Guardian of the Heart

21

   My eyes quivered open as I felt a huge hand on my chest, with one hard push to my body I could feel all the water rush up out of my lungs and slip out my throat. Eyes now opened fully, everything was extremely blurry as the now warm liquid flooded out of my mouth and nose. I sputtered up the mineral tasting river water, wiping my face continually. My chest hurt like a son of a gun, and I moaned in agony. I was completely drained of strength and energy, and could barley keep my heavy eyelids open. I lay on wet ground, hearing the faint onslaught of the water patiently waiting for its next newcomer. My breaths were deep, heavy, and desperate for the oxygen to fill my lungs once again. Now and then spitting up small amounts of water. I didn't even bother to move my body around to see my savior. I slowly closed my eyes, exhaustion taking over my half-dead body.

"Seedy! Is she good?" The familiar voice of Jack crescendoed closer in my direction, this of course snapped me out of my war-weary state. In reply, a smokey, low barreling growl emitted from the guttural of the beast. I immediately recognized it as Jack's pet from earlier. I internally smiled now, because this creature isn't as big and bad as it was earlier. I felt Jack's hand slowly rotate my worn body to face the sky. Everything ached.

"H-hey...(Y/n)? (Y/n)! You're awake..." He said, taking off his mask willingly. This surprised me, then he looked me deep in the eyes. Though he had none, I could tell his 'sight' was directed at me. I steadily gestured my eyes towards his grey face. He has a small worried yet thankful smile etched into his face. I mirrored the smile and tried to say thank you, for many reasons. Unfortunately all I could manage was an irritatingly rough feeling, followed by a series of uncontrollable coughing. Jacks face had fallen, and he eased in closer to my damp and cold body.

"Take it easy..." He assured. I nodded.

"T-Th-" I started to cough even more. My throat was extremely scratchy.

"You need to rest, here I'll take you somewhere...wait." He inaudibly mumbled to himself.

"What if Slender sees me?" Jack stepped forward a bit, thinking of a plan. "Dammit..." He looked down, grabbing his temples. Seedeater grunted and nudged Jack with his long, patched face. He seemed to communicate with Jack but I had no idea what those two were thinking. Jack turned to the strange creature and gave his shark-toothed grin. "Thanks Seed." He rubbed a hand over the beasts furry back. I let out a deep sigh, snatching Jacks attention.

"What-s- the-" I stopped short due to the nagging burn in my throat. He seemed to understand what I was getting at.

"We are going to go to my cabin, Seedeater will come with us, if he senses Slender nearby we block your soul wavelengths by knocking you out." He said matter-of-factly. My eyes widened and I shook my head side to side.
"It's the only way to protect you, I'm sorry it's just how it is..." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Responding in another deep sigh, I nodded. Seedeater crouched low beside me. He was a bit scary up close with his pieced together face and one deadly crimson eye, but I knew he wasn't out to harm me. Jack grabbed me and set me on Seedeater and he climbed on him behind me. He sat me upright, and held his arms around my chest securing me. I was too tired to feel awkward in a position like this.
Seedeater stood up on his beefy animal like limbs, and lifted one taloned hand, before supposedly sniffing the air. He then bolted off in a speeding sprint. Wind rushed past my face, pounding my (h/c) hair into the air. Trees blurred my vision as Seedeater started to slow a bit. I could feel his back heave up and down from running. He then eased into a slow crawling-type movement. His limbs were a bit awkwardly proportioned on his back legs so he seemed to bump up and down. Finally we reached a small, one story wooden cabin. Decorated with earth and vines.

"Huh. I guess it's been a while." Jack shrugged and pulled me off his pet. He accompanied me into the worn wooden structure, and set me on a stringy, red couch. Getting a better vision of my dusty environment, I decided I'd just have to deal with it. Definitely not the Chateau Marmont by a long shot but it'll do. It was fully dark now, and Jack had decided to cover me with a blanket. I let my heavy eyelids slide shut, for being so wiped out from earlier events. Before I let sleep overtake me, I asked Jack blindly.

"What do we do now?"

"We try again."