Riding a few miles ahead, I suddenly twist the harpy's handles counterclockwise. Pulling the handles back, the cycle stops moving. It still hovers in mid-air. I glance down, a few feet to the ground as pieces of rocks and dust are moving away.

Another shot of that same booming sound. The laser missile landing a mile to my left. The ground shakes as I hear the explosion. A cloud of dust forming near me.

I glance back to see the laser rocket turrets, all military-built created with the sturdiest metal. Each of the six ten foot tall machines turns synchronously. They are tough to avoid and get passed without Dawning officials' knowing.

According to what I learned from history class, The Arc was created by the second director, Director Ren Hammock. Hammock needed to fortify Dawning's outside perimeter; closely fifty yards away from Dawning's city wall. So he created a perimeter line, which formed into a defensive brigade. The six turrets are mostly controlled by Dawn One computers. How the turrets are placed, they are positioned like a large arc hence the name.

The main purpose of these weapons is to handle off the mages and malefics that are willingly to attack Dawning head on. Since the turrets can find a mage or malefic with its sharp A.I. I don't know how creatures like Raudan got passed. These things never miss. The Arc always finds its target.

That's what I been hearing a lot. But I guess these malefics have found a loophole, a gap officials didn't noticed. It must be the same loophole most likely the Shadowhawks use to go in and out.

Or most likely it could be Director Vartwild giving the magihunters a clear pass. I don't think she knows I'm here. But I doubt it. I look around, turning my head side to side to check to see if I can find that loophole. It would be easy if I can find it on the console map.

I glance at the mapscreen and see nothing but six big dots facing me. There's no symbol or indicator pinpointing me to the loophole. After all this time, I'm surprised Emmet didn't place it in these maps. Unless the loophole is only the director's digression.

I don't know a lot about Emmet and the director's relationship, how they became friends in the first place. Was it because of me? Was it something else?

Ignoring the truth about them, I glance back as the turrets are moving. Yet they are not firing those sounds. I may know why. Seeing no malefics around, it must be some sort of test. They always do that. The officials randomly select a day to practice The Arc. Sometimes there're nights I couldn't sleep, because those turrets were firing constantly. I don't know where. I glance around to see charred remains on the ground, spreading miles apart.

Guess the outskirts have been its testing ground.

Hoping the spot I'm hovering over doesn't become a target, I decide to find the loophole myself. I get in a ready stance. My feet press firmly on the foot beds. My hands grab hard on the handles. I lean down a bit. Turning the handles clockwise and forward, the harpy starts to move ahead. As I get close—but not very close—to the Arc barrier, I hesitate to trigger anything.

I travel a half mile towards the line. I suddenly turn the handles counterclockwise and pushing it back, I stop. Wondering why they haven't continued firing, the computers controlling the Arc is watching this.

Watching me.

 Is Vartwild watching? Why would she, there's nothing important about me. She doesn't want me to be killed. Just moments ago, I saw one of the shots hitting an area where a defenseless lizard was lying down. I don't think it was intentional. It's because of the practice. But they have to be watching. Why would they stop? Does Vartwild really care about me that much. I'm still pissed she sent me to Level 8. Yet everything I have heard thus far is making me question.

What the director is doing. What Emmet and the Orre are doing. They're protecting me from something. I don't know what, but it's something. And I feel my past is related to all of this.

Suddenly, the turrets are positioning itself for some strange reason. It's about to fire. Not wasting any more time, I turn the harpy's handles clockwise while pulling it back. I zoom out.

Riding parallel to the Arc line, I notice a gap nearby. I think I found it. However as I'm still on the way, I hear a cranking sound. My eyes veer to the right, my sight shifts back to the turrets. All six of them are turning towards me, the laser barrels leaning down. I can see something glowing from the inside.

It's about to fire.

Hastily, I seize my chance as I can see the narrow gap, pieces of the line barrier broken. It's getting clearer. I soon make the sharp right turn. Zooming fast, I ride in-between two big turrets. I can smell something burning. The laser barrels getting ready to shoot. Yet before I hear anything, I successfully make it out of the Arc. I finally get out of the predicament.

Passing those turrets by the skin of my teeth, I quickly take a gander of the turrets firing at something, at the same spot I was in.

Could it still be a test? I hope so. I really hope that was just practicing. If the director does care about me, she shouldn't allow those things to fire. Allowing me to pass.

But if she was watching me, and that she ordered those turrets to fire at me.

Why would she want me dead?

***

Riding the harpy way west, I neglect how long I passed the Arc.

It must have been a while; the sun is still up in the sky. The sun rays reach hotter every single second. Realizing this harpy refuels itself, I didn't take a quick second to stop. I continue riding west. Looking out in the frontier, the Outerlands is nothing more than barren land and wasted towns. Animals roam around trying to find food and Neomericans shelter in colonies.

My aunt mentioned to me, where Dawning is now located used to be an area known as the Gulf South, a famous area in Old America.

I bypassed one small, battered old town. All the buildings rotten, what were tall structures are now hollow shells of their former selves. Roads uneven with cracks and covered in weeds. No one dare tried to rebuild it. This wasn't the only town that had this shape.  

