THE PERFECT REVENGE

TWO

I hobbled through the forest, tired and hurt. My energy was draining from me faster than helium out of a deflated balloon. My stomach was still aching from the chemicals I'd been forced to ingest, my legs begging me for a break.

The fever I'd come down with was nothing unusual. Back at the hell hole, I'd just ride it out. But I needed rest. I knew I'd been walking for hours, and countless miles. I cut and run just after sunset, but the sky was beginning to take on a pink and purple hue once more.

My stomach groaned at me, and I couldn't really tell what the problem was. After a full day without something to eat, maybe I was simply hungry, but I figured it was more complicated than that. After all I'd gotten used to going days without food, only to be given some slime any occasional day of the week.

I came to a stop by a big oak tree. It's leaves were withering and it's bark peeling, an indicator of the change to come.  The October wind whistled through the forest, sparking a chorus of rustling leaves.

I sat down under it and rested my head against it. Suddenly my stomach turned. I hunched over, and heaved, although nothing came up. My stomach twisted again painfully, but all I could do was groan, and clutch my stomach, and wait for it to finish.

My skin was still prickling with heat; I now realized my detox had started. I was sweating, aching all over. I collapsed on the ground, willing for the pain to stop. I'd never felt so hot in my life. Not that I could remember.

But I knew there was no such luck for me. And suddenly I was thirsty beyond belief.

I hadn't yet come across a river. I had no idea where I was or what direction I needed to be headed.

Water. Water.
My mind chanted at me. I felt weak, my breath itself was struggling to be pushed in and out of my lungs. But the will to live was greater than my pain. I sat up, slowly, my head now throbbing
as if trying to coax me back down.

I took a deep breath and positioned my feet under me. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up, barely, using the tree for support. Putting one foot in front of the other I began to walk.

I walked for I don't know how long. It could've been five minutes, it could've been an hour, but it felt like eons. I didn't feel as if it were me walking; as if I had control of my own body. But I kept pushing.

And I didn't stop until I came across a stream of water, small but significant.

Water.
I bent over the edge, peering into the water. I saw my reflection staring back at me, looking as haggard as I felt. I sighed collapsing out of both an extreme feeling of content, and of exhaustion.

I closed my eyes for a second, enjoying the cool caress of the water running against my heated skin. And then it all went black.
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This would typically be a good place to end a Wattpad chapter.