Trapped From A Wish

It's Real

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"She's just doing this to use us as pawns, Shrew! This wasn't a game, it wasn't just some fun competition, it's real." I finished, tearing up inside. I had told Shrew about the game maker's plans and that this was not just a  virtual reality game, but I held other secrets like the meeting with Toby. Something told me that I shouldn't speak his name in a place that was being watched by the game maker.

"Shrew..." I started after sniffling, " I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything," my voice broke as I finished. On the outside I had completely concealed my true emotions that were showing on the inside. I tried to look strong and confident when I led all my friends on our journeys, but on the inside I was unsure of myself and tearing myself down with the truth of this game.

I wiped my tears away and looked at the ground. I wasn't expecting pity, it was my fault that Shrew was in here too and I should have trusted him enough to tell him these things.

"It's okay," I heard Shrew say and he wrapped his arms around me in a protective way. "...I just wanted to know what was wrong." I felt him move around and face me. His eyes sparkled when I looked at him and time slowed down at that very moment.

He then leaned forward and gave me a kiss.

My eyes widened and I flushed with embarrassment. Soon, I realized Shrew was as red as a tomato. He broke away from the kiss and looked at the ground. My heart was beating so fast I was pretty sure Shrew could hear it beating from a mile away.

"Shrew....I–" I started, but then I heard a voice yelling from the distance. Shrew heard it too and we both got up and started running to the sound. We met up with Sorrel who was looking around frantically.

"Leaf! Thank goodness I found you! Storm has fallen ill and she's coughing so much!" I didn't have to hear any more, I ran as fast as I could to the cave.

As soon as I saw Storm I stopped. She acted just like Star when he was sick, lying on the ground and coughing. Fire was crouched beside her, trying to give her some water. He looked worriedly at Storm and switched his gaze towards me.

There's nothing you can do. I heard a voice whisper in my ear, Nothing.

I shook my head, refusing the words and looked at Sorrel, "Get the same things that made the soothing water for Star," I ordered. Sorrel nodded, and zoomed off into the mountains.

I sat down beside Storm and ushered Fire away. He started to protest, but Bracken came up beside him and led him to the opening to go hunting. "Leaf knows what she's doing, trust her." As Bracken said those words, he exchanged a glance at me. He is still grieving over Star...I thought as I looked at his gaze. Fire reluctantly let Bracken lead him on a hunting patrol with Shrew and I was left alone with just Storm.

"Leaf? Is that you?" I heard Storm said weakly. I tried so hard to not cry, "Yes, I'm here." I answered. Storm coughed again, and this time I saw a drop of blood land on the ground.

Storm noticed and she smiled sadly, "There's nothing you can do, is there?" She said, barely saying the words. "I don't know, but I won't give up! I won't let you die on me Storm! You just can't!" I said, my voice turning into a wail. At that very moment, Sorrel appeared with water, ginger, and honey. She immediately saw the blood and raced to give me the things.

"It's too late. Like Star said, the poison came back. " Storm stopped to look at me, The poison! Toby had told me that it would wear off in twelve hours, what did I miss? Storm smiled, I had a feeling she knew I had figured it out. "You can do something, right Leaf? " Sorrel asked me hopefully, though she didn't know about what had happened.

To answer Sorrel's question, Storm shook her head and Sorrel bursted into tears. "But we have to be a team! We have been together for so long, why now?" Sorrel asked, sounding hurt.

"We'll always be together." Storm said," I knew I wanted to go to the river today, but I guess I'll never get the chance." I knew by the look in her eyes that she was fading away, and a tear went down my cheek.

"Thanks for being my friends," Storm said, her eyes then closed and I watched as her spirit left the virtual world. "Let Fire know I said goodbye," I heard Storm say in my ear and I soon heard the whooshing sound of the wind. I closed my eyes and sighed sadly.

"She's...dead?" Sorrel asked, her voice breaking, and I nodded. We sat there quietly for a moment, trying to soak in what just happened and I closed my eyes.

"What happened?" I heard Fire's voice as Bracken's hunting group came back. I opened my eyes and saw Fire with wide eyes coming over to Storm. Vainly, he called out to Storm as if she were just asleep.

"She's gone, Fire. There was nothing we could do," I said. Fire paused, as if not wanting to accept what had happened. "But, there must've been something you could've done!" Fire said, but I stopped him from saying more.

"Storm wanted me to tell you she said goodbye, it was what she said right before she left," I said and Fire looked at the ground angrily. "You could've done something..." He said and bolted out of the cave to the mountains.

Looked at Shrew, who was looking at me sadly. We both knew what would happen to Storm...

She is dead in the real world as she is in here, and the game makers would be taking her body away by morning.

The thought made me bubble with anger. They had no respect for us! As I thought furiously in my head, Shrew had bent down and sat beside me near Storm. "It's hard, but we can't do anything here. When we get out of this game, we'll show them not to mess with our friends." Shrew's voice held disguised grief, but he tried to make it into strength. He put his arm around me comfortingly and I knew something deep within had sparked, making it burst into flames. 

"Okay, " I said, "I'm not planning on failure."