening?

”Damn that kid!” cursed Cerguz under his breath as he turned his back on us.

Slowly, I can feel the ground quaking. The sands vibrated under my feet. I looked at Aeron as he just stood there alarmed as well.

—BOOOOOOOM!!!!!

A cloud of smoke rolls out like a carpet from the main entrance of the ruins, covering us all in a rush. I closed my eyes. The entire ground shakes momentarily at the same time.

I can hear all men shouting from one side to another as if they were in pain—

As the dust screen slowly comes into a still, I can see shadows looming ahead.

Some shadows are hurled like ragdolls toward the walls.

”Damn you, Stray!” Shouted someone as it echoed all throughout the vicinity.

Suddenly out from the dust screen, a guy emerges out above with moving air that surrounds him. Clearing the view and making a path for him.

His entire face covered in cloth except his eyes. I watch him in astonishment as he hovers high above the ground.

His eyes, playing between the colors of dark purple and blue, that focused looking ahead suddenly shifts and met my gaze. My shoulder rose instinctively.

He looks back ahead nonchalantly.

...

All the dust dissipated and men in cloak went straight towards him.

The guy finally lands on his feet, as graceful as a cat but at a split second, he turns around at

the exact same time as the men in cloak lounged at him. He gathers wind from his feet and sent them all flying away in just one swift motion.

Amazing— he has... powers!

He stood up straight but lax while assessed the situation.

No one was going after him anymore. All the men in cloaked were on the ground. Some unconscious by the walls which he had thrown them into.

He turns around and begun to run towards us.

”Move!!!” He yelled at us.

Before I could even dodge, he was already too close. He pushes me and Aeron aside as he sprinted off pass us. I fell to the ground, face first.

What the heck?

I glared at him.

He has already covered a distance.

”He's getting away!”

Ah. More bad guys are here.

Suddenly someone grabbed me by the arm and lifted me off the ground. It yanked me to my feet, ascending upwards until I met his face— Cerguz.

My feet dangles freely in midair.

”Stray. I brought new kids. How about I show them immediately right now what happens when a rebel tries to escape?” he hollered.

The guy suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

Without even facing us he replied, ”Go ahead. I don't even know those kids”

Cerguz held me higher.

Darn it, this hurts!

I feel like my shoulder is going to separate from my arm.

I just bit my lips to conceal the pain.

”Aerra!?!” yelled out Aeron. ”Unhand my sister!!!” He added, planning to kick but some other man in cloak held him down. ”Aerra!!!”

”Are you sure now? Because I only need one Arcanian kid. I have two right now. I don't mind losing one if you insist.” Says he, wearing a smug as he grabbed my cheeks and squeezed it. ”The death toll will increase because of you, Stray. Pity. After this I might as well clean my current shelf and get a new batch of kids. All will be attributed to you, of course! I'll make sure they will all know that.” he concluded, letting my cheek go as he tightens his grip on my arm.

There was silence.

Cerguz seems like someone who can seriously kill anyone if he wants to.... But if I don't do something now, I feel like my shoulder will be dislocated soon. And the guy he's talking with, which he calls as Stray, is not doing anything at all. Fuck this.

I swayed my body to and fro. Building my momentum as Cerguz who held me by an arm shifted his attention at me. ”What the—!?”

When I gathered enough momentum I reached for the Cerguz's arm that held me, using my legs and locked them in place. And then I embraced his arm and hanged on to him like a koala.

Surprised his grip loosens.

An opening!

I opened my mouth wide and as tight as I could, I bit him. He yelps in shock and shakes me off.

I fell to the ground.

I looked at Aeron as his head was planted on the ground by a man in cloak. I need to extricate him.

I hastily pushed myself up to my feet and ran towards the behind of the man that straddled on Aeron, pinning him down in place.

I pulled off the cloak that covered him, exposing his back and quickly, without any seconds to lose, I kicked him in his crotch.

