Curse of the Oak

Chapter Ten

Rhaegr lead Des and Griffin through a labyrinth of hallways. It was like walking in a maze of terror. There was nothing on the walls. They were bare as the desert with darkness lingering on them. With no light other than the torch Rhaegr held in his hand. Des looked around, taking in as much as she could. Her head was still throbbing. She needed to concentrate and find a way out. No one had any idea of where they were, nor did they know that mythical creatures exist in a forest, which was supposed to be home to a few deer, and the occasional wolf. Boy were people wrong.

After climbing the sixth flight of stairs, Griffin's body was unable to go on. His breathing was once again ragged, croaking for air. He was tired and hungry, and sick of being dragged around like a dog. He wanted to leave and never return. And also give them a zero-star review on yelp.

"I..." a gasp escaped. "Need a breath," Griffin went on, collapsing on the ground, his voice shaky and ragged. He was leaned up against the wall, trying to control his breaths. Des heard the uncertainty as he stared up at the dark ceiling. She immediately knelt by him searching his pockets.

"Where is it Griff?" she asked, going through his pockets a second time. "Where is your inhaler?"

Griffin didn't bother to move, trying to rasp out a couple of words. "Dropped... it.... Screechers," he was able to mumble. His voice was raspy, like the blades being broken of an engine slowly beginning to fall.

"Dammit!" Des shuddered, fearing for an asthma attack. This wasn't the time nor the place for one, especially when she knew this place was not up to date with modern medicine.

"What is it?" Rhaegr growled. Des forgot that he was even there, bringing her back to another dreadful moment.

"He's needs his inhaler," Des started, moving her hands in the small shape of his life support. "It's a small thing that he uses to help his breathing when it gets out of control!"

Rhaegr and the other elves casted her a confusing glance, making her feel like a mad woman trying to tell the doctor she was not insane.

Des kept muttering on, trying to tell these ignorant elves that her best friend in the whole world was dying if they didn't get him to the hospital. The elves only responded with glances, making Des's hope diminish.

She looked back at Griffin, who was now coughing uncontrollably. He head was leaning down between his knees, drool and flam dripping from his mouth. Des held his chin up, seeing his lips turn a dusky blue. Her heart began to break.

Not again.

Not another loved one.

"Someone get a doctor!" Des sobbed as she held on to him, her voice filled with anger and frustration. She was broken, watching Griffin gasp for breaths. "Help us! Please!"

Just when she thought all hope was lost, she heard one of the elves murmur.

"The blue lips," Rhaegr said, taking a closer look at Griffin.

"What?" Des asked.

Rhaegr pointed to his lips, showing her how blue they were. "His lips are turning blue."

Des sobbed. "It's because he can't breathe. He's dying."

Her voice of anguish and regret seemed to spark something in Rhaegr. He pulled Des away from Griffin, who was hanging on to his last limb. His cough was worse than ever. The other elves held her back as Rhaegr lifted Griffin on his shoulder.

"I'll take him to the healer," he said kindly and dashed off. Des watched as she saw Griffin's face disappear in darkness. Her overcome of guilt and exhaustion sunk in, latching on to her emotions, and she shattered.