Where Darkness Roams

Imagine a world where there are two paths. One path leads to a peaceful place of rest and the other leads to utter destruction. Follow Meredith and Adri, two girls with completely different histories. Adri is a drifter, changing over to each path when she feels like it. Meredith is the shy girl who has a secret underneath. When they meet worlds collide as each must learn to share their dark pasts. Will they be able to make it to paradise, or will the dark consume them?
==Info:==
A story written by the amazing Jackie and Rissa. Should be awesome. Here we go and enjoy! :)
==Character Gallery==
==Belonging *Adri's POV*==
I wake and see the dark leaves fall to the ground. The river babbles longingly as I rise. I smile. Today I'll switch paths back into The Light. I usually wait for another day or so, but I can't. The fog has gotten denser and I know he's watching me. Last night I saw him in my dreams again. I almost lost my way back to reality.
I stare at the dense foilage that has been my bed and blankets for as long as I can remember. I better get moving. I can almost hear his laugh sailing on the wind.
Scanning my surroundings I notice that the while I slept they gained more ground. I can see their footsteps in the mud. So they are after me again. I thought they might be when I saw him, but wasn't sure.
I quickly gather up my supplies and belongings. I need to get moving. I need a head-start on them before tonight. Before they come back for me.
Crossing the piles of leaves, I let loose a tear, but quickly wipe it away. I miss him. Atleast who he used to be. Someone special who I actually cared for. I have to forget it though. Now it'll never happen, never in this world.
I take a look at the Crossing. This is the center of the paths. The divivde between Dark and Light. I can't stand the sight of it though, because I know I don't belong to any of these paths. That's why I'm a Drifter. Because I have to run, I have to hide. If I don't, then I'll end up where I belong. I'll end up with him.
==Looks Can Be Decieving *Meredith's POV*==
Looks can be deciveing, I think as i face the two paths. One path is green and looks peaceful. The other is dark and looks like it hold some danger. I recall to the lesson my instructor Ava taught me. "Don't ever judge anything by it's looks. Things that look unsafe can turn to be a haven and so on," she said carefully. Yes, this is one of those times.
My pack seems to be getting heavier as i decide which path to take. I took a deep breath and started walking towards the peaceful path. Then i froze in horror as i saw a shadow move quickly from one side of forest to the other. I retreated carefully and slowly. Yes, my instructor was right. I give the peaceful path a scornful look and head on towards the dangerous one.
Twenty feet in i realize i made the right choice. I have not encountered any rabid animals or any traps that are set. You see, you can only reach the Promised Land you need to be resourceful, and smart, kind to live there. Some die trying to make it. So i will use their mistakes to guide myself.
After two hours of walking without any drama i sit down to take a rest. I begin to worry i wont encounter someone. Ava had said that having a partner increased your chances of living a lot. Most of them mustve taken the other path. While they're eperiencing a warm temperature i have to deal with this cold. According to my watch it is 9 and i left at 7. Even with my heat reflector jacket im still cold. Of course how is it going to work when my body has no heat. 
Suddenly getting an idea i began to set a fire. After a couple of moments it starts to roar and blaze to life. The heat of it warms me. The fire gives off a light i can use to see in this dark. I set up my camp by laying my bag as a pillow. I lay down and instantly can't get comfortable. It's still too cold. I sit up to see the fire dying. Then my stomach starts to growl. 
After several of unsucessful moments of trying to ignore the hunger i sit up. Inside my pack i find some throwing knives. I grab them and began to hunt. A couple of moments later i come across a rabbit I shoot it ruefully but then as i eat it i lose some of the regret. Finally i lay down right after tending my fire.
The waves of sleep pull me under and i shut my eyelids.
==A Stranger's Stranger *Adri's POV*==
I've been walking all afternoon and I'm getting a little nervouse. Nightfall will be upon me and soon and I'm afraid.
