I yawn and stretch sitting up groggily.

"Morning sleepy head." Temi brushes the red locks from my eyes as I blink rapidly adjusting to the dim light in the room. The curtains are drawn but the light falling inside the room is as melancholic as I feel. She gives me a small smile I don't return.

She is already dressed in black denim jeans and a really bright orange t-shirt that makes my eyes hurt. She looks like somebody hit her with orange. And her paleness doesn't help much. Her golden blue eyes are twinkling. I wonder why she's so cheerful considering previous events.

"Because it's beautiful outside. Get ready breakfast is already outside. Join us in a few."
With that she stands up and happily skips away leaving me really confused. The mind link bugs me sometimes.

After having a war with my hair that am generally victorious, teeth brushed I get out of the too pink room that looks like someone painted with cotton candy.

The others are awake too I guess. The small corridors are crowded with people. I take care not to draw attention to myself which is hard as their eyes naturally gravitate to my features. I scowl.

Finally I manage to exit the Old Forge lodgings once again admiring the peat stove as I walk past the other inmates gobbling down breakfast.

The day is over cast and has taken on a broody air quality reflecting me. Somewhat terrifying even but that doesn't sway the high spirits of the tourist congregation as they chat about the climbs they are going to have.

Silhouetted are the peaks of Ladhar Bheinn, Beinn Bhuidhe, Luinne Bheinn enticing and captivating but also exuding an aura danger.  The Loch Nevis is also gray adding to the melancholic spirit of the already depressing morning. I wonder what got Temi high, I want to have some too.

I take in a huge gulp of cold fresh air. I can see why Temi is elated a little. This is her scene. Water and mountains complete her life. I look longingly at the green forests. I wish I could just go in and disappear there forever. Be lost in the dangerous depth of beauty that is mother nature.

The water is enticing but the magnetic danger it exudes is exactly what scares me but pulls Temi in. I move to the picnic tables where Temi, Jake, Emmeline, Shen, Karim and Thoren are already seated with a food platter before them.

I spot them immediately with their dark sunglasses and white canes. People are trying to not look and avoid them but I can tell they are watching.

Thoren raises his head and glues his gaze on me as I make my way to them. I feel the pull behind the dark glasses. I can't stop the butterflies hatching in my stomach. I try not to blush.

Jake and Temi scoot making space in between them. Well maybe I'll sit with Thoren later. I plunk myself in between them annoyed with their clear intentions to keep me away from Thoren.

"You okay? Sleep well?" Jake looks at me very concerned as he passes me a bowl of aromatic tomato soup and homemade garlic bread. I dip my bread and take a bite.

"Mmmhmmm."
I sigh closing my eyes. The taste is of organic heavenly delight. I didn't even realize I was this hungry as I make short work of my meal. It suits the cold morning. It makes me feel warm inside.

"Slow down. Death by choking isn't exactly flattering." Shen mumbles between bites of smoked salmon. I give him a look as I eye his salmon. Looks mighty mouthwatering.

"You can have mine because that soup is just an appetizer for you by the looks of it. "Thoren slides a plate of untouched salmon and salads to me. He must have kept it for me. I immediately dig in tasting the local individual flavors playing on my tongue. Compliments to the chef.

Temi pours me some coffee and for a moment am in heaven. Idle conversation plays around the table as everyone titters afraid to raise the question on our minds.

What are we going to do? I finish my breakfast and gaze at the shoreline. The hypnotic push and pull of the waves lulls me into the darkest parts of my mind. What if we die? How long do we have? Where do we even start?

"Want to go sightseeing?" Emmeline is standing behind me. Everyone is looking at me. I shrug and down the last of my coffee. I get up reluctantly following her.

Her pink hair is in a bun her dark sunglasses and white cane poised in front of her. She is wearing blue jeans, a woolen white cashmere sweater and a pink scarf around her neck. She looks chic.

I take hold of her other arm. I let her lead me.

