Madeline

Madeline: Chapter Eight

 Chapter Eight

Blood. Rich, crimson blood, coming from Layla's chest. An arrow has penetrated her chest. The arrow was there, hanging on Layla's chest. Madeline was inches away from Layla's bloody body. She didn't imagine this would happen. Minutes ago, Layla was smiling at her, comforting her. Now, her face was filled with pain and horror. She was cold and still. 

At a split second, Layla was smiling at her. With a warm smile. She made Madeline believe that everything will be okay at that moment. But then, she collapsed to the ground. Madeline just watched her fall. She's powerless. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't help Layla. 

Madeline bolted up and ran towards Layla's body on the ground. She knelt beside Layla. She grabbed Layla's hands tightly, not wanting her to go just yet. Not wanting her to leave Madeline. "Layla, Layla, wake up. Wake up! Layla, please, I beg you to wake up!" 

Layla shook her head, "shh... It's okay Madeline... I'm fine..." Layla smiled, "At least I'm going to die peacefully, knowing that I've saved your life... Knowing that you, Jack and Daniel are okay..." She grabbed her chest and groaned in pain. "I just have one request for you..."

 Madeline's eyes were teary. Her voice was shaky, "What?"

 "Help all of the prisoners... Help them break out of their cells in the Eagle Board's jail... You need to kill all of those Eagle Boards and help those innocent prisoners... You're our only hope Maddie..." she inhales, trying to get as much oxygen as possible. "Thank you... for..."

And then her eyes were closed. 

It was the last time she was going to see Layla. It was the last time she was going to hear her sweet voice. It was the last time she was going to feel Layla's hands, cold and dead. Teardrops started to roll down her cheeks. She sobbed. She remembered how Layla ran in the cold and rainy forest just to get Madeline into the inn. She remembered how Layla used to always help Madeline when she was in pain. And now, Madeline couldn't return the favor to her. 

She couldn't help Layla. But Layla always helped her. She felt guilty.  

"Layla... I'm sorry..." she sobbed. "I... I can't help you... I'm sorry I couldn't help you..." she could only stare at Layla's limp body. Tears streaming through her eyes like rapids. She hid her face beneath her hands. She buried it deeply, as she felt the guilt stabbing her in the chest, deeper and deeper by the minute. 

 "Hey." a soft, yet the shaky voice called. "Are you okay?" 

Madeline looked at her back, it was Jack. His eyes were hollow, his soul was empty, and his voice was pitchy. "Daniel killed the archer. It was one of Eagle Boards' spy." He sighed. Madeline looked at Daniel, who was too sad to even look at Layla's body. He is kicking the archer's body several times. 

 Madeline could feel the grief surrounding everyone. "Madeline, are you okay?" Jack asked.

She didn't dare to say anything. "Just talk to me. It's okay. I won't bite." Madeline looked at Jack and smiled. "Is there anything you want to talk about?" Jack asked. Madeline slowly turned to Jack and sighed deeply.

 "I feel guilty." she looked at the sky. "Every time I'm in pain, Layla always helped me. Yet now, I... I didn't even do a single thing to help her. I didn't help her when she needed help the most. I, I feel stupid. I feel like I can't return the favor. And now, I'm left feeling guilty." Madeline sighed as another stream of tears came down, rolling through her cheeks gently.

Jack assured her, "Hey, you know what? You helped her, you know." Madeline sobbed. "By talking to Layla, you helped her ease the pain. Help distracted her thoughts from the pain. By being right there beside Layla when she collapsed, you've helped her. You helped her feel comfortable. Without you knowing it, you've actually helped her."  

Madeline looked at Jack, "You really think so?"

"Yes, yes I do." Jack smiled, although she could see tears starting to form in Jack's eyes. Madeline smiled back, although she was still crying. The guilt was still stabbing her, but it wasn't as painful as before. 

"But I still feel as if I haven't done the best for her to return the favor." 

Jack sighed, "Well, I know how you feel. When my sister died, I felt as if I haven't done my best to return the favor for my sister. She's done so many things for me, yet when she died, I didn't do anything for her." He took a deep breath. "Guiltiness started to fill in my heart. I can't throw that feeling away. But eventually, it disappeared."

Madeline asked, "How come it disappeared? What did you do?"

"I did what she told me to do." He looked at the crowd, flying above us. Gliding freely as they pass us. "Before she died, she wrote a letter to me. It says that I have to take care of her beloved cat named Apple. I took care of Apple, and then the guilt started to disappear. I don't know why, but it just disappeared."

"Maybe it's because you've taken care of Apple, you feel as if you've returned her favor. Apple is her most precious pet, right? And by taking care of Apple, it means you've done a thing to return her favor. That's why the guilt disappears." Jack and Madeline stared at each other.

 "Well, I never thought  about it that way." Jack said. "Maybe that's right."

Madeline laughed. "But I think I'll never return the favor for Layla. She never asked me to---" until she thought about something. Something Layla said before. About a request. "Wait, wait a minute!" Layla's request, a task Madeline must do to save everyone, and to return Layla's favor. 

"Jack, Daniel, pack your bags. We have to go to the town as fast as possible."

Daniel, eyes as red as a tomato, shouted, "What's up with the sudden rush?" He walked towards Madeline. His face was red, and his eyes were swollen. "Is it because your stomach is bleeding again?"

She said, "No, I think my stomach can wait for a week or more. After all, I'm not feeling that weak anymore. I can walk, I can run, and the bleeding stopped for the last time I collapsed---thanks to Layla." she paused, thinking about Layla made her sick. 

Jack protested, "Madeline, your stomach is badly injured. We cannot wait for another week. What if it bleeds again? What if you collapse again?"

Madeline replied back, "I can assure you that I will be fine. Daniel, are there any stores in that town that sell maps and compasses?" 

Daniel hesitated, "I think... there are some stores that sell maps and compasses." Daniel paused, "There are also stores that sell first aid kits and stuffs." Madeline nodded. 

"Good, we'll need it." she paused as she eyes her surroundings. Plants, trees, and grasses. Birds were flying back and forth. "Jack, Daniel, get ready..." she paused as she summoned the ravens. "For an adventure." 

Everyone hopped on the raven. As they glide freely in the air, Madeline checked her stomach. It's still injured, but the bleeding has stopped. All because of Layla. 

Madeline looked at the wide sky, as she knew that she was up for an adventure. 

Madeline smiled as she knew what she's up for. She whispered, "For Layla."