INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

Darkness. Whispers. Gentle touch. Someone was whispering but he couldn’t make out the words. The burning pain on his back and head made it hard for him to breathe. Someone was caressing his arm. His eyes opened as he loudly gasped because of the stabbing pain on his backbone. Groaning, he tried to clear his blurry vision. When he saw Hanne’s crying face, he breathed a sigh of relief then flinched due to another stabbing pain. Storm had his back on them, peeking through the tall bush.

“Oh my God, you’re okay,” Hanne whispered then sobbed. Nate slowly heaved himself up to sit. The pain was slowly diminishing.

“How long was I out?” he croaked.

“Not long,” Storm responded without turning. Nate’s eyes widened when he realized what happened earlier. The shadows!

“Shit. Where are they?” Hanne gripped the edge of his shirt.

“They vanished after the attack,” she whispered, her gaze on the ground. Tears were still flowing on her cheeks. He circled his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. She sobbed in his embrace.

“They’re still around,” Storm announced. “But if we moved, they might see us.” Nate wondered why the shadows didn’t attack them again. It seemed that their intention was not to kill them but to frighten them. It didn’t make sense but he was thankful that they didn’t have fight or the damage might be worse.

“They’re waiting for something.” But he didn’t know what.

“What?” Storm finally turned to them then took a seat with his back against a rock. It was only then that Nate realized they were in a narrow cave.

“Thank you for carrying me.” Nate felt bad for troubling him even though they’re travelling together and depending on each other. He must have been heavy. Storm nodded without looking at Nate.

“Did you saw the guards?” Nate asked.

“They’re still scouting. They must have sensed the Mortemians.” Nate didn’t know if the Mortemains’ presence is a good or bad thing. They covered their tracks from the guards but the Mortemians could chase Nate and his companions.

He felt Hanne withdrew from his embrace. He smoothed her hair before releasing her.

“What are we going to do now?” she asked, her voice was clearer now and she stopped crying.

“We’ll have to wait until they stopped searching.” Storm didn’t comment on Nate statement. Nate knew that it’s too dangerous to face either the Mortemians or the Concordian guards.

“They’re gone,” Storm said. He was looking outside. Nate followed his gaze. The bush practically covered the opening of the cave but sunlight seeped between the leaves. Nate checked their surroundings for energies. Storm was right, the Mortemians were gone or they were too far away for Nate to sense.

“We have to move.”

“What?” Hanne asked Storm. Nate watched as frown formed on her face. It was the first interaction Nate saw between the two after the day they met Storm.

“We can’t stay because if we do, we won’t arrive there on time.” Storm wasn’t looking at her as he said this. That’s true…

“Do you want us to get killed?” Hanne demanded. Uh oh she’s angry now. He touched her shoulder in order to calm her.

“He’s ri-“

“Are you that confident?” Hanne didn’t let Nate finish. She wasn’t quite finish scolding Storm. Nate sighed.

“Yes. And you’re going to stay here until we defeat them,” Storm announced. This made Hanne furious. Nate watched as her light green eyes narrowed and darkened. He immediately tapped her shoulder to calm her but it didn’t help.

“Are you telling me that I’m useless?” She was clenching her hands. Nate was getting worried. He didn’t want the two to engage in a fight and catch the guards’ attention. He glanced at Storm to give him a sign to stop but he was still looking outside, his face didn’t show any emotion.

“It’s best-“ Nate started to say.

“You also said that earlier,” she hissed at Storm. She was huffing because of anger. Earlier? What did I miss?

“What happened while I was out?” he asked as he glanced between the two. This time, Storm turned to Nate with solemn expression.

“Nothing. She argued with me.” Nate heard Hanne gasped behind her.

“I didn’t- You- “ Then she groan loudly. Nate frowned, confused with what their argument was about. When Hanne suddenly stood up, he grabbed her hand.

“Where are you going?” She looked back at him, her brow furrowed.

“I’m fighting them,” she replied after glancing at Storm. Nate tightened his hold on her hand.

“No, you’re not.” She wiggled out of his hold. Before he could use his other hand, Hanne escaped, running outside. Nate immediately followed her.

“Stop Hanne!” he shouted as he increased his speed, making sure that he doesn’t lose sight of her back. Hanne, don’t do this. He didn’t care or feel as the small branches scrapped his face and arms. It didn’t take long before she stopped when she reached the edge of the forest. He grabbed her arm forcefully, making her turn to him. His eyes were dangerously serious as he glared at her.

“Don’t do that again.” He gritted his teeth.

“I wanted to show him, Nate…” Her voice trailed, her gaze didn’t falter even as he was glaring at her. It was only when he felt a tap on his shoulder that he noticed the presence of the five individuals. His gaze softened.

“And I will show him,” she added with so much conviction in her voice. She turned as he let go of her arm. Nate also faced the five men, three of which stood up from the rocks they were sitting on when they noticed their presence. Insignias on the left side of their necks shone lightly as they marched towards them. When they were just several feet from them, Nate stared at their tattered clothes but they didn’t appear hurt or exhausted. The Mortemians fled the scene without finishing the fight?

“I’ll distract them-“ Storm began. Nate could feel his increasing power as Storm stood behind him.

“No you’re not,” Hanne interrupted. Nate clenched his fists as the five men stopped a few feet in front of them.

“Ashworth,” one of the men said. He stood in the middle. Nate frowned at him, confused as to why he knew them. “We’re not here to fight you. We’re ordered to secure you.”

“Secure them or imprison them?” Storm’s voice deepened. Nate remembered his warnings that not all Concordians should be trusted. What if they are working with the bad people? The man raised his chin and chest to appear intimidating as his intense stare battled with Storm’s. Nate couldn’t see Storm’s reaction because he was fixated at the men’s movements. He needed to be alert in order to protect Hanne.