As I make my way over to The Light I see a girl at The Divide. She stares at it in confusion, probably wondering which road to take, but starts down The Light. She walks a few steps then stops short. I look over and see a shadow. She gasps and turns on her heel with a scornful look on her face. I laugh. What I know and what she doesn't is that that was a ShadowBlazer, or MiddleWorlder. These beings are meant to hinder us from our destination, and if they cathch you... well, you don't want them to catch you.
I follow the girl as she walks into The Dark. This is totally against my plans, but I'm not completely heartless. Not yet anyways. She walk for hours with me steathily trailing behind her. At last, she sits to rest, but the cold is a lot to bare for her. She starts a small fire and lays down. A few hours later she gets up and hunts a rabbit. Must be hungry. She then lays down and fall into a sound sleep.
I watch, not daring to close my eyes for the fear of seeing him. She moves in her sleep murmering something about "My family..My family." I roll my eyes. Who cares about family anymore? She must be from a high-class one if she actually thinks about them.
Hours pass and I'm almost falling prey to the sleep that's slowly taking over, when a scream erupts from the blackness. The girl jumps up and starts to grab her things. I start in a sprint to her direction. That's when I hear the laugh. The laugh that belongs to him.
She sees the shadows and tries to scamper away. I'm almost there and I just see the hand reacjing for her.
"No," I scream.
"You are not taking anyone else away from The Light!"
I grab a stick from the fire and shove it into the shadows. It burns my hands like a white-hot spike, but I know it must hurt them even more. The shadows retreat back into their icy, black land of shadows. The girl just stares in shock.
I adjust my hair and try to give her a winning smile. They don't come that easily anymore and it really complicates it when I see her. Black hair that's perfectly combed, tanned skin, and the backpack. I was lucky to even get a knife.
"Hi," she recovers enough to say.
"I'm Meredith. Thanks for saving me. Um, what's your name?"
"I'm Adri," I reply a little too angrily. Not her fault that she was born a rich kid.
"Well," she continues."Thanks again. I would've been a goner if you hadn't saved me."
I don't know what it is, mabey the sweet smile, sincerity in her voice, or possibly the innocense in her eyes, but I feel like I should stay. Like I should protect her and like she should protect me.
"Is your hand okay?"
That draws me out of my thoughts and I quickly review what condition my hand is in. There's a long burn from my wrist to my forearm, but I've had worse. No melted flesh, or singed skin, though some might starts peeling tomorrow.
"Yeah, I've had much worse. So..um, can I stick around with you, or should we say goodbye?"
She quickly shakes her head with much severity that I think her bobby-pins might fall out.
"No, I would really like you to stay. You obviously know this stuff better than me," she smiles.
"Cool, um, well we better rest then," I say.
She gives a quick nod and fixes her things together again, as she lies down.
"Goodnight, Adri," she yawns and I'm touched. I've been alone for so long that I forgot what it felt like to have someone actually say that.
I wait and wait until her brathing slows. When I'm sure she's asleep I silently rise and walk about twenty minutes from where we were. I wait in silence and just hear the laugh when I turn around.
"I see you found a friend. You saved her I hear. No matter, we'll get her too. Want to know why? Well, because of your little friendship she's been noticed and was marked too."
I sigh. I still love him,but things are so complicated now. He laughs as if he's reading my thought and I wince. That laugh was the one he used to use only with me. Back whenwe were normal, but that was a long time ago.
"I have to go. I can't stay or they'll get suspiciouse. Until your dreams, Adri. Farewell, love."
I watch as he vanishes into the shadows once more. He'll never be the same. This has been the second time he's able to be the old him, even if just for a minute. I shed some more tears, but wipe them away. The moon dissapears so it's almost morning, I have to get back now. Before Meredith wakes up.
I arive back just in time to get thirty minutes of sleep. Once again tired, saddened, and alone.
