The group of four continued their journey at the crack of dawn. The birds chirped and sang their merry songs. Zaria could hear a woodpecker whacking dead tree in search of food. The more Zaria looked around the better she liked her surroundings. Everything looked perfect and just when Zaria thought god couldn't have made things better she was proved wrong. She was welcomed with a sight like none other. A huge lake awaited her with all it's glory. The lake water sparkled in the sunlight that was flooding in. The sky was clear and there weren't any clouds to be seen.

"Waah," Zaria screamed as she ran towards the lake. "It's been so long, I can finally say hello to the Sun and clear water."

Zaria stepped into the water and a cool comfortable feeling crept up her tired feet.The water tickled her feet.

"Get back!" She heard Zan yell. Zaria turned around to look at Zan. She could not make out what expression his face held but could feel the static in the air.

She turned her attention back to the water but it was already too late. A pair of glistening eyes were staring straight back at her. Slowly a grey-green lizard like body emerged out of the sparkly water.

She just stood there staring at the crocodile that was approaching her. She didn't know what to do.

'I should run right?' She thought to herself but for some reason, her body didn't take action.

A hand gripped her arm and pulled her along. Zan ran as fast as possible dragging Zaria with him. He threw her on the shore. As Zaria came to, she saw Zan who was already heading back towards the crocodile.

"Zan, stop!" Zaria called out agitatedly.

"Don't worry he can handle that much." Aran pointed towards Zan who was up in the Air with one jump.

His hand was gripping the sword hilt which smoothly slid off the sheath as he came falling down towards the reptile. The sword pierced through the crocodile's head, as he let the momentum he had gained in the air take over the sword which he was gripping with both his hands.

The crocodile growled and with a final hiss gave way.

Zan cleaned his sword as he walked back towards the shore.

"What were you trying to do?" He slapped Zaria right on the face. "You could have died. I don't mind you dying but don't make me take the burden of your death."

"It's not like I was trying to burden you." Zaria frowned.

He angrily looked at her as he walked away without saying another word.

Aran and Ateel looked at them and sighed.

"Let's continue our journey," Zan called out after plucking a few edible fruits and nuts from the area.

They left the open land and the beautiful yet deadly lake and once again walked back into the dense forest.

"So, is there a reason behind Zan's current behavior?" Ateel asked Aran who nodded in agreement as he continued his story. And once again Ateel watched the story unfurl.

"Was it my fault?" Zan walked towards Aran and asked in a sad tone. "So all these people will never wake up again?"

"Yes, it is your fault." Aran pushed him away as he hugged his father's body.

"You are becoming dirty." Zan took out a handkerchief as he tried wiping off the blood over Aran's hands.

"Go away," Aran screamed as tears filled his eyes.

"But, I am your friend right?" Zan asked looking eagerly at Aran.

"You are not my friend you are a monster. Even your parents died because of you. Can't you see that." Aran yelled pointing towards Zan's father and mother.

"They are just sleeping. I'll take them back home and put them on the bed, so they won't feel horrible when they get up." Zan looked at Aran with a confused gaze.

"Are you brain dead?" Aran asked frowning "They will never get up."

"I will go back in so they will all be fine again," Zan said looking hopefully.

"They will not get up even if you go back, you monster." The kids threw stones at Zan who tried his best to avoid hurt.

"Stop," Aran yelled blocking the stones. "He said he'll go back so everything will go back to normal. Why are you hurting him?"

"Don't act silly." The older kids pushed Aran away and dragged Zan by the hair.

"Stop, I'll take him back." Aran tried stopping them but they kicked him making him fall to the ground.

"Why are you hurting him?" Zan glared at the older kid. "He didn't do anything wrong."

"Shut your mouth." The boy slapped Zan " He brought you out, so that's more than enough."

"Shouldn't you be more concerned about your parents? You say they died and you are just leaving them like that on that rough ground? Don't you want them to sleep comfortably?" Zan bit the boy's hand freeing himself.

He ran towards Aran and helped him up.

"Let's hurry." Zan held Aran's hand and ran towards his house. As soon as they stepped in Zan turned around and shut it from within.

"It's ok now." he said smiling at Aran.

"Let me go." Aran pulled his hand away as he walked into the house. "Do you think everything will go back to normal. Will my dad get up now."

Zan looked at Aran and nodded.

"If I am back inside then everything should become good again," he said walking towards the rooms. "If they got up then they will not need a bed."

Aran followed him in. They walked towards the kitchen. When they were in Zan pulled down a box of sweets and handed it to Aran.

"I am sorry for what I did," he said as he sat down beside the rice bags.

Aran just ignored him as he sat down at a distance.

Time passed by and both of them didn't speak. They were waiting for their parents to come.

A banging sound could be heard on the door.

Zan and Aran jumped up and ran towards the door.

"Mom, Dad," Zan called out as he reached the knob to open the door.

"Wait," Aran stopped him. "We should wait for a reply it can be the other children."

They waited but no one replied the banging on the door just increased. The door started cracking.

"It's not our parents we have to hide." Aran tried keeping calm. "Do you know where we can hide?"

"Follow me." Zan rushed in towards the basement and climbed down.

"We can't hide here." Aran shook his head in disappointment. "The others already know this place."

"Just follow." Zan smiled walking down the ladder.

He walked to a corner and tapped the wall. The wall started glowing as it opened.

"I can only use this one time." He walked into a small space and pulled Aran in. "This place can be opened only with my mark but the power fades away in one time. That's what my dad said."

Aran nodded and both of them waited quietly. They could hear footsteps on the wooden floor grow closer. Both of them tensed up and held their breath.

"Where are the other two kids?" They heard a grown ups voice.

"It's the grown ups" Zan whispered as his face brightened with joy.

"Now that I can't find the other two you don't have any use, so just die." They heard a laugh of the grown up they were so excited about. "The army's mission is over. All the People of the Mark in this place are dead."

The words resounded in Zan and Aran's head.

'Dead' Aran looked at Zan who was similarly staring at Aran. 'That means our parents being dead wasn't Zan's fault, so they will never get up again even if Zan hides in here.'

Zan shook his head as he wiped Aran's tear away.

"If you want it to be my fault then it's ok," he said in a low voice, " I don't want you to cry and I will try my best to not make things my fault in the future."

"So he considers it his fault even now?" Ateel asked surprised.

"Both of us know that it's not his fault but ..." Aran sighed "Zan still has that deeply embedded in his heart so no matter what happens he has sworn to protect Venarom until the end, without telling anyone his true backstory he just pushes himself seeking redemption for something he did not do. "

"So you have sworn to protect Zan until the end." Ateel extended her hand towards Aran and smiled.

"After all, we have been through a lot after that," Aran held it as he looked at Ateel's comforting gaze.

"We ran into soldiers over and over again but every time Zan would somehow help us escape. We even got caught by slave traders, ran into wild animals, went to burning villages but Zan always went ahead and fought," he smiled as he continued.

"People might call it foolishness or craziness but I don't think we could have made it without that. And that is the end of our past." Aran sighed as he looked at Zaria and Zan who were bickering while unpacking things for the night.

A/N : This chapter is also an unedited version so point out the mistakes you find :)

BTW what do you think of Zan now?