Drakan (The Chronicles of Eli) [#Wattys2015]

Chapter 12

With the sleeve of his shirt, Eli wiped around his eyes which were now drawn to Liam’s hands. His brows shifted upwards while his head slowly lifted to his best friends face.

                        “Liam?” The distraught look on Liam’s face forced his head back. A flow of cool air with a stench of rage blew past his moistened cheeks. With Eldis, barely audible in his breathing, still under his arms he asked “Liam was wro…..”

                        “I swore to myself that the day I saw your face I would rip your body limb from limb.” A low growl escaped his lips, leaving his menacing tone to weigh heavy in the air. “And here you are.”

            From Liam to Eldis, and back again, he stared empty minded while his face crinkled in bewilderment. He shook his head and blinked wildly. Not even peter can make him this mad. Elvis slumped lower to the ground. Eli flinched at the pain, unable to maintain his strength, he let him hit the ground. Instantly he inhaled, filling his damaged lungs with air.

                        “Help me dude!” He said in a raised tone as he kneeled down beside Eldis, prepping himself to lift him again. “I need to get him to the house. I think he’s badly….”

                        “HELP HIM?!” Liam shouted.

            Eli looked up from Eldis and stared into the eyes of a mad man. Words remained hidden from his tongue as his brain tried to piece together the right sentence. Liam took a step forward, fist still clenched and grinded his teeth baring them at the same time. Without thinking, Eli stood and shoved him backwards.

                        “What’s wrong with you?!” He yelled. “Can’t you see that he’s injured and he needs our help?!” Eli turned halfway and pointed at Eldis. “Quit thinking about yourself for once and help me carry him.”

                        “You don’t even know him” Liam said in a low tone, with his eyes to the floor, standing in the spot he was shoved to.

                        “I don’t need to know him to know that if I don’t help him he might die!”

            Eli’s body began to vibrate, not so much from anger but more from disbelief. He stared at the side of Liam’s face for a few seconds more before shaking his head. He turned and knelt next to the nearly unconscious Eldis and replaced his arm over his shoulder. “Come on. On 3” He whispered.

                        “You’re making a big mistake” Eli heard Liam say from behind him. He rolled his eyes and ignored the comment. “1….2…..3” He winced as he used the last of his strength to help him up, back into his limping position.

                        “Come on lets go” He said, making his way towards his house.

                        “If you do this…..” Liam stepped in front of them and paused, slowly lifting his head. “….we can no longer be friends”

            Eli’s eyes widened when he saw the single stream of blood trickle down the left side of Liam’s face. He felt the buildup of clear salty liquid forming in his eyes as the two held each other’s gaze. Being the first to look away, he whispered “I have to help him”. Pain and sorrow suffocated the air around them. Eli sighed deeply and trudged forward.

                        “I guess a kieren will always be a kieren”

            He stopped in his tracks. He thought about turning around and explaining himself, to try to get him to understand somehow. But deep down he knew it wouldn’t help. Liam had already made up his mind and so had he. Eli closed his eyes and removed the barrier allowing the tears to flow freely. No, now isn’t the time. He slowed his breathing, wiped his eyes with his free hand and shook his head slightly. Eldis shuffled under his arm and weakly looked up at Eli, “Thank you”, he said. Eli sucked in his lip then forced a smile and nodded.