out of harms way

"Wait... So you think I've lived enough, you decided I died now and in this condition? You know for once I thought you weren't partial, that there'd always be light at the end of the tunnel, that one day, just one day, I'd be happy and breathe with ease.

Would it hurt to have a nice place to have peaceful sleep? Good food to eat, just enough that I wouldn't perish of starvation or poor nutrition? Or warm clothing that would be enough to shield me from the brutal effects of this cold world? Just what would it take?

I worked so hard yet all it brings me is getting kicked out, finding myself in the middle of some place I don't even know, all drenched, cold and in tears.

What's the thing about getting kicked out anyway? I was kicked out of the shelter I was born into. I know nothing of my origin. You sent your loyal buddy to take them away from me. Not letting me enjoy even an insy bit of their love.

And then I've been kicked out again. I got kicked out of...off, well, it's erm... Even if they did treat me bad and I don't know what to call them now but I'd still get an omelette on my plate, the narrow cloth-covered wooden bed cannot be compared to this rough, dusty cave ground, yes, theirs was in a more favourable condition. And now I'm convinced that life wants to kick me out too.

Oh! This is awkward, I mean I should be used to this by now, but I still can't help crying hard and laughing too, each time you hit, you hit me harder than the former.

I just...",

Not finding further words, she broke down into uncontrollable laughter, a cold, painful, torturous laughter, she laughed and cried bitterly, till she could no more. On this cold Saturday night, the chilly atmosphere announcing the coming of a wrecking storm.

Curled up in a corner, leaning against the damp stone wall, in a lonely dark cave Christabelle Serene, 'Christa', for short, sat, head burried between her knees, holding tightly like her life depended on it. The cold kept her company, engulfing her in it's frigid warmth. She was drained to beat exhaustion, probably waiting to die.

_"No! No! Noooo!

Please no!"

She blurted out panting, her breathing hitched, soaked in her cold sweat. Reality hit her that it was just another vision,

_ "Just when I thought I could

have a peaceful sleep pfff".

The grumbling of her stomach brought her to the dawning of fatal hunger, she can't remember anything, not even when last she had eaten. Christa looked around, but all she saw were funny-shaped rocks, and more rocks beyond them, squinting her eyes she could see the faint ray of light,

_"Oh! Finally. I have no idea what you might bring me, no matter what it is, I'd rather die fighting than sit here whining like a coward, I'm no coward, never was and never will be."

Not realizing that her left ankle was trapped in between rocks, she stood up with so much vigour that caused her to lose her balance, she managed to lean on the cave wall for support. Looking downat her ankle, she noticed it starting to swell, the reddened spot gave her a stinging pain. "You rocks should learn to stay out of the way. Urgh! Christa struggled her way out of the cave following the beam of light, she came to find herself surrounded by gigantic, creepy looking green trees and from where she stood, she could see a sea stretching out in the distance. Looking around, she began to question,

_ "What is this place? How in the heavens did I get here? How come there's no sign of life? No birds, no seagulls by the sea, I feel like I'm the only one existing. Her thoughts seemed to echo off the tall trees that surrounded her, like voices trapped in a cavernous hall, just one more reminder from her nagging stomach was enough to put a halt to her illusional monologue, deciding to venture into the forest, seeking sustenance, not minding the danger that lurks.

Hours went by and still Christa walked, finding nothing, all the trees she came across had no fruits, she had no fire to cook anything, not like she could hunt anyway. Exhausted, she decided to stop by and rest a while, she could barely breathe, her legs, swollen, she felt pain all over, leaning on the bark of one of the huge trees, trying to gather enough strength to continue, when she heard a sound.

Although Christa was in a half dead state she was sure she heard something. Not given time to wrap her head on what was going on, she felt herself being hurled, screaming out of fear and shock, she hit her back on what she could bet was a rock.

_"And stay out!"

Was the last she heard before she saw complete darkness.