He screamed in pain, rolling on the side as Aeron immediately stood up and took me in a corner, covering me from the safety of his back.

All the other men in cloak begun to surround us. ”Feisty little girl aren't you? More reasons why I wouldn't want to add another headache in the bunch, like Stray here.” Says Cerguz in a chuckle, shortly pointing at Stray who stood idly from a distance, but now facing us. ”Good thing your brother is not the same. Let's clip a wing off these angles, shall we? Get her!”

Aeron planted his feet down. In a grunt he yelled, ”Over my dead body!”

All of a sudden...

The wind blew wild around us and in a form of a vacuum it slices a space between the men from us. ”Enough! —I yield. Quit shitting around! You won't get their cooperation now if you killed one of them.” hollered Stray, as he started to walk back towards us. He began taking off the cloth that wrapped around his head. ”Just do what you want to do with me and get it over with.”

All of them exchanged glances.

Cerguz heaves a sigh. ”Just get them all inside. Take Stray to my quarters.” says he as he sways his hand and started to walk away in peace.

I watch the guy called Stray as the final piece of cloth finally uncovers his face. He has a short black hair that drapes loosely from his ears up to his neck and a long, eye-grazing bangs that tapered on the sides but some are side-swept, along with its fringe ends, over all it all seems disheveled.

He tousles his own hair as he walked closer to us. It drapes loosely covering his nape while some strands loitered on his face.

His eyes glared back impassively as I eyed him.

Brilliant amethyst eyes.

Jasper black hair.

I have heard about that—

No, I've seen it in the book Syreon gave me.

This guy...

He's a pureblood as well!

A rarity just like me and Aeron.

”No more resistance unless you really insist in getting hurt” says one man in cloak as he shoved Aeron to walk forwards. ”I'm already following, darn it.” He grumbled under his breath while reaching a hand to me. ”Stay close to me” Aeron whispered as I just took his hand and we both followed the men as they led us inside the ruins.

”And you— you're coming with me!” I heard another man say behind us.

”Yeah yeah! I know that already, you shit head. I know where his quarters are!” Another voice replied.

I looked at them over my shoulders and saw Stray followed a little behind us while he went on rambling mini arguments with the men in cloak.

”You never learn, do you? Did you really think you will succeed this time?” Grumbled a man in cloak.

”Tsk. Worth a try! At least I got the chance to beat you guys up again! It's enough consolation if you ask me! Hahahah! Do you even train? It's like you never make any progress ever!”

”You and your big mouth! You will face punishment again for this time!”

”I'll gladly receive one any day if it means rubbing it to your faces how weak all you guys are! Hahahaha!”

”Why you—?!?”

”Go ahead, come at me. I'm up for one more round!”

”Ahh geez. Just keep walking! You're hopeless, Stray. The boss seems in a good mood though. All thanks to the arrival of the new kids”

They sound like they know each other already. And he showed great aplomb in the means of fighting too.

I wonder what's his role in this syndicate?

Suddenly our line of sight crosses.

”And what are you looking at, snow head?” He says with a condescending smile.

Snow head....

Ah. He... has dimples though.

”Aerra, don't look at them.” Murmured Aeron, tagging at my arm. I turned my head front and nodded at Aeron.

We were thrown into a room which was softly lit by a torch that hanged on the wall. There was no windows inside but the ceiling was utmost three stories from the ground.

I looked around and saw several beds carved on the walls, like bunk beds. At least there are futons and blankets, I thought. But wow there's a lot of beds. As in a lot!

The room is rectangularly long and on the other end of the room, just by a corner, I saw something moved.

There was only one torch that lit the entire room and it hanged next to the doorway from where we came from so everything else further was dark. ”Hello?” I asked out. ”Anybody there?”

”Aerra, don't —!” Complained Aeron as he grabbed me by the wrist. I pulled his hand off.

”I'm Aerra...”