We spend the next day traveling. We barely talked to one another feeling the growing tension in the air. As it grows closer to night, Lupa looks over at Zona. “Maybe we need to stop for the night?” Zona looks over at Lupa with an annoyed look at her face.

“We are only a few days away from the Southern Desert. We should keep pushing.” Lupa frowns slightly placing her hand on Zona’s shoulder.

“I want to talk Zona.” Zona slows the cart down pulling it over on the side of the road. She looks back at us trying to remain calm.

“You two will need to set up camp.” Before we can ask any questions, Zona and Lupa head into the nearby forest. James groans standing up stretching his back out.

“Zona has a lot of issues.” I frown at the mean comment he made. I toss him a bag once he is out of the cart.

“No, she doesn’t. I think she is just a little wary from all the stuff that happened to her before.” James perks up as he starts to pitch the tent.

“Oh, really like what?” I stop myself from oversharing details about Zona.

“Just stuff that happened when she was a kid.” Once he has finished setting up the tent, he looks over at me annoyed.

“Want to go get us some fire wood? I still need to set the other tent up.” I huff not wanting to go into the forest. He gives me a look dropping the other tent. “Do you know how to set this up?” I sigh defeated marching into the forest. I pick a few sticks as I hear shouting in the distance. I assume the rest making my way over to the where I hear the voices. I look upon a small clearing where Zona stomps back and forth as Lupa sits on a rock staring at her.

“Zona... I am just...” Zona turns to her holding up her hands.

“I am fine Lupa. Really. I know I had a few rough spots here and there, but I am completely fine.” Lupa frowns looking at her sad.

“Why are you constantly looking over your shoulder than?” Zona stops looking caught.

“I don’t know what you are...” Lupa stands up looking determined to find the truth.

“Zona. I spend every waking moment around you. I can tell when you are happy, sad, emotional... fearful. You know he isn-” Lupa stops as a small fire appears on a nearby flower. Zona swipes the air sending flames out. She scorches the ground leaving a distinct mark on it.

“I am not scared Lupa. I know he is gone. He’s dead. It’s... just... When I am alone, I can...” She points to her head with a finger. “Hear his voice. I sometimes think I see him. Lupa. I...” Lupa walks over to Zona.

“What about that man back there? You took it too far Zona.” Zona slightly glares at her.

“He was there when I was a kid. I remember him Lupa. He deserved everything that he got.” Lupa doesn’t say anything when Zona turns away from her. “I could have killed him. I really wanted to burn his eyes out, melt his stomach. Do things he did to me.” Zona looks down at her hands. “I...” She stops as Lupa hugs her from behind. Nothing happens for a second as Zona turns around hugging her fully. “I’m sorry. I am so sorry.” Lupa looks at her wiping a tear forming in Zona’s eye.

“It’s okay. I am here for you Zona.” Lupa perks up looking over in my direction. I hide before a tree hoping she didn’t see me. “We need to get back to them.” I poke my head out from my hiding place seeing them head back toward camp. Once they are out of view, I let out a sigh of relief. I start to think that James might have been right about Zona. I shake those thoughts out of my head realizing that I’ve walked in the middle of the opening. I look around somewhat freaked out.

“What am I doing out here?” I turn around looking back toward the way I came. My eyes slowly draw upon the scorched mark on the ground. My head slowly begins to get fuzzy as I feel myself drop the sticks that I am holding. I touch the side of my face as I sway back and forth. I try to close my eyes, but something forces me to keep looking at the mark. My vision slowly fades as I get lost into the darkness of the mark.

I open my eyes to growling. I look around seeing that I am in a barn. The animals inside start causing a lot of nose. A rock past my face barely missing me hitting the wood near me. “Shut up. You will get your food soon.” A man’s voices rings from outside. I feel myself starting to panic realizing something is very wrong. I head to the force trying to figure out what happened to me or where I am. I walk toward the barn door as it opens. A heavy-set man walks into the barn with a small girl. The little girl looks familiar but somewhat different. The heavy-set man looks straight me for a moment. He points his hand toward the loft. “That will be where you will be staying. You will start work in the morning girl.” The girl doesn’t say anything. “Zona! Do you understand me?” Zona looks up nodding still not speaking. The man walks out of the barn leaving the small girl behind. He didn’t see me. I reach out to the girl.

