Noelle Lana Revont
I squinted as sunlight pierced through my window, stabbing my eyes awake. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I noticed my door was open. I hurried out and rushed up the stairs. I almost tripped, but I caught myself on the railing and then continued into the solar, where everyone gathered for a meal.
Above us, a web of crimson ribs stretched across the ceiling, interlaced with patterns of rich greens and golds. My mother sat next to my father, Ken and Ben were bickering over a board game at the far end of the room.
I walked up next to my mother, and everyone turned to look at me. Her eyes widened as she reached to pat my head. My father looked at me, his jaw tight, eyebrows drawing together into a small crease. But Damien was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Damien?"
Ken snorted.
"He's gone for good—probably dead somewhere in the forest."
"What?"
My heart skipped a beat. I stood there in the awkward silence.
"Silence, boy!"
Father barked, then lowered his voice.
"The guards haven't found him but are sending a platoon later to try again."
"Don't worry, Noelle. We'll find him."
I started to walk outside, where Damien and I would run along the blossoms. I stood still, my hair drifting with the wind. I noticed guards going through the front gate.
'I don't think my parents will search for him.'
They're not even sending the guards in the right direction.'
The guards aren't even going the right way. I always knew my parents didn't have a strong connection to him like I did, especially my father. They'd never help Damien. He had gotten picked on by my other brothers from day to night.
'He's all alone out there… waiting for someone.'
My nose began to run, and my vision blurred with tears. I glared down, imagining all the worst-case scenarios that my brother would get into. I began to whimper.
"Someone has to save him. I can't stand here knowing he's in danger. Every minute that passed was another moment where Damien could be in trouble. I'll do it myself. He's my brother!"
I clutched my shoulder and shouted. Wiping my tears away, I started to plan.
There had been one guard at the back of the manor at the edge of the field of blossoms next to the forest, just in case Damien came back. I knew the guard wouldn't let me go. I had to make a decoy. I grabbed a palm-sized rock and hurled it against the fence, making a massive crash. It would be far enough for him to hear and give me enough time to leave for the forest.
I leaned just enough to conceal myself in the long grass, and I crouched low in the tall grass, slipping silently into the forest. I didn't stop to think. I just kept running. I noticed how far I had gotten and knew it was safe. As I slowed down, a water monkey skimmed across the stream.
'Just like the ones from Mother's storybooks.'
I almost smiled-until I felt breath on my neck.
Something behind me was snorting into my hair, and my heart raced as my hair blew. Sweat dripped from me, seeping into the soil. I felt the ground tremor slowly as something was creeping up on me. I turned my head with a slight hesitation, not wanting to find out what had come to me. Black fur towered in front of me, its sharp claws meeting my eyes. I quickly adjusted my head to meet the bear's gaze.
"Help!"
I Scream
I darted forward, bugs and leaves clinging to my hair as I scurried through the forest. My lungs struggled to keep up with my racing breath. The tremor of the earth kept getting closer and closer.
'He's going to catch me! Damien, where are you?'
I tripped over a giant log and slammed face-first into the ground.
Thankfully, the grass softened my fall. I pushed myself up, staring into the roof of the forest, where dozens of macaws squawked and flapped.
The bear had gotten to me. It roared, shaking the earth and sending birds scattering from the trees. The sky was grey and getting darker. The bear raised itself to lash at me.
I closed my eyes and clutched my fist in front of me.
Before the bear could do anything, a red ball of energy struck its chest. The blast blew an aftershock of air, causing my hair to soar through the wind. It scrambled away. I gasped, finally releasing the breath I'd been holding.
'What was that?'
I got up, pushing outward from the earth. I turned in every direction-until I saw someone. Someone I knew.
"Damien?"