Freedom within a Lie

Freedom within a Lie

The ocean, how vast it is. The end is not seen from the beginning nor is the beginning seen from the end. Adonia reach out to touch the horizon but was unable to grasp it. The ocean is the great freedom that so many yearn for, but are never able to obtain. The wind danced through her auburn hair as she stood on the precipice longing to go out into the great abyss. The sound of the ocean was like a lullaby to her as it called her, asking her to follow it out into the great wide fortress. “What waited for me? What do I wait for?” Her heart twists and turned as the saltation of sapphire and jade colors played within her mind. The salty sea pressed hard upon her lips; she can taste it the sweetness combined with bitterness, she could taste freedom. Oh, how she knew that if she ran to what she desire she would never stop running; for one cannot truly reach that which they yearn for within their hearts. The ocean; the ocean is like a siren speaking, asking, crying, calling with softens, like one would call to a lover. Unbearable pain burned through her chest; for she knew the truth, but could not bear to believe it. “What if? What if I am wrong? What if this knowledge was not freedom but a curse? What if!” Tears fell softly from her eyes as she crumbled to the hard cold ground. She had nothing, her soul felt empty as the unknown memories rushed through her mind again. She bit her tung and clenched her eyes, “Stop it,” She whispered, but the memories continued. A face of a man she never met, a battle she never fought, a moment she never had continued. “Stop it!” She screamed. The sound of thunder broke her trance as she looked up to see dark clouds making their way to her. The wind kisses her ice-cold skin as rain drops began moistening the ground. Tears continue to roll down her cheeks, “Help me,” She muttered as she kept her eyes to sky. The ocean dances between her legs, calling her to come in, calling her to follow. She pressed her hands hard against the muddy sand as she grasped as much sand as she could in her grip. Tears continue to roll down her face as she let out a silent scream. The sensation of soft sand and cold bitter water submerges her hands and feet. “I can’t.” She whimper. Her heart and mind were torn between reality and fiction, between the truth and a lie. But which one was it? What was the lie and what was the truth? The sound of crashing filled her mind again with memories she should not have. The bitter taste of war, of fighting, of loss was almost unbearable. Tears stream faster down her checks, they refused to let up not giving in, not giving her a second of peace.” Why?” She muttered under my own sorrow. She looked up to watch a glimpse of the sun fairies shinning above the water. “I can’t do this.” She muttered as her body became limp and she fell to the cold sand. She rolled over onto her back allowing the rain to calm her mind. Slowly she began to drifted off into the land of no return.

A chilly northern breeze blew throw the woods, as Tamara rested on a gofer wood tree. The day had been long, she had been tracking west to the nearest village to replenish supplies. Night was falling faster theses days as winter was making its way towards the eastern side of the world. Night was never her favorite time. The life she lived before was no more, but yet it still lingered. Never letting up, never breaking. She regretted much and there was no way to take any of it back. A light scratching sound caught Tamara’s attention as her unease mind settled down with the distraction. Karos sat at the bottom of the gofer wood tree waging his tail waiting for her to come down. A small smile crossed Tamara's face as she swung her legs around to make it easier to jump off the tree. Karos was the only thing left that Tamara had that was close enough to family. His dark brown fur covered him, consuming anything that dared to brush up against him. He too was showing the signs of winter as his coat became thicker every day. She smothered her face into his warm coat “Good boy.” She muttered.

The sound of heavy foot steps caught her and Karos attention “Go,” Tamara whispered pushing Karos away. Karos looked at her before taking off in to the heavy undergrowth. Tamara took a deep breath before dropping to the ground making her way to the noise. The Red army filled Tamara’s eyes as she creeped closer. Her heart began to pound faster as memories flooded in; she became frozen. Pushing her self up against a gofer wood tree, her red messy hair brushed in front of her face as she closed her eyes to catch her breath.

A whistle from the driver stopped the Behemoths. The cart that they pulled was covered with a large cloth concealing that which laid within. “Move it.” One of the red guards said as he walk behind the cart. A moment later a tall broad man was pushed towards the trees, Tamara kept her eyes on him.