==Strangers, Strangers and more Strangers *Meredith's POV*==
I woke up earlier than usual to find Adri sleeping with her eyes red and puffy. I immediatly began to wonder if she was crying. Maybe not or maybe she has. I let her sleep though.
I get up with my pack of throwing knives and walk into the forest. I can spot rabbits hopping around innocently. I hide behind a tree and raise my hand with my knife in hand. Suddenly i watch as the little rabbit falls and i see a dart sticking out of it's neck.
Alarmed, i throw a knife and wait for a body to fall on the floor. Nothing does. I walk quietly over to the trees and front.  Instead, i see a little girl sitting on a tree branch with a blowgun in her hands. I instantly know she's not a threat. 
She looks at me with alarmed blue eyes. "It's ok," i murmur. She comes down from the tree. This girl is dangerous and a run away. A few times some will try to run away before they're 16. They die most of the time. "Are you fleeing," i ask her. she nods carefully. "i won't hurt you," i say. 
"I'm Piper," she says quietly. "I'm Meredith," i reply.
----
Just as we're about to go back to camp another stranger appears. This time it's a boy who is defiently not a runaway. He's tall and gorgeous. I can tell he's kind.
"Traveling," he states plainly. I nodd and start inching backwards with Piper at my side. "I won't harm you," he says quietly. I look over and see he has no weapons. but he could beat me up easily. "I wanna ally," he says quietly. I look into his eyes and melt inside. "Y-Y-yes," i sutter. 
"Good. I'm Damen," he says. "Piper," Piper says. "Meredith," i say.
Piper shoots me a quizical look. The whole time we walk back with Damen ahead of us and holding two rabbits he managed to kill with a knife. "I think somebody has a crush" she whispers. I shake my head. "so soon? no. And remember this is a survival game not a love place" i say hushedly. 
But i can't help but doubt myself.
==Guests *Adri's POV*==
Meredith walk back and I practically scream at her face.
"Are you insane? I mean at least tell me if you're going to leave and-"
I stop short when I see them. There's a bot and a young girl. The girl won't be that much trouble, but I don't know about the boy.
He seems to sense this and quickly introduces himself.
"Hi. My name's Damen and I was just wondering if I could travel with you. Do you mind?"
I laugh then stop. Do I mind? Of course I mind, but Meredith gives me a pleading look. I try to keep the scowl off my face, but I seem to be failing.
"Fine," I growl. "You can all stay."
"Great! We might live longer if we have a bigger group," states Meredith.
"Yeah? Well mabey not," I say flatly.
"What warriors do we have? A little girl, you, and this boy, oh yeah. We'll be the greatest team ever."
Meredith frowns at my sarcasm. I just give an eyebrow raise. Meredith grabs Piper's hand and I see Piper give a shrug.
I watch too at Damen's reaction. He just keeps his gaze on Meredith. I then decide to walk over and grab his arm in a jerking motion.
"You listen here, Damen. Meredith is innocent, understand? She's a good, kind person too. So listen, Damen, you better lay off of her starting, I don't know, how about now. Agreed?"
He kinda gives a small grin and nods his head. I keep my gaze on him though and notice he still scans Meredith as he walks by casually. I miss that. Someone acting like this torward me. The way he used to reat me.
But that was a long time ago.
==Dangers *Meredith's POV*==
I can still feel the blush on my face as Adri screamed at me. I glance over my shoulder and find Damen walking behind me grinning amusedly. Adri walks behind him her face still angry. Piper holds my hand as we walk and looks at me curiously when i stop looking. She spots who's behind me and giggles. "No," i say. 
"Here walk with Damen," i say hurriedly as i hand her hand at him. He takes it and smiles warmly at me. I feel myself blush again. "'I'll take care of her," he says. I nod and walk towards Adri.
"Are you still mad," i ask softly. "No. I just wish you'd told me you were going to leave," she replies frowning. 
"i'm sorry if i scared you," i whisper. she grins at me. "No apology needed," she says and i see her shoot a glare at Damen.
