Restrained

Maz

I try to step away from the snakes as they lurch at me trying to bite into my skin and poison me. I almost drop Ivy as one gets to close and I kick it across the room. It hits the wall with a hiss.

"Maz!" Jake calls. "Put her down!"

"No! This is wrong! You're going to kill her!"

"She's not going to die unless-"

"Unless what? She's unworthy?" I spat.

"Yes. Exactly."

I roll my eyes and Ivy closed her eyes, going limp in my arms.

"Ivy. No. Open your eyes."

She doesn't respond, nor open her eyes.

"She doesn't have much longer." Jake says.

I look up over to Jake who's standing at the other side of the snake infested room,not daring to get close to the snakes.

"Then give me the antidote."

"We don't have any." Ivy's father says. Stepping in the doorway beside Jake. "If she was truly my daughter then she wouldn't be in this state."

I look up at him in disgust and anger.

"This is poison from countless different snakes! You never deserved Ivy in any way." I growl.

I turn around and exit the room.

"MAZ!" Ivy's father's echoes down the halls.

I run down the halls, careful not to slam Ivy's head into the corners when I turn. I have to find an antidote or she won't make it. My breath catches at the thought of losing her. I can't even start imagining the pain it will cause. I run out of the massive building outside, running down the steps. Jake bust though the door.

"Maz!" He yells.

I stop and turn around, even though I shouldn't have. A very stupid move on my part.

"Jake I have to get her help or she won't make it. You have to understand. Let us go Jake."

He doesn't reply as he's deep in his thoughts, fighting a battle.

"Do you want her to die?" I ask.

His eyes snaps to mine, mind made up.

"Take her. Go. And just so you know Maz, her father will find her again. You don't have long. Prepare for the worst."

I nod once and take off into the dessert. The closest healer here is a mile away. I just have to hope and pray that she will make it. It's been about thirty minutes already. I don't know much about the snakes that bit her, just know that she needs a healer or she won't make it.

I make this my first devotion to her.

"I promise you will survive this Ivy. Just don't give up on me." I whisper, making my way to the healer.

-------

After about thirty minutes of holding Ivy, my arms are tired and sore. Sweat falls down into my eyes, burning them. I can't wipe it away because my arms are occupied at the moment. I desperately need to take a break but Ivy is dying and she needs the healer. If I sit down, I know I won't get back up. We're not that far from it, just about another twenty minutes or so. It shouldn't have taken me this long, but the sun is beating down on me. I'm lucky it's not summer yet or I would be a puddle in the sand.

Ivy is sweating in my arms, and she's getting cold even though it's burning up out here. Her skin is pale and she looks frail, almost as if I dropped her she would break. She's still breathing so that's a plus in my book. I don't know how much longer she can hold on. All I can do is get her to the healer as fast as I can and hope she's not going through any suffering.