A soft, wet, hard substance touched Tamaras face pulling her from her focus. Tamara forced a scream down as she turned to look at the creature. “Karos.” Tamara whispered as the black giant brushed his nose up against her cheek again. Her attention quickly turned back on the small group of soldiers as laughter filled the air. Tamara stood trying to gain a better view, but Karos nudged her to stay grabbing her cloths trying to keep her still. She rubbed the top of the giants head before looking back on the group “Would you feel better if I waited until nightfall.” She muttered to the beast, his dark brown eyes stared at her before grabbing her jacket and pulling her away. "I’ll take that as a yes,” her own heart pounding hard in her chest. Was it really her giving in to Karos, or was fear controlling her choices. She slumped back onto a tree closing her eyes. Karos slumped next to her placing his paw upon her leg before laying down resting his head on her lap. The weight of his head once bothered her but now it was a comfort, “I guess I can wait.” She mutter to him as she brushed the ruff fur on his snout. She closed her eyes and rested her head upon a tree. Taking in a deep breath she felt the anxiety slowly fade.

The sound of branches moving awoke Tamara, Karos had left long ago and it was her that was now submerged into darkness. The sound of foots steps slowly got louder by the second. She kept her mouth closed as she waited for her opponent to come upon her. She took a deep breath to sooth her nerves and allow her training to kick in. She waited and watched as a red guard marched through the branches to relieve himself. Now was her time to attack. She pulled out her knife but froze. A small light in the back of his neck caught her attention. What was that? She thought. She touched the back of her neck but felt nothing. The light seemed to flicker with a three second pause in between. Her nerves got the best of her as she turned away from the man and back into the high brush. Her thoughts were unease as her own memories came flooding back to her. She had never before seen light flashing in the necks of the soldiers. She again touched the back of her neck trying to analyze it with her fingers. But once again she felt nothing. Her plan was beginning to unravel, as questions filled her mind. Maybe she could free the prisoner and whatever they had in the cage without fatality. She already had too much blood on her hands, why add more to her conscious. However, the small light in the back of the red guards neck still hung heavy on her mind.

As she got closer to the camp she notices that the older gentlemen was tide to a tree farthest away from the camp sight. Obviously they were not worried about him escaping. Strange though to have a prisoner so far away from camp, but maybe protocol had changed. Slowly she made her way to the prisoner trying hard to keep the cover of darkness and silence on her side. She stopped just a few feet away from him, his dark auburn hair played in the wind as his body shook to keep warm. The season was becoming colder as it continued towards winter. It seemed that every year the weather got worse and worse and he was not dressed for it. She quickly went to his side taking off her jacket and placing it around him. His eyes opened suddenly as he turned to look at her. She placed her finger upon her lip to motion complete silence. His bright yellow eyes caught her off guard, it was an un-natural coloring. His eyes tugged at a memory she could not place. He nodded with agreement, she turned her attention off the man and on to the chains that bound him to the tree. She needed a key. “Which guard would most likely be holding the key.” She thought to herself. She turned back to the group of men that laid silently on the ground. She left the mans side and went into the group using the trees and darkness to hide her motion. She quickly did a scan to see if any of the guards asleep had the key. Nothing. No doubt they wouldn’t chance the keys on a man who could easily have his throat slit. The wagon was not too far for her to use for coverage. She waited until the men who were on watch turned their attention away from the carriage. She ran for cover. The wagon gave what she needed as she hung tight to it. The last thing she needed was to be caught, for no trial would be given but immediate execution. She peaked her head around the wagon to see the Behemoths sleeping heavily on the ground. Easy creatures they were to keep, everything made them happy. Their scaly bodies reflected the light off of the fire. It would be too dangerous to get close to them without being noticed. For the beasts where easy to appease but also easily awakened. Tamara back up and bumped into something sharp. She turned to the keys hanging on the wagon. “Morons.” She thought. “If I was in charge of this mission I would have all their heads.” Her anger fumed, but their stupidity did help her out. She grabbed the keys and turned to leave. But something stopped her. “Whats under there?” She thought. She turned back to face the wagon. Lifting a corner of the cover up she saw children. And hand full of children placed inside. “The impression.” She muttered under her breath. The kids looked at her, with eyes of worry, loss, and fear. She dropped the cover and turned back to her first mission. “Free the man and then the children.” She thought, but it felt wrong. She couldn’t leave the kids. She turned back and hurried to the back of the cage, unlocking the door and placed a finger up to her mouth informing the kids to be quiet. The kids nodded in agreement before scurrying to her. Three were easy to get out. “Go to the woods and hide. Wait for me.” The kids ran straight for the woods. She turned to look at the last two who were not as willing to come out. “Come on.” She motioned, but they still did not come. “Would you like to stay and be used to their own pleasure, or would you like to go home to your mothers and fathers?” Their eyes looked at her still no movement. “I don’t want to leave you, please I know the life you’re heading to. Come with me I can help you.” One of the two kids looked at the older boy that was a little taller then the rest. He looked at Tamara with stone cold eyes. He nodded his head in agreement and pushed his way to the back of the cage to get out. Tamara watched as they ran into the woods before she followed. Her body was much easier to spot, she didn’t want to draw attention to them.