“Can you see me?” My hand goes through her shoulder as she over to the corner. She leans against it hugging her legs tightly to her body. Before I can react, I feel the fuzziness in my head start again. I try to take a few steps to the girl before falling into darkness. When I come to, I am back in the opening again. I roll over getting sick. Once down, I stand up slightly shaking. I slowly make my way back to the camp trying to get myself under control. As I see the camp in the distance, I fall forward face first into the dirt. I can’t move my body. My mind feels like it is on fire. I slowly slip into darkness as someone picks up my body.

I am awoken feeling extremely hot. I slowly open my eyes feeling the grogginess leave my body. I sit in the back of the cart. I look around seeing Lupa, Zona, and James sitting by a campfire. Zona looks over a map confusion fueling her face. I edge myself trying to get off the cart. I step on the ground feeling weak. I grab ahold of the cart trying to stable me. “Woah...” All three look over causing James to quickly come toward me.

“Ash. Are you okay?” Their worried faces send concern throughout my body.

“... Yes? How was I out?” I notice that the trees surrounding are suited to a hotter climate. The air is thick feeling like soup. Lupa hands me some food and water. James helps me sit down next to the put-out campfire. I slowly eat the food and drink the water trying not to choke. I never realized how hungry I was. Zona looks at me showing me a map.

“A few days.” I cough almost choking on some food. “What happened to you?”

“I... don’t know. I was out collecting sticks.” I stop choosing not to let them know about me hearing their conversation. “I had this weird dream.” James frowns looking at me.

“Did you have another one of the Brothers?” Zona and Lupa look at me concerned. I swallow trying to remember exactly what I saw.

“I saw this fat man and small girl, but I wasn’t another person this time. I was actually there. I think. When I woke up, I barely made it to the camp.” Lupa looks at Zona who shakes her head confused.

“Do you have any idea what trigger this?” I shake my head no causing her to curse underneath her bed. “We will have to watch over you more carefully. Now if you would excuse me, I am going to go figure out where we are.” Zona stands up stretching slightly. I look at James confused.

“Where are we?” James feels my head with the back of his hand still looking concerned.

“We should be in the heart of the Southern Desert.” I look around not believing him.

“I thought the Southern Desert was this hostile place that no life lived.” Zona looks back at me nodding.

“It was. I am going to go look around hopefully finding out a why.” Zona closes her eyes as flame erupts from underneath her. She flies into the sky. James gets up going over to the cart.

“You need to keep drinking water.” I sigh drinking more water. I look at Lupa who still looks worried from the last time I saw her.

“Lupa... Is everything okay?” She looks at me slowly forcing a smile.

“Yes. I am just... I am hoping being her won’t bring back bad memories.” I look at her confused as Zona lands on the ground rolling across her back. She stands up dusting some dirt off her.

“The entire desert seems to be covered in vegetation.” Lupa stands up as James comes back giving me more water.

“What do you think caused this Zona?” Zona thinks for a moment trying to burn a few plants nearby.

“My guess is that since the underground city is gone. Life is returning to the sands.” Zona frowns trying to suppress her anger. “Could you possible get the Sister to come out?” Lupa pauses slightly shock.

“I can try Zona.” I feel like that I am about to get sick. I stand up heading over to a few bushes. I luckily made it, so they didn’t have to watch me make a fool of myself.

“Ashely. Are you alright?” I hear Zona call from the group. I give her a thumbs up.

“I ate to fast. I will be fine. Just give me a minute and James I don’t need you to come over here.” I hear some laughter coming from the girls as a huff comes from James. I wipe my mouth trying to feel better. I look up noticing a beautiful flower sitting in the sun. The flower is a rose with strange black strips running down the petals. I start to get that fuzzy feeling again causing me to panic. “No! Someone help me!” I look away from the flower running back to the camp. Instead of falling into darkness like last time, the life surrounding me slowly disappears. “James?” I don’t get a response. “JAMES?! Zona! Lupa!”

I call out as my voice echoes across the desert. The sand dunes run for miles as the unbearable heat from the sun beats down on me. “What the hell is happening to me?” I scream at the top of my lungs. The ground beneath me starts to shake as I fall to the ground. Something erupts from the sand sending it flying into the air. I shield my eyes from the falling sand. I hear something like blades being sharpen against each other. I look seeing a massive snake shaking sand off its black scales. A bright red stripe runs along its house sized body. It’s bright yellow eyes look down at me hissing.