"You had spaced out there for a while. I thought you needed to get away. I know forests are your thing at least we share that."

"News flash Emmeline, we share a lot. We share Karim, my family, everything." Why is she even doing this. I want to leave her and stomp away. Run into the forest. Disappear. I feel the wild thing inside me calling me home. I want to give into that call. But we are still in public view. Keep up the lies I tell myself.

Emmeline trips over her boots and falls on her knees hard the glasses and walking stick fall a bit out of reach. She hisses. I must have been dragging her too hard without noticing.

I almost laugh but a voice behind us interrupts me.

"Are you alright dear?" An elderly couple, locals by the looks of it and the air they carry with them rush towards us. The man gently helps Emmeline up. My heart thuds. What if he sees her eyes? I don't want to be responsible for the dear couple's heart attacks and possible deaths.

Emmeline moves her hand around. Her eyes are screwed shut.
"My glasses and cane sister. I think they rolled away."

I unfreeze and pick them up. I put the glasses on her eyes and hand her the cane. She adjusts as I get the dirt off her.

"You should be more careful with your sister dear. Lead her slower this time."
The old man chastises me scolding.

"Am sorry. I didn't see the peeking stone sir" I see that as the possible course of action for these two.

"That's okay dear. Charles dear don't scold the dear girl. She feels bad enough and it was just an accident. Don't you dear?" The old lady gently guides Emmeline's hand weaving it into mine.

"Yes. Am sorry. Am going to be more careful. We just want a path into the forest. My sister wants to feel some trees." Seriously that's the best I can do? Sometimes I disappoint myself because that was one terrible lie.

"Oh lovelies. There's a path that breaks off into the forest just about twenty five feet away."
The old lady beams clearly buying it.

"Thank you kind people. We are blessed to find you." I humph. Emmeline can act.

"What are your names girls? Two pretty young things like you shouldn't be moving around alone." Old man Charles gives me a once over followed by a skeptical look.

I hold a secret smile. If only he knew half of the truth, nothing in that forest can even harm us otherwise he'd be running screaming for dear God. I don't even remember my fake name.

"Sarah and Anna Stevens. We can take care of ourselves sir thank you." Emmeline's soft polite tone rings out.

"You my dear must be Sarah and your sister must be Anna. Such lovely names for such lovely young ladies" I almost wince at old man Charles.

"Let's walk these girls to the path after all it's on our way." The old ever cheerful lady wounds her arm around Emmeline's waist and slowly in silence we progress.

The walk is short and they bid us fair well.
"Such beauties." I hear the old lady remark as the disappear further.

I let go of Emmeline and take off. I feel at home. With everything I have I feel free, unrestrained and I push running faster.

I hear heavy footsteps behind me. Emmeline. Game on. I feel the wind blowing in my hair as it flys behind me.

I welcome the burning pain in my muscles and the cold air I breathe. I feel like I can fly. I push more. I feel all the boiling emotions rise to the surface.

I see a big oak tree in front of me. The frustration of obstacles. The bitterness coils and awakens the darkness inside me that takes over. I smile. I welcome the destructive power. I run more and take a huge leap that throws me momentarily a few feet in the air as I take flight.

I channel everything. Anger, frustration, pain, hate, and rage at the tree. As I land the force resonating through my legs. There is nothing left behind me of the oak tree. Its like it never existed.

Now that am grounded and everything has left me I wonder why I did that. The tree probably was ancient. And I destroyed. And I actually felt good doing it. But it was either the tree or Emmeline I try to reason with myself. I could have held back and controlled myself.

I sink to my knees cold sweat trickling behind my back. I left nothing. I look at my hands and at the destruction I have caused splinters of the beautiful tree falling around me.
Tears break through me. I don't even know from where.

"It was just as destructive as it was beautiful. There's nothing left Athena." I hear the crunch of leaves as she approaches me.

"I don't need reproach Emmeline go away." I sob the dampness of the earth soaking through to my knees.

