The Fall Of the World - 3 (standard:adventure, 702 words) [3/3] show all parts
Author: LadyofMistyFog	Added: Apr 02 2003	Views/Reads: 2527/3	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Shadow wakes up to find herself in a situation that defied anything that she expected.

Shadow woke up, her head throbbing and the world seeming to totter in
her line of vision.  With some pained tries, she discovered she 
couldn't move, that somehow she was trapped.  Slowly, she glanced to 
her arms and legs to find that she was tied with rope to four different 
trees.  What happened? 

As if ghosts, children appeared out of the trees, summoned by the soft
cries that had issued from her.  Not an adult was among them.  Finally, 
a tall youth of about sixteen stepped into her line of vision and 
squatted beside her. 

"Who are you?" he gruffly asked, his voice biting into her headache. 
She flinched from his words, the pain flaring in her head.  What was 
going on?  Where were the cave dwellers she sought?  Who were these 
children? 

But she replied in a voice that only trembled slightly, "I am Shadow,
I'm looking for the caves, who are you?"  The children all looked at 
each other as if questioning the truth of her statement.  The boy who 
was talking to her looked as if he were thinking up what next to say. 

Finally, he spoke, "Ok, we're the children of the caves, now, whose side
are you on?" Shadow's heart leapt with excitement, the children of the 
caves!!!  That meant that there were survivors and she would find help. 
They would be able to help her put together a battle plan. 

"I'm on the old way side, I'm trying to take out the Dark Regime. 
Please, take me to your parents, I was coming for their help," she 
begged, her voice quick with excitement.  There was silence to her 
request and once more the children looked at each other, but their 
expressions were of sorrow.  The boy began to untie her bonds but he 
didn't respond to her wish. 

When she sat up, nobody had said a word still so she did, "What's wrong?
 Your parents can help me, right?"  Doubt had crept into her system and 
absently, she rubbed her wrists where the rope had chafed her. 

"No, they can't.  They can't help anyone ever again," the boy answered,
pain and spite heavy in his voice.  He rose to his feet, carrying the 
air of a leader and she followed suit.  Fear began to beat in her 
veins, what did he mean by that?  They had to be able to help her, she 
didn't know where else to turn. 

"Why?" she inquired, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young girl
of maybe nine turn away and begin to sob.  What had happened to these 
young ones that so much grief was evident?  What was wrong with their 
parents? 

"The Dark Regime took them, that's why.  We're all that's left, but we
can help you take them out.  We need to do something," the boy 
announced stonily and there were cheers among the other children.  Her 
eyes wandered around the crowd of kids and she couldn't picture putting 
any of them in danger. 

Firmly, she replied, "No way.  I'll figure out something else."  With
that, she turned around and was preparing to leave when a strong hand 
gripped her shoulder.  It turned her around and she found the blue eyes 
of the boy level with hers. 

"No, we will help.  You underestimate us cause we're young but we've
been through just as much hell, maybe more, than you so don't be all 
snobbish cause you're a couple years older," his voice was icy and it 
was apparent that he would not be backing down from his insistant 
offer.  The other children looked just as stubborn as he and so she 
shrugged her shoulders helplessly.  They had seen more pain than her 
and deserved a chance to avenge it. 

So, she agreed, "Fine, whatever, there's a good chance we'll all die,
but okay.  Now, you, Mister Stubborn Bull, what's your name?"  He slid 
his hand back down to his side and his eyes changed from cold to warm 
with laughter. 

"I'm Tony," and with his name shared, he turned around and began the
hike to the caves.  She followed behind him and heard the other 
children fall in behind her.  So, it had begun. 


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