Blair's POV
I can't understand what's going on anymore. I've been walking in the direction the girl told me. I can no longer see the box. It's so hot out here that even the ground no longer has sand, the ground is cracked and splintering deeply in every direction. I doubt there is water anywhere close. My head is covered by my white cloak hood but I'm dying in this heat, literally dying. I freeze as I look to the ground, there is a large brown and maroon spot in the tarnish orange ground. I squat down and place my fingers on it. It is slightly damp. I bring my fingers to my nose. It's dried blood. I can see a set of footprints in the dirt, they look like combat boots. I don't know these will lead me. Anywhere there is more people, I can possibly survive. My legs ache so badly. I need to rest. I know if I lay down I most likely won't get back up.

Ive gone as far as I can. I look off to the horizon. The sun is beginning to set again. I've eaten all my provisions and I've been out of water for two days now. What the? I see someone, dressed in all black walking toward. I start running toward them. It's probably another mirage. Who am I kidding? No, they are still there. I keep running, my legs feel like jello. I'm only ten feet from them. My legs give out and I fall. A strong set of arms grap me before I fall.
"Whoa, easy now, CC's got you," the man says. He reaches around me and picks me up in his arms. I reopen my eyes and look at his face. He has long black hair that is held back with a black strap on his head, it falls on either side of his face. He has brown eyes, the color of muddy water, they are...they are beautiful. "I'll get you to safety as fast as I can," he says as he begins walking the way he came.

Audreys POV
Jake returned and told me a Legion member went to search for Blair.
He stays the entire afternoon with me and Maria brings us a plate with some slices of fruit and meat on it for us. My mind shifts to thoughts of Blair. I hope she's alive. "Jake?" I ask as I nibble on a slice of fruit.
"Hmm?" he mumbles, looking up from his piece.
"Can you tell me about the Legion?" I ask quietly.
"Well," he sighs, "What do you want to know?"
"I know about F.E.A.R., but why...why did they attack my village? I thought F.E.A.R. was supposed to protect us people, not take us prisoner after pillaging out town where they after something?"
"Someone. F.E.A.R. hates us, they call us the Outcasts, the wild ones, the rebels. We don't want to live under F.E.A.R.s ruling. Not many know, but their leader..."
"The man on the speakers?" I involitarily flinched. I spoke out of term. "I'm sorry," I rushed out.
"Are you ok? Why are you apologizing?" he said as he gently laid a hand on my elbow.
I opened my eyes. "You...y-you aren't going to hit me?" a tear was about to leak out of my right eye.
He reached up and brushed it away with his thumb. "Why would I hit you?" his face full of concern.
"I-in Isring, if a woman interrupts a man or speaks out of term, you have t-to be pun-punished." I chok, holding back the tears.
"Well, that's ridiculous." His hand on my face trailed down to my arm as he stood and took a seat on the edge of my bed. I curled up my legs and sat cross legged, the plate sitting between us. He looked me in the eyes. "The reason we suspect that the Shadows invaded Isring is because, occasionally, Rebels go to Isring for supplies, like fabrics and tools. A group returned just a few days before the attack. They may have been looking for our people. They have imprisoned a large number of Wild Ones...and killed many more."
"Jake, is this," I said, holding the rosary from the market, "the charm of your Legion?"
He picked it up out of my palm, studying it as he turned it between his fingers. "Yes. Audrey?" I looked up at him. "How did you get this?"
"I found it in the market, the day of the attack. It was in this little vendors booth, one my father told me to stay away from. It was covered in black cloth and an old woman was seated in it. I saw this and asked her what it was. All she told me was that it was a very very powerful charm, and that it would protect me. Then she gave it to me."
"Audrey, this is a charm that only men of the Legion possess. We use it, as the vendor said, for protection. Either a man of the Legion has lost it, or was killed. This is how we know who is on our side."
"Does this mean you have to take it?" I asked quietly. I'd grown rather fond of it.
"No, just don't let anyone see it. Keep it tucked in your shirt, and only pull it out if you are under attack of a Shadow."
I nodded my head and placed it around my neck, dropping the charm pieces down my the black tank top that I was given to wear. My shirt had had to be ripped up to clean my wounds. I still had on my black shorts.
"Do you know where my cloak went?" I asked suddenly.
"I'm not sure, I think it was taken to the fabric keeper."
"Oh, I was just wondering. Oh and Jake?"
"Yes?" he said, looking up as he took a bite of cured meat.
"Thank you...for saving me. I'll forever be in debt to you."
"Get some rest, Audrey. Hopefully tomorrow you can leave this tent and we can find you a place in the camp." he said as he stood."
"Are you leaving?"
"Unfortunelty, I need to return to the Council of Leaders. The Legion is meeting tonight to speak about the recent events."
"Oh OK, goodnight Jake."
"Goodnight Audrey," he said with a smile as he left the tent.

