The Wilderness - Chapter Two

Chapter Two:

It was nearly two days later when Sarah, her brother and the others dared to emerge from their underground refuge. They had huddled the entire time in the darkness, listening to the savage shrieks of their enemies and the terrified screams of the Shataiki’s innocent victims. Numb shock had encompassed everyone into an almost unconscious state of mental awareness. No one understood what was going on.

The sounds of massacre continued on for several hours at first. Then what followed afterwards was a lot of thumping and scratching as the horrible black bats attempted to break into their small shelter. But by the first night, the sounds faded into silence. An unearthly silence that filled their hearts with fear...fear, something they had never experienced before. Elyon’s name was whispered continually in prayer for their deliverance and salvation. But no answer came.

Then the second day had come, but no one had been brave enough to open the door. They ate of the fruit that was stored around them in jars. It gave them some renewed strength. Night fell again and the next morning Daniel announced he was going out.

“If everything’s seems safe, I’ll come back. If I don’t...well...” he let his words trail, their meaning clear.

Some of the older men began to argue among themselves, reluctant to let a boy go in what should be their place. Never had Sarah seen anyone argue, but she also strangely disagreed and joined her voice into the protest.

But Daniel ignored them and ran up the stairs flinging the door aside before anyone could stop him.

Sarah sucked in her breath at this act of defiance. The young had always before respected the older on all things. She moaned as a filmy gray light flooded into their cramped space. Everything was so wrong....

Daniel’s body was momentarily silhouetted against this light and then the door fell back into place. Everyone held their breath, expecting to hear the Shataiki’s familiar shriek.

Nothing.

Sarah held a sleeping Rachelle, exhausted from crying and hunger across her lap. One arm was wrapped around Valerie who was curled beside her in the dirt.

Please, let them be gone, Elyon, Sarah prayed, bending of her small daughters. Her mind instantly shot to the image of her older daughter Keira, bouncing on her father’s shoulders, both laughing. Caleb’s eyes locked with hers immersed with Elyon’s love.

Let them be alive....she pleaded silently, tears falling down her cheeks.

Then Daniel’s voice jerked her back to reality. The door flew open, letting in the light once more and his smiling face appeared.

“Its safe...everything’s gone!”

The group slowly stood, stretching cramped muscles and filed up the steps. Sarah didn’t quite know what her brother’s words meant until she emerged into the light. Her hand flew to her mouth.

Everything was gone! Shataiki, the people, trees, flowers, grass, animals...Roush. A barren, black wasteland surrounded them in no way resembling the world they had left only days before. The village was empty and desolate, the houses no longer glowed their radiant colors. A gray-like ash seemed to have settled on everything, sucking away any life.

The group of refugees stood in grief, their heads bowed, a deep heaviness settling over them.

Some fell to their knees weeping, others just continued in their numb state of shock, walking aimlessly through the barren remains of their once beautiful village. Valerie began to sob as she gazed at the unfamiliarity around her. Daniel quickly scooped her up, trying to comfort her, his own anguish evident through the downward turn of his mouth.

“There has to be survivors,” Sarah said hopefully. Those nearest looked at her in disbelief. Daniel shook his head and pointed down what had once been the main street. Dark wide stains of blood lay scattered in every direction, covering the dirt.

“No bodies,” her brother murmured, dazed.

Sarah whirled around, staring across the village, the hard, cold truth settling in. There were no bodies...

“Elyon!” someone wailed. Sarah slowly sank to her knees, cradling Rachelle, closing her eyes to block out the miserable scene. She could feel her strength leaving her, a strange weakness settling throughout her bones. The unfamiliar desire to kill something surge through her mind. That’s what she would do to the Shataiki again if she ever saw one.

She heard a small exclamation from Daniel and her eyes slowly opened, glancing towards him.

He was holding Valerie at arms length and look of revulsion covering his features.

“Her eyes, Sarah....her eyes,” he stammered.

Sarah stumbled to her feet, lurching towards him and then stopped short as his own eyes met hers.

They were like glass marble...the clear cerulean blue had vanished. Her eyes flew to Valerie’s. The toddler’s were exactly the same, the beauty gone.

