Trees were a melody of greens that sung in natures choir. Water was a blessing under the heat of the midday sun where Veronica accompanied by Snowflake played before having a snack.
They had trekked further into the forest. Veronica looked for clues as to where the owners could have moved to. "Maybe my dad will know." Veronica thought to herself. Her father was a realtor for the area so he may have a forwarding address. Snowflake chirped at her.
"Not now buddy, I'm trying to think." she informed him.
His chirps became frantic as Veronica collided with an Oaktree. She tumbled onto her back, and groaned trying not to cry. Snowflake peered at her from a branch, swishing his tail back, and forth.
"I suppose you think this is funny Snowfla
It's difficult to understand why hellos are so short yet goodbyes are so long.Veronica perched herself on a boulder, the breeze swirled throughout the tree's, and bushes. The red hues of the sky and the scent of honeysuckle sap perfumed the air. It was a far cry from the stormy nightmare that had occurred three hours prior. Veronica looked to the distance, and was surprised to see her father heading in their direction."Dad?" Veronica enquired; her eyebrow quirked up as she approached him.Her father was not sporting his usual smart suit get up but a tie shirt and jeans this time. Veronica's dad hugged her tight kissing her head before looking at her sternly."Now Veronica, h
Chapter 1 – Locked InsideThe idea of freedom is an illusion. We are told we are free but when you don't know where your food is coming from, what your children are learning, and how your house is powered. You aren't free because there's always someone else calling the shots.Maria Morgan was shackled from head to toe in the sanatorium. She had been trapped there for over a year; it had all started when she exposed her organization for trying to cover up the slave labor, they were bringing in from third world countries. They had concocted this story about how Maria just snapped before she tried to kill a room of employees. Even her own family had stabbed her in the back. That betrayal was harder for her to overcome but through meditation she had learned to disregard anything that encroached on her soul. Marias's therapist ha
Maria applied coconut oil to her ankles, there were deep gashes from the chains that had been placed on them for all of those months. Mr Bordeaux sat drinking some bourbon as he read a newspaper, he had his red glasses taped. Maria counted at least five times so far today that he had dropped them, sat on them or misplaced them. She wiped off her hands before returning the coconut oil back to its rightful place in the medicine cabinet. Mr Bordeaux had everything he owned arranged in such an orderly fashion. Speaking of which, Mr Bordeaux made his way around her, and started messing with his pots and pans, that was Marias's cue to leave.Whilst Mr Bordeaux was frittering away in the kitchen Maria picked up a book from his collection and sat at the kitchen. The man had an astounding collection of books from Thrillers to books on the
Mr Bordeaux helped Maria to the car, she faded in, and out of consciousness. Her skin lost all of its pigment by the time he had buckled her into the seat. He almost ripped out the gear stick, pulling it back then forward, as Mr Bordeaux raced off. Blood stained his interior, but that was the least of his problems. He patted her cheek trying keep her awake, he swerved trying to avoid hitting an old lady who had come out of nowhere. His attention brought back to the seat next to him when he heard a moan. Maria shivered, moaning again as her eyes glazed over, and she started slumping the car window. Mr Bordeaux clutched the steering wheel his PTSD hitting in ferocious waves. Bodies of his fallen squad littered the swamp; smoke engulfing them all as fire raged on in the distance. He was cut, bruised, and on the verge of breaking as he clung onto his rifle.
They had been driving for hours. Maria lost track of how many cactuses had passed by and how many times she heard vultures squawking from above. Her mind was lost in its own tundra of thoughts. She found herself stealing glances at her companion. The shadow forming across his face, the redness of his tired, and jittery, warm brown cashmere eyes that struggled to say open. She knew that he couldn't keep this up for long."Thomas? Do you want me to drive for a while?" she asked, giving him a concerned stare."N-no, I'm fine." he lied not meeting her stare as he focused on the highway."Thomas." she sighed.He didn't answer, his mind was conflicted, he felt surprised that she was calling him by his first name. Bu why had she? that was the only question stopping him from passing out on the wheel. Tiredness shrouded his body, like an eternal dark cloud engulfing the garden of humanity. The weakness in his muscles taunting him,
The once beautiful charcoal car fell into an inferno of fire, as Maria and Thomas lay on the ground unconscious. An unmarked silver van pulled up. Two tall and muscular men who were dressed in monochrome suits came out, and approached their limp forms.Thomas did his best to open his heavy and throbbing eyes as he heard the voices of men around him. His mind felt grogy, he couldn't clear the fog forming over his thoughts. The last thing he recalled was talking with Maria before his car had exploded, knocking them both back and out cold. His eyes snapped open at that, his vision cleared as the memory sobbered him. He looked to his left and saw two men carrying Maria's body over to their van. He tried to yell, but only a crackly grunt came out. He pushed himself upward trying to move, to do anything to stop the men from leaving but his legs gave out causing him to fall onto his face. He pushed his head up hearing the van speed off into the distance. He spat
The night descended upon the expanses of lonesome sand and cactuses like a rash spreading across a lepers back. Thomas could see the moonlight shining within the dark, lighting his way as he continued to pursue the fiends who had taken Maria. He was yet to see a sign of them but knew that at some point, they would require a pit stop. He felt his vision blur in and out as he pushed through his drowsiness. He had no choice, and at this point, the ramifications of his actions were of no concern to him. Turning on the radio, he let the static robic tone of the reporter keep him company as he found himself drawing closer to his target.Thomas wasn't certain when he had spaced off but became aware of the fact that the radio had descended into to scratchy static. He noticed just head of him that, the same van from earlier had pulled over onto the side of the road. Putting his foot on the brake he haulted making sure that he was far enough away not t
The shadowy valley with a maze of twists and turns that bled into one as the hours past wiith no end in sight. Thomas kept a visual, stalking the van without being noticed. He wondered how further they would go before this trip was over. He yearned to get this over with and go home with Maria safely in his arms. So, lost within his musings he missed it when the van took a sharp right turn into the bushes. He heard the sound of doors closing loudly which caused him to slam on the breaks. He jerked forward, his grip on the steering wheel slipping away as the energy vanished from his hands. He unbuckled his seat and stared at the men as they appeared to be carrying Maria somewhere.He rushed out of the car and followed the men as they carried Maria into the bushes. Thomas did his best not to step on any leaves or twigs. The me stop at a cave and vanished. He moved closer following them. Inside the cave, the walls resembled that of a sewer not an