Chapter 7: Threats from Chosen.

Rain splattered against Anna’s face. She woke up, wiping her eyes so she could see clearly. She opened her backpack and threw her cloak over her head. She pulled the hood tighter around her head, and stood up awkwardly. Jacob, too, had just woken up again; he pulled his black cloak hood over his brown, messy hair. “Let’s go” he said, “We’ll be at Bermuda by mid-afternoon, no hotel tonight. I don’t have much gold left anyhow.”

Anna nodded, sleep still evident in her eyes. The sky was gray; she couldn’t spot the sun anywhere. Soon, Anna’s hair became soaked to her head even though her hood was shielding the rain from her eyes. The journey to Bermuda was quicker than she had expected.

Bermuda. Bermuda was a shabby town, village more like. The fact that Bermuda was actually called a city was an understatement. It just sounded far too big for a small, danky village like this and such a small population. Jacob and Anna entered a smelly shop sometime around three in the afternoon.

A woman stood behind the bar and looked at them horrified. “My goodness! By the looks of you two it looks like ya’ll tried to wrangle pigs” She said shocked. She shuffled them in two stools and brought them each a steaming cup of hot chocolate. “I know you both are a little old for this drink but, it’s mighty chilly out there. I don’t want you, especially this charming, young lady, to catch a bug” the portly lady shrieked dramatically.

Anna smiled (after she thanked the lady multiple times) into her cup as she blew on the sweet smelling liquid. She hadn’t had hot chocolate since she was a little girl; it revived much of her memories of Brinelle and Bregg. The hot liquid felt good as it trickled down her dry throat. Jacob looked at the drink suspiciously, as if he didn’t know what he was supposed to do with it.

“What? Have you never had hot chocolate before?” Anna asked incredulously. He shook his head and glanced downwards at the still steaming cup. The lady returned with two plates of eggs and bacons, “Leftovers” she explained and smiled at Anna and then at Jacob. Her cheerfulness was contagious and Anna found herself smiling also. Jacob practically slurped the plate down, he must have been hungry Anna thought.

As Anna generously tipped the woman, two men came stomping in cursing loudly. Anna turned, shocked at the sudden disturbance of their peacefulness. “Those cursed robbers!!” they both yelled, furious. Now all eyes turned on them, “Bill, Fred, what happened!”

“Well Bill and I were walking, well riding at that time in the woods. Well we just got on the trail; we decided to take a shortcut to town. Well out of nowhere this huge tree branch fell right in front of us!” Fred exclaimed, at least Anna guessed it was Fred since he called the other guy Bill…

“Yes, well of course the horses got spooked; they throw us off and landing about ten feet from the horses… Right Fred?” Fred nodded, gesturing for him to continue the story. “Yes. Well Fred and I both are dazed and scared silly; we sit and look at each other and look at the horses when I saw them.”

The other twin took the conversation now. “They wear green and black so they can blend in with the forest. They stole the horses, our food, and water, gold!!” Fred said enraged. “How many were there, Bill?” A young woman asked she looked only a few years younger than the men. “We just saw seven.” Her eyes went as wide as saucers, “Seven?” She whimpered. “Now, now sweetheart… Looky here, I’m here.” He tipped her chin forward. She sobbed into his shoulder, “I’m just so glad that your okay… you too Fred.” She glanced at her brother-in-law before her husband pecked her on the lips.

“My beautiful wife!! Tina, Tina” He cooed at her as he wiped away her tears. She hugged him again as he kissed her temple. Anna looked at Jacob; he was gazing out the window, lost in his own thoughts. Anna got that overwhelming wave of nausea again, the nausea of knowing she was a burden. Her fingers trembled and her eyes were filling with tears. Unwanted tears trickled down her cheeks; she stood and ran out of the diner. She felt broken, what was she thinking? Going out with a stranger, leaving her life behind, was what he said even true or was it all pure coincidence?

She continued to run down the unfamiliar dirt-road and ran down another alleyway. She saw a library, she always enjoyed reading. Still sobbing uncontrollably, she entered the bookshop. There was only a man behind the counter reading. Anna made way to a chair and dried her face. Tears wet her flushed cheeks all over again. When the man came over to her, she expected him to kick her out but he sat next to her on the chair beside her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked with concern. Maybe it was the genuine sound of concern in his voice, or the kind sparkle in his hazel eyes, but Anna looked up to see him. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with ink-black hair that was covering the left side of his eye. Anna straightened and wiped the saltiness from her cheeks. A lady should never cry in public.

