The Journey - MTMB

Part 6 - Uh oh.

Riba's Pov, a month after they moved into the town:

Everything was perfect. Until Mario got sick. He's been coughing up blood, and there are some days bad enough where he can barely make an effort to sit up in the bed. I've had absolutely no sleep. He has the same illness as Alice. I know it. I've been researching all types of herbs, medicines, and I hate to admit, but I've also been looking at witchcraft books. I can't lose him. I can't. I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't. Even if he doesn't know it, I love him, I love him so much, I don't know what I'll do to myself if I let this disease take his life. I don't care about myself. I just want him to live. whatever it takes.

I flipped through the pages of the book. when suddenly a page grabbed my attention... It was about a potion about certain herbs and... and a demon's blood, 8 oz of it. that could make a healing potion, which, could cure any aliment. I could do it. I could do this. Mario could be healed, and everything could go back to normal... but. I'd have to cut myself to get the blood, because I sure as hell wasn't going demon hunting. What would I even say if I tried that? 'Oh, hey, can I have some of your blood? I need it because someone I care about is dying.' That sure as hell wouldn't work. I have do this. For Mario. The recipe said the blood was best fresh, so i'd better get the herbs first... 

I decided to first visit Mario before going out. he looked so sad. so frail. so weak. "Hey.." I said gently. "Im going to go out for a bit, alright?"

He coughed before speaking. "Al-alright."

I sighed, patting his head and running my fingers through his hair. "I think i found a cure, alright? Just hang in there for a little longer... okay?"

"Really...?" He coughed again.

"Yes.. I'm going to go now, alright?"

"Okay...!" He seemed slightly cheerful at the possibility that I could have found a cure, though, still weak, he coughed again.

I sighed again, patting his head again before leaving, grabbing a jar on the way, and going outside and into the grasslands not too far off from the town, looking for the herbs I needed. It felt like forever, but I had finally collected them all, shoving them into my cloak... I decided this was the perfect place to also get the blood, since none was here, I pulled out my machete and sliced my palm, wincing. but I held my hand over the jar as the blood dropped into it. It stopped bleeding halfway through, so I had to slice my hand again to get the blood flowing. when I finally had enough, he let the blood clot the wound... Ow... but... anything for Mario. I twisted the jar up and headed home. Now inside, I went to where I was reading all those books and begun to mash in the herbs with my very own blood. The result was a off red color, and it smelled very metalic.

I went over to Mario "Hey... Can you drink this for me?"

He slowly opened his eyes. "Wh-" He coughed "what is that?"

"It's what I hope is the cure..."

"Alright then..." With slightly shaky hands, he took the jar and reluctantly drank the contents. "Uff.." He clearly tasted the tang of blood. "Is that...?" 

"Just get some rest... okay? It'll probably take time to kick in." I tried to avoid answering the question.

He didn't try to ask and just complied "Alright..." He laid down, quickly drifting off to sleep.

Maybe I could finally get some sleep without worrying constantly... I slipped into the massive bed... Trying to fall asleep... but I just couldn't... Anxiety still pricked at me like a thorn. I ended up shifting to Marios side of the bed and embracing him lightly so that any movement he made would rouse me awake... And... I had to admit, this was also very comfortable. I slowly fell asleep, letting my fears of Mario not getting better, or worse, not waking up, go...