THE ROMANTICIST | C. GRIMES

04 | CHAPTER EIGHT

"This is insane." Carl repeated for what must've been the millionth time. Of course, Francine hadn't been jumping at the bit to let the pair of teenagers just up and leave in the middle of the night. But knowing they'd just find someway to sneak out, she let them out the front gate with their car. That was at about three in the morning and now, around 6:30 Mollie was watching the sunrise as they sped down the empty freeway.

"We're getting close." She remarked as they passed a road sign. "Few more exits, and then it's backroads from there."

"This is so insane."

"Yeah, I get it, you haven't said like anything else the entire time we've been in the car."

"Because I don't think you actually realize how crazy this is." He looked over at her. "I've never just...left like this, okay? Ever. Michonne's gonna be pissed, my dad's gonna be even worse." He sighed. "Man we really shouldn't have done this."

"It's too late to turn back now, besides, I haven't done anything like this before either! I got to the Kingdom and stayed there until this shit all started. And it's gonna be worth it, you know it will be."

"How are we actually gonna know if it worked or not, though?" He asked.

"I guess if you ever get bit, we'll find out." She shrugged. "Till then, we just really hope it worked."

"Jesus Christ, this was a terrible idea."

———

"Okay, pull off here." She pointed ahead of them. Carl did as he was told, pulling up next to a large tree. They both got out, grabbing their things from the backseat quickly.

"Lead the way." He nodded. She starting into the woods, Carl close behind her.

"There's a walker, behind that tree." She pointed out. He pulled out his knife, quietly easing around the tree just to see that she was right. He quickly put it down before turning back to her.

"Explain."

"I told you, I can tell where they are." She said, starting to walk again. "There's a reason I know so much about plants, and plant magic. I'm a botanical witch. Plants have been my natural affinity my whole life, they're what I'm best at. And guess what? Trees are plants. With my magic, I naturally connect to any nature around me, and I can feel it. I can feel if it's sick and dying, if it needs water, if it's doing the best it's ever done. Anything. Including being able to feel vibrations on the tree roots underground."

"So what else can you do?" He asked. "Do you have any combat potential?"

"Combat potential." She laughed, shaking her head. "I can make whatever I want grow wherever I want, so let's go with a tentative sure."

"So why couldn't you just sprout this plant back in Alexandria and not make us have to drive across the state?" He groaned.

"It doesn't work like that." She huffed. "For one, it's not like magic just comes from nowhere. I can't just grow or do anything at all-it's dangerous. If I do too much, it could permanently affect me, my magic...shit it could kill me. And I can't grow any magical plants. I mean, I can, but they wouldn't have the magic that naturally grown ones of the same kind do. Instead of growing new plants, think of it as...copying already existing ones. It copies everything to the tee-but it can't copy magic."

"Why not?" He questioned.

"Just doesn't work like that." She shrugged. "'Magic is a powerful force of nature. To wield it is to become it. To abuse it is to incur its wrath.' That's something my mom used to say, anyway." She finally caught sight of the old trail she used to walk around the house. "We're close." The trees began to thin, and eventually a sprawling clearing opened up in front of them. In the center sat a large, black space. The ashes had all blown away, leaving dead, burnt grass a reminder of the home that once stood. The gardens, however, were still in tact.