Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira

“We’re here,” I said, putting my oar aside, and looking up suspiciously at the Island of Meilei. It seemed far too peaceful to be an island in a time of fear such as this. We searched around the island, looking for a place to dock. Our feelings of wariness intensifying the longer we looked. Finding no dock, we tied our boat to a tree at the far side of the island, opposite the one we came. Akuma jumped off the boat, then drawing his blade walked a few steps towards the ocean.

“This place gives me a bad feeling,” he said. I agreed, pulling up the hood of my cloak to hide my face, and jumping off the boat, following Akuma.

Two young children, a boy and a girl came from the forest, skipping happily along the beach. They spoke in joyful tones, they looked down at the sand, as they said, “Welcome to the Island of Meilei. What brings you to our beautiful home?”

Akuma and I exchanged uneasy glances. “We are travelers. Your island is a place for us to rest, before leaving and continuing our journey.” I said, bending down to get a closer look at the children’s faces. The girl wore a white dress, while the young boy wore no shirt, and simple island shorts. The children looked up from the sand. Akuma and I inhaled sharply, at the sight of the children’s faces.

“Hello,” they said together.

“My name,” began the girl, “is Afira, but everyone calls me Afi.” She said, staring into my eyes, through the cloak.

“And my name,” began the boy, Akuma looked away, hiding his face from the young child. “My name is Akuma.” The young boy followed Akuma’s eyes, staring into them.

“What are your names?” They asked, in unison. I looked, terrified at Akuma, his eyes wide with fear and worry. The children noticed our lack of answering, and repeated the question. When we didn’t answer the second time, they stepped closer. I couldn’t help but notice that the children’s eyes never blinked, just stared at us, unblinking, and glassy. I didn’t see the darts fly at us, until it was too late. They flew at high speeds, slicing through the air. The first, hitting Akuma, who grunted, falling to the sandy beach, dropping his sword. Another hit me, piercing my skin before I even saw it fly through the air. Venom spread from the dart’s contact point in my thigh muscle, before spreading throughout my body, racing through my blood.

I tried to stay standing, but overcome with pain and tiredness, I fell to the sand, as Akuma had, my hood catching the wind and flying off as I fell.The last thing I saw was the children tie Akuma up, and drag him deep into the forest. I tried to yell, and jump up, I tried to run to stop them, but I remained, unmoving, on the sandy beach, moaning hysterically. Seeming to notice that I wasn’t fully asleep, the child called Akuma blew another dart at me. At such point, my world went black, and all I felt was an occasional thump of bludgeoning pain as they dragged me through a strange forest.