4 Home of Everyone Who Wants to Kill Us

The group of teens had been living in the small cave for days. Restless sleeps, the constant company, and heightened tension was taking its toll.

"How many times do we have to discuss this?!" Elliot said. "Everyone but you is in agreement to leave - to keep fucking moving!"

"Well, I think it's a bad idea! We're safe here! Why should we move into danger?!" Marla said, signing her words out of habit.

"Because we're gonna run out of food, you moron!"

"We can last without food for another week or so-"

"What about after that?!"

"By then it'll be safe!"

"And what if it's not?! What if we're caught and slaughtered before that?!" Elliot cried.

"Going outside will get us caught!"

"Not if we're careful!" Marla tried to argue this, but Elliot carried on talking. "Our combined powers will keep us safe - especially if you used yours-"

"NO!"

The two friends fell silent. Their faces were red, and they breathed heavily.

Too scared to interrupt, Dalisay was sat on the floor next to Kiara. She was sorting through their rucksacks, organising rations and materials.

Marla breathed deeply. "Using my powers on someone else is cruel."

"It's-"

"-It's manipulation!" She cut Elliot off.

Elliot paused. "... It's different. They're not human."

Kiara fidgeted with her dog tag while Dalisay spoke up. "Elliot, if she doesn't want to use her powers, she doesn't have to."

Elliot snapped his head back at her. "Tia! But we-"

"-can manage without it." Dalisay breathed a shaky breath, hating having to be leader-like. "Now," she began, "We have about enough food to last us a few more days… maybe a week if we really stretch it… But we only have enough water for two days." She turned to Marla. "If we stay, we die anyway."

Kiara rose to her feet. "Time's right. We should leave now - there haven't been any Hunters around for a while."

All three looked expectantly at Marla.

She glanced at them, her eyes finally resting on Kiara. Her face began to give up. "Fine."

This word was all Elliot needed. "Right! Tia sort each person's rations into their bag, Marla make sure you can easily access the first aid kit, and Kiara get everyone's weapons together."

The group collected all of their belongings and lined up at the cave's entrance. Elliot, like usual, was at the front. He peered out through the small slit in the wall, before carefully sliding himself through. Kiara passed him his bag through the gap and shuffled through as well, careful to not get stuck in the gap. Marla was the next to go through, although she needed confirmation from Kiara that it was safe. And finally, Dalisay joined them, handing her bag over first.

The rays of the blinding sun were reflected by the layers of white snow, telling the group the reason why The Hunters were not patrolling at the moment.

They trudged through the snow, slowly but steadily making their way down the rocky mountains. Ropes held their waists together. The footprints left behind were quickly covered by Dalisay who swiped her foot over each print before moving on. Looking back at the disturbed snow, she prayed that it would snow again before The Hunters came back.

After what must have been a few hours, the group had made their way to the bottom of the mountain, and were nearing the edge of the range.

They all had their coats and other layers pulled tightly around them. Scarfs covered as much of their faces as possible without blocking their vision. Kiara was wearing three pairs of gloves.

Despite the usual multiple layers of socks and warm winter boots that were worn, the children's feet were numbing. The lengthy hike was a great contrast to the week in the compact cave, and had caused many painful aches to appear.

"How much longer do you reckon?" Marla managed to spit out, her voice trembling from the shivers.

"I dunno… never left the range before." Elliot replied. Neither of them signed their words, being too cold to do so - not that Kiara could have seen it anyway.

Dalisay tried a tired giggle. "I have aches… in places… I never knew could ache." The hearing in the group groaned in agreement.

All of them sighed in relief when green tree-tops came into sight, and a new burst of energy quickened their pace - which had slowed considerably from when they started.

The ropes were untied from their bodies as they entered the forest.

They walked further into the forest, and decided to take a nap before it got dark so that they'd the energy to avoid Hunters when night came.

Dalisay and Kiara quickly cooked some canned food on a fire while Elliot stood on guard. Marla riffled through their bags for anything that could keep them warm, but still be light and easy to move in (they'd had some troubles with the heaviness of all their clothes).

After settling down, they all went silent, munching on their ration of food. Spoons clanked on metal bowls as they each finished, and the silence snuck into the minutes afterwards. Each teenager was encapsulated within their own thoughts.

Dalisay's golden eyes were staring intently at the blazing fire before her, disturbingly reminded of another fire her mind had seen weeks ago. She ridgedly stood up and put the fire out. Everyone was too tired and depressed to complain at the loss of heat.

She sat back down next to Elliot. He was staring at the ground - although it was more like he was looking through it. She reached for his hand. He jolted slightly, but, seeing who it was, relaxed and wrapped his fingers around hers.

If Dalisay had been looking at his eyes, she would have seen a crack of blue lightning within them before being let into his mind.

