Chapter 1: Uncertainty

First Part Written by: MrsOogieBoogie

The sound of birds chirping sang throughout the Purple Plum Forest and the gentle breeze was the perfect temperature; it was hot, but the wind cooled any glistening skin. Long eyelashes fluttered open and green was the first color that she recognized, the wind causing the tips of the grass to tap against her cheeks and the tip of her nose in an annoying manner. 

Her groggy head turned to the right weakly, fluttering her lashes open and her sapphire eyes caught sight of the canopy of trees with purple and green leaves. Where am I? She first thought, her eyes struggling to open fully as she gathered her scattered thoughts.

 "Scarlett?!" Her frail, feminine voice called out, desperate to know where her older sister had gone. She was right next to me, she was right there.. Where did she go? She thought to herself, her mind getting scattered more and she looked around frantically, looking for Scarlett, anyone, really.. The air didn't carry any specific scents at first, nor did it signify that she was close to home or anywhere that she was used to.

She sat up quickly, continuing to look around and when it finally had dawned on her, her heart sank into her stomach and her nerves sky rocketed. Am I really.. Being put to the test? She thought to herself, Is Scarlett here with me? Am I alone? She continued to ponder, looking around more and keeping quiet, listening. She sat there for a long 30 seconds, keeping as still as she could and listening to any sign of life besides the birds and the foreign wildlife surrounding her. 

After the long seconds of just listening and realizing no one was near by, she smelled the air more and shut her eyes, catching the slightest scent of water in the distance. She rose to her feet and looked around once more, crouching and taking caution, peeking around the brush, regardless of what she though she hadn't heard, just in case she was wrong and was being watched. She stood to her feet, taking one last glance around now that she was at a higher stance and sill saw nothing, taking to her feet then and making her way towards the sound of the running water that wasn't too far away.

Her legs grew tired, but she eventually reached a body of water; a long river that seemed to lead somewhere to her right. But, to her dismay, the water was 30 feet down and the cliff was almost impossible to get down without falling, it was too steep. If she was desperate, she could jump down easily to get water, it was deep enough for her to, but her hydrophobia kept her from doing so. Left, towards most likely a calm body of water, or right, to where the water was flowing to? Her survival instincts were telling her right, so, with a hard swallow and a nervous and scared mindset, she set her trail for the right.

---

Second Part Written by: LateKnightSimmer

The sound of the rushing waterfall in front of me seems to be much louder than it should be. It's gorgeous though, and I love water. I feel like I'm hungover, but that's ridiculous because alcohol has been illegal for years now. I'm lucky that I got to taste it while it was still legal because that shit is amazing. I sigh as the happy thought passes and it does not change the fact that my head is pounding all the way from my temples to the back of my head at the nape of my neck. I wish I had some aspirin right about now, or a cold Scotch on the rocks. That would cure my headache for sure.

Dammit. I feel a bump on my head. Maybe someone clocked me. Whatever, that doesn't happen, I kick ass... except when I've been drugged. Was I drugged? Shit, I don't know. I kind of feel like I could have been. I'm not exactly with it like I usually am. I shake my head around and blink a few times, partly trying to dissipate my headache and partly trying to regain my bearings. In a world like this, where everyone's out to get you, you have to be alert. I close my eyes for a few seconds, listening to the sounds around me, the water in front of me, the soft breeze blowing through the palm trees, and the sand beneath me as I shift my leg.

I open my eyes and feel a little better. My head still feels like I banged it into a brick wall, but I can think now. Awesome. Fuck. Where is Aubrey? My little sister, she's like a ninja sometimes, quiet and stealthy. I know she's not around me though, because I would know. If surviving has taught me anything, it's that minding your surroundings is the best thing you can do for yourself. I passed that lesson onto Aubrey, and I can only hope that she is safe even though she is not with me.

---

Distance Between Scarlett and Aubrey: 1,000 miles