*this chapter has been edited*

I shot my arrow into the chest of a Turap. He couldn't dislodge it fast enough and the black mist consumed him from the inside out, forming zigzag patterns all over its body and crushing everything from within, the creature fell on its knees and exploded with the mist erasing all signs of its body.

I crouched down when it was over, trying desperately to regain myself. My breathing was labored and I knew it was due to the amount of dodging and fighting I had to endure.

The Turap had found me almost immediately. After the walls enclosed on all of us, it cornered me, and I had no choice but to defend myself.

My weakness was short distance fighting and the creature knew this very well. As I tried to put more distance between us, it only fuelled the beast to shorten the gap. Our arrows were only meant for long distance fighting and not close combat, which unlike us, was the Turaps greatest fighting tactic.

After steadying myself I started walking, making sure to be as stealthy as possible. My heart was beating so fast that I stopped just to catch my breath, but I was at a point that I was even afraid to breathe as it might alert my opponents on my whereabouts resulting in my impending demise.

I heard a snap behind me and I swiveled around and shot my arrow. There stood Jade with a hand towards her heart. "Dang girl, if I'd known that coming towards you would lead to my almost death, I'd have kept my distance, she said still trying to catch her breath.

My heart was full of relief upon seeing her, "I have never been happier to see you-"

"Shhh," she said whilst covering my mouth preventing me from uttering any more words.

"Do you want to get us killed?" She asked giving me a questioning look.

I shook my head as a response.

"Good," she said releasing her hand, "Neither do I and if you want to live I suggest you don't talk so loudly. Speaking of which we should start moving since the Turaps might be close by."

I took a deep breath and I followed behind her, a growl from somewhere ahead caused us to pause our movements, we hid behind a tree and waited until the sound became more and more distant, only then did we proceed with our hunt.

"We need to catch them by surprise, we need to do it stealthy and keep our distance at all times, or they will have the upper hand over us." I nodded at Jade's idea, getting too close would be a bad idea.

A figure stood watching me with beautiful light green eyes, a beauty unlike any other. Her green leafy skin made her look like part of the forest, her face showed no emotion, she only watched me, observing me from afar.

"Cecile? Hey are you okay?" Jade's face was laced with concern.

A beautiful lady with red hair stood near me, her blazing red eyes stared at me and in an instant her body combusted and she was aflame, but it seemed the flames were a part of her and not harming her. She lifted her hand and beckoned me to her.

My eyes blinked and I was back in the forest with Jade, my vision was switching scenarios and I had a hard time remembering what was real or not.

"What is happening to me?" I almost yelled as I felt my eyes shift once more.

A dark laughter and a chilling scream followed, but what I saw confused me. A younger version of my father stood before something, someone. And looking closely my heart stopped and my blood ran cold--

I let out a piercing scream, breaking out of that world. Clutching my head and falling to my knees, I shook from what I had seen, the man looked exactly like my father, and the scream had come from my mother as she run towards my father's look alike who had looked on the brink of death.

"Cecile, please calm down," Jade placed a hand on my shoulder but she was propelled back by a physical spark that caused me to land on my back and Jade skidding across the ground.

My eyes were blurred but I could make out her figure standing up and wobbling for a while until she regained her balance. She turned and started limping, "I'm going to find someone for you Cecile, something is seriously wrong. I'll be back."

I didn't want to be left alone and though my blurred vision prevented me from seeing clearly I still called out to her, "Jade wait!" I chocked out trying to catch up to her.

I almost caught up to her retreating figure but I tripped and I felt myself start to roll down and collide with a body causing me to land on top.

I smiled glad to have caught up to her, I lifted my head up and felt my heart drop as underneath me was a Turap that was snarling at me.

I scrambled to my feet trying to make a break for it but the Turap had grabbed me by the throat lifting my body up like it was a feather.

I clawed at its hand as my breathing became a futile task.

It grinned sadistically putting more pressure on my neck. I felt my life flash before my eyes as I gazed at the bottomless pit of hate its eyes held. This is it, the end.

My arms fell limp by my side as I felt my life draining. I hung my head as the Turap laughed.

"Is this really all you've got?" It taunted, "Such a disgrace. Killing you is going to be so easy." It laughed.

I felt a tear drop as I was now close to reaching unconsciousness.

The Turap gasped and not long after it turned to stone and broke apart. I fell chocking and gasping for air.

I looked up to see Jade glaring at me from where she stood. She quickly strode towards me and pushed me up.

"Come on, let's get out of here before anything like what happened to you earlier repeats," She said.

Without giving me a chance to speak she turned and started walking away. I immediately ran after her staying close.

We made a turn to the left coming upon a dead end. We got stuck a few more times until finally we got to a clearing where we found some Turap's huddled together, conversing amongst themselves.

