~Chapter 2: Discovery~
"Blake! How could you have given them all away?" Charity grunted in anger, dismay, and confusion as she brought her hands forcefully onto a tree of the Lilypond Forest.
"I didn't give them all away. I have all the treasures from the excavation and Father's and Mother's wedding rings in my jacket pockets." Blake took a heart shaped locket, a dangling cross earring, and his parents' wedding bands from his black jacket's pocket.
"Where did you get those?"
"I got them in the early morning when I regained consciousness."
A large smile crept on Charity's face. "Then...What did that thief guy get?"
"He got some sticks and leaves. Here." He handed the locket to her and watched as she adorned it. The shining gold hanging slightly above her chest seemed to perfectly compliment her pale complexion. Blake held out his mother's wedding band to Charity as she put on the locket, but a quick hand from a nearby bush snatched it from Blake's hand.
"Where did it--you," Blake said with a clear tone of seriousness in his voice as his eyes narrowed on the face of the thief who stood several feet away. "What do you want with it?"
"Why must I always be referred to as
you? Can't I be referred to as Gene?" he replied in playful banter.
"Don't avoid the subject," Charity barked. "Why is that ring so important to you?"
Gene slipped on the ring, "I think I should demonstrate instead of explaining, don't you think?" He looked into Charity's intense eyes, which had glazed over with tears. Gene gave a slight smirk when Charity noticed something strange. Gene's eyes had changed from gray to a piercing yellow. Gene snapped out his hand with the ring in a sideways grasping motion and, instantly, a ring of amber light appeared around Charity's neck. Gene slightly raised his hand radiating with amber aura and Charity was lifted off the ground. Blake was transfixed in fear and fascination as Gene abruptly made a pulling motion backwards. Charity shrieked and jerked past Gene in an instant, and Gene pinned Blake to a tree with another aura. "Give me the other ring."
"No--not after you tell me...Tell me where Charity is!" Blake said unsurely as his voice cracked.
"I assure you, she's fine, now give me the rings, or I'll
rip out your throat."
Blake was easily influenced by the intense voice. "H--Here," he hesitated as he handed over the other ring.
"Go ahead and give me the locket and earring too."
"Okay," he meekly replied and did as he was instructed. He handed over the dangling cross earring to Gene and did no more than breathe. Gene stared at Blake for a while being as patient as he could but Blake's face never changed.
"Hey, kid, what about the locket?"
"It's right here!" screeched Charity as she swung from behind a broken tree branch at Gene's head. Gene staggered backwards but regained his composure and threw Charity to the ground with another aura. Gene quickly slipped on the other ring and picked up Blake and threw him back another several feet next to Charity with his intensified aura. Gene pivoted on his right heel and ran off into the forest as fast as he could.
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Mrrow. First half of Chapter 2, meow... Oh look. ICE CREAM~! *goes get some and comes back* Yum~! *eats* Purrrrrr... *kitty ears and kitty tail twitch in happiness*