The forest remained silent. There wasn't a single creature that dared to speak as the ground itself trembled with fear.
Then an ear-splitting screech echoed through the air sending shivers down their spines and causing their limbs to tremble uncontrollably. "I think the worst of our nightmares are about to make themselves known..." Anne's voice cracked as she spoke, sounding more like a whisper than anything else, yet loud enough to capture both boys attention. They all watched intensely, waiting for something terrible to happen as the roaring continued. Clouds began to gather overhead, forming into stormy vortexes and slowly shifting to violet hues as the purple lightning has once returned and the three stood trembling in fear.
Seren grabbed onto her arms tightly squeezing them tighter by the second while Marcus covered his eyes, shielding himself from whatever lurked within. Soon the thunder began echoing in their ears while torrents of wind howled against them.
"We need to get out of here, I don't really like where this is going." Seren managed through his teeth.
"Yeah, come on let's head back."
The three headed back towards the building at a brisk pace, looking over their shoulders every few steps to ensure their enemies weren't close by. As they moved, Anne began levitating in the air above the others while a strange light shone beneath her. Seren reached up with his free hand grasping onto her legs and holding her steady, but his strength soon left him. His hold weakened and slipped and her body floated away from his grasp.
Then, Marcus and Seren began to levitate alongside Anne, both held above the ground with an unseen power.
"SHIT! GRAB ONTO ONE OF THE TREES!" Marcus screamed frantically at the top of his lungs. His words barely audible through all the chaos raging on all around them.
"RIGHT HERE!!" Anne yelled back reaching her hands down to reach him, stretching her arm outward while her other remained locked tightly onto the trunk of the closest tree. The tree was massive and its thick trunk offered much protection from whatever lay beyond the shadowy forest depths. The vines and leaves covering its body gave it the illusion that it had just recently been freshly planted into the ground.
"Grab my fucking hand!" Anne hissed as Marcus finally grabbed her outstretched arm. They both pulled harder against each other and finally fell upon the surface, collapsing from exhaustion, their minds whirling madly, struggling to grasp what had just happened.
"This planet has become an anomaly!" Anne panted, unable to move.
"An anomaly?" Marcus asked.
"Whatever is going on, it is far beyond our comprehension and anything in the database of Elyndra. We need to head back to the ship and try to find anything... just anything that could potentially aid us in this cataclysm."
"Fuck this," Seren groaned. "You really think going to the ship will change anything, this is crazy Anne." Seren looked disheveled, his skin pale and covered with sweat.
"Something... changed us..." she struggled with her breath, still refusing to release him. "Not only this land, but our very psyche and bodies. Something is not right and the Elyndrans should know what it is. I know the ship was in ruin when we got here, but surely something on it must work, right?"
Seren finally lifted his head and glanced over in their direction. His eyes appeared hollow, lifeless; they stared straight ahead unblinking and his lips quivered softly with each word he mumbled, "I'm tired Anne, Marcus, let us just get out of this place."
His voice broke at the mention of their names and Anne quickly wrapped him in a comforting hug. The embrace lingered as Marcus watched both of them with sadness in his eyes, his head lowered and a melancholic expression appeared upon his face.
A few seconds passed until Anne finally broke away, letting go of her dear friend with an air of reluctance.
"This whole journey has felt wrong to me and now I truly wonder if we ever belonged here."
"We weren't supposed to be on this planet, only survey it from afar, Seren. We are all having a tough time getting through this, but we can do it, I know we can." Her tone grew serious, though gentle as she tried to reassure him.
Seren simply sighed before placing his palm on her shoulder. She let out a deep breath that sounded almost sad, relieved, and then gazed straight into his eyes. "You're right, we will get through this Anne, no matter how long it takes, we can do it, all of us." Anne smiled faintly as her fingers intertwined between the others, offering their own version of comfort to each other. She breathed slowly calming the rage inside her, cooling her inner fire.
"Look..." Marcus stated with an expression full of worry. "Something is up ahead." Anne turned her head over to see where he was looking, noticing a smoke in the sky, someone started a fire somewhere.
"Is that a campfire?" Anne questioned hesitantly before starting to rise up.
"Can we hope they're friendly!?" Seren laughed out while shaking his head in relief.
"Do you guys believe that it's wise to move towards it and hope they are friendly?" Marcus asked rhetorically and sarcastically.
"I just want to find a place to sleep, maybe they can help us?" Seren responded.
"Alright, alright. Let's just head over there and hope everything goes smoothly"
And with that, the three began walking through the dense brush towards the smoke in the sky, following it intently with cautious steps. The campfire seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment, as if they had walked far from their own fire and somehow the smoke followed.
Before too long they found a small group of humans. It consisted mostly of men, but there were several women present as well, who sat calmly next to their companions, chattering aimlessly amongst each other, oblivious to their surroundings and paying them little attention.
Their voices carried through the clearing where they stood watching the flames burn brightly, casting the area in an ominous red tinge that reminded one of blood, except without any heat emanating off it. When the light began to die, Anne and Seren moved forward, leaving Marcus behind by his lonesome. He observed the scene for a moment, wondering what they should do next.