“That took longer than excepted.” His voice sounds like pure evil. He looks around looking at the dunes. “Idiot gods. I shall have my revenge on this world.” His tongue flickers out causing his body to curl up in a defensive position. “It can’t be...” Dark clouds form overhead as two figures appear in the distance. “I didn’t think you two would b-” A black tendril impales the snake through the roof of it’s mouth. I gasp backing up. The figures walk into view looking like something straight out of a horror story. The male has pure white and white irises. His hair is long flowing down most of his back. He appears to be wearing only black pants. Otherwise his entire body is exposed. Getting a better look at him, I notice faint black tattoos covering his exposed body. His body is ghostly white. Almost appearing to another being in front of the sun.

“You understand why we are here. Right Siver?” The tendril gets removed as Siver looks angry at the man. He lunges at the man before five tendrils pierce Siver’s body. The other figure jumps landing on Siver’s giant head. The other figure is a woman similar to the man. Instead of white hair and eyes, she instead has black. The woman is outlined in a black almost suit or armor. She smiles a toothy grin looking up at the man.

“Can I finish him off Grant?” Grant waves his hand as black tendrils wrap around Siver. The woman jumps off as Siver gets ripped apart. The tendrils fight among themselves trying to destroy more of the body. Grant smiles sharp teeth almost glowing with delight. The woman yawns looking at the massive black stain across the sand. “What’s next Grant?” Grant looks North getting a hungry look in his eyes.

“Hmm I am thinking eating an entire town. Seeing you destroy that pest made me... peckish.” They start walking north toward as the vegetation returns around me. I blink realizing that I am on the ground. James is over me looking worried.

“Ash. What’s wrong with you?” I slowly stop shaking sitting up. I grab my head as a pounding headache hits me.

“I... just saw something.” Zona frowns looking concerned.

“What did you see?” I look at her.

“.. I saw Siver... erupting out of the ground.” Zona and especially Lupa have a look of anger sweep across their face. “However, he started freaking out. Dark clouds started forming above else.” When I say dark clouds, Zona loses all color in her face. I stop looking at her as she bends down looking at me seriously.

“What happened next?” I gulp somewhat frighten of Zona all of the sudden.

“A man and a woman appeared. The woman killed Siver with these black things. I don’t know how to describe them.” Zona stands up trying to control her breathing. Lupa follows her as Zona starts to pace back and forth.

“I told you he would be back Lupa.” Lupa stands between us and her.

“You don-” Zona cuts her off heading to the cart.

“We need to head to the capital.” James looks at me going to say something. I shake my head no and start to follow Zona. Lupa follows Zona looking beyond worried for her. I lean close to James.

“She is working through stuff. We are going to help her.” James doesn’t say anything as we get in the back of the cart. Zona urges the cart forward. The cart jerks forward flying down the path. The three of us look at Zona worried as she has a look of pure determination in her eyes. We eventually make it out of the Southern Desert. I let James fall asleep first in the cart. For some reason, I don’t feel exhausted. I lean against the back of the cart slightly listening in on Lupa and Zona’s conversation.

“I don’t think we need to go to the capital.”

“We have too. Maybe we can find more information about what she saw.”

“.. Are you doing this just...” There is pause for a second and Lupa starts to whimper slightly.

“I’m sorry Lupa.” I poke my head around to the front of the cart. Zona is hugging Lupa somewhat tight. “I... just need to make sure.” There is a worried tone to her voice. I feel bad for listening in, but I need some answers.

“Um... make sure what?” Zona looks at me. She makes a face of annoyance but sighs closing her eyes.

“There was a man that had the same abilities of the person you described. The last time we saw him. He supposedly died there.” Zona grips the reins of the horse. “We have to make sure he is dead.” I pause realizing that I forgot about them woman.

“He wasn’t the only one.” Both Zona and Lupa look at me confusion filling their face. “There was a woman also.” I smell smoke in the distance causing me to look down the road. Lupa and Zona look down the road causing Zona to stop the cart. Lupa stands up hoping down from the cart. We both look at Lupa as she takes off sprinting toward the town.

“LUPA! God damnit.” James wakes up confused as Zona looks at both of us. “Stay here. Understand me?” Before we can answer, Zona takes off after her. I look up seeing dark clouds forming over the town.