An image of his mother floated around. Her dark hair was tied tightly back in a bun. Her brown skin, slightly red with anger, contrasted with her light blue eyes that signified her powers. Her hands were clasped around the wheels of her wheelchair, turning slightly white at the knuckles. A mix of emotions were tied to the memory: Anger, sadness, fear… shame… as well as a few others Dalisay couldn't name.

Elliot's mind shared with her that this had been the last time he'd seen her, and ran through some of the harsh words that had been said.

He was scared shitless for his mom. Despite their sour relationship, Dalisay knew he cared about her a lot and was desperate to impress her - not that he'd ever admit that to her or himself. Elliot heard this thought and a rush of denial flooded his system.

She never fucking cared about me, why would I not return the favor.

Dalisay clinged to his hand tighter, and tried to send calming feelings to him. She reminded him of how powerful an air elemental she was and that the wheelchair wouldn't have hindered her ability to escape as she could lift it as if she were lifting a feather. She'd also spent the most time out of Siege due to having no luck when it came to picking supply runners. If any of the other Karsans were going to have escaped, it would have been her.

A slither of a positive emotion appeared. Dalisay identified it as thankfulness.

"They can't hear us," Marla stated to Kiara. "In each other's minds again."

"What do you think they're talking about?"

Marla ran a hand across her head. Her pink hair had begun to grow back after a while of not cutting it, and now it stuck up in all of the wrong places. "Probably about how sad they both are," she said nonchalantly. "And how they relate to each other so much because they've both just lost their only family member." She sighed. "At least they haven't lost three all in one go."

Kiara put a black hand on Marla's shoulder. "You wanna talk about it?" She said, trying to speak as clearly as she could.

"Not really…" Marla signed back. "I mean… they're probably fine…" A crease of worry appeared between her brows. "Right?"

Kiara didn't sign back. Instead, she merely pulled her friend into a side-hug. They spent a few minutes in the comfort of each other's arms.

Marla looked up at the sky. "Hey, it's almost night - so you wanna do your prayers and then we'll leave?"

Kiara nodded and released Marla. She kneeled on the floor, then muttered a few words and completed a few movements. Marla turned away as, although she didn't believe in Balanism herself, she knew that the morning and night prayers were a private and important ritual for believers.

Once Kiara had finished, they both snapped Elliot and Dalisay out of their trance, and they all began packing up.

Now they were all rested, they headed out further into the (now darkened) forest on high-alert. They walked in what had become their usual pattern: Elliot at the front, then Kiara, Marla, and finally Dalisay.

They trekked for a few hours. The snow-covered ground crunching with each step they took.

They froze (not literally - although they were getting rather close to that). Elliot had stopped them all. He held up a hand… motioned them to be quiet…

There! A voice had come from another part of the woods. It was close-by.

Elliot quickly motioned for them all to hide. He dropped down behind a tree. Dalisay quickly did the same, pressed close against him. Kiara pulled Marla down into a crouch and hid among some prickly bushes.

The voice came closer. Another one joined it. The crunching of snow was soon heard, and the unintelligible voices became worrying words, "...make this quick, yeah? We don't wanna miss the show."

A man laughed. "Who's it next? I hope it's that old bat."

"Nah," A third voice piped up. "I heard that bitch got injured or some shit. It's gonna be one of the kids."

"Whatever," the first voice said. "Lets just be quick - it'll take a few hours to get back to HQ." The man came into view. He had blond hair and brandished a map.

The second voice came into view as well. "Where are we anyway?" He said as he pulled the corner of the map down to get a better look. Kiara's body went rigid at the sight of him, drawing a look from Marla. The man groaned, "Fuck, why has it got to be so far away?"

"It won't take that long," the blond-haired man said, "we just have to scout out the neighbouring mountain. Got a tip there might be some Karsans hiding there. Four apparently."

"Are we capturing or killing them?" The second voice asked.

"I vote for capture," the third said. "We need some new entertainment - these current bitches are boring."

The group of teenagers were listening intently. At these words, curiosity got the better of Elliot. He went into one of the mens' minds.

"Apparently one's a Siren," the blond-haired man said. "So, we'll be killing them. But the other three are to be captured." He walked forwards, closer to where Elliot and Dalisay were hiding. Dalisay noticed that Elliot was still using his powers, and therefore didn't know the danger they were in. She slid his fighting staff out of his rucksack and placed it in his hands. The dagger she kept on herself at her waist for when she couldn't use her bow, was also removed from it's spot and clutched in Dalisay's hand.

The blond-haired man stepped closer, and closer, and closer.

The blue lightning in Elliot's dark eyes disappeared. He jolted, russling the snow. The voices stopped, quickly joined by their footsteps.

Elliot quickly realised the situation and prepared to open his folded staff. He didn't dare try to see what Marla and Kiara were thinking.

