The Dragon Curse

Meeting again

We talked a little more and had some fun before my friends had to go home and I also needed to work, so they left. I didn't remember when I fell asleep after work, but I woke up in the morning in my bed. My muscles were sore from tree cutting yesterday, so when I tried to stand up I fell back onto my bed.

I was worried about Jack. Don't know why though, but it felt like I have to do something for him. Even though I don't really know him. I'm so relieved that we didn't talk that much about him yesterday because I'm sure I could've split it out that he was here. If anyone finds out this, I'll be dead for sure. Just, because the Bishop here is a really religious person. And he won't care about my excuses.

I rubbed my face as I took a deep breath and lied back down on my bed. How am I going to get out of this?

Suddenly I heard a sharp and painful shout, which sounded really weird. Was it the creature who saved me, or am I hallucinating things? Maybe if I check it out...

I stood up and put my cloak on, grabbing my bow and arrows and heading out towards the forest. I went deeper and deeper, but because there wasn't screaming anymore I couldn't find that creature easy. I was looking around, searching for it, but nothing. Then I heard it again, so I turned in the direction of the sound and followed it. Soon I found the sound source, but I didn't see fully what the thing was. All I could see was a bear trap and something like a wing stuck in it.

Blood was pouring out of the wounds onto the ground and the trap as well. The creature tried to get out of it, then when I stepped closer it started pulling on it more, which caused more pain.

"Hey, it's okay," I said as I tried to calm it down before it hurts the wing more. "Look."

I put down my bow and arrows on the ground under a tree and stepped away from it.

"I won't hurt you." I put my hands up and waited for its approval to get closer to it. "I just want to help."

I saw a hand covered with scales and it had big claws, grabbing onto the trap and opening it. It pulled the wing out and before I could see what it was, it disappeared again. Whatever this thing is, I'm sure it was the creature who saved me. Wait, scaled arm, wing... Is it.... a dragon? But... it's impossible, dragons are just imaginary creatures, right?

Maybe it's better if I go. I'm probably just too tired. I ran out of the forest and back to my home. I put my stuff down back to its place, and when I finished I ate something, then I heard as the shed's door was opened. I went outside and saw some blood on the door as someone touched it.

"Hello?" I asked as I went inside.

I followed the little blood trail until I found a body on a haystack, the person lying on his stomach like he just fell onto it. There were three big holes on the man's back, blood pouring out of it. I turned him around and I saw the same three holes on his side, but then I saw his face too. Jack.

This is it. I turned around to leave and run into the town immediately when I heard moving and mumbling from behind me.

"P-please... I didn't d-do anything..." I turned back and kneeled beside him, to check his wound more, when he whispered. "I don't want to die. I'm scared..."

He started shaking and I saw tears rolling down on his cheeks, hitting the ground. I still can't believe he is a criminal. Whatever he had been through, it probably wasn't that good. I don't care about the law, he needs help.

I looked at the holes again, thinking. There's nothing that can cause a wound like this. Maybe if I ask him when he wakes up. But he ran away yesterday... this time I won't let it happen.

I cleaned his wound from his blood and wrapped a piece of cloth around his body. His arm was covered with the same armor again and I was thinking about that the last time too, that why is it on his arm. Should I take it off? Probably not. What if it's infected, so he is just trying to stop it from spreading. Or he lost his arm and this is an arm made out of metal.  He won't answer this question definitely.

I went out and locked the door, so when he wakes up he can't leave. I went back into the house and washed my hands from his blood, then turned back to my work. After a while, I heard banging on the shed's door, so I went there.

"Hey! Let me out!" he screamed and I was just listening from outside. "I know you're there. Let me out!"

"After you answered my questions. Because of you, I'm in big trouble." I shouted back and there was a little silence. "I let you go, I swear, but now I want to talk with you... Just... promise me you won't run away like yesterday."

There was a little silence again, but I heard him taking a deep breath then answered.

"Fine."

I opened the door and quickly closed it behind me after I stepped in. He was standing in front of me with folded arms.

"So, first of all, who are you? Why are you wanted?" I asked, folding my arms as well.

"They think I'm dangerous, but I'm not," he said and sat down. "They think I'm a wizard or a witch..."

"And it's not true?" I asked, interrupting.

"No," he said coldly.

"Then why did you run away? You could've told me this then."

"I..." he started, but he didn't continue.

"You know what? Nevermind. What happened with your back?"

"Umm..."