A Murderer's Son: A Zelink Story

Chapter 9

I awoke in the middle of the night to the trembling soundscape of the rainforest that surrounded us. I nuzzled my face into Zelda's neck, a timid groan escaping my lips from the pain that had initially awoken me. She didn't stir. She was knocked out after earlier. 

Gradually, I forced myself into a sitting position, carefully tipping my head back and sighing whilst rubbing my arms and the back of my neck. From this position, I could feel the trickle of blood down my throat. I quickly tipped my head back forward, just about being ablle to reach the opening of my bag to drag it towards me. From here, I rootled through it until my hand landed on one a bunch of tissues. I removed them, holding them under my nose just in time to catch the blood.

I hated the familiar taste of blood.

After the bleeding subsided, I reached into one of the pockets of my bag. I took out the medication along with my water vessel.

Just to numb the pain, I told myself. No actual treatment. I didn't want to be a zombie when the chances were close to none. I'd rather live, thanks.

Taking two painkillers at once, I washed them both down with water that silenced the thirst that had been itching at my throat in my sleep.

Sleep.

Oh Goddess, how I longed to just sleep. Forever. But I had to keep pushing.

Glancing back at a motionless Zelda, I wondered if she was starting to notice. Patterns in my behaviour, paler skin, more bruises, a lack of energy. Except I'd been taking caffeine on caffeine supplements for months now, just so the inhabitable fatigue would subside. On top of that, I took iron for the anemia, antibiotics for the constant fevers and sore throats, and was over-feeding myself to supplement for the rapid, relentless weightloss.

No, I had nothing to fear. I was okay. I was healthy. You could hardly tell anyway. As long as I didn't get seriously infected or sick, I would be fine.

I cast an anxious peer down to my bandaged waist. Don't screw this up for me, I prayed.  Don't give me sepsis or some stupid stuff like that. Please. Things were finally getting good.

It wasn't long now, I thought. I could go to the castle.

Or leave her at the gates...

The thought was tempting, as my plans were always going to be temporary, not to my will. If I had my way, I'd live at the castle with her forever. 

Despite my health, though, I'd never fit in anyway. I was from the desert. That's where I belonged. I was reckless, illiterate, childish in some aspects. And if the king found out I'd taken her virginity, well, maybe my fate would arrive a few months early. Maybe I wouldn't have to tell her. See her face as she'd begin to cry.

But the sound of a lingering raindrop from earlier's downpour sent my head back up.

My gaze caught the flicker of moonlight on the leaves, the flutter of a bird's wing in the distance. The gentle dripping of belated raindrops, toppling down from the canopy to the undergrowth, the relentless monotone buzz of insects and the odd howl from some distant creature.

The sweet feeling of breeze stroking my cheeks, ruffling my hair.

It was all so real.

Setting my water back down, I lay next to Zelda once more. She turned towards me in her sleep, allowing for my arms to engulf her as I continued to gaze out into the moonlit forest.

One day at a time, Link, I told myself.

One day at a time.