The Escape
‘The next time I’m home I’ll try to organise what I do with my evening’
she mumbled to herself quietly. There again why does she have to be quiet, why
not put on her Queen album; and blast the ruddy neighbours out, ‘God I’m grouchy this evening,’ throwing
her slim petite hands up in the air in exasperation wondering where her parents
were.
Zoe wandered through the house
touching and looking at things she’d not seen in many years. It seemed her parents
hadn’t changed much at all. Still collecting plates and pictures; you could
hardly see the wallpaper or paint anymore. The thought of clearing the house
out one day made her slim body shudder in horror.
Zoe cringed walking into the
front lounge. This room held striped wallpaper in blues and creams; it actually
looked rather regal, though the old fashioned furniture didn’t suit at all.
The doorbell sounded. Zoe
smiled grimly as the tune played, it was different each time though she was
beginning to hate the ‘Happy Birthday to you’ tune completely; it drove her
nuts. Wondering who it could be Zoe
flung open the door to the night, shivering as cold wind wrapped its fingers
around her body. The hunched figure
turned back to the door making Zoe gasp in surprise.
“Fabia, where on earth did you
come from? I haven’t seen you for what nearly 8 years,” she exclaimed excitedly
grabbing Fabia’s arm dragging her into the house banging the door shut.
“OMG Zoe, I’m so glad you’re
safe, I was so worried about you,” said Fabia her voice laced with terror.
“Of course I’m fine Fabia,
don’t be daft,” she said scornfully.
“Zoe, you don’t understand….”
“What are you on about? Here let me take your coat; I was just about
to make a cuppa tea to warm me up; would you like one?”
“Zoe, we need to leave here
now before they come for you.”
“Fabia, nothing’s happening
here, calm down you’re starting to scare me.”
“Get some clothes, food and
water Zoe we need to leave immediately,” she replied urgently, “they’re getting
closer I can feel them,” she shuddered violently.
Raising an eyebrow at her old school
friend Zoe decided to do as requested. Just maybe a bit of fresh air would
revive her friend’s brain. With a huge sigh Zoe collected some things together
putting them into her favourite backpack; slinging it across her shoulders
turning with a small smile to humour her friend.
“Come on then you daft twit,
let’s go.”
“Zoe it isn’t funny.”
Zoe threw open the front door looking
into the dark night to find the night sky brighter than it should be. In the
distance she could see a light drawing closer. Frowning she grabbed Fabia’s
arm. Fabia took one look at the light and ran towards the back of the house,
Zoe trailing after her.
“What the hell is it Fabia,”
she gasped breathlessly running beside her friend.
“I told you they were coming
to get you. Hurry we must climb the fence get across the school grounds, the fields
will be a good enough hiding place.”
“Who are they? What do they
want with me?”
“Let’s get out of here Zoe. I’ll
explain later when we have shelter for the night. The further we get away the
safer we’ll both be.”
With a sigh Zoe followed Fabia
over the wire fence. At a steady trot by
her side they made it into the rugby fields.
“How much further do we need
to go,” Zoe questioned.
“If we can walk through a
stream or something, then they should lose our scent. I don’t think they have
the wolfhounds with them.”
“Who the hell are those people?”
“Later Zoe, just know you’re
not safe in this place any longer.”
A roar suddenly erupted behind
them. Crouching down Zoe looked back in horror. The lights were fire torches
held by a bedraggled crowd, they’d marched up to her home waving the flames
back and forth chanting. Zoe couldn’t make out the words. Suddenly the crowd
surged forward surrounding the house throwing their fire torches at the
windows, smashing them; the torches landed inside making the rooms glow as the
fire ate its way through the house.
“What the…they can’t do that,”
her mouth hanging open she started to stand only to be pulled back to the
ground by Fabia.
“Just remember you could’ve
been inside if I’d not come for you.”
“Well thanks Fabia, though now
I don’t have anything, all my memories were in there, what about my
parents? Where are they?”
“It is too late to save them,
they’ve been turned,” Fabia said sadly.
“Turned?” Zoe asked her
questioningly.
“Yeah,” grabbing Zoe’s arm
Fabia pulled her along running by the hedgerow where they were less likely to
be seen. Stumbling along they crossed field after field until Fabia thought
they would be safe for the rest of the night. She pulled Zoe into the hedge for
protection just as big rain drops began to fall.
“We’ll be soaked through in
minutes if we stay here Fabia.”
“No we won’t don’t worry I’ll
keep us dry,” waving her hands slowly over their heads, chanting Zoe suddenly
noticed the rain had stopped and she was also warm.
“H-how did you do that?”
“Just one of those little
things I learnt along the way to witch hood,” giggled Fabia.
“Give over Fabia, no such
things as witches, there just a fairy tale.”
“Hate to tell you Zoe, witches
are real, so are goblins, giants, unicorns and all sorts of things we thought
were just stories when we were children.”
“Don’t be a ninny Fabia, they
are just myths, geeze whatever are you going to say next. I suppose animals talk
too,” she laughed quietly.
“So I’ve been told Zoe, though
I’ve yet to experience the talking animals.”
“What drugs are you on Fabia? This
is just getting too stupid for me.”
“You saw them burn your home.”
“I think I saw them burning my
house, maybe someone put something into my supper tonight and this is all a
dream.”
Fed up with Zoe’s reaction to
their circumstances Fabia dug out a pin jabbing her with it several times.
“Ouch, what the hell did you
do that for?” she said.
“So you’d feel it and know all
this is for real.”
“Ok so I’m awake,” she said
grumpily to Fabia, “What dimension am I in? This is seriously ridiculous.”
“I’m starting to wonder about
you Zoe, where have you been? How could you have missed all this? The battles
were ferocious to say the least, millions died or were turned against their
will,” tears started to run down Fabia’s cheeks, “Even my little brother’s gone
now,” she sobbed.
“Tranor has gone? What, no way
Tranor must be ok, please Fabia,” she begged, “you’ll have to tell me what’s
going on. I’ve no idea. Honestly.”
“Mother Nature finally fought
back. She set free all the so called mythical creatures we’ve always read
about.”
“Why though?”
“We don’t know. We need to
find the Daughter of the Earth. She’ll be able to explain all this to us; maybe
even turn the tide of the battles still raging around the globe.”
“Who’s the Daughter of the
Earth for goodness sake?”
“It’s something we've yet to
discover Zoe. Our researchers are looking through their books as we speak.”
“Why did you save me? Where are you taking me?”
“You’re my best friend. Your
parents were very precious to me. As for where I’m taking you; I don’t yet
know. I just knew I needed to get you away quickly.”
“Which certainly doesn't tell
me much,” Zoe sighed. “Thanks for rescuing me, for keeping me warm and dry. It
seems you’re a clever little witch after all.”
“Wait until you work out what
you can do Zoe,” she laughed watching Zoe’s face look more puzzled than ever.
“What do you mean Fabia?”
“When Mother Nature set the mythical
creatures free she also gave us humans back all the powers we never knew we
had; there are not only witches out there,” she smiled.
Groaning her head in her hands
Zoe gave up thinking about what’d happened. Fabia held out her hand stroking Zoe’s cheek
chanting a relaxing spell. Soon Zoe was fast asleep with Fabia snuggled into
her waiting for orders from her mistress of the earth Gaia.
This human was particularly
special though she’d no idea why. The people, who’d destroyed her home; taken
her brother, seemed to know. Fabia shuddered at the evil she’d seen in their
eyes before her escape. Sleep finally
claimed her though dreams disturbed her throughout the night.
http://claireplaisted.wix.com/author
No comments:
Post a Comment