Anna tread a few paces ahead, looking back every moment or so. Matt merely stumbled on. Beads of sweat rolled down Matt's face as his hands trembled despite the cold air. Everything bothered him. The crunching of the leaves under his boots, the creaking of the branches, even the silence. Restlessness crawled up Matt's spine and he could never remember the last time he had felt so drained. Something felt out of place, like it did not belong there. It was upsetting the balance.
The trees whispered to him in their hard-stick language. The whispers rolled round and round in his head. Usually he had no trouble. It was today that he couldn't understand. It was gibberish. But he couldn't block the whispers either. Matt glanced at the cold body next to him.
Samantha was asleep. The root had taken effect. Matt hoped that it wouldn't wear off till they had gotten on the path. Carrying Samantha would have been a struggle. It was best if she floated.
"She looks so pale," said Anna breaking Matt's thoughts.
"The symptoms have manifested themselves. The hollyberry brush isn't up ahead for another-"
"Another length, I know," Anna muttered cutting off Matt, "I didn't think the codlata would work. How did you know?"
"Pa would always warn me to never mistake the codlata with tarrow. It was the first thing I learned,"replied Matt. But this time his tone was different. Grief burrowed underneath his words, marking their subtle presence.
"Oh,"was Anna's simple reply. With that, neither of them said another word.
It wasn't till later that they spotted the prickly brush cowering in the shadows. Anna felt the thick muggy stench crawl around her skirts.
"Well, here we are. It's best if we treat her now," said Anna pulling up her sleeves without looking at Matt. Matt didn't reply. Anna ignored him
She strode forward and darted in through the branches. The prickly thorns screeched their displeasure. Anna wrestled them down with her forearms. They smacked her. Anna gritted her teeth.
"I could use some help here,"Anna called.
Matt still didn't answer. Anna turned around. Matt was slumped against a tree, his face nearly as pale as Samantha's. Anna cursed under her breath. He had drained himself out. Anna stalked towards Matt. She brushed her hand across his forehead. He was burning. Sweat pooled into his collar as his eyes fluttered.
"Matt," Anna said shaking his shoulder.
"Hmm," Matt replied.
"Matt, get yourself together."
Matt opened his eyes and jumped. He looked around confused before meeting Anna's eyes. His eyes glazed over. Anna could feel herself growing frantic by the minute. Anna raised her hand to check his temperature again, but Matt grabbed her wrist. His eyes pierced into Anna's despite his tired deamor.
Slowly, Matt got up and leaned against the tree behind him.
"I'm okay," Matt said in a strained voice. Anna's left eye twitched in irritation. She balled up her fists and yelled, "Okay?! Okay?! You stupid fool! You let your energy go in the middle of the forest? What kind of seeker are you?"
"I'm sorry," Matt replied weakly, "I thought I could handle it. But I'm okay now. I think I can get us home."
"Just do it," Anna hissed.
Matt called upon the last of his energy. Leaf, by leaf, the hollyberry let its guard down till the center was revealed. It was an onion. The deeper in, the worse the stench. Matt continued to coax the prickly brush, till he reached in and swiped a clump of berries. The brush froze in surprise. It angrily stalked its thorns forward. But Matt had already backed away to safety.
Matt leapt to where Samantha was floating and urged her to the ground. With an anxious Anna by his side, Matt trickled the bitter juice down Samantha's thorat. They waited. Nothing. Anna nudged Samantha's side. She didn't respond. Anna opened her mouth to speak but Matt raised his hand. He pointed to Samantha's twitching hand. Anna let out a breath in relief.
Color oozed into Samantha's cheeks and her chest rose and fell with deeper breaths. In a flash, glittering black eyes met Anna and Matt's worried faces.
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Curse Upon Curse
FantasyYou have been warned. I am very sarcastic and rude. If you think you can't deal, don't bother. And if you can, well... try the prologue. You'll regret it, I promise.