She felt Daniel gasp and knew her eyes revealed the same truth. She shifted Rachelle’s sleeping form. The child’s eyes were closed in blissful sleep. But Sarah knew that under those soft eye-lids her baby girl’s eyes had changed as well. She heard the upraised voice of the others and knew they weren’t the only ones discovering this new phenomenon. The voices were filled with the now familiar sensation...fear. Some were touching and scratching their exposed bodies.

Sarah glanced at her and Daniel’s arms. Dry as a bone. Thin lines were breaking out across the skin.

Daniel spun around,” We must get to the lake!”

He took off running. Sarah followed. Elyon was at the lake...Elyon was the lake. He could save them. He could explain what was happening.

Several others shouted in confusion after them, wondering where they were going, but realization soon took hold and Sarah heard pounding feet behind them.

Ten minutes later Sarah, Daniel and five others skidded to a stop at the banks of the great wide lake, the largest in the world...but now only a small pond. The great waterfall had dwindled to a trickle; the edges of the water were growing stagnant, and murky. But the center was still clear and sparkling.

Daniel screamed in panic and plunged in, still holding Valerie. Sarah followed.

The relief and pure delight was instant. Peace washed over them. Their terror dissipated and strength returned to their veins. They gulped the water into their bodies, desperate for its life-sustaining source.

Some one screamed as the water began to recede, first to their waists, then their knees then there ankles, sinking into a muddy ditch.

Sarah stumbled back to the dry beach, moaning. Glancing at everyone’s eyes, she realized their color had returned. That was good. But what would they do now?

The others joined her on the beach.

“Go to the nearest crossing,” said a voice above their heads.

Everyone pivoted to find the familiar comforting sight of a white Roush. Balin was his name, the wise one assigned to their tribe.

He looked wearied and burdened with a thousand cares of the world.

“What has happened, Balin?” asked one of the men, a broad-shoulder man by the name of Marcus.

“Evil has been given permission to release itself. Tanis drank the enemy’s water and ate their fruit.”

It was the “truth” no one had been willing to speak. But now coming from the Roush’s mouth, they realized finally that it was real.

Tanis...the father of mankind. The firstborn of the tribes had fallen. What had lured him there? How could he have desired such evil?

Sarah didn’t know if they’d ever know.

“What’s at the crossing?” she said weakly, gazing up at the white bird.

“There is refuge beyond the river deep in the desert towards the southeast,” Balin pointed in that direction with one of his wings,” but you must go through the Black forest to reach it.”

“Is that our only hope?” Daniel asked.

The Roush sadly nodded his head,” Evil has been released. It’s already infected your hearts...there is no escape. Gather what fruit you can and do not drink any water but Elyon’s. Perhaps you will make it. Many have already been taken. But if you remain here, all will die.”

Sarah held Rachelle tightly to her chest.

“How many survived?” she asked in choked voice.

The Roush’s kind, tired eyes swung to hers.

“Very few.”

She read the answer to her question between the lines. She began to weep softly.

“Hurry, there isn’t much time. Gather the others,” he urged them and then lifting his wings Balin flew away.

Marcus began to take charge, hurrying them back the village. Sarah stumbled along behind Daniel near the rear, vision blurred.

At village, they were surprised with shouts of joy when they discovered that more survivors had appeared, coming up out of basements and the houses. Two or three here...one maybe there. The biggest group was ten men and women who’d taken refuge in the Thrall. Among them were some of the village leaders. Ciphus and Jeremiah. Quickly everyone gathered, now numbering nearly fifty and Marcus informed them of the drying up lake and Balin’s words.

After a lengthy discussion, which involved several opinions, and consisted of one very determined group who wished to remain at the village and rebuild, they finally came to the decision to follow Balin’s instructions. Those who had disagreed, quickly realized how foolish their hopes had been. Like Balin had said, they would die if they remained here, in the charred remains of the once breathtaking forest.

Quickly the people gathered together any fruit they could find. Some had already rotted away, turning into ash, but some, like what had been in basements, was still good. Collecting these in several huge sacks they set off towards the south....the river and the crossing. It would be a nearly two day journey.

Sarah held her breath as she glanced towards the skies. What would they do if the Shataiki suddenly appeared again? She would never be able to shake the horrifying image of the swirling black mass as long as she lived. Following the others into the charred, dead forest of leafless trees, she prayed they would make it to the river. And as for the black forest?

...she doubted they would live through that.