Poisoned Lips

19: Goodbye?

Freyja raised her tunic, ready for her daily treatment. Six days had passed since she woke up in this strange room. She’d barely eaten anything from her plate when dinner was served because her mind was clouded, filled with the uncertainty of the future. 

What if I’m caught?

What if Lydia’s address is a dead end?

What if I can’t find the cure?

What if I have to stay on the run all my life?

What if I can’t have a life?

Azalea opened the lid of a healing ointment and set it on Freyja’s bedside.

“You’re leaving tomorrow.” She mumbled as she applied the oil to her healing wound. The oil felt cool against her throbbing injury. She hadn’t stopped pacing around since this morning.

“I am.”

Azalea sighed. “Do you really have to go now? What about next week-”

“I have to. The more time I waste here, the less chance I have of finding the cure.”

Azalea snapped her gaze up. “You still believe it exists?”

“I...I don’t know and I’m terrified that I am risking my life for nothing," Freyja revealed, hating how scared she sounded.

Not knowing how to comfort her friend, Azalea hugged her. It was a gesture she hadn’t felt in a long time, and it took everything in her not to break down.

When Azalea let go, Freyja smiled at her behind her mask. “Am I healing well enough to leave?”

“Unfortunately.” She sighed. “Keep up with the ointments, and in two weeks, it will be nothing more than a crazy cool scar. However, I recommend that you don’t apply pressure to your left side because your rib is still fractured. Remember: breath deeply, and take this twice a day.” She handed Freyja a bag of herbs. “Boil it with your tea.”

Freyja scrunched her nose. “They taste horrible.”

“Serves you right for leaving me alone with these idiots.” 

“Azalea.” Freyja groaned. “I’m not dying tomorrow. You’ll see me soon.”

Lies. They both knew it. Once she left, they would never meet again.

Azalea stood up with a sad smile on her face. It didn’t suit her. “Well, I better get going. The others are waiting for me. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

This was her last night here. It was the least she could do.

“Okay.” Freyja gave in. “I will come.”

A grin so hard blossomed on her face that even Freyja found herself smiling. 

“Let’s go!”

Climbing the ladder was an easy task now that her wound had stopped bleeding. The pain was there, but she had endured worse when she tumbled down a Karri tree. It was an incredibly tall tree. Her survival was a miracle. 

Freyja poked her head out of the trap door. Then, her body. The Sanctuary was immense, stretching over a wide area of space. Iron walls stood at random areas, an indication that this sanctuary was never finished. In the silence, her breaths whistled.

Chairs and round tables littered the space with beer mugs and cigarettes lying carelessly on them. Lanterns and candles gave light to the area as they stood on the ground. Somewhere behind a wall, Freyja spotted bottles and mugs. Beside it, a handmade washbasin.