Chapter Forty-Six
The Unmarked: Book One
Table of Contents:
[Prologue] [Ch.1] [Ch.2] [Ch.3] [Ch.4] [Ch.5] [Ch.6] [Ch.7] [Ch.8] [Ch.9] [Ch.10] [Ch.11] [Ch.12] [Ch.13] [Ch.14] [Ch.15] [Ch.16] [Ch.17] [Ch.18] [Ch.19] [Ch.20] [Ch. 21] [Ch.22] [Ch.23] [Ch.24] [Ch.25] [Ch.26] [Ch.27] [Ch.28] [Ch.29] [Ch.30] [Ch.31] [Ch.32] [Ch.33] [Ch.34] [Ch.35] [Ch.36] [Ch.36] [Ch.37] [Ch.38] [Ch.39] [Ch.40] [Ch.41] [Ch.42] [Ch.43] [Ch.44] [Ch. 45]
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Scarlet.
Scarlet tried to remember everything Dawn had ever told her about being a Guardian. As she marched through the maze of tents, she forced herself to lift her head high and set her shoulders back. She walked with a steady pace, the maps tucked under her left arm.
Look like you belong Dawn’s voice practically echoed in her mind.
But Scarlet somehow knew she stood out like an ugly scar. Her stride felt too slow, as if she were dragging her feet across the ground. Her neck and shoulders too stiff. Her breathing too heavy.
She followed the path she remembered being brought by when she had been taken out of the cage. They hadn’t blindfolded her as they had Dawn. Scarlet figured they didn’t think her much of a threat. The keys she had taken were stuffed behind the rubber lining of her pants, under her shirt. She didn’t know what she would do once she got to Amber’s cage. There were guards patrolling regularly. How were they going to get away? Scarlet reminded herself that she couldn’t save everyone. She would help Amber, and then they would go to the Unmarked camp and get more help. For now, all she had to do was get to the cage. Scarlet looked to the sky and was assured to see it a deep shade of blue. The sun would rise soon, which meant they could travel in the daylight. It would make them more visible, but Scarlet couldn’t imagine navigating the mountains in the dark.
Since leaving the tent, Scarlet had passed a handful of guards. None of them had barely cast her a glance. She felt like a total imposter, but it seemed that whatever she was doing was working. Scarlet kept marching down the maze of tents, gaining a sliver of confidence with every step she took. She tried not to let her growing excitement cause her to walk too fast. She needed to-
A passing soldier suddenly grabbed her by the arm and spun her around. “I haven’t seen you around” he said, “who are you?”
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Scarlet swallowed back the lump of terror in her throat and forced a stoic expression on her face. Her heartbeat thundered inside her ears.
“I’m the new informational artist” she said and felt as if the last of the air in her lungs had been exhaled with those words. Scarlet carefully crafted her next words so that she wouldn’t have to lie.
She was a terrible liar.
“I-I’d like to bring these,” she began, turning slightly to show the rolled parchment under her arm, “to Rain’s tent. He asked for them”.
“The informational artist” the soldier muttered. A look of recollection appeared on his face, followed by hard stare. “We we’re put on strict orders not to let you wander unsupervised”.
She swallowed back a lump in her throat. “No one told me that…” she said in a tone that was barely audible.
The man regarded her for a long time and Scarlet tried not to squirm under his glare.
Courage Scarlet, she repeated to herself.
“Rain’s tent is the other way”.
Scarlet smacked herself in the forehead. “Is it?” she said nervously. “Then I got lost. I’m not used to navigating the camp, yet. And don’t get me started on how terrible I am with direc-”
“Damnit!” the guard exclaimed. Scarlet clamped her mouth shut. “I don’t have time to play nanny”. With a grunt, he grabbed Scarlet by the bicep. “Come with me”.
She stumbled after the guard, the hidden keys feeling as if they would burn a hole through her flesh. With every step she took away from the cages, the heavier her dread became.
The walk to Rain’s tent felt like an eternity away, and an irrational part of her was terrified that Rain would be in his tent when she arrived.
You didn’t do anything suspicious she tried to tell herself through her panicked state. All you’re doing is bringing the maps…
Eventually they stopped in front of a tent that looked exactly like all the others, except this one had the number 26 sewed into it by the flap. But instead of entering the tent, the soldier just stood there. The behavior made Scarlet even more nervous.
What are you doing…
The man crouched. Scarlet peeked over his shoulder and watched as he brushed the rim of the tent. The soldier rubbed his fingers together and Scarlet noticed the his skin glistened. Under the light of his torch, Scarlet realized that the earth around the tent was damp, as well as the rim of the fabric. The Guardian smelled his fingers.
“Oil?” the guard mumbled. Then his eyes shot open. “Rain!” He called out. “Rain! Get out of-”
At that moment, the entire tent burst into flames. The guard staggered back. Moments later, a neighboring tent caught fire. Scarlet watched frantically as flaming arrows began to rain down upon them, causing tent after tent to burst into flame.
“Attack! We’re being attacked” the soldier shouted. Then, to Scarlet’s shock, the man began to make his way into the flaming tent. “I’m coming Rain!”
“Wait!” Scarlet shrieked without thinking. The solider spun around. “He’s not in there” she continued.
He marched towards her. “What do you mean!” he yelled at her.
The blazing flames, the heat and the sound of shouting and burning was all so overwhelming. Scarlet closed her eyes and tried to orient herself. She tried to take a deep breath, but instead she fell into a fit of coughing.
With one hand, he grabbed her by the cheeks and pulled her face towards him. “Speak!” he shouted.
“He went to the command tent!” Scarlet mumbled, tears welling up in her eyes from the smoke. And the terror.
The soldier searched her face. He shot a glance at the blazing tent, then grabbed Scarlet by the arm again and dragged her at his side.
“We’re going to see the Commander” he growled. Scarlet’s heart sunk and she cursed herself for having said anything.
Why did you open your stupid mouth? Scarlet thought as the soldier dragged her away.
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