To the best of my knowledge, those withering towns were filled with people when America used to be popular back then. But after the war, Old America that had those prosperous towns and cities are nothing more than ghost towns where animals domain over. My teachers taught me a lot about our tragic past. How our ancestors did what they could to stop the mages, but the country took the cost along with many innocent norm lives. I remembered the Orre told me about the mysterious event that ruin Old America; how it started the war. What was that name.

Magefall

I'm still lost over what Magefall truly was. But the way the Orre was stressed about it, he didn't want to see that event ever happening again. I wished I knew what it was.

Or maybe it's best to skip knowing it for now.

Trying to think about something positive, I see Anita. I see that kiss I gave her days ago. How is she doing? Where could she be? I soon think about the Shadowhawks, Terra and the others. Have they found Anita yet? Where could they be? Where are those woods?

My head leans down to check the console screen. Then from a distance, the mapscreen shows hawk-like icons blinking. The four markings are suddenly in the northwestern direction.

About twelve more miles ahead, I look forward to see a large forested area. That must be it. The Forsaken Woods. Riding along, I then pause when I hear the console speaking.

 FELLOW HARPIES ARE DETECTED

I'm so close.

Staring at the large forest area, there are almost seventeen acres of long oak trees and the reddish mountains near the far background. Once I make to the edge of the forest entry. I notice yards away are the other harpies, all rested down to the ground. I turn the handles counterclockwise and pushing them back, I park the cycle twenty yards from the forest entry.

As soon as I hop out of the cycle, I stand still like a statue. I view the large forest, and then a strange feeling suddenly engulfs me. A feeling somewhat similar I felt when I was back in the Shadowhawks lair.

I gulp slowly having patience. Not knowing what to expect once I enter into those woods. I can remember what Silas said.

No telling what we'll face.

Mustering my awkward nerves, I step forward. Marching ahead, I glance at the once sunny sky is now blocked by many branches, only highlights of the sun I can see. Each tree reaches up to twelve feet tall. I keep exploring around on foot. Expecting anything, but I can feel something. That powerful urge. I can sense in a way.

Something is close, requiring me to go there. What's that nagging feeling? I decide to let it guide me almost pulling me east. I keep walking feeling little wind. Leaves flying over my face. Stepping over loose branches, leaves, and rocks, I don't know exactly where I'm going.

Then I halt. My eyes widen out veering side to side. I hear something. Waiting another minute, I try to move. Yet the sounds of strange crackling growls are busting my eardrums. I want to cover my ears.

I slowly head out. However a few miles away, I hear a ruckus nearby. Then out of nowhere an explosion happens. I duct down, hiding by some bushes. Suddenly, I get a quick glimpse of the family fire.

The flames. The burnt wood. The three bodies.

 I shake my head, smacking my side head. I then slowly get back up to my feet, as my shoes steps over breaking leaves. I decide to follow the source of the blast. I get closer and then as I reach towards a trunk. I glance forward, spotting Silas as he carries two daggers in his hands. He's brawling with a creature with pitch black eyes. The creature has a bald head, pointed ears, slimly, whitish green skin, and is wearing ragged clothing.

I carefully sneak behind the trunk. I observe Silas fighting the creature off. And then I spot Silas twisting the bottom handle of one dagger and throw it to the creature's abdomen. The dagger pierces the creature's skin as the thing screams that same crackling yell and then a few seconds later the dagger explodes, along with the creature.

My eyes widen in disbelief and shock, the same feeling of a zephyr blowing through my face. I look further, and I soon see Icarus fighting off two more of those creatures. Icarus then begins to use his shielded axe, turning red. He starts swinging it, and hits one creature on its forehead. The creature flames out as Icarus takes his weapon out of it. He spots the other creature. Icarus maneuvers his axe towards the second and, as the axe glows bluish. Icarus swings the axe at the creature, making the thing turn into an icicle. Icarus then uses his axe again and smashes the frozen creature into thousands of pieces.

I'm dumbfounded and amazed. What I'm seeing? The Shadowhawks at work. I can hear Camille hollering as she too is fighting in the same fray. She uses her leathered, tight whip and swings the thorn-covered tip towards several of the whitish green creatures. Each one screaming in pain

What are those things?

I soon spot Terra yards away from her sister. I still lie by the base of the tree. My lips can barely move a muscle. I see Terra battling more of those creatures. She uses one of her dual bow-guns and starts firing a couple of arrows right at the creatures' foreheads and chests. Then as she gets entangled with another one of those things, I glance in horror as one more is trying to sneak attack her from behind. I look around to see the others are still preoccupied with their fights.

Terra is in trouble. I can sense she has this, but I doubt it. I don't want to usher a sound, hoping not to bring their focus onto me. But I don't want to see her hurt. I glance quickly at the bottom, looking for something useful. Then I grab hold of a small boulder. Lifting it up, I view the sneaky creature approaching Terra inches to her backside.

