Plagued

Chasing Water

The next morning.

I heard the most beautiful sound - it was like fate - the sound I never knew that I needed to hear.

I closed my eyes, exerting all my attention on the source of the beckoning sound of the water. The warmth of a memory pulled me from my death bed in the woods - and suddenly - I felt as if I was momentarily reunited with my life. I was standing by the docks on the border of Thorne city, listening to the waves strike the rocks that surrounded the bay. The air even held a familiar scent of salt and seaweed. For the first time in days, I felt a smile pull at my cheeks.

 The moans of sickness and hushed prayers overpowered the quiet music of the water crashing in the distance. With every passing moment the others' grew sicker and the sounds of death became deafening.

I needed to leave.

There was no doubt in my mind I was going to die, but I had a choice where. I was going to chase the sound of the water, and there, I would take my last breath.

I used the side of a tree to levy my weight, lifting myself on to my weakening legs. My movements were inconspicuous, I was one of the many unknowns at the camp. A few people knew my name and occasionally acknowledged my coughing throughout the night, but I was somehow even an outsider here. Even in a place where we are linked by the same unfortunate predicament. I still did not belong.

I scanned the group, committing each of their faces to memories. Although these people were strangers, we were linked in the most regrettable way.

As my eyes fell on the last person at the edge of the camp, I was startled to find that he was staring at me. His eyes bore into mine. Even from the distance, I could sense something unsettling about the way he looked at me. I gulped in discomfort, quickly averting my gaze. The uneasiness that spread through me solidified my decision to leave the camp. Out of the corner of my eye I attempted to see if he was still watching me, and he was.

I had known the boy, Ryker, prior to our shared lifestyle. The way he looked at me made me grateful that I had been invisible to him until now. There was something about him that sent a chilling shiver down my spine.

The watchful eyes encouraged my swift movements. I left my tarp in its usual spot, burrowed between the trees. I was no longer concerned with collecting my possessions and I quickly escaped into the trees.

I made my way through the woods, using the trees to support my weight. Gravity did most of the work as I traveled the downward slope. The terrain made traveling difficult. Occasionally, I would stumble over my legs, unable to plant them correctly against the hilly surface.

After what felt like hours, a cool breeze broke through the trees alerting me that the water was close. My body propelled forward, almost a full blown run to the entrance to a small beach outside of the woods.

Finally, I had arrived. I took my first step onto the small beach, determined to reach the water.

There was an unusual numbness that grew with each step. I attributed the sensation to the burden of the walk against my weakening muscles, but still, the feeling made my stomach twist.

The cold fluid splashed over my feet. I began undressing. I traveled a few feet into the water, up until the water reached my hips. The temperature was shocking, the sensitivity of my skin intensified all sensations. The heat emanating from my body made the water feel ice cold in contrast, but I could not resist the temptation.

I cupped a handful of water and splashed it over my body. The now dirt soaked water ran off my skin. I continued the process until my skin was clean. After several minutes, I had successfully cleansed the past ten days from my body.