Alcingeria

Chapter Ten: The Pursuit

Chapter Ten The Pursuit:

Wednesday June 23rd 1690

We clambered up the rickety wooden staircase that led up into Ignacio's home. Macalister went out first because he had the stake. Robert, Don and I all followed closely behind him. The sound of Ignacio rummaging around up here had stopped and all was eerily silent.

I looked around at the familiar scenery of the house that I had stayed in only a day or two ago. We had emerged from an entryway with no door. We were now at the end of a hallway that I didn't recognize. At the other end was a door, ajar. Other than the dim light let in by the space between the door and the frame, it was almost pitch black.

Macalister walked over to the door, holding the stake out in front of him so he could fight off Ignacio if he ambushed him. He reached out and pushed the door open. This resulted in an eerie creak. He stepped through the doorway when it was open wide enough to permit his entry.

He stopped when he was just inside and he looked left and right quickly. I glanced out beside him. I saw the room that I had woken up in.

"Let's find Ignacio and kill him before he does the same to us." Whispered Macalister.

"Aye, we're right behind you." I replied.

He walked out into the room after looking left and right one last time. We walked to the center of the room, looking around.

"Do you see him?" Asked Don.

"No, but this is the room that I woke up in after the wreck."

"When you woke up, did you walk around the house and get a look at the layout of the place?" Asked Robert.

"Not really," I admitted, "I know where the front door is, the closet, and some other rooms."

"That's a shame. We'll need to look for him in unknown territory." Robert sighed. "I'm afraid he has the advantage."

I looked back to the door that we had come out of. It was in the far corner of the room, the opposite side as the bed. I also noticed two hooks above the door and that there was a tapestry cast to the ground. It was the very same brown tapestry with the orange flame insignia on it that I had noticed when I woke up here after the carriage crash. That tapestry was concealing the door to the cellar!

Just then, Robert collapsed.

"Rapier!" I exclaimed. "What's the matter?"

I watched him for a few seconds. He was sweating profusely. After another few seconds, he dropped to his knees. His hands went to his throat. His breathing intensified. He looked shocked, mortified.

"Rapier!" I hissed, "what's wrong?"

"It's my throat! It feels Dry! So dry!" He rasped. "I have a raging thirst that's like a fire in my throat!"

I looked to my front to tell Macalister and Don to stop, but they already had halted.

"Maybe you just need water?" I asked, "It's been a day since you drank anything, and that was poison."

"I'm a little thirsty." Macalister grunted.

"Me too." I agreed, frowning and shooting him a sidelong glance.

"I'm starting to feel the thirst as well. It's not a normal thirst, it's stronger." Don said worriedly, "It's weak as of yet, but ever since it's been noticeable, it has grown stronger."