fragile time

~chapter 4~

The invisible cross she created then started to glow with light, and the sides connected, soon forming a blue orb. Everyone stepped in closer, gazing into the sky-like light. It showed an image of the Cave of Confusion, then the forest, and lastly the treehouse, before vaporizing into thin air.

"The Cave of Confusion?" Xavier groaned. The memory of his injured wing from the last time we've all gone played clearly in my mind.

"Micheal... did we not recently..." Lillith choked out, "enter that cave to retrieve the Gro'sha berries? Didn't we hear a... noise?" The fresher memory of Lillith and I outside the cave arose in my head. I could feel their eyes as we walked through the forest, and I can almost feel them just as well now. They were clearly in the cave, or going in the cave, when the two of us arrived. That sound we heard— a sword against a rock— was them escaping. Afterwards, they must have hid in the forest nearby, watching us retreat to the school. When they knew we were gone, they probably went to the treehouse to place the note.

"A noise?" Emily asked, genuine concern in her voice.

"I didn't think too much of it at the time," I blabbered, words barely coherent, "it was a sword hitting a rock!"

"A sword?!" Lillith interrupted.

"They must have been in the forest after we left! We were with them! Why didn't we see them!? I was in the same place as someone who wanted to kill me! What am I talking about!? They still want to kill me! I know it's probably a joke, but that was the person who wrote the note! They weren't lying when they wrote how they always had eyes on me, were they?! They could be watching us right now! I—"

"Summers," Emily soothed, putting her hand on my shoulder, "...you're okay. We will figure this out, alright?"
I looked at her with pleading eyes. "Promise?"

"I promise." I trusted those words with everything I had. It was strange of me to ask for other's help, but I knew I couldn't do this on my own. I may have been independent, but I wasn't fearless.

"We will figure this out. Not you. We." Emily added, "Got that?"

I wasn't someone who liked to ask for help, but now was a time where I didn't have the will to argue. "Yes."

I turned back towards the others, each wearing a confused expression— none of them have ever seen me have an outburst like that. I knew each of them thought of me as someone who was strong and confident in myself. I had to stay strong to protect them. They have never seen me truly afraid. I hung my head in shame.

Blade awkwardly broke the silence, "Great. Now that that's settled, are we going to the Cave of Confusion to, you know, look?"

Now? He meant leave now? I wasn't ready to go searching for danger yet. I wanted to wait until tomorrow at least, because if we did find someone, we would fight— right then and there... to the death. Were we ready for that?

"Definitely not!" Xavier said, "We're not ready; we'll all die." I nodded my head in agreement; so did Emily, Taylor, and Lillith.

"I say we wait until tomorrow." Emily added, glancing toward me for support and approval.

"Agreed. After classes are over tomorrow, we'll meet here to head to the Cave of Confusion." I ordered, making the word final, "Until then, we all need to rest. If there's any skill you think you'll need, try to practice it. Pay attention in all of your classes—actually, go to your classes."

"Blade." Taylor muttered jokingly.

"If any of you try to sneak and head to the cave alone, or you are caught skipping class, there will be consequences." I finished.