To The End

Chapter Four Part Two

Chapter Four Part Two***

      After Abel put the antibotic ointment on my wound he wrapped it easily in gauze. He then removed a needle from a package and stabbed it into the top of a small rubber caped bottle full of clear liquid. I starred at the sharp end as he pulled it free, the syringe half way full.

"What is that?" I asked.

       He explained it was a injection of more antibotics and by giving me a shot it would get in my blood stream quicker making me feel better faster, which sounded good to me. The faster the better. He then began flicking the plastic syringe getting rid of any air that he may have collected. He then instructed me to roll up my pant leg as far as I could. As he was cleaning my upper leg with a alcohol pad I became nervous, but straightened my face quickly covering my fear.

"How did you manage to get it?" I asked, trying to take my mind off the needle that was coming closer and closer to my skin.

As he answered he swiftly stabbed it into the muscles of my leg. I flinched but kept myself from moving. It stung slightly with a dull ache, it wasn't too bad and I could handle it.

"I raided an old hospital near the edge of town. I found this stuff with no problem. No one saw me. I got more than we need if something like this happens again in the future." He said.

   I nodded my head and placed a band-aid onto the small amount of blood forming from the puncture of the needle. Nathaniel watched from a few feet away. I stood carefully and placed my boots back on my feet. The sun was begining to fall lower and lower in the sky.

Nathaniel spoke, "We should find a place away from the shack just in case Emzor survives and comes back."

"I agree," Abel replied.

      We mounted onto the horses, Nathaniel sitting behind me once again. We returned to the cave I had awoken in hours before. It would suffice for tonight. Nathaniel relit the fire he had made after saving me and we settled down for the night in our sleeping bags. Flashes of Emzor and his snakes crossed my mind over and over again chasing any sleep away. I crept from my sleeping bag and sat at the mouth of the cave where Bernie lay gingerly applying pressure to my wrapped foot. I stroked his fur slowly but froze when I heard foot steps behind me. I turned to look over my shoulder to see I ruffled Nathaniel padding barefoot towards me.  The remainder of the fire danced against his pale blonde hair casting him in shadow.

"Can't sleep?" He asked in a soft whisper.

I shook my head back and forth replying just as softly, "No, not after today. Not after seeing Emzor." I was surprised I was being so open toward him but Nathaniel was easy to talk to.

"I won't let him hurt you, Mukaylen." He said protectively.

Taken aback I turned to look at him our eyes clashing together green against a soft brown. We looked at each other for several minutes but finally I looked down.

"It's not for you to worry about." I demanded feeling miffed by his intensity to protect.

"No," He frowned, "But I do."

"Why?" I questioned with a creased brow but I secretly felt warm inside to my utter confusion.

"Someone as kind as you deserves protection."

"You don't know me, Nathaniel. Don't pretend that you do." I said suddenly feeling defensive.

"Maybe not, but I would like to." He voiced with a shake of his head his curls falling over his eyes slightly.

        I didn't know what to say to that and I felt myself blush at his candor. Who was he and why did he take such interest in me? Weariness formed and I question his trust but after all he had saved me.  Not knowing what to say I just smiled slightly and gazed up to the blood moon marveling at its brightness. Nathaniel began stroking Bernie and his tail thumped against the rocky ground. Our hands brushed unexpectedly and a tingle of warmth shot up my arm. I gasped snapping my head up to look at him, eyes wide. He jerked in response but didn't move away. It felt as though the sun suddenly was shining upon me and all I could do was lay in its warmth, his warmth. All I wanted to do was fall into him and bask in the feeling but I finally pulled away slowly gaining control over my body. I cleared my throat and stood.

"I should try and get some sleep." I said shakily wondering if he felt what I had felt when we touched.

With a dazed look in his eye he said, "Goodnight, Mukaylen."

