Creus(Full Book)

Part 17

He woke up.

Dawn hadn't entered the cave, nor had daylight. It might have been day or night. But, he stood, and drank the water he held. He lifted himself and walked into grey. Up the rocks, climbing the wall, a long, long path it would take. He wondered how long it would take until the Prophet would take him away. He wondered how long it would take until the Prophet came to him. But, never coming, never arriving. The Prophet had saved none of them. If only he'd gone with the rest, he would've died along with them, gone into the Afaration, into the world above Wailen, into the place after life. But there was nothing he could do... He wanted to rest, he wanted somewhere to sit. He could. But not now.... Not while gripping these slick walls.

His feet touched a ledge. He stood there... Tired, very... very.... Tired, nothing to do, no food, just water from his bag.... He smelled something faint... Earth and dirt... all over..... Nothing else.... He drank more water... Trying to get the smell away, but it came again, through his nostrils, into his mind..... Again, more water, his lungs burned with fire, he smelled a dark, pungent smoke everywhere. The smell of uncleaned streets, fire, and plague. He coughed and drank more water, twisting the cap. He sat down, looking up into the darkness. Nothing else above....

Again! He'd get out of the pit, and onto Pnoaphales. He'd go! He'd get there, he'd go! There, Bernard, Darrell, Osmond, and Rickman stood there, waiting for him, pulling him up. Then! Out of this place, out of it all! Everything! He'd get there, he'd get to the top! Nothing stopped him, nothing could, nothing would, nothing will, nothing never, nothing! He'd get out, get himself to the Prophet, get himself to Protennessen, bring the others back to life.... He'd get them out.... He would. He could.

His legs swung forward. The bag hung on his back. One by one, scaling the wall, moving up, getting out of the pit. The grey turning lighter.

, he'd see birds, butterflies, beauty, nature. He'd see the world again, and go into the sun. He'd feel rays of light bathe his skin. Then he'd sit underneath it and rest. Take a nap, go to sleep, and rest.

His feet struggled to reach the cave. He let go and landed. Dark again, no light, nothing to see. He walked into the blue glow, and curled up, opening his bag. The vials glowed blue with the light of the cave. Only five vials left, none else... He'd save the rest then. None to drink for tonight.

He closed his eyes and slept. Light emptied from his eyes. Then....