“Blair, did it bite you?” Sergio’s voice is low and panicked. He has my boot in his hand, but it’s almost as if he’s forgotten about it.
“I’m not sure. I felt pain twice, when I fell down the hole and when I moved my foot. I could’ve just turned my ankle,” then the reality of what he said sinks in. My voice is breathy and panicky, “I don’t want to die. Please Sergio, can you help me?”
He nods, “Blair, I can but you have to stay calm. Tell me honestly, what kind of pain did you feel? Was it different both times?”
I put my foot down but then transfer the weight to my toes as the injured part protests. “The first time was a shooting pain, the second more of a stabbing one whenever I moved my foot.”
“That doesn’t really give me much to work with. Both are normal with a sprained ankle. We’ll just have to keep an eye on that foot of yours.”
He hands me my boot and I manage to stuff my foot in. It’s slightly swollen but Sergio assures me that it’s normal. I can see he’s still worried about me, but as there’s no concrete evidence that I was actually bitten he starts to back off.
Like before he offers to help, offering to just take some of the weight on my back. This time I accept, this time I’m more injured than tired and I don’t want to hurt myself more. Besides it’s not like he’s going to overdo it, I’m still carrying most of it.
As we walk – well Sergio walks and I limp next to him – in the direction that we think Crystal and Kotey had taken. It’s a good job I’m with Sergio, he’s the only one who knows where we’re going.
He opens his mouth but shuts it quickly again after seeing my face. My guess it that he wants to tell me about Tree Top City. It’s his pride and joy, not because he built it from scratch but because it’s a haven for us. The mooners who don’t want to or more likely can’t fight. There would most likely be someone who can fight, someone who could protect us.
I hope it’s not Sergio but I know it is. I know he trusts Kotey, he’ll help. I could wish Sergio wouldn’t keep putting himself at risk for other people, but I don’t. I know he won’t change and if I’m being honest I don’t want him to.
I barely notice as the sun sets and the moon rises. The night breeze is a lot colder than the one in the day and even though I barely acknowledge it my fur bristles.
A shadow crosses above the top of my eye. I look up and see nothing but the trees. As I watch they move to show the moon high above us. The shadow flits across the white surface, I blink and the trees have returned to their previous positions.
“Did you see that?” I ask.
“See what?” Sergio asks, his whole demeanour worried.
I yawn, “Nothing. I’m tired and imagining things.”
“I hope that’s all it is.” Sergio sighs, “Blair, the mud viper’s venom causes hallucinations.”
“Hallucinations?” I repeat worriedly.
“Yes. If you see anything even slightly out of the ordinary I want, no, I need to know. Blair, I want to help you, please let me help.”
I nod and start to limp off. It’s the wrong direction, Sergio grabs my shoulder and gently guides me back on track. I wish I had his sense of direction, left on my own I’d end up walking in circles.
We walk through the night. My ankle continues to throb but after a while I’m able to ignore it. I pull out strength from a reserve I never knew I had.
A little part of me wants to stop but a bigger part of me keeps me going. It’s fuelled by my pride and a fierce need for approval and acceptance. If I can keep up with them, then maybe they’ll start to see me as one of the team.
YOU ARE READING
Project: Hero
Fiksi Remaja"You might be a killer, but I don't think you're a monster." The government has taken over the nation in a totalitarian state. But there are a select few who stand in its way. And that is those with the moon Tattoos. Each possesses a strange power a...