I decide the time is now. So I throw as hard I can. Yet the rock didn't hit the creature. It only lands right by mere centimeters. I then pause in shock. The creature suddenly turns its ugly sight onto me. I quickly hide behind the trunk.

My back facing the trunk, I carefully exhale. Trying to close my eyes, hoping that thing didn't see me. And hope Terra saw what was going on and got that freak. And just as I'm about to take another breather, I then hear the absurd, crackling noise near me. I can smell a weird breath. A breath that smells like death.

I open my eyes, and right to my left is one of them. It yells that same deafening sound. Freaking out, I run. I hear the breaking leaves, as my nerves got me on overdrive. However as I try to find some shelter or a place to hide, more of those things start popping up.

I don't have a fancy weapon like the others. Staring aimlessly, I then glance at a long branch on the ground. As those things swarm towards me, I quickly reach out and grab the heavy, loose branch. I lean back straight as I begin to swing the branch at the creatures, whacking three of them a few times.

However, I yell one hurtful, "Agghh!"

 I turn to see my back got scratched by a fourth creature. Its claws must have swiped me, without me noticing. Attacking me like a ghost. I can feel the sting surging through me. I can barely see the damage in the back, but I can see pieces of my back shirt flying off as it got ripped by those claws.  

Then suddenly one of the four creatures lunges at me. The force knocks the branch out of my hand. I then get hit by another one of those things, its claws swiping at me with a fury. I can feel my lip a bit busted. I land on the ground as I try to feel my injured lip. I didn't feel my face getting scratched. I touch my cheeks just to make sure, and then I pause in fear. I notice the four grouping up to attack me all at once.

I try to reach to the branch nearby, but before can I get to it. One of the four whitish green creatures collapses to the ground. I look shocked, as I then spot an arrow hitting its back. I know what that means. I turn to see Terra firing more of her arrows at the rest, each one taking the hit and landing on the ground dead.

I sigh in relief, when I then see Silas coming over to me. He leans out his hand; I grab it as he pulls me up. I thank him for it, and then as I stare back at those dead creatures. I look back at Silas.

"What were they?"

 "Those creatures are not friendly to hang around."

He informs me they are called bokogoblins. They're violent goblin-like malefics that are true vermin, pests that hide and blend in the trees. They hunt in a pack and strike together, but can easily be defeated.

"You don't know what you get in this place." He says. I listen to him and then I stop as I see Terra coming towards me. She doesn't look thrilled to see me.

"Why are you here?"

"I need to be."

Terra just remains silent, not knowing how to respond to that. Then I hear Camille and Icarus giggling over something as they soon walk over here. Camille wonders where Terra and Silas went, until she stops to look at me.

"Why are you...Get out of here!" She states agitated.

Icarus seconds the notion, "You need to leave. There was a reason why Emmet told you to stay."

 "I'm not a dog; besides like I told Terra. I have to be here."

"Why?!" Icarus questions.

"I don't know." I reply, yet I see Icarus upset and almost not caring.

"Give him a break!" Silas defends me. "He doesn't need this attack."

I want to thank Silas twice, but that strange feeling reels on me again. I soon hear Terra telling them.

"There's nothing here anyway. Anita isn't here. We should get back."

Feeling a bit upset why I even came here, Terra then looks at me with a concern look.

"To make you feel better, we do misguided stuff too." She starts to smirk.

I want to smile, but then as they all about to head out back to their harpies. I then turn my head around. It's coming again. That same strange urge.

I decide to follow the feeling, but then I hear "NAVEN!" several times from Terra. I want to stop and walk back with her. However, I need to follow this. This feeling must be regarding something else, not Anita or Raudan. It's something that relates to me.

I can't understand, but I want to.

A further mile into the forest, the urge becomes more potent. I'm getting near. I don't know where, but I can sense it. I don't know how I can, but as I reach closer and deeper. I then look toward an elongated wall of shrubs and oak trees.  

I try to step closer until out of nowhere. It came back. My chest bursts out in pain. I fall to my knees, as it lands on the ground hard. I lay my hand near my chest. It's like I'm having a heart attack, but my heart is fine. I cry out an ailing squeal, and then I realize. It has to be the burn mark searing my nerves.

Why is this happening again? It's been a few months since the last attack, but the pain continues to get me. And then as I glance back at the shrubby wall, whatever the feeling is...is beyond there. But I try to muster my way to it even crawling. However, the pain sears higher. I cry out more.

And then I can hear Terra. She forces me back up. "Come on!" She says. "We're heading back home."

"No! I got to go there." I point back to the shrubby wall, but Terra refuses me.

"Next time." She says.

"I have to...!" I say, squinting in pain. I try to head to the shrubby wall, but she keeps pushing me back. Not trying to fight Terra, I concede and allow her to push me again. Then the chest pain recedes.

How can that be?

Something triggered this pain. I don't know about the other times but this time. This very moment, I felt the pain as soon as I got closer to that shrubby wall. The potent urge, the odd feeling led me to this point.

However, I can't do anything as I'm being force to leave. But I'll be back. I promise to myself.

I will find out what's on the other side.

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**Please comment/vote on what you read so far. I really appreciate it.