"Hmph! Funny creature, brown as mud. Aye! Black hair and such a clodpate, but it's real beauty, such fragile thing", Marsha says observing the strange creature before him, which he found quite intriguing, still observing, he asked;

_"Farnha, why did you push it so hard?"

_ "Are you seriously asking me that question, Marsh? Really? You see an odd-looking creature trying to invade your territory and you ask why I push it so hard? Who knows? It could be one of those crafty warlocks and bet I wouldn't let them wreck me like they did Tarah. I would push that thing again and again!",Farnha voiced out in his ever child-like, annoying voice.

Marsha on the other hand paid little attention to Farnha's bickering, he bent down and touched the creature, having a clearer view of it, wrinkles beginning to form on his fore, still on the spot, he spoke up,

_"You said you would bet on a could, a could? Not definite, not exact, just a could!" He gave a tired sigh then continued,

_"I know you can be stupid but this.. this is outrageous", he then turned facing the now irritated face of Farnha, taking a moment to enjoy the look, he then continued,

_"We need to get this creature to safety it..."

_"Did I hear you correctly Marsha?", Farnha interjected,

_"You did Farnha, we've not a moment to lose, you pushed it to near death, and we cannot let it die."

_"And you expect me to be sorry for that?

Marsha sighed at his response already getting irked, "Actually", he said as calmly as he could muster,

_" Farnha I don't expect you to be sorry for this, I don't care about your sorrys, what I expect is that you help me get this creature to safety before it's too late. I'm afraid if we don't give it the care it needs now it will die...

_"Then let it!", Farnha retorted with a scowl on his face, almost at the top of his voice,

_"I'm sorry to disappoint you dear Marsha but I will not be a party to this Samaritan act of yours. How do you think you're going to help it? We can't take it with us and that's final, let's leave here quickly before we alert those Warlocks, now, shall we?

_"Why doesn't he get it? I care less about his sorrys", Marsha muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples, he gave a tired sigh, then spoke,

_ "If you don't help me, I will tell Tarsha, how cowardly, heartless and selfish her dear Farnha has become, and trust me I'd be sure to include all details, in other wordss", he dragged tilting his head to the side, _" I would leave nothing out, not a single word, including your expressions and everything." Marsha smiling coyly whilst staring at his claw like nails admiringly, knowing Farnha would fall for this.

_ "Turning back swiftly, knowing he has been defeated, Farnha came close to the creature, looking at it. He thought it lay still and silent, like a crumpled piece of paper, in this case he agreed that this was a crumpled brown paper, but he dared not voice out his thoughts, else Marsh goes blabbing, the thought of it made him roll his eyes. He sighed saying;

_"It does really look pale and might die soon", he turned to Marsha, "Let's get it to safety, now, shall we?", He said trying hard to keep a smile on.

_"Of course, zap the way, kind sir", Marsh said giving a very short bow with a smirk on.

_Farnha rolling his eyes, went to where the creature lay and picked it up carefully, he carried it on his arms like a baby, he heard the creature's breathing shallow, almost none-existent, the creature smelled of damp soil and decay and Farnha wrinkled his nose in disgust, he swallowed hard, feeling nauseous.

_ "for a second Marsha thought he saw Farnha give an empathetic look, but it's either he thought wrong or it was barely recognizable because the look he gave now was nothing close to empathy.

_"And note this", Farnha said narrowing his eyes at Marsha, "I am doing this on my own accord, not because of anything you said, do you copy?"

_"Yeah yeah, whatever",

Marsh replied, with an uninterested look, knowing Farnha would always deny Tarsha's influence on him.

_Farnha rolling his eyes, snapped his fingers and with a zap, they were out of the forest, to their abode.

Just as they vanished, A tall dark hooded figure came out of the leaves, sniffing the air around for a while, trying to catch on their scent, with no productivity, it snapped it's bonny fingers dissolving into black vapour, evaporating into nothingness.