A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 11 (Part 5)

     Minutes turned into hours as Gregory trekked down the grasslands. The sun had risen high in the sky, marking the passage of time from morning to noon. The heat had become almost unbearable, beating down on Gregory relentlessly as he pushed forward. Despite the challenges, he remained determined to find his friend, knowing that every step brought him closer to the one he sought.

     Gregory was drenched in sweat. His hair turned frizzy and unkempt from the heat. He panted for air, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps that he couldn't control.

     Gregory's glance locked up on the sky, momentarily taking in the sight of the bright sun. He felt a burden pressing down on his heart as his limbs became weary. He then halted after a mile of endless walking, standing motionlessly with his sore feet.

     Collapsing onto the ground, Gregory took a deep breath, feeling the hot air fill his lungs. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he closed his eyes. He gasped for air sharply, his breathing becoming laboured.

     Gregory glanced around in every direction, but there was nobody nearby. He took a deep breath and began to unbutton his waistcoat. Upon removing his vest, he hung it over his left shoulder before rolling his sleeves to his elbows.

     Then, Gregory rolled up his trousers to his shins, feeling the cool breeze brush against his skin through his white stockings. He then unbuttoned half of the buttons of his shirt, partially revealing his broad, defined chest. He then blows a long, deep breath through his mouth as he places his hands on his hips.

     Sighing loudly, Gregory looked around as he felt the heat bearing down on him. He then resumed walking forward as a furrow formed between his brows. As he marched across the grassland, he turned his head from left to right, scanning the surroundings.

     As he marched, Gregory unexpectedly felt a bump on his left shoulder. He felt a solid object from his waistcoat. Curious, he grabbed his vest and buried his hand in its pockets.

     As his fingers dug deeper, Gregory felt a cold, hard object nestled between the folds of fabric. With a firm grip, he snatched it from the pocket and held it to the sunlight. It was a bottle filled with red liquid. It still had a bright, reddish glow like a wine under the light.

     Gregory's eyes flicked over his arms and ankles, searching for injury. Glancing at his skin, he noticed a few tiny scratches but no deep wounds. He ran his fingers over his stomach and forehead and didn't feel pain.

     Carefully, Gregory tucked the bottle into his trousers pocket before resuming his journey. As he marched forward, worry for his friend and himself consumed his mind. It caused him to set his jaw and tighten his lips with each step.

"Oliver!" Gregory's voice echoed across the barren landscape. "Where are you? Please, don't listen to my father! You know who I am!" Gregory's voice grew weaker, and his words became barely audible as he spun around. Despite his efforts, no one was in sight, and the grasslands around him were empty—as if they had detached from the world. "Oli! Please!" Gregory yelled. "Don't listen to my father! I didn't betray you! I'll never! I'll never hurt you..." he wept. Slowly, his voice became faint and weak as he whimpered, "I... I promised you that you can trust me..."

     Gregory glanced at his feet and noticed a stone slightly touching his shoe. He bent his back and grabbed the rock. Grunting, he threw the rock into the far horizon.

     As Gregory stepped forward, the rock landed back on the ground with a thud. Suddenly, a fierce and raspy growl erupted from the surrounding bushes. Gregory froze as his eyes widened.

     Without hesitation, Gregory approached the area from where the sound had emanated. As he drew closer, he heard a loud bellowing noise behind a tall patch of grass. His heart pounded in his chest, and his pace slowed with each step, starting to regret his decision to investigate.

     Suddenly, a massive brown bear emerged from the tall grass, its paws adorned with razor-sharp claws and its teeth bared in a menacing snarl. It fixed its gaze upon Gregory as its piercing eyes glowed. Then, the bear swiftly charged towards him.

"Oh, my..." Gregory gawked at the bear as his eyes widened.

     Sprinting across the grasslands, Gregory yelled for help. His heart pounded with fear as he fled from the pursuing bear. He had been running for an eternity, his athletic build allowing him to keep a safe distance from the beast. But he knew it was only a nick of time before the bear caught up with him.

"Somebody, help me, please!" he shouted, and his voice echoed into the horizon.

     As he glanced over his shoulder, Gregory saw the bear gaining ground. Its massive body propelled forward. Gregory gasped and shouted, straining his voice like his muscles.

"Help!!" Gregory cried out for help.

     Gregory's legs were on the verge of collapsing, but he refused to give up. Taking in more speed, he placed himself away from the pursuing bear. But his foot caught on a rock, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. Gregory fell onto the ground, and his body tumbled head over heels as he rolled to a stop.

     However, Gregory didn't stop moving. He began crawling away, his body low to the ground as he moved through the tall grass. The thick shrubs and bushes provided some cover, but soon he emerged into an area with shorter grass, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.

     Gregory glanced at his back and saw the bear glaring at him. Tears glistened in Gregory's eyes as he gasped. His forehead was drenched in sweat, and his body trembled with exhaustion and fear. His waistcoat had slipped from his shoulder, and his outfit was now in tatters.

     The bear bolted forward, charging at him with a deafening roar. Gregory closed his eyes tightly, and his eyebrows furrowed. He prepared for the bear's teeth to rip him apart, but as the seconds ticked by, he realized the animal was taking longer than expected to reach him. With trembling hands, Gregory opened his left eye and peeked around.

     Surprised, Gregory felt that heaven intervened to save his life. He watched with gaping eyes as a man bravely fought off the bear, causing it to flee to the horizon. Gregory then peered at his saviour as he tried to focus on the man's face. However, an excruciating headache struck his head, causing him to wince in pain.

     Gregory's eyelids grew heavy, and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. Then, the world went black as he lost consciousness. Gregory's body went limp, and he sank into a deep and dreamless sleep. It marks the end of his long narration.