𝐼𝑁𝑁𝑂𝐶𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑇 // 𝐴. 𝐷𝐸 𝑅𝑈𝑁𝐸

𝑋𝐼𝑋

| XIX. L'aqueduc |

—

Marion felt like her heart had traveled from her chest, to her skull. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears, and her head was constantly pounding. A thin layer of sweat had accumulated over her skin, and she felt hot— as if her body was trying to burn out the new, foreign presence.

She had been fine for the first few minutes after the episode, but then... all of it seemed to catch up to her body.

She was half leaned over the side of the boat, one of her now unbandaged, shaking hands ever so slightly dipped into the frigid water. She wasn't sure if this sickness—if she could even call it such—was helping her, or hurting her.

The wounds on her hands had scarred and completely closed within an hour of her episode, along with a few minor cuts and scrapes she had accumulated. She still couldn't feel certain areas, the nerves permanently damaged.

On the contrary, she felt absolutely horrible. She was hot, and cold at the same time, and her body just wouldn't stop shivering. The world around them had begun to grow cold... the air nipped at Marion's skin, leaving her nose and cheeks red.

She knew that as the weather grew colder, she'd only get sicker. Winters were hell every single year, Lady Béatrice would hole her up inside the estate, bundle her with blankets and constantly hold her head over a steaming pot to clear her lungs. She couldn't imagine what it was going to be like now, with no blankets or shelter, and the odd illness the bite from the rat had caused.

Amicia and Lucas were having a hushed conversation, but that was the last thing Marion was paying attention to. She grit her jaw, her brain and eyes felt ten times too big for her skull.

Marion retracted her hand as Lucas docked the boat on the riverbank. It was a foggy morning, the chill settling into Marion's bones— making for a very uncomfortable setting. She sat up, taking in a deep breath, which wasn't a very good idea.

The sound of her violently coughing filled the area, scaring a few birds out of the orange and yellow trees. The fit lasted for nearly a minute, Amicia gently put a hand that wasn't cradling Hugo onto her shoulder, while Lucas watched with concern.

"Has she always been like this?" Lucas asked, tearing his eyes away from Marion to look at Amicia.

"Ever since I've known her... she's always had weak lungs, the cold only makes them worse." The brunette responded, and Marion huffed.

"I'm right here." She said, not exactly liking how they spoke as if she wasn't right there.

"Oh, yes- er, sorry..." Lucas fumbled, his already pink cheeks growing just a bit more pink. He seemed to be very socially awkward...

Marion let a small smile grow on her face when Amicia let Hugo out the boat, the little boy was somehow already full of energy. She quietly accepted Amicia's hand, and allowed the other girl to help her out the boat.

"I still don't understand how your hands healed so quickly..." Amicia whispered, gently running her pointer finger over the scar on her left hand.

"I don't either... You know, they are mostly numb now." She whispered back. "I can't even move some of my fingers."

Marion tried to wiggle the pointer, and middle finger of her left hand, to no avail. On her right hand, the only finger that was completely numb was her pinky.