Chasing Suma

Our once beautiful and futile world, Kreyta, can now only be described as... gloomy destruction. Not subtle at all in the post-apocalyptic appearance of being barren and desolate. During the last four years, I have been on the run from the 'Locket Hunters'. Thus, I am the most unobtainable and wanted person in Kreyta. This has resulted in our world experiencing an apocalyptic age during an attempt to find me. Millions of innocent people have died during the manhunt. The events have been unfortunate and depressing. Furthermore, my name is Suma, like the season Summer. I am also the first-born locket in over three centuries, and to be honest scary. My family was killed as a result of hiding me and the legacy I hold. When they smashed their way into our family home four years ago, murdering everyone in sight. The bloodcurdling screams and bullets ricocheting throughout the house were terrifying. A memory that will be hard to repress. I was forced to run to keep my ancestor's secrets and to stay alive. A gift that was bestowed upon me before I was born, was a heart-shaped locket tattoo that is present on my left bicep. This is to identify I am a locket, and I am in danger.

The locket hunters found me, hiding in an abandoned cave. Luckily, I pre-dug an escape route weeks ago in case this would happen. Now, the close encounter has left me running for almost two weeks straight, day and night. With no access to food and water, I became malnourished and dehydrated. Furthermore, I continue onwards heading for the coast. This secret is going to be the death of me and let us face it, the hunters will not use it for the greater good. It will only benefit them, a lot worse than the last four years.

So, it is two days and I have finally reached the coast. My mouth is dry, tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth. It feels like I am dreaming staring at the glistening ocean; it is calling me. I dart towards the water, using the little strength I have left. I dove under the surface of the glorious almost-forgotten water. Feeling the cool water flitter against my body, is heavenly. Resurfacing a moments later, turning onto my back to float, weightless. Moments later, I resume my weighted position and pull the bottle from my bag to collect water. Looking out towards the ocean noticing a tiny island about 20 kilometres from shore. I need to get there. Thinking to myself that I may get some rest for a change. Looking behind me for any movement, I see it. The dust billowing up into clouds whirling around. Locket hunters emerging through the dust clouds, heading straight towards me. Still standing in the water, I turned and dove under the water, heading towards the tiny island. Holding my breath if I could, I swam hard and fast until I need to resurface enough to breathe. Looking around I located the hunters, careful not to make any movement. I watch them as they storm around assessing the footprints in the mud. I know full well, they are mine as they killed the last known person alive for helping me recently. I watched one of the hunters, following my footprints towards the water. He looks up and out at the water allowing our eyes to lock on one another. Frozen for a moment, I collected myself and turning, not waiting to see his next move. Panic set in, sucking in a deep breath, I descend and start swimming like a crazy person. My goal right now is to put enough distance between them and me as possible and fast.

Reaching the island, I drag myself up onto the beach. All my energy exerted and drained from my manic swimming. Rolling onto my back, I throw my limbs out to look like a starfish. As I suck in deep breaths, I felt like my lungs will collapse at any moment with the amount of pressure. Moments later, after settling down and sitting up, I stare out into the horizon from where I once came. Everything I love has all been destroyed. My parents, friends, flowers, and the trees, all gone for their selfish wants. The hunters look to have left whilst I was swimming to safety, hoping my whereabouts were unknown to them. The hunters are not the smartest people. Yet, their knowledge of the 'heart-shaped locket' legacy is astounding.

Searching the island for a while, finding sticks and frons from the trees. I miss trees breathing life into everything around me. I found a little nook surrounded by rocks and trees to shield me from the wind and sun. My family would have loved this little piece of paradise. Starting a fire with stick and greenery is difficult without scout training I tell you, but I do it. Now, I have my little fire going out of sight from the mainland and I can relax for a little bit anyway. I used sticks to make a teepee over the fire to hold my tiny saucepan so I could boil my saltwater to drink. I grabbed my cup from the bag along with a teabag. Yes, I have tea bags, hundreds, they come in handy. I made a steaming hot cup of tea and put the remaining water in my water bottle. Packing my things back in my bag, I enjoy my tea. Feeling a little better, I lie down beside the fire, pulling the frons up over me and resting my eyes.

