My Curse

Session 10

 I woke up with Nikova standing over me. His cheek was bleeding but I don't think he felt it. I tried to sit up but there was piercing feeling in my stomach. I fell back down gasping from the pain.

"Don't move idiot. You went and got yourself hurt again." He sounded like he was really mad. I tried to speak but he put his hands on my stomach before I could. I screamed in pain and he retracted them. "I was only gone for a few minutes." He was muttering.

"I thought they were drunk."It took all my strength to say those words but they seemed to make him angrier.

"I'll be right back. Don't get in trouble again ." He left in a storm. I was too tired to ask where he was going. I passed out again. The pain mixed with my weakness was proving too difficult.

I felt something cold on my face and woke with a start. Nikova was leaning over me again. He helped me sit up and lean against the tree. The pain had subsided greatly. I looked down and saw it had been cleaned and bandaged.

"You dropped the backpack a while down the path. Probably while you were running." He didn't look at me. He just started packing everything away.

"Why," I stopped to gain a little more energy, "why are you so mad at me?" I didn't understand. It wasn't my fault those men attacked me. I guess 'men' isn't the right word anymore.

"You don't know? You really haven't figure it out?" He looked furious with me. I was scared of where he was going with it.

"No I don't!" I yelled back at him. "I thought you'd come back and went to get you. I saw those men and immediately walked away. You think I wanted any of that to happen? I was so scared Nikova. I thought they were going to get me." Tears were streaming down my face. I couldn't believe that he was yelling at me after everything that happened.

"I'm sorry It's just-" He stopped talking and looked away.

"It's just what?" I was still angry with him. My words came out cruely.

"You really had me scared. Remember you can't die unless I'm the one who does it." He gave me a cute smile and I somehow knew he didn't mean it like that. I knew he would never intentionally kill me. "How about I make it up to you?"

"How?" I asked. He gave me his famous smirk and then stood up.

"I'll show you." He held his hand out for me to take.

"You're not going to just push me in the mud are you?" I smiled and grabbed his hand. With his help he led me down to the path. I was about to ask what was down there but he gave me a face and I knew I shouldn't even bother

We didn't have to walk very far before I saw where we were going. A giant carnival was engraved in the mountain. I looked around but it was completely empty.

"Where is everyone." I whispered to Nikova.

"I suppose when I chased those things away all the women were set free." He looked around thoughtfully.

"I'm sorry, what?!?" I stopped walking and folded my arms, expecting an answer.

"Those things were taking women and trapping them here in the carnival. None of them could leave or call home. I'm guessing they all just kinda," He paused for a moment," popped home." He started walking again. I followed him dumbfounded. I had supposed that was the best explanation I was going to get from him. He guided me through the carnival until we came to the wheel.

"It's so big!" I exclaimed, trying to see if I could find the top.

"This is what was bugging me. The lizard men were using it to entice women to visit here." He looked at it, glad that he'd solved the problem.

"So it thought you were a woman and that's why you wanted to come here?" I laughed at it all. It was all too strange to not laugh.

"Well no I could just sense that it was bad. Call it a guy feeling." He acted as if he was proud of that. I looked at him like he was crazy. "Oh shut up! Just get in the car." He pointed to the Ferris wheel car waiting for us.

"Really?" I asked excitedly. He nodded and I walked up to the wheel. Nikova sat down next to me and then we started moving. My stomach was filled with butterflies as I waited for the top to come.

"Stop leaning out or I'll push you out." Nikova grumbled. I wrapped my arms around his neck in an embrace.

"Thank you for taking me here." I let go of him and looked back out at the scenery.

"No-problem." He said it so quietly I almost didn't hear him. He was so close I could feel his breath on my neck. It made my skin tingle.

"Look! We're so close to the top of the mountain!" We'd gotten to the highest point on the wheel and from there I could see our goal. It was so close I could touch it.

"Yeah but the path ends. Look's like we're going to have to climb through the forest now." Nikova sounded worried by I wasn't. Finally my hope was restored. I could do this, I could make it there. As we were descending a terrible thought crossed my mind. Can I still kill Nikova? I shook it off though. I didn't want to think about any of that right now. I was just going to enjoy what time I have now.