"Why don't you like him," i ask. "Is it that obvious," she answers with another frown. I nod eagerly. "Well....Nevermind" she says. I glance at her curiously but then return to Piper. She grabs my hand and starts pulling me ahead. i let her pull me.
Then she stops arubtly and i nearly crash into her. "Piper," i scold. She looks ahead her eyes wide in terror. I follow her gaze to see a tall person standing there. What scares me the most is that they're carrying an axe and looking straight at us.
Then realization hits me. This person is a Shadow Blazer. I open my mouth to scream at them to run just as the Shadow Blazer throws the axe straight at us.
==Never Me *Adri's POV*==
I turn around to an eir-peicing scream that's coming from Meredith. Her and Piper stand tone-still as the ShadowBlazer's axe comes flying in her direction.
"Meredith," I scream.
Just as I think it's all over for Meredith and Piper, a flash of black hair dart in front of them. Damen takes the axe in his right shoulder and Meredith ducks as another ShadowBlazer throws a knife. I take this opportunity to get Piper out of the way. I grab her arm and push her to the ground. She quickly retreats to the ground curled in a ball.
Meredith stares blankly as a ShadowBlazer walks torward her with the axe. I get one look at its face and scream at the top of my lungs.
"Don't you dare touch her! I will tell him if you do and will personally see to your destruction!"
They all stop in their paths and watch me with a quizical face. One walks torward me and grabs my arm. She pulls my sleeve down and sees the mark on my arm. 
"You have been marked, Adri of the MiddleWorld," she states in a voice that sounds deadly.
"Yes, obviously I have. Now will you obey my orders, or not? And while I'm saying this, release any prisoners you have with you."
She smirks wickedly and they quickly part to reveal the prisoners that are chained in unbreakable metal. The two prisoners quickly walk forward submissively.
"Your names," the leader of this ShadowBlazer group asks.
"Chri-Chrisella, but please call me Chris," the girl says.
"And I'm Evan," says the boy by her side.
The Shadowblazers quickly release them and let us walk away peacfully, but not before the ShadowBlazer woman has a word with me.
"We will have you, marked one. Eventually, we get everyone we want."
I quickly reply in an impatient tone,"Not me. Never me."
I grin as I walk away, knowing that this will leave her thinking on the truth of what I just said. I grin and grin because that this is true too.
"Not me. Never me."
==Secrets *Meredith's POV*==
I sit next to Damen tending his shoulder wound. I find it really sweet that he took the axe for me. Thankfully, i'd managed to find some medicine in my bookbag. 
I glance over at Piper and feel relieved that Adri is tending her. Chris and Evan are sitting next to her and talking quietly. I glance at Evan and feel myself harden. My hand stops and i stare in horror at him.
It cant be...
No....
He was supposed to be dead....
How is he alive....
And suddenly i'm in a flashback.
___
I was walking towards the living room. I knew i was blessed to be born into a rich family. It would increase my odds of living when the time comes. I mounted the steps and walked into the grand room.
There i saw a small path of red liquid. Curiously i reached down and observed it. I began to realize that is was blood. But what could cause this path?
i ran into the room and froze in horror. There was my best friend Lilian stabbing a dead body on the floor. I stood paralyzed as the blood of a body bounced back at her and splattered her face.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING LILIAN," i shrieked as i ran to her. I pulled the knife out of her hand and found the blade bright red. She collapsed and started sobbing. "Im sorry he just-" she started to say and ended up hugging her knees.
I glanced at the body on the floor and felt myself stiffen again. This time the knife fell out of my hand and it fell slowly until it hit the floor with a bang. 
The boy had black hair and startling dark eyes. Evan....
"Lilian, how could you," i shrieked crying. She had killed Evan. I fell on top of him and started to cry. The one person i loved...dead. Killed by my best friend. The person i trusted with my deepest secrets. 