     • • • • • • • •••

        I woke to the sun shinning in my eyes. I squinting at the brightness. Abel remained fast asleep with one leg sprawling out of the zipper of his sleeping bag. Nathaniel was gone. I stood to find him and made my way outside the cave. I still hadn't spotted him until I rounded the corner of the rocks. He sat on a medium sized boulder, his thick long legs dangling. The sun shown on his skin making it appear to sparkle and glow. His usually white blonde hair now a startling bright gold. I blinked and the illusion was gone.

"Good Morning. How do you feel?" He spoke without turning toward me, shocking me back to reality. People don't glow, Mukaylen. I scolded myslelf silently. I shook my head and cleared my throat sitting down beside him on the rock.

"Much better actually. The medicine really must have worked." I answered truthfully, trying not to think about our encounter from last night. I did feel better. My foot didn't ache like it did before, my body didn't feel as weak, and the fever seemed to be gone.

"Good." He said, pleased.

I looked up at the sky. The clouds were wonderfully fluffy and I wished I could touch them.

"Do you ever wish you could fly?" I surprised myself by asking.

I looked at him and he smiled nodding his head yes. He opened his mouth to speak but foot steps behind us cut him off. Turning I saw Abel making his way toward us. I stood as he spoke.

"We should really get going."

     We packed all of our stuff up and I passed around a few saltine crackers. Three a piece. I hadn't eaten all day yesterday and I was famished. I wasn't sure if the guys had ate anything either. I stuffed the last cracker into my mouth as I climbed onto Marcus.

       After travelling for as little as four hours the sky began to darken. Enormous dark gray clouds rolled above us. Rain fell in fat drops drenching my hair and flattening it to my skull. It was difficult to see as I ran Marcus to shelter under a large tree. Abel and Lady raced after us. Thunder boomed ahead and the sky darkened more. Without the Blood Moon or the sun shinning through the clouds it was almost as dark as night though it could be no later than ten in the morning. We remained under the tree a entire hour trying to wait out the storm. It wasn't letting up easily.

        As we waited we began to hear strangely familiar sounds. I tensed and looked around. None of us spoke. Cracking of tree branches and rustling filled the air. One by one, pairs of red eyes lit up all around us. We were surrounded by Death Eaters. There snarls echoed through the darkness loudly. Marcus reared onto his hind legs as he paniced. Nathaniel slipped off from behind me landing on the ground.

       It was quiet for a moment. Within seconds three of the monsters descended onto Nathaniel. I grabbed for my bow letting arrows fly into their bodies. Two crumbled and fell off of Nathaniel. He was throwing fast punches into the the other. Abel was busy slashing at the ones surrounding us with his elegant sword looking like a angry knight on the back of a terrified Lady. I threw the knife I kept into my boot at the head of the one Nathaniel was beating, having thankfully found it yesterday. It hit with a sick thud. The monster screamed a terrible sound and became limp. Nathaniel pulled the knife loose from its head and turned using it to kill another behind him.

       As I prepared another arrow a Death Eater lunged at me knocking me backward off of Marcus. I hit the muddie ground and cried out as I landed; my lungs working over time from the empact. I kicked my legs upward throwing the red eyed beast off me. Rain dripped from my hair and into my eyes as I quickly aimed a arrow at the beast before it could lunge for me again. The arrow flew gracefully before sinking deep into its throat. It screamed and fell silent as it died slowly. I was now separated from Nathaniel and Abe. The Death Eater had sent me flying atleast ten feet. I was surprised to see the guys working together as a team, killing dozens at a time.

        As most of the Death Eaters cowardly retreated from the fight one stood out to me from all the others. It ran quickly ahead of the others on its hands and feet, but one hand was occupied by something. I gasped as I realized what it was. It was a baby. A human baby it had likely stolen from a woman it had killed. I ran for Marcus and mounted quickly. I raced after the crying baby and the Death Eater. No way in hell would I let it have it! Marcus flew after them. The babies cries getting louder as I gained on them.

*******