“Protect them.” The man then turned his attention to Nate. “We must escort you to a secure facility east-“

“They’re stopping us from meeting the others,” Storm growled. Why though?

“And from entering the school,” Nate added. The man scoffed, clearly displeased with their statements.

“It’s not safe here,” the man insisted. Nate couldn’t agree more. Yet he was in a dilemma. There’s the uncertainty whether the five men are allies or enemies. If they indeed wanted to protect Nate and Hanne, following them meant that his sister will be protected from whatever’s chasing them. But they won’t be able to achieve their mom’s wish.

“Don’t listen to them, Nate. We won’t go even if they’re saying the truth.” He turned to his left to look at her. Is this really my sister? Her jaw was clenched and her eyes narrowed at the men. If this was a week ago, she would do anything to go home or go to the safest place. He wondered what changed her mind.

He turned towards the men who were looking agitated by the seconds. It was probably because of Storm’s threatening stance.

“Even if you mean what you said, we won’t come with you. We have a mission to finish,” Nate told them. He trusted Storm but above everything he trusted their mom. His knowledge about this world might be little but he knew that he has to know everything personally. He would uncover all the secrets his parents kept from him and Hanne.

The man in the middle scoffed again then clenched his jaw. “You chose the wrong path.” Nate grabbed Hanne’s arm and stepped backward when lights shone on the men’s neck. Their weapons materialized. They’re going to force us to come.

“This is it,” Storm uttered. As he stepped forward, Nate saw his insignia shine on his left cheek. Without sparing Nate and Hanne a glance, he run towards their opponents with his sword.

“Can you do this?” Nate asked his sister. She didn’t respond but instead raised both her hands. The ground rumbled. Her hands were shaking but Nate felt proud that she was facing her fears. It was his time to engage. When he felt the warmth on his left arm, he curled his right fingers until he can feel the warm and smooth texture of his bow. He grabbed five metal arrows behind him and place them in the bow, releasing one after the other towards the two men running towards him. Air materialized around the arrows because of their speed.

The two men dodged the arrows but the arrows turned and followed their targets. Sensing that the arrows won’t stay in one path, the men raised their swords to cut them. More. Nate felt the increasing heat on his arm as the arrows collided with the men’s swords. The blades hit the middle of the arrows but the blades were pushed seconds after the collision, making the men stumble. The arrows remained swivelling in the air. The two men turned to Nate with intense glares.

“Aim at him!,” one of the two men shouted. They sprinted towards Nate as the arrows continued their chase. Nate took a step back when one man neared him. When he swung his sword, Nate raised his bow with both hands to save himself. He pushed it harder when he felt the weight of the sword and its owner.

“You chose the wrong side, Ashworth,” the man said.

“What side are you talking about? Freedom?” Nate pushed the bow harder but the man wouldn’t budge.

“You’ll put yourself in danger if you meet them.” Is he talking about the people in Westward? He was confused because he thought that they would be safe if they meet the others. The man chuckled and Nate glared at him.

“You’re changing your mind.” Nate scoffed.

“Even if whatever you say makes me think twice, my decision won’t change,” Nate muttered. I trust mom. The man clenched his jaw and glared at him.

“Then your fate is sealed,” he said. Nate glanced behind the man and saw his companion trying to dodge the five arrows circling him. This is bad. He had to keep his concentration where his arrows are or they would be useless.

“Surrender now or-“ Nate pushed the bow with all his might and power in order to get out of the corner. The man, unable to hold it any longer, took a step back then swung his sword. Nate ducked to dodge it. Both of them were panting as they eyed each other. In the corner of his eye, he noticed that the other man had broken two of his arrows. Behind the man in front of Nate, Storm was in a sword fight. One man lay unmoving near them. Nate glanced to his left and smiled when he saw Hanne standing near a life-size metal box. Alright, let’s finish this.

He positioned the three remaining arrows higher in the air. At the count of three, they darted towards the ground. Upon impact, the ground exploded sending dirt and grass flying and the body of one of his opponents flew and hit the ground with a loud thud.

“You really won’t surrender,” the man in front of Nate muttered. You have my whole attention now. After three steps, the ground around the man erupted and long rusty metals bended then grasped his legs.

“What the!” He tried to pry himself using his sword but cutting them was useless. After each strike, the cuts closed immediately. When he tried to lift his feet, he couldn’t get out.

“What’s underground is too heavy for you,” Nate told him. The man glared at him. When Nate felt the decreasing warmth on his arm, he quickly turned to Hanne who kept her gaze on the metal box. She was already panting. He looked around for Storm and found him staring at an unmoving body beside a large rock.

“Storm, we have to go!” Storm turned to him. He probably understood the situation because he darted towards them. Nate jogged towards Hanne and grabbed her arm. With last one glance at the last man standing but with his legs between metals, he ushered Hanne towards the cave. The three quickly grabbed their bags and ran outside. Nate and Hanne followed Storm as they quickened their pace, increasing the distance between them and their opponents.

It was when they’re passing a small lake that Hanne complained about her wobbly and tired legs. Nate also felt his feet throbbing so he told his companions to rest beside the lake. He released a sigh of relief when he sat down on the grass.

“Drink,” he told Hanne. She grabbed the water container inside her backpack and took several gulps. He was drinking from his own container when he noticed that Hanne had been glancing at Storm who was oblivious of the fact. He thought that she was still angry but her eyes showed a different emotion. Admiration? It eventually vanished when Storm caught her gaze. She immediately gave him a sly, nasty glance.

Is she finally warming up to him?