The blond man's footsteps started again as he slowly edged forwards.

Just as Dalisay and Elliot were about to come into his view, a dagger came flying at his head. Kiara had rushed forwards and attacked him.

Elliot jumped up and joined Kiara in the fight as they tag-teamed the shocked blond-man. This didn't last long though as one of the other men came up behind Kiara and drew her into a fight.

The third man, probably the largest of them all, brandished a sword. He rushed to the blond man, but before he could take a swing at Elliot, Dalisay nocked an arrow and let it loose. It missed. But the man had taken notice of it, and quickly changed his target from Elliot to Dalisay. There was no way she'd be able to fight back against his sword. She started backing away, holding her small dagger out. The sword swung at her. Dalisay stumbled backwards over a hidden tree root, saving her life.

Before the large man could try again, a spear was stuck in his gut. Marla pulled it back out and he fell to the ground. Blood came cascading from his stomach, unaffected by the man's hands frantically trying to hold it in. The two girls left him there, and went to the aid of their friends.

Dalisay nocked an arrow and carefully aimed at the blond man Elliot was fighting. She couldn't shoot yet as the man had positioned Elliot to come in between them. She waited.

Marla had intended to help Kiara, but, by the look of things, she didn't need any help at all.

Kiara held a dagger in each hand. She slashed her daggers at the black man she was fighting (the second voice). Every time the man blocked a dagger, the other dagger came raining down on him. The blocks were becoming more last-minute, and it was clear that Kiara's speed and agility were giving her the upper-hand.

Finally, Elliot managed to push the blond man backwards and reposition himself so that Dalisay had a clear shot. She let loose. The arrow struck the man between the ribs. He let out a cry. The man came crumbling to the floor. He was a threat no longer.

Elliot and Dalisay turned their focused gazes to the remaining man. Kiara had him pinned to the ground, a dagger pointing to his chest, and the other pressed against his neck.

The other three members of the teenaged group watched as Kiara's eyes teetered between slicing the man's neck and letting him bleed out and die, and letting him go free.

After what seemed years to Kiara, she finally relented and stood up. The group watched in confusion as the black man hurriedly scrambled to his feet and ran away.

Once he was gone, Elliot yelled, "Why the fuck did you let him go?! He's gonna go and tell the Hunters that we're here!"

"They already knew that." Marla said, standing up for Kiara.

"No, they thought we were still at the mountain - although I have no idea how they got that information!"

Kiara stood frozen, staring in the direction the man had ran off in.

Elliot strode over to stand in front of her so she couldn't ignore his signing. "Why did you do that?!"

Kiara didn't answer, so Marla stepped in for her. "You ever thought that maybe she didn't want to kill anybody?" She said. "To, you know, commit murder." Elliot backed off and looked at the two men still laying on the ground, bleeding out.

He sighed in defeat. "Let's make it quick, yeah?"

Everyone except for Kiara nodded and swiftly ended the two men's lives. It took the subsequent verbal fight full of waving arms and gestures to snap her out of her trance.

"-We can't go, Marla!" Elliot exclaimed.

"You said you knew where it is! That they're all still alive!"

Elliot frowned. "I know that some are still alive - like three!"

"That's still three people we could save! And there might be more there that the men didn't know about!"

"Marla, breaking into The Hunters' Headquarters is too risky! The answer's no."

Marla ran a hand through her hair. "Come in, Ellie, please! We'd be saving their lives. My parents could still be there alive! My brother!"

Just as it looked like Elliot might give in, Kiara signed, "No." Marla looked at her, shocked. "We are not going to their home. No. Never."

Marla began to argue, but was cut off by Kiara. "No! We would die. Do you want us to die?"

Marla's mind raced for a counter-point. "Not if we planned it right! Hunters don't come out in the day, right? Because the light can make them go blind. So we do it during the day!" She cried, conveniently forgetting about the Siense that could see perfectly normal in the day. Kiara tried to argue, but Marla carried on talking. "And Elliot read the men's minds, so he knows exactly where to go and where the guards will be! We'll be as careful as we can!"

Before any of them could argue again, Marla used her winning argument, "Please! My family might still be alive!"

Elliot gave in. "... Okay… But we have to be extremely careful. I mean it!"

"Okay! Yes!" Marla celebrated.

Elliot looked at Dalisay. "I…" She started. "I guess…? If you think it's okay?" She asked him. He gave a curt nod.

Marla turned to Kiara. "Kiara? Please?" The two stared at each other, their eyes locked in a battle of feelings.

Kiara broke the stare. "You are both doing it?" She asked Elliot and Dalisay. They signed back 'yes'. Her face wore a look of regretful defeat. "Fine. I will go too."

Elliot nodded and cracked a sadistic smile. "Everyone follow me to the home of everyone that wants to kill us!"