"Why," i screamed. "im so sorry. I didnt want you to get him. I wanted him," she yelled back at me. I grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking her. Tears slipped down my face like a steady stream. The door bust open and my mother came in screaming.
"What happeneed," she asked. She looked at Evan and started to cry. "What did you do Lilian," she screamed.
____
"Meredith are you okay," Damen asked. I shook my head. Huh" i asked. "You sorta froze after you stared at Evan," he sais with a twinge of jealousy. "Nothing," i said and went back to his wound. "Sure," he said still jealous.
How could they look the same and have the same name.....
==Trick of the Light *Adri's POV*==
I watch the strange look on Meredith's face. What could she be thinking about? I hope she didn't hear much about what I said to the ShadowBlazers. I already swore Chris and evan to secrecy. I try to focus on her face so much I pull on Piper's stich just a tad too hard.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Sorry," I mutter.
I finish her stitches give her simple instructions on how not to tear them out and grab Evan's hand. I pull him up and he follows me into the wood a little farther from our camp. I immediately pounce on him with questions.
"Why is Meredith giving you that look," I ask sharply.
"Who," he says in a confused tone.
"The girl. The one with the long black hair and looks pretty rich," I reply.
"Oh, her. I- I honestly don't know. Seriously, I don't know."
Something in his tone and the way he stuttered on the answer worries me. He lied, but why? I just can't figure out anyone around here.
When we walk back to camp, I see a hint of confusion fromMeredith's face. She looks worried too. Damen, on the other hand, looks jealouse. I just smirk at him, and make a hand signal to lay off. How many times do I have to tell him that?
"Okay, listen everyone. We need to move camp tomorrow. I want to get as far away from here as possible. Is that understood?"
I pause and everyone nods. After that we get ready to sleep. I look at everyone's expression. Piper is sleeping already, Chris and Evan are talking on the far side of camp, Damen is sleeping too. He must be tired from his wound. I look for Meredith and see her asleep as well.
I decide it's time to go. I want to see him. As I walk away I could swear I see Meredith's eyes flutter open, but it's probably a trick of the shadows. I walk away thinking about it, worried.
Just a trick of the light.
==More Secrets *Meredith's POV*==
I hope Adri didn't see my eyes open. When i make sure she can't see me i lay up. Piper is fast asleep. I avoid Evan and get up. Apparently, im not quiet because Damen's eyes fly open. 
"Meredith?" he asks sleepily. "Yes," i whisper. Instantly, he's wide awake and next to me. "Where are we going," he whispers. "We?" i ask confusedly. "Yes, we. I'm coming with you," he says. "But your shoulder," i reply. "Nevrmind that," he says as he grabs my hand.
I blush lightly and can't help but grin. From the looks of it he's grinning too. "So why were you staring at Evan like that," he says. I arch my eyebrows. "Are you jealous," i ask mockingly. It's his turn to blush. "No," he says uncovincingly. He pulls me behind him.
We come across a clearing when i see Adri standing with a tall stranger. Behing his back he's holding a knife. Instantly i know what he's going to do. "ADRI," i scream.
The knife comes flying at me.
==Revealed *Adri's POV*==
I watch in shock as the knife goes whizzing through the air straight at Meredith's head. I hardly register anything besides the fact that what I'm about to do will reveal my most kept secret. I have no other choice, I must save Meredith, because I didn't save him. 
   I thust my arm out in the direction of the blade and lose all the control I ever managed. My eyes cloud with a bluish ring of light. My mark shines brightly in the moonlight. The knife suddenly slows, reverses direction and flies back at me. I throw my hand up at the last munute and grab it before it can peirce my skin.
Meredith looks at me in shock and amazement all the same. I stare at her in triumph. I have won, wait, no! She has me again! I fight the other me and try to regain what little control I had before. I fight her and fight her until she becomes dormant again.