I was tired after running for the past few weeks that I passed out. I was woken up to being tied to the palm trees. The ropes were cutting into my wrists and ankles. The burning and stinging pain was evident with every tiny movement. Looking up, my eyes locked onto the leader of the locket hunters. No one knows their names except for who they are and what they want. He had a grin on his face I could only describe as sickly and sinister yet the glare, made the bile in my belly want to come up. I do not know how I can get out of this situation. I have 6 men surrounding me, buffed like gym models with bulging arms. This would be amazing, and they are easy on the eyes, but I am tied to palm trees right now. Whilst they talk amongst themselves, they have books everywhere scattered across the beach. Flicking pages left right and centre, I do not know who to watch or where to watch, they are all moving. Thinking about everything I have had to protect throughout the years. What I have lost protecting these secrets, was it worth it? Running day and night, malnourished from no food for days or water for hydration. Was that worth it? To put my body through that. Considering my options. I look around intrigued by their dedication to history and literature.

After a while, I decided to speak up. "Hey guys?", I asked. They all whipped their heads around, looking at me. I am guessing the leader of the hunters come forward. "Yes, Suma? Feel like talking now?", He questioned. "Do you know how to use my locket?", I asked. "Also, what is your name, handsome?". "Chase", he responded shocked. "Okay, Chase, so do you know how to use it?". Chase nodded looking intrigued by my questions. "I'm willing to be cooperative and work with you for something in return", I stated. Chase smirked, closing the distance between us and cupping my face with his hand. Leaning into his touch, feeling his dry calloused thumb rub across my cheek. I felt something, a spark, almost fireworks. We both jerked back. Realisation cutting short the moment which we both shared, somehow both enjoyed. "What do you want in return?", he asked. "All I ask is when you get what you want, fix the post-apocalyptic world we live in. Food, water, trees and somewhere to call home. Make Kreyta beautiful again". He nodded and walked away, gathered his hunters and commenced a meeting.

What was that feeling when he touched me? The only other man that has ever laid a finger on me was my dad, and I only felt love for him being my dad. This is something different, interesting, dangerous but I want more.

Chase decided to come back after what felt like ages. My wrists and ankles are so painful, and I am getting a headache, great! 'This will be easier than we thought. I'm willy to accept your offer and grant it", he claimed. "What do you mean by easier?", I asked. "Two willing parties. One a locket and the other a hunter. They both must combine their blood, cut the locket and allow or blood to pool into the locket. The let it heal". I claimed. "Are you alright with mixing our blood? You know what will happen once that happens right?", I asked. "Yes, I am aware of what happens. I did not think I would ever find my soulmate nor think she would be a locket. Yet, fate has dealt us our cards and I will honour our union as one", he claimed, caressing my face again. Leaning into his touch I ask," Will you untie me, please? My wrists and ankles are killing me". "As soon as we've completed the locket, I promise".

Chase disappears for a few moments and returns with a dagger. Placing a gentle kiss on my dried lips, he cuts my right wrists strapping and allows me to caress his face. He takes my hand and cuts a line along my palm, doing the same with his left palm. Together we entwine our fingers. He slices the locket open, lifting our joined hands above the locket and then we squeeze. Allowing the blood to combine and drip into the locket. The locket started glowing blue, sending a vibration through my body. Chase cut my remaining strappings before collecting me into his arms. Carrying me over to the fire, he sits down, holding me close to his chest as my body prepared for what was to come. But there was nothing in the history books stating anything on the locket glowing blue, so this was new for all. There also has never been any record of a locket and hunter being soulmates. But there were directions on how to use the locket if the circumstance arose.

I awoke three days later, still in Chase warm embrace as he refused to let me go. We are still on the tiny island. When the sun rose the morning after, the hunters made a claim. They saw our post-apocalyptic world, go from barren and lifeless to a dream. Chase helped me up and walked over to the water, hands entwined. We looked out towards the mainland and cried. The fresh green grass, trees, animals, flowers even homes. This is a dream after all this time being barren, lifeless and desolate. The air smelt fresh and fragranced, I had to twirl around like a little girl in the summer meadows. Stopping, I turned around to face Chase. "Thank you, Chase. I know we started the apocalypse and made it worse post but together we fixed our mistakes. Our families might not be able to come back but thanks to the heart-shaped locket, it brought us together as one. You also made my wishes comes true and for that, I will forever honour you", I claimed. Chase lifted his hand to caress and rub his thumb over my locket, which slammed fireworks through my body. "Words can't describe how this moment makes me feel. But I do know I am forever grateful for the locket as it brought us together", he stated. Chase wrapped me in his arms, leaning down to kiss me and my heart-shaped locket.