"Am not reproaching. I meant to stay that. Know what your target is. Know who to fight. Clearly not innocent trees." She grabs a splinter.

"What do you mean?" I know who to fight and it is you. She has no clue how close to death she is.

"I mean Athena. You are very powerful. Instead of fighting yourself, fight the things who took everything from you. Fight demons outside, not with demons inside you." She kneels besides and reaches out for me.

"Don't touch me Emmeline. You know nothing about me or what am going through." I warn bitterness and bile rising again inside me.

She recoils swiftly and looks at her fingers.
"I know what you are going through. I lost the people I loved most because of stupid mistakes and did nothing. I watched demons tearing my parents apart and did nothing. I watched the love of my life die in the worst possible way. I didn't even get to say a last goodbye to his body. So yes, I know plenty of pain, loss and inner demons."

She looks up at the gloomy sky. I stop sobbing. Maybe she does understand. But then again.....

"If you understand then why do you take all I have? You took my best friend from me, you took my sister and brother and I know my boyfriend also has a part for you. I hate you so much Emmeline. You keep taking and taking leaving me nothing."
I yell at her hatred boiling through all of me.

"Calm down first Athena. Don't do something you'll regret." I am starting to glow. I take deep calming breaths and plunk my butt on the damp ground. She sits besides me.

"Am sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I don't hate you Emmeline. Honestly am just jealous. You are perfect." I feel drained. I sigh as dark clouds gather above us.

"Your sister. She is not withholding. She just doesn't want to burden you with her feelings."
Her lips twitch with a hint of a suppressed laugh. She heard me.

"Yes she heard you. We saw you." We are silent for a while as the sky darkens further.

"I have a hard time watching loss and death ever since Ahmad. Your sister knows that and she came to find me. She helps me fight my inner demons. I just want you to know that you don't have to be so alone." I consider it. I twiddle my thumbs. How can anyone else help me fight my inner demons?

"You'll figure it out. Your smart like Temi. Besides, have i told you Temi and Shen have a lot of history." She stifles another laugh from a probably funny memory. Sister dearest probably had a blast in her seven months, clearly very eventful.

"Am sorry if I make you feel like I take everything. Its just that all of you are the only family I have left." Now I really feel bad. I put my hand around her and pull her close. I don't hate her. She's just so good.

Something heavy and sloppy soaks my hair. Am up in a blink already in defensive stance.

"Ladies and gentlemen she is going to fight the rain drops. I want to see who comes out victorious." Emmeline laughs already on her feet her dark eyes full of mockery.

"Sarcasm doesn't become you Emmeline." She smiles as she puts her shades back on.

"Do we run back or ......"
I leave the choice open to her as I shout over the now serious down pour with thunder. The weather here is so unpredictable.

"Teleport us to my room" She shouts hanging on to me for direction. I happily oblige because I can't walk back in such a torrential downpour.

I concentrate focusing on what her mind is showing me. I feel the tell tale shit around me, the vacuum and the silence.

Suddenly we are in her room. It has a huge white queen bed spread with white bedding. Its so spacious with a grey rug on the floor.

There's is a wall inbuilt wardrobe at the end of the room and a door that presumably leads to the bathroom which she runs to.
Oh yeah I almost forgot. First time teleportation equals to throwing up. But then again Thoren didn't throw up.

"Do you need me to come hold your hair up?" I snicker by the door way as she heaves her breakfast into the toilet. I move to the wardrobe and grab a towel and a glass of water for her. I hand them to her and she nods gratefully.

"No hair holding." She gives a look. "Seriously Athena" I hold my hands up ready to make my come back but a commotion has us back into the bedroom as the door slams open.

Temi looks at us. She is soaking wet and the others are behind her. Her look is blank and wild. She can't talk so I dive into her mind for insight. I move to her and stand in front of her never breaking eye contact.

"She's here." It escapes my lips. But her catch of breath answers everything.

She is here.