"Do not make a sound and be sure to stay close behind me," Jade whispered crouching down and slowly walking towards them.

We were approaching silently, when all of a sudden a rope wrapped around Jade's leg lifting and hanging her upside down from a tree.

It was a trap!

I watched as the Turaps got up with a grin, I looked down to find that there was some rope just a few steps away from where Jade's trap was. They had planned this and I would've also been suspended in the air.

I looked up to find Jade using one of her daggers to cut herself free from the trap. The girl was a fast thinker and survivalist I'll give her that.

Just as the rope snapped Jade toppled to the ground, unfortunately she did not land on her feet; instead her head hit a rock on her descent. The sound of her skull cracking caused me to wince.

I tried to make my way towards her to check if she was all right but a Turap took her and put her limp body over his shoulder, "That's one down, let's get the other girl next."

I started walking backwards my eye's focusing on Jade as more tears threatened to escape.

I shook my head, turned around and started running. I knew those things were right behind me so I took a sharp turn only to regret it as I came across three of my classmates dead bodies.

The corpses were brutally ripped apart. Their organs were all out in the open and hanging out. Their face portrayed a gruesome expression: a face of one who suffered dearly.

I felt myself getting queasy and I covered my mouth to try and hold in the bile that was slowly trying to find release from my system. I failed.

I bent over a shrub and emptied out the contents of what I had eaten and I started breaking down right there and then. I was weak, I couldn't do this, I'm not strong enough.

Depressing thoughts started lingering in my mind, 'You left Jane' my mind taunted. My inner thoughts had turned into my own monsters.

'Look at you, such a coward.'

'She came back for you and this is the thanks she gets?'

'You're such a worthless, vile, disgusting creature.'

I started banging on the ground as more thoughts haunted me.

'It should've been you those creatures took."

I let out a distressed scream as I lay in a fetal position still crying.

I was weak, I was weak, I deserved to be captured not her.

I ran like a coward instead of trying to take Jade away from those creatures.

Jade came back but I left. She tried to put in effort but I didn't.

I was beginning to hyperventilate it seemed as if I have forgotten how to breath properly.

What is to breathe?

I couldn't calm down as the guilt of leaving Jade kept piercing needles to each and every part of my body.

I tilted my head and looked at the three girl's corpses, never ending tears still spilling from my eyes. I should've been the 4th.

My lifeless body was meant to be on the ground; torn apart like theirs.

I saw a figure running towards me. I couldn't see with my vision all distorted but I was still able to feel the slap that the person gave me.

"Snap out of it Cecile, will you?" I recognized the voice as Sylvia, Jades best friend.

I cried even more earning me another slap, "Cecile you can't be crying out here," she said shaking me.

"I-I can't t-they h-have J-Jade, I managed to choke out while still bawling.

"What?!" Sylvia panicked.

"I left her Sylvia, I let them take her,"

Her arms fell off my body and she looked at me with a look that screamed betrayal. It ripped my heart even more as she clenched her fist and jaw, trying to compose herself but her eyes betrayed her.

She took a deep breath and looked at me, "This will take me time, and we will have to talk, but right now we have to go I have the Turap's elemental and it's almost sunrise."

I sniffed and followed her through the maze, rather sluggish might I add.

We reached a cave and inside were most of the Sarions huddled together. The rest I presume are dead.

The sun's rays started draining any trace of darkness in the night sky, and just as it happened the walls started disappearing into the ground and I got a clear view of the training school.

We made our way towards the school everyone walking in a sullen manner. Depressed about the loss of their fellow comrades.

We reached the school being greeted by Miss Gen who collected the elemental from Sylvia.

I gazed at the elemental and to my shock, it greatly resembled the emerald necklace I wore round my name. It was black in color and glowing. The black seemingly swimming in the abyss that is the diamond shaped necklace.

We went into the hall and I followed trying to find Sylvia.

Once I did I grabbed her hand to stop her from walking away and to at least apologize to her about Jade.

She took a huge sigh and gazed at me doing a good job of masking her emotions. "Sylvia I'm really sorry I-"

A loud bang was heard from the door interrupting my apology.

Everyone was on their guard as we headed to the door and Sylvia pushed it open ready to fire.

At the door stood a badly wounded and bleeding Tom carrying an unconscious semi half-dead Jade.

Everyone quickly rushed to assist the two starting with Jade and leading her to where I presume is a medical room.

×××××××××××××××××××××

Another long chapter yay!

For those of you who don't remember Tom he's the popular boy at Sauran High who Cecile refused to go out on a date with.

You know what to do if you liked it *wink wink*

Wanna see which creature is next *takes dice and rolls it on the ground*

*goes behind a curtain and peeks, comes back laughing hysterically*

I don't know why I'm laughing but oh well. *Happy dances*

More chapters to come. Until next time my warriors.

Mwah! Loves you.

Mercy💜