I whisper goodbye to him and walk towards Meredith and Damen. Meredith has this look of betrayal on her face. I just grab both their arms rather roughly and direct them back to camp. When we arrive I wake the others and tell thm we're going to have a meeing.
We all surround the fire Chris made and stare at each other. Well, they stare at me, expectently. I take a deep breath and get ready to reveal what I've been hiding for three years of my life.
"I know you all thank that I betrayed you, and such, so I think it only fair to reveal my secrets to you. But listen. If I reveal mine, you must reveal yours, understood?"
Everyone sloly nods and I sigh. Here it goes.
"A long time ago, I was sent out to find my way through The Light to the safe haven. A few people were with me too. It was like how we are now. One was named Mark. Me and Mark.... well, we- nevermind about that. Point is, one night after we were all asleep, ShadowBlazers snaked their way into our camp. They woke us purposly and started to fight us. I was only fifteen then, so I wasn't that good at what I do now."
"The battle was long and bloody. Most of my companions were gone. The only ones that survived was Mark, me and Page. Page was taken prisoner as was Mark and me. Two days passed and then I was taken into a room where they burned a mark into my arm. I was branded. I managed to escape, but I left without Mark and Page. I was a coward."
"A few months later I ran into another ShadowBlazer tribe. They were going to kill me, but waited. Suddenly, I was different. I was there, but I wasn't. I had become a ShadowBlazer and I demanded to see Mark. They let me, but he was different.  He was like this too. He told me everything. That ShadowBlazers were in control most of the time of their hosts but sometimes would lose control. I understood and resisted best I could against the ShadowBlazer I was. I won, but she's still here."
"What you two saw was me and Mark talking. He always held his knife behind his back lik that, even when he was human. He got starteled and threw the knife at you, Meredith. I knew I couldn't let you die. I didn't want to let you down too. The only way to save you was to let go of my resistance and let the ShadowBlazer take over for a minute. I'm in control again, but whatever."
I pause waititng for someone to say something. When someone does I'm suprised to see it's Piper, and it's a question.
"What happened to Page," she asks.
"I-I really don't know," I admit.
A few minutes pass before Meredith speaks.
"This is my story," she begans.
==What's Done is Done *Meredith's POV*==
I take a deep breath and prepare to share my greatest secret. Damen, Adri, Evan, Piper and Chris stare at me curiosly. I look at all of them except Evan.
"So you know you didn't have to take this test if you became citizen" i say. They nod. "well you do that by marrying and that's supposed to be impossible unless you find a way to do so without being discovered. My mother had managed to evade the law and she was going to marry me to someone," i say quietly.
"I loved him a lot. a lot," i added. I glanced around to see everyone smirking except Damen. He looked strangely calm and was frowning. "Well one day before the wedding i came home from the store.  I went inside my house and took the steps. There i could hear something dripping and moans of pain. I looked down at the floor and saw a trail of red liquid. I thought it might've been my little sister because she was also doing things like that," i said.
"Well i was curious and bent down to see what it was. I realized that it was blood. Then i began to wonder what could've made this trail of blood. I started to panic and ran into the living room. There i saw my best friend," i choked out.
"S-she had a knife in her hand. I dropped the bag that i was carrying when i saw the blade covered in blood. so i ran over to her and screamed at her. I asked her what she was doing. She started crying. she tried to aplogize but then i saw who she was stabbing. It was Evan. He was supposed to be married to me." i said tearfully.
Adri's eyes widened. "So that's why," she said. "What," Piper asked. Adri hushed her. "go on." she said.
"It took me a while to realize it wass him. But then i reconized hm by his blue eyes and black hair," i said. Everyone turned to stare at Evan. "Oh my gosh. Same name and they look the same," Adri stated. I noded as tears ran down my cheeks. Evan looked midly interested.