Tamara met the kids in the woods and placed them in a safe enough place until she could come back for them. “Stay here, and I’ll be back.” Was all she said before disappearing into the night.

Time was now not on her side. Once the guards found the empty cage they would sound an alarm and this area will light up like a night light. She made her way back to the man chained to the tree. Relief flashed over his face, did he think she was going to just leave him? She unlocked the chains and grabbed the jacket. Fleeing the camp was easier than she thought, for the guards had not awaken and the ones that were awake did not hear a thing.

“Who are you?” The man said grabbing Tamara’s arm and twisting her back so that she faced him. They were almost to where the kids were placed. His face seemed familiar but Tamara could not place it. His un-natural yellow eyes and dark auburn hair was too familiar to her, almost like a dream, but where had she met him before?

Adonia opened her eyes as the ocean strength became harsh, pulling and pushing her. Becoming more aggressive with its wants and needs. She brushed the dream, at least what felt like a dream, too the back of her mind as she pushed herself up. “Today is not the day,” She muttered as she took one last hard look at the ocean. The thunder was now above her as the rumbling of God shook the ground beneath her. Lightning struck the water lighting everything up around her. The feeling of fur tingled over hand as she looked down to analyzing her own body part. Wondering if the answers she yearned for laid within her finger tips. The dream flooded again through her mind as the mans face penetrated her thoughts. His touch consumed her nerves as she grasped her arm where he had grabbed her, maybe. “Why did this feel like it was more than a dream.” She thought. Gods voice rumbled again through the clouds lightning up the sky. Adonia took in a deep breath, taking in one last taste of the salty sea before turning around and making her way back home.

The ground was filled with a thick layer of mud as she marched her way back to the small cabin just a few miles away from the ocean. Her cloths were drenched with water and her hair clung to the side of her face as the rain began to come down harder. She looked a her small little ranch, taking in a deep breath before pushing herself forward finishing her journey. The animals had more sense than she did as they had already put themselves to bed. Seeking shelter in this nasty storm. Inside a small fire place was still burning with coals allowing warmth to still seep out of the fire place. She changed out of the wet cloths and into something dry before sitting down. The dream played within her mind as she sat their staring. The mans eyes burned deep within her soul as she touched her arm again feeling his grasp on her. She dropped her face into her hands and began to rub her eyes hoping that maybe it would take the image from her. “ I am losing it,” she muttered to her self. “This is what happens when you’re alone for so long.” She took in a deep breath filling her lungs with oxygen before exhaling. She pushed herself off the chair before making her way up to her room. “A good night sleep should help?” She questioned herself. She opened her door to find Nakoski laying soundlessly on her bed. His head perked up as he looked at her, his long black tail began to wage as he sat up to greet his master. “Good boy,” She said as she sat down next to him on the bed. Kissing his head she pushed her way to the head of the bed, getting under to covers. The thunder still bellowed outside as the rain continue to come down hitting her window at times. She rolled over to her side allowing her heavy eyes too close. Maybe the dreams would leave her alone tonight.

