𝐼𝑁𝑁𝑂𝐶𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑇 // 𝐴. 𝐷𝐸 𝑅𝑈𝑁𝐸

𝑋𝑉

| XV. I Get Mean When I'm Nervous, Like a Bad Dog |

—

It was a massacre. Laurentius' farm was almost as bad as the rat's nest; mountains of dead pigs strewn about, and pools of blood and guts over every corner. And the smell... Christ, the smell was horrid. Marion could barely stomach it– she could feel her belly churn with each breath she took.

She let out a string of coughs, the vile stench burned her throat and irritated her weak lungs. Was Laurentius even alive? All the sneaking, killing– was it all for nothing? This could only have been done by the Inquisition, if it were rats there'd be no bodies left.

"Fuck– it's... its horrible!" Marion said, after catching her breath.

"We have to keep going." Amicia's eyebrows furrowed and her nose scrunched as she spoke– it was almost worse than the rat nest.

Almost.

At least the place had torches scattered along the pathways– it was getting dark, and only God knows how many rats could cover the ground under a cloudy night. The dark-haired girl cringed as she stepped into a pool of mud... blood? It seeped into her boots, and stained her britches.

"Ugh... it's getting in my shoes!" Hugo whined, as they waded through the viscous substance.

Finally, they had left the smelly pool, only to feel the earth begin to shake under their feet. Rats sprouted out of the ground in the same manner they did at the De Rune estate. Marion felt her breath pick up– there were torches, the rats shouldn't be here. They shouldn't be here!

"No, no, no, no, get to the torch!" Amicia screamed, pulling Hugo to the nearest torch.

The pulsing sensation in her leg seemed to grow, and Marion let out a groan. She practically fell to the ground once in the safety of the torchlight– it felt like the veins inside her leg were growing larger and larger, ready to burst open at any moment.

She wouldn't be quick enough. The pain was only worsening and she wouldn't be quick enough– oh God. Her eyes widened, and flickered to the rats that had burst out the ground.

"Amicia I ca–" Marion cried, Amicia didn't even let her finish the sentence.

"No, just– we have to go!" Amicia huffed, pulling her companion's arm over her shoulder, and hefting her off the ground.

Once Marion was on her feet, Amicia looked down at Hugo. "Hugo, I need you to run towards that torch– whatever you do, don't look back." The Brunette commanded, and Hugo's lip quivered.

"But Amicia, I'm scared–"

"Now!"

Amicia left no room for discussion, and Marion felt her heart lurch. They were really making him go alone? The dark-haired girl took in a deep breath, if the rats got to them it'd be her fault. She was slowing Amicia down– she was no protector, all she did was drag them both into more danger.

Hugo darted over to the torch, the sound of his little feet against the dirt were drowned out by the squeaking and squealing of rats. Marion tried to go as fast as she could without putting too much pressure on her ankle; jaw clenched and dark eyes shiny with tears. She held onto Amicia like a lifeline– in that moment, Amicia truly was her lifeline.

Marion didn't know what to feel– she was scared, thankful, angry. Her emotions were everywhere, weighing her down like a brick. Her mind couldn't stay quiet, her thoughts and the squealing of rats were an ugly combination.

The shaking of the ground didn't help either, each step was unsteady for both girls. If one went down, the other would undoubtedly follow. Marion's feet squelched in her shoes, still wet from the bloody sludge they had waded through earlier. The girls finally met up with Hugo near some wooden logs, once again protected under the torchlight.