"The knife fell out of my hand and i tried to save him. But i knew it was too late. He was dead. Killed by my best friend. At that time my mother came into the room to see who was screaming. She looked at Evan's dead body and began to scream again. By then Lilian had tried to escape the room. But my mom spotted her and began to hit her and yell. She eventually killed her while i just stood there. The thing is that i didn't regret what my mom did. I let her," i said sobbing. 
"and now i regret it. Because Lilian was a true friend. She might've killed Evan but she was sorry. And to pay back i let my mom kill her. I could've jumped in the way but i didn't," i sobbed. Adri looked at me concernedly. I had my face down in shame and Damen put his arm around me. I was too sad to even blush.
"It wasn't your fault," they all said. "They're right. What's done is done," Damen whispered to me. 
==Ambushed *Adri's POV*==
After Meredith was done Chris told her story. She was born in The Light Path and was orphaned when she was nine. She fended for herself untill she was thriteen. That's when she met Evan. They have been inseperable ever scince. They were caught by ShadowBlazers and that's when I saved them.
After Chris tells her story I see Piper's eyes flutter and we decide it's time to sleep. Around the campfire we lay on the cold ground. I think I'm the last to drift off because I see Mark watching me from afar.
We wake to shouts and cries. I see the ShadowBlazers running from the tree-line and I shout to the other to wake up.
"Chris! Evan!," I shout, shaking them after calling their name.
When we're all awake we take simple fighting stances and I see Mark strugeling to maintain himself, not letting the ShadowBlazer take over.
We grab our weapons and a bloody battle starts to commence. Chris jabs one with an axe, Damen gives a punch, Evan is trying to keep them away from Piper, and Meredith is trying to use a sword to peirce them.
I have knives flying from me and towards me. One ShadowBlazer grabs my wrist and I stab a knife straight through its chest. I run to Meredith. She needs help.
Blood is running down my face and arms like the rest. I'm panting and its hard to keep my resistance up in these conditions. My endurance isn't that good. I think I can make it though but suddenly all the oxygen is pulled out of my system. I almost lose the ability to breathe. My heart seems to pound like a drum and I feel like a tank has just been dropped on me.
Tears run down my face and I fall to my knees because I can't stand. I can't speak, move, breathe even. All I can do is stare at the horror that's before me.
Piper lying and screaming on the ground.
==Captured *Meredith's POV*==
Immediately i ran towards Piper. She was laying stiffly. I gasped and looked at her stomach. There was a red wound that was oozing blood. "PIPER," i yelled at the top of my lungs. She looked at me weakly and raised a hand. 
There was a paleness to her that i knew she was gone. Around me everybody was still fighting but i didn't care. I only cared about her. The blood pile was getting bigger and bigger. Tears began to fall down my face and i realized Damen had the first aid kit. I screamed his name and he ran over instantly.
He sat next to me and his face turned pale. "The first aid kit," i sobbed. "She can't be saved," he said coldly. "Yes she can. Save her," i yelled and pounded on his chest. Piper laughed lighty. "He's right Merry," she said. Her eyelids began to get shut adn i cried harder than ever.
A couple of seconds later the end was about to come. She took out something from her pocket and handed it to me. "Don't open it until i'm dead," she whispered. I nodded and felt something fall into my palm. "Merry, just remember that i love you," she whispered. And with that she closed her eyes and didn't move again.
I began to cry harder than i had ever cried. Damen put his arm around me and i leaned into his shoulder for support. "It's okay," he whispered while i sobbed hysterically.
With my shaking hand i grabbed the locket she handed me. It was pure gold and shaped like a heart. Damen produced a bouqet of flowers and i weaved them into Piper's hair and her ugly wound. She looked more peaceful, almost if she was sleeping. i knew the truth.
I opened the locket and felt a note slip down. I opened it and read it.
Dear Meredith
If you're reading this it's because Piper is dead. She sacrificed herself so i could reach you. You must be wondering who i am. I am your mother Meredith. I left you in the streets so you could reach Piper. Later on you will be able to call her spirit and she'll help you in any challenges.
