Restrained

Ivy

I wake up feeling terribly dizzy, like I was hung over. There is an old lady standing over me with a smile.

"There is a boy waiting outside for you. It seems urgent." She says.

I thank the woman and run outside, hearing a familiar scream.

"MAZ!" I yell, running outside.

I see him lying on the sandy ground, bleeding from his leg. My father is standing over him with a bloody blade in his hand. My blood starts to boil under my skin with a mix of rage and fear. I start to take a step toward them but Maz's voice stops me.

"Ivy. Stay over there!" He says.

I glance up at my father who's still standing over him.

"Come and join me Ivy. One way or another I will have you at my side." My father says, flashing me a threatening smile.

"What? No! Screw you!" I scoff.

My father's smile falters for a second before regaining it.

"Then tell your friend good-bye."

He lifts up his sword as I figure out what he means. I start running over to him, trying to stop him, but I was too late. My father stabs Maz in the stomach, making him scream in agony. I scream so loud that it makes my ears ring.

"You know where to find me." My father says.

I trip to Maz's side, almost falling on top of him. He's lying still as he bleeds, turning the sand dark red. I don't take my eyes off of his as my father leaves.

I try to stop the bleeding with my hands, and fail. I rip strips of cloth off my clothes and press it to Maz, slowing the beeding.

"I'm sorry." Maz whispers.

"No. It's okay. It's my turn to help you now."

I try to pick him up, but he's too heavy. Maz heaves himself up with a grunt as I hold him up. I lead him back inside the cottage and lay him on the table where I was, calling out for the old woman. No resonance. Maz is bleeding on the table, about to lose his life, and suddenly the old woman is gone.

"HEAL." A voice calls.

"Did you hear that?" I ask Maz.

"Hear what?" He grunts.

"Nothing."

Heal? How am I supposed to-

"That's it!" I smile.

I can try to heal him. Maz said I had the will to heal. I-I don't know how it works though. What do I do? Just "throw my will at him"? I mean, hey, it might work.

I go over to Maz and smile.

"I have no clue what I'm doing so don't laugh." I say.

He smiles up at me, but it's faltering from the pain my father caused.

"I would never laugh at you Ivy." He says. "But if you can bring out that will of yours, that would be nice."

"Yeah, I'm trying to do that, but I don't know how to."

"Close your eyes, and feel for it." He says.

"What?"

"Do you want me to die?"

"What no!"

"Then close your eyes and feel!" He coughs a laugh.

"OK!"

I close my eyes, feeling stupid and try to feel. I don't know what I'm supposed to be feeling for, but I feel nothing. I start to open my eyes and give up.

"No! Keep them closed!" Maz says.

"Sorry!"

I keep my eyes close and try again. Once again, I feel nothing.

"Relax." Maz says.

I take a deep breath and relax. After a while my hands start to feel hot. My mind feels like it's running on its own, everything goes black.