Written in Life

(Chapter 10)

I shrank the gorilla and gave it to Bernice to marvel over. She was extremely pale after losing so much ink and she held the furry creature in her palm and yawned as it pounded on it's chest and let out a high-pitched screech. She looked at it and smiled with half effort. I could tell she was drifting off to sleep slowly, dark purple half moons under her eyes.

"When are you gonna teach me how to make animals?" I asked. I chuckled.

"One thing at a time, okay? If that happens with water, I'd like to prepare myself for what an animal gone wrong could be," I said. A glass of water glistened in my hand and I walked over to Bernice and held it in front of her." Thirsty?" She took it gladly and gulped it down within seconds. The gorilla climbed on the edge of the glass and she tipped it horizontal so he could climb in and drink the droplets left behind. The sun was starting to go down and the temperature was dropping quickly. I heard a hallow wheeze and turned to see Bernice laying on the sand, a hand placed on her stomach as she exploded into a fit of coughing, as though she was holding it in. I rushed to her side and she just held out a hand, signalling I shouldn't come any closer. I ignored it. I elevated her head and the gorilla tried to climb up the width of her arm in panic. Suddenly she stopped and went limp, falling into my arms. The gorilla climbed into one of her many pockets and I lifted her up on my shoulders. I absorbed the ink left from the abomination she had created and stored it in a water canteen. To my horror, it came to life and tried to slither it's way out and I snapped the cap on tightly before it could.

I've never seen or heard about ink being able to control itself... have it's own being... The gorilla popped it's head out and screamed in my face, as though complaining we weren't moving.

"Hey! She's the only reason you're here right now!" I scolded." Do you want to go back?" I held up my hand to show the creature the swirling whirlpool of ink in my palm. It's eyes widened and in a flash, he disappeared. I smiled." I thought so." Bernice stirred and mumbled something in her sleep I couldn't make out. I trudged forward and came over a hill to see the vast and dead dessert landscape stretching out before me. I huffed a breath of disapproval and looked back. A huge cloud hung over the distance and my mind shot out one word immediately. Sandstorm. There was a hole in the far-off distance about half a mile away... while carrying an unconscious girl. I had to get her to shelter or she would stay that way for a long time. I started off and the minutes flew by faster than light as the storm approached. I started to run and the sand flew past us, ripping at our skin. At the last minute, I ducked in and I caught Bernice's head just before it hit the jagged, hard ground, not saving my own. I heard a loud crack as my head collided with the floor, blurring my vision. I held the side of my head and hissed at the pain. Bernice jerked wide awake and looked around.

"Cody?" she called.

"Here," I said, raising my hand. She crawled over and snapped her head back at a noise.

"How'd we get here?"

"I carried you. T-the sand... storm," I managed. She gasped and she lifted a hand covered in ink, pooling from the side of my head.

"Holy shit! Cody what happened?!" she asked panicked. I grabbed her hand and felt her relax slightly, her body still tense. She swayed from side to side, as though trying to fit movement into the small space. She looked down at me, her fine curls framing her face as her big hazel eyes stared back at me." Is there anything I can do?" she whispered. I shook my head, though I doubt she saw it. A forceful hand gripped my shoulder and panic surged through me. I wrapped Bernice in my arms protectively as we were pulled into the darkness, followed by a deafening scream...