Piper was and Sacrificer. She sacrificed herself to save others. Being that, she will always be alive in spirtit but not in a physical senses. i know you must be wondering a lot of things. But don't worry. Damen will help you. Until then keep safe, my darling. And so you know Piper was your sister.
With Love,
Your mother
"Meredith," Damen said worrriedly. Piper was my sister. All this time and i never knew. All this time. "Meredith," Damen repaets. I glance up and gasp.
We are no longer in the clearing. Instead we're inside a red room with a golden throne. A man with striking features smiles coldly. I quietly slip the locket into my pocket.
"I see you have reached the Shadow Word," he says coldly. Damen tightens his grip around me. "Prepare to die," he says. "Oh and yes. My name is Evan Everest. Do you reconize me Merry," he asks amused. I take two steps backward and let out a shriek of horror.
==Hope*Adri's POV*==
The ShadowBlazers dissapear as soon as Meredith and Damen vanish. So that was there mission. I'm filled with both fury and sadness. They're gone and so is Piper. At least I can get Meredith and Damen back. Piper... Piper is a different story.
I turn ans see Chris is still here. Why didn't they take her too? That's when I notice the tears falling down her cheeks. It would be normal, except the betrayal I see in her eyes.
"What's going on, Chris," I ask in a measured voice.
"He said I could come with him," she states over and over again.
I'm finally fed up enough that I scream at her face.
"WHO? WHAT? WHY?"
She shudders at my rabts and curls into a ball. Three minutes pass and right when I swear I'm about to choke it out of her, she utters one word that stops me in my tracks.
"Evan."
Confusion floods around me and she continues quietly.
"He told me who he was when we first met. He said he was a leader amongst the ShadowBlazers. I was scared, but he was kind to me. He traveled with me for days and I slowly began to notice I was falling for him. It was too late to stop myself from it. He said I couldn't tell anyone and I had to follow every one of his orders. I agreed to his terms in hope that he would return my affection. Apparently I was wrong. I knew in the beggining that he must have hated Meredith for some odd reason, but I couldn't guess why. I still don't know. I'm sorry, but.. but I love him."
I try to contain all this and keep the scowl off my face. I guess I'm not doing a good job though, because Chris cringes when she looks at me.
Finally after processing the information, I notice that hours have passed. It's ShadowSun, the sunset on this saide of the path. I walk toward Piper's body and slip my arms under the cold skin. Slowly rising I lift her to the sunset. When I lower her I place her body that's ornamented with flowers into the flames. They lick at her body and I watch it until nothing, but dust is left. I blow out the fire and take her ashes, putting them a little pouch.
Rising, I wipe the silent tears away from my eyes. I gather my few belongings and start walking to where the sun is setting. I know Mark will find me. Eventually.
"Whe- where are you going," Chris asks in a pleading tone.
"To save Meredith and Damen from Evan. You can come yoo, but if you so much as speak his name without my permission, I will take you down. Is that understood?"
She nods quickly and shuffels into a pace behind me, while I gaze at the painted sky.
I hate Evan. I will never take pity on him and I will dwstroy him for what he's done. Evan will die for what's he has done. Piper was only a child, yet he killed her to get to Meredith. He used Chris like a pawn, and now he'll kill Damen to get his sick pleasure from Meredith's pain.
There's just one thing he overlooked though. Me. I have no one to care about that he can harm. He can't touch me either. And with that thought I smile. I smile because I know that I'm the only thing that stands between good and evil. What am I? Good or evil? Right back where I started. No belonging. But one thing has changed. I have a purpose and now I will take my revenge on him, the ShadowBlazers, and The Dark.
I am hope.
=== This shall be continued. If you want to see what happens next then check out our next part to the story. The Path Of Light. Thxs for reading.===
-Rissa and Jackie
Category:Fantasy
Category:Collaboration
Category:Adventure
Category:Fiction