He is such a gentleman. I thought to myself. Why couldn't I have met him in Isring? Why was I supposed to be married now to that bull headed broot in the village. I've never gotten along with Kiaree. I don't care how many girls in the village wish to be his wife. I don't want to be his. Maybe if I stay here he will never find me. Maybe he was killed in the attack? I sighed. I am horrible, sitting her wishing my fiancé is dead so I don't have to marry him. He has hit me so many times since we were arranged. I spoke out of term, I disrespected him, I refuse to be affectionate. Well sorry I don't want to kiss his rude and abusive ass! He even hit me once when I spoke about the Shadows. It was improper for a woman to speak of war, and my father agreed. I miss my mother. She died when I was young. I've never been told how. One day she just didn't come home. When I was thirteen, my father told me I was the woman of the house, and that in tern, I needed to learn to care for the house. When I was sixteen I was responsible for meals, cleaning, clothing, and everything else in the house. On my eighteenth birthday I was engaged to Kiaree, and on my twentieth, am to marry Him. I'm no longer sure of the day, but I know it was to be very soon. I heard footsteps enter the room.
"Ms. Audrey?" Maria said as she walked to my bedside.
"Yes, Maria?"
"Are you finished with your food? The Mystic says its time for rest and lanterns are to be put out. Are you ready for bed?"
"Yes, thank you Maria."
She brought over a thick blanket and raped it over me. She blew out the lantern and walked to the tent flap.
"Goodnight Ms. Audrey," she said quietly.
"Goodnight Maria."

I slowly laid down on my left side (not the wounded side) and pulled my legs up in a ball. I never knew nights in the desert were this cold. I placed my head on the shallow pillow. It really wasn't a pillow, but a piece of fabric with another few rolled inside it. I closed my eyes and pulled the blanket over my shoudlers. I could hear the sound of feet walking by my tent. Curiousity always gets the best of me. I pulled the blanket back off and sat up, wincing at the slight pain. Jake had done his best to relieve my pain, but he could only do so much. I carefully put my feet on the floor and tested my balance. I gripped the side of the headboards metal frame and stood for a few moments. I could walk. I tip toed over to the tent flap. I found a black blanket on the floor and wrapped it around myself. I also found a black mask, with little horns on the side of it. I pulled it over my face and tied my hair back, tucking it in my shirt too. I opened the tent flap, a group of men, all wearing the same masks were walking down toward this water tower that was tipped over. I jumped as a streak of lightning dashed across the sky, and thunder shook the ground a few moments later. The lighting exposed a bunch of wood crates stacked near the tower. Some men wear digging in the sand. I could see a flame, something white was burning. As I got closer I could see it was a body. I always got sick on the spot. That should have been me. That could have easily been my flesh burning on a stake over a fire pit. The men stood in a circle however there were two breaks around the pit, making it a split open circle. Four men stood on the side, no one around them. I could see Jake off the side to left (my left). The tallest man, the one who carried me, Andy, stood in the center. Jinxx and the one called Ashley stood to the right. Jinxx held out a hand, palm up, and I almost dropped my jaw, as a fireball appeared in his hand. He tossed it over to the burning body and the flames sparked up and crackled again, the body continuing to burn. Fnally, the wood supports collapsed and the body fell into the ditch under the burning stakes. Andy walked forward and pushed the rest of the wood into the pit. I just realized all of the men, including Jake, had on all black clothing. Andy and Ashkey wearing leather vests and scarves, Jinxx and Jake having leather jackets. I quietly giggled as I noticed the knees both were ripped out of Jakes jeans. I followed the group of men, and stood behind them, noticing I was the only woman. I readjusted my mask.
"Men, we've lost another Wild One. These Shadows are getting closer and we are going to need to attack soon. I know many are still being held prisoner in the Tower. Men," the lightning illuminated the night again, Andy's face visible as he began to growl, "I say, we attack the tower! I say we show these Shadows just how wild we are! I say WE REBEL AND FREE OUR BROTHERS!"
A chorus of yells began and men raised their arms in agreement.
"WHOSE WITH ME?" Andy yelled. The yells began again.

I started walking backward. I shouldn't be here. I snuck around the corner and sprinted back to the tent, my lungs and sides aching so badly by the time I got back to my bed. I had a cold sweat on my forehead and I was freezing. I threw off the black blanket and mask and laid down in the bed, pulling the covers back over. I could hear the men returning and suddenly a voice called out.
"Guys! Guys! Help me!"

Notes

Cliffhangers :D gotta love them