The Eight Amulets, Vol. 1

Chapter XXX - The Bite

The house of Francis Bradshaw was now once again empty, and night began to fall. His hand was guided over the paintings lining the walls, and he took a sip of orange juice, placing it down next to a orange container.

Inside there were pills, many pills, containing Acetaminophen. He took the bottle and shakily poured them into the palm of his hands.

Soon he would be dead, wether from the agents, or the pills in his hand. He raised them to his mouth, but was hesitant to take them.

He reflected on his life, the adventures he had, and the experiences with his mother. He wasn't the child of famed Joseph Krause. He wasn't planned, and his mother had gave birth to him unexpectedly. She still was a great mother, and he knew it was his time. He has served his time.

Yet he still couldn't bare to take the pills. He feel as if he still had to take one last look at all his life's work which lead up to this point in time.

Carefully, he placed the pills down on the countertop, and took a step towards the couch, followed by more steps. He made his way to the table, and there was a tiny wind up toy.

He had gotten it at his adventures back in France, from a small shop. He focused his attention on the toy, grabbing the box and placing his other hand on the windup crank.

Slowly, he winded the toy up. A gentle tune blasted from the speaker while he cranked the handle, as he held back tears.

Then a tiny ballerina popped open from the box, and it prompted a small, weak smile from him. He placed it down and walked over to his wall, where his paintings rested calmly.

They consisted of many landscapes. Some full of life and people, others barren like the saharan desert.

He enjoyed his life, and considered it mostly complete. But he had one regret, and that was hiding away for his life. I mean sure, the Department may have caught up to him and tried to kill him, but it would be better than spending his entire life locked up in his little house and working in Sydney.

After looking around at all his accomplishments and stories, he walked back to the kitchen counter, and grabbed the pills that lay innocently on the table.

He stared them down, as if he was no longer afraid of death, and with nothing left to say or do, he swallowed them all whole after drinking some orange juice.

*

"It's getting dark." William warned, as the world seemed to shut down around them. They had been isolated, alone in the dark for the past few hours with no one but themselves, which they couldn't stand.

"I can't believe it. I'm gonna die, this is it." Rob was still panicking, nearly hyperventilating at the thought. It was extremely hot, but the night provided some cooling and the car was some protection against the suns rays.

But to summarize, things weren't getting any better. They didn't have any water either, and they began craving it.

"Rob, it's ok. Someone has to find us eventually, right?" Hannah asked optimistically, but an optimistic was a realistic one at this time. Without any water they could survive another two days, but god knows if anyone would show up at this time.

But to there surprise, they saw headlights. There brains took a second to process it.

"Is that.. a car?" Rob started jumping up and down, alarming the car as it started driving towards them.

"We're saved!" William shouted, jumping out of his seat and getting in the road, the headlights growing closer and closer to there location.

The car instead starting honking, and Hannah got confused, waving to the driver as Rob stood in the road.

But the car completely ignored there cries, nearly hitting William as he dived towards the car in an attempt to not get hit by the vehicle.

It passed by them and continued speeding away, ignoring the three kids who stood alone, in the burning heat of the Australian outback. Maybe they would never get out. Perhaps it was a silly idea to suggest getting out alive.

"Great. That's just awesome. Back to dying." Rob yelled in frustration slamming his fist against the car only to reel back and hold his hand in pain.

"Well there goes our shot at survival." William said, piling back in to the passenger seat and sighing. Sweat dripped off his skin onto the seat below.

"It could be worse." Hannah lied. They both knew nothing was worse then being stranded in the middle of the hot Australian outback where everything was out to kill you.

"Like what? It's burning out here, with no water and food, and no devices cause there all dead." William complained, accepting his fate.

"I don't know about you guys, but I need to take a piss. I'll be back." Rob assured, stepping out of the vehicle and walking across the road. He spotted a tree far ahead which would be a perfect spot to leak.

He trekked over the dusty outback, making sure to avoid any tarantulas, scorpions, or worse, snakes. He pushed past shrubbery until he reached the tree. He slid down his pants, and did his buisness, whistling.

It was quiet, and as he finished up he pulled his pants. He finished the song he was whistling, and turned around. To his surprise, a snake was hissing at him, and standing up to him.

"Ok now, we don't any trouble." Rob assured, trying to reason with the snake as it prepared tr strike. He took a step back only for the snake to strike and get him on his leg.

Venom rushed into his bloodstream, and he yelled painfully, quickly making a run for the car as the snake slithered off, going back to minding its business.

The encounter left Rob in a frenzy, scrambling to find the truck where Hannah popped out from, surprised to see Rob making a run.

"What's happening?" William said as he got out from his seat, noticing Rob getting closer and then collapsing onto the road.

"Rob?" Hannah kneeled beside, but Rob was incomprehensible as he was screaming like a little girl.

"What do we do?" William asked, and Rob pointed to a set of bite marks on his legs they didn't notice before.

"I got bit by a snake! It- it- attacked me!" Rob screamed, fearing for his life.

"I got it!" William got beside Rob and placed his mouth on the location Rob was bit. There were clear indications.

"What are you doing?" Hannah asked, but William was sucking into Rob's leg. Rob was too busy crying like a baby to notice.

Disgusted, William spat out venom from Rob's leg, who looked back at William and then at Hannah.

"I sucked the venom out of his leg." William said, breathing heavily and then standing. "I've had a long day."