My Curse

Session 11

           As we walked we had to change our routine. I needed help walking when the pain got to be too much. I could feel the energy draining from my body. Every chance I got I fell asleep. I was tired I could barely keep my eyes open.

          "Ow!" I heard Nikova complain. I saw him swat at his arm.

          "What happened?" I looked around for any sign of attack but there was none.

         "Sorry it's just these annoying bugs." He winced and swat at another near his face.

          "Here I have some bug spray in my bag." I stopped walking and was grateful for the break. I slowly crouched down and took my bag off. I rummaged around in my bag for a while, the whole time Nikova was hitting bugs away. "Ah I found it." I slowly stood up with the bottle of bug spray.

          "Thank goodness I'm dying!" He grabbed the bottle and began spraying everywhere. He probably wasted more than he used. I laughed and took the bottle from him. I sprayed a little on my arms and legs and then put it away.

         "Ugh I hate this smell." I complained as we started walking again.

          "Really? I love it!" He took a long inhale and then smiled at me. "See, love it."

          "You of all people would hate this smell. Why do you like it?"I looked at him skeptically. I saw him think for a moment. He was clearly confused by the question. I wasn't really that curious I just wanted to distract myself from how I felt.

         "When I was younger I'd go camping with my dad all the time. The bug spray reminds me of it." He was staring off into the distance, reminiscing about his past.

        "I thought you hate the outdoors?" I was truly shocked hearing he camped as a kid.

        "Where do you think I learned that from? Every year my mother would make my dad and I go out. Every year we would spray on a bunch of bug spray, go outside for an hour, and then we'd give up. We ended up checking into a hotel for a few days and telling my mom we had a great time camping." He chuckled quietly to himself.

         "You know what?" I asked, a smile planted in my words.

         "What's that?" He asked.

         "That sounds exactly like something you'd do." I was comforted by what he said. The thought of younger Nikova being exactly like my Nikova was sweet.

          "Ow!" He groaned. "Those stupid bugs are still attacking." He jutted out his lower lip and whimpered. "Make them go away."

          "I'm not your mother! Besides what makes you think I can get rid of them?" They were starting to attack me as well. I was starting to lose my patience.

         "These are some weird bugs Catherine." Nikova's words were starting to slur. "I don't feel so good." As soon as the words left his mouth he passed out.

        "Nikova?" I turned towards him. I felt something sting my arm. I glanced down at my arm and saw what Nikova ment. These bugs had clothes and swords. "What the-" Everything got dark and I hit the floor.

         I woke up in a warm bed. My clothes had been removed and I was wearing a green dress. The sleep had improved my condition and I felt like I had more energy. I glanced around the room I was in.

         It was very bland. It only had a bed and a dresser. I set my feet on the floor and got ready to stand up. I heard a tentative knock on the door and froze. I quickly pulled my legs back onto the bed. I smoothed out the blanket and closed my eyes. I'd rather these people didn't know I was awake.