“Nothing” She said quietly, croaking slightly. “My name is Ceaser.” Anna looked up at him; the kindness in his aura was enveloping her. “Anna.” She said then immediately stiffened, calculating how long it would take to run out the front door. Her foster-family was looking for her, you idiot!! She screamed in her head.

He didn’t show any signs of handcuffing her to the chair or anything so she waited patiently. “Anna.” He said finally. It wasn’t a threat, the way he said it …. It was like he knew that name, more significantly is that it seemed he knew what she was. He gazed at the floor. “Analathura.” Anna’s heart stopped, she quivered. He gazed at her stricken face and smiled.

Anna did feel immense relief of that smile; it was a true, genuine smile that held no conspicuous plots or schemes. “Do not be frightened, Anna. I’ve actually been waiting for you…” He smiled again, his hazel eyes alight with happiness.

Anna licked her lips nervously, “What?” In all truths, that was all she could even utter. What the heck is going on here? How does he know my Elvin Name? Why has he been waiting for me? Her thoughts whizzed in her mind. Don’t be frightened, moron, what was she supposed to feel like? A stranger she just met seems to know everything about her. What could be weirder?

“I’m sure you have many questions. But, I can not answer some of them. I just need to ask you some questions, Anna. Make sure you aren’t a fake or anything. Then I’ll answer some, I do not have the authority to answer the more vital ones… My apologies.” He bowed his head slightly. “First thing, Anna, is that you need not to fear me. I am your friend, and no I will not turn you in to the authorities so don’t fret over that. Do you understand the terms and conditions so far?”

Anna feebly nodded, he smiled at her warmly. “Where are you from?” Anna looked at him bewildered. If he knew that her foster-family was looking for her then he would surely see where she originally lived. It was beginning to click together now. He wanted her to see if she could answer the questions correctly to make sure that she really was Anna… whatever that meant.

“I’m from Arway.” She hoped she could trust him, she really did. He seemed so sincere though, one thing that she did know was that he meant her no harm. If he intended that he would have hurt her by now. Unless he just wants to gain your trust… Oh Shut Up! Anna thought irritably.

“Where are you heading?”

Anna gazed into those hazel eyes again, “PineOak.” He nodded, “Who are you traveling with?” “Jacob. He’s an elf… like me…” “What does he look like?” Anna looked puzzled, “Well he’s tall and has longish hair, with blue eyes…” Ceaser sighed, and drummed his fingers on his knee, “If I’m not mistaken, then I have come to believe that, that young man is Jacob?” He said gazing out the window. Anna followed his eyes, sure enough there in the pouring rain stood Jacob, facing her.

Anna sighed, opened the door and looked at Ceaser for encouragement before drawing her hood over her head and met Jacob half-way in the middle of the muddy streets.

As she slowly approached him, he turned to face her. “Anna, why did you leave like that? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He bombarded her with questions. She shook her head slowly. “Jacob” she said sadly. He looked at her as if he knew what was coming. Rain poured from the skies. “Jacob.” She said again, her voice shaking uncertainly.

She closed her eyes and sighed. Her tears began to mix with the rain drops. “I hate feeling like this. Like a burden and all. I think I am, I know I am. You, Jacob, I. … Well you understand. And if you don’t want to take me to PineOak anymore I completely understand! I mean, I can understand why you would be mad or upset or, or however you’re feeling… Relief or happiness might be good… If you’re feeling that, I mean. I, I don’t know anymore. I mean, I’m sure I can find some other person to take me to PineOak… Jacob, please understand my reasons! We both can’t keep living like this… It’s a burden for the both of us. I just hope you can find some hope in your heart to forgive me” she said quickly in a rambling manner.

Jacob was expressionless. “Yes. You can find someone else to take you there!! Anna, you are so gullible! This, this was all a scheme a plan! I’ve spent years looking for you! The One Chosen. The Peace-Maker. The Prophecy. The one with all powers. You can’t even imagine how long I have been searching for you. A stupid, dimwitted girl that reeks of humans! Just imagine my shock when I finally find you!! Semus’s orders were to take you in, befriend you, earn your trust and lead you a little way off from here and then kidnap you and make you a weapon for all species on this world! So leave! I don’t care anymore! In my opinion Semus doesn’t deserve your cowardliness!”

Jacob turned and left, leaving Anna angry, betrayed, and bewildered. The cold rain didn’t wake her from her trance. She felt someone lead her into the bookshop and her legs felt like rubber. She would have stayed out there for however long. Her mind was fuzzy, her body numb, and her legs trembled. Jacob, the fraud, betrayer, and fool.

Chapter 8=Robbers.