Where They Found the Mint Leaves

Part 3

Avia wipes away a tear from her light face, her back facing her best friend, as they stand in front of Avia and Avery's small cottage.

"You sure about this, Via?" Evan asks as he puts on the backpack with all the materials.

"You can turn back now. It's your last chance now. It's fine." Avia says, her back still facing Evan, but her head up looking at the woods in front of her.

Evan's knees tremble as he mutters his final answer, knowing that Avia already had knew the answer. He is not going to let his cowardice get in the way.

Avia walks toward the forest, without looking back at the cottage in the woods.

Evan wipes his sweaty forehead trying to catch up to Avia. "Do you even know where we are going?" Evan calls out.

"Nope!" Avia exclaims. Evan freezes for a moment before Avia throws her head back and laughs. "She lives a few miles away." The information is all found in an ancient book. It has given almost no information to Avia. It just told her general directions to Daniella's Garden and what she grows there. But the book is pretty old and Avia doesn't know if it will still be the same and even if Daniella is still alive. But the Mint Leaves are magical and there are rumors she is a witch.

After walking for a while, the sun starts painting beautiful colors on her canvas as she leaves. As they walk, the trees start to get more unwelcoming, as though they were foreigners in a foe's land. The air around them also seems to be more stuffy, saying, "Your lungs are not worthy enough to breathe here"

Avia glances at Evan, who is coughing and his brown eyes darting back and forth. "We are close." Avia whispers.

"I feel it." Evan answers. *Rustle* *rustle* Evan quickly turns around, his eyes wide with caution. But there is nothing for him to be scared of. At least there is nothing Evan sees.

"I think we should stop and rest for the day." Avia declares. The words Evan have been waiting for the whole day. They stop where they are and take out their sleeping bags. The night is cold and all Avia is wearing is a shirt with no sleeves and pants. Evan isn't much better but he wears a jacket.

After creating a fire and eating a sandwich and granola bars, Avia lays on her sleeping bag, the top of her head, a foot away from Evan's who is also lays on his, both staring at the shrouded stars. "What are we going to do if she doesn't give us any?" Evan whispers.

"Stop thinking so negative. I know she will. And if she doesn't, I'll force her." Avia replies with a laugh.

"Evil girl."

"Coward boy."

But it is true. Evan is the biggest coward he knows and Evan knows Avia knows too. "But I really feel like we aren't welcome here." Evan says quietly.

Avia softly laughs nervously, "It's ok. You got me! Remember when a bear came into the cottage?" Evan does remember. Evan was hiding behind a table while Avia literally pushed it out the door. But deep down inside, Avia knows that they aren't welcome here. She had seen the "Keep Out Or Else" sign a few hours ago. But she didn't want Evan to panic so she didn't say anything at that moment.

After moments of silence, just staring at the veiled stars, who are brighter than their future, Avia climbs into her sleeping bag and after muttering "Night" she falls asleep.

Evan climbs into his sleeping bag but he could not sleep so fast. Its not safe. The words glow in his mind as though it is a neon sign in the dark. Oh, Evan hasn't seen a neon sign for the longest time. He, his grandmother along with others, including Avia and her sister Avery, have run away from the beautiful city when they had sensed something was wrong. Evan and Avia were too young to understand what was wrong but they sure did feel like the city had changed.

Evan looks at Avia, his best friend and almost his only friend for about his whole life. He silently gets up and lays his jacket on Avia's sleeping bag. She needs it more then him.