Tamara watched as the sun began to rise creating a blood red sky. As much as she loved the light she new what it meant, no more coverage. “Okay, which one of you knows any kind of language.” Tamara said as she turned to look at the kids. The oldest boy stepped forward. His short brown hair was filled with sticks and leaves. He seemed to be no older than 12 years. “Thank you,” was the words that came from his horse voice.

“What village did you guys come from?” Tamara asked as she bent down on her knee.

“Bethsaida,” the kid replied, Tamara froze. She closed her eyes and bent her head. “Okay,” she said taking in a deep breath, “can you keep an eye on the other for me, I’ll be right back.” She stood up and turned away taking at least ten paces away from the kids before stopping. Bethsaida was too close to Armenia there was no way she could go that way without being caught.

“I know this is non of my business, and I am aware that I just met you, but is everything okay?” A strong voice said from behind. Tamara turned to see the yellow eye man come closer to her. His eyes were not as brilliant as they were before, but still an un-natural color. His tall figure hovered over her. She was tall but not even close to his size.

“I can’t travel that close to Armenia.” She simply said.

“Why?” He pried. “And you’re one of those people, fantastic" Tamara thought.

“to simply put it, the king and I are what you would say, not on good terms.” Her voice was bras, and harsh.

“So how do you expect to get the kids back to their village? if of course there is still a village to come back to."

“I'm aware of that possibility, and I will figure out something,” She just could not place where she had seen him before.

“You saved my life and gave me my freedom. The least I can do is help you get the kids back to their homes.”

“No,” Tamara was quick to answer. “If you’re caught with me you will be executed.”

“You risk your life for me, I think I can repay the favor. My name is Jared.” He simply said with a smile on his face.

Tamara took a second to look at the man. He seemed too familiar and she could not shake the feeling. Taking in a deep breath, she shook her head. “Tamara.” She reached out and locked hands with him. “Well Tamara, I think we have a long journey a head of us.”

Tamara turned to look at the kids. “That is an understatement.”

The day grow longer as the sun made its way across the sky. They made camp and now they needed supplies. Her and the younger group of kids went to find fire wood and water, while Jared and the older kids hunted. Tamara could feel the night beginning to weigh on her as her and the kids started their way back to camp. When they made it back she felt herself crumble to the ground as both her legs gave from under. Her eyes were tired, her body ached. What was happening, this was something she wasn’t use to. “Tamara!” She heard a voice say. Her breathing became strained as she began to cough uncontrollably, her body began to shake the world around her became blurry. A hand placed upon her check forcing her head up. A figure she couldn’t make out. “I'm fine.” She muffled through her coughing, but that was far from the truth. Her coughing wouldn’t stop and the darkness around her began to consume her.

Adonia woke with a coughing fit, She pushed herself out of her bed crumbling to her knees. Her body shook, as she felt her throat closing up. “No, no, no!” She thought. She pushed her self to her night stand pulling the drawer off its hinges. The heavy object collapsed to the ground, she used one hand to find her inhaler while the other hand clenched her chest. “come on!” she thought. Finally her hand brushed over the object that seemed the most familiar. Grabbing it she placed the mouth piece to her mouth sucking in the medicine; she waited before exhaling. She still coughing here and there but was was no longer suffocating. Nakoski, being there laid his paw on her leg and his head on her lap as she sat their taking in the sweet air. Her heart pounded in her chest as the dream flooded her mind. It all felt so real, it always felt so real.

She took in a deep breath and looked out her window. The sun was being to rise creating a very similar sun rise to what she saw in her dream. She brushed her hand over Nakoski’s face before pushing herself up. “Might as well get up,” She mutter to him. After getting dressed she made her way down the stairs. Before she could begin making food a knock came to the door. Her heart began to pound as Nakoski began barking. “Easy boy,” she said petting his head. Another knock came to the door. She grabbed the shot gun that laid on the side of the front door. Slowly she opened the door to see a man with brilliant yellow eyes and short dark auburn hair staring at her. Her memories flooded her mind, could this be the man from her dreams? From her memories or whatever they were. Her heart pounded faster as the man looked down at her, “Tamara,” was all the man said as surprise and longing filled his face.

“Jared,” she muttered.