Tales of Aridia

Back to the forest

Hope clutched her chest where the pyewacket had been imbedded. She wheezed for a few moments before settling down. Lucy however did not have the same reaction. She sat normally, with a bland face and dull eyes. There was no sign of her struggling. A small smile creeped through the corners of her mouth. "I can feel it," Hope said. She circled her chest with her finger, "it's floating around inside me," she said.

"I want to show you something," I said, gesturing with my hand. Hope nodded eagerly but lucy recoiled in silence. "I'm going home," she said. I tried to get her to sit back down but she was adamant that she wanted to leave. Lucy strolled off out of the opening and back down the lane towards her home.

I had decided to take Hope down to the edge of the lake, knowing she could protect herself if anything went down. Dusk had arrived and the moon peaked over the clouds, perfect timing for what I wanted to show Hope. As we came across the Lake I stood in the flowers aura, it's white beaming glow. Hope was entranced, the way I was when I first saw the Kadupal. "It's beautiful," Hope said. She sat down on the very edge of the lake, slipped her shoes off and dipped her toes into the frigid water. She gazed upon it in amazement and awe.

The atmosphere that revolved around it was peculiar, yet warm and inviting. Something spoke in the trees. I looked but there was nothing there, a warning that we shouldn't be there. "We should go," I said gulping.  I span in circles, keeping my eye on the darkness. "But I like it here..." Hope said glumly. Her feet slipped into the water more, and the lake gradually moved up her body. "Hope! What are you doing?" I said. She ignored me, like I wasn't there. "It's so pretty..." she slurred, swimming towards the Kadupal.

On the other side of the lake the bank sloped downwards, and on its shore lay a body. It had a long navy cape and a sword was outstretched in its palm. It was hard to see from the distance, but the body began to twitch. The man rose to his knees and soon spotted Hope. She had been hypnotised by the flower and was not her right self. Her fragile, small body, hovered in the lake. She looked like an easy target.

"Hope.... get out," I said. Her finger stretched out and stroked the petals of the Kadupal. The man had disappeared, leaving a mark in the sandy banks of the lake. It was silent for a moment, but my worries grew deeper. Hope turned to face me, she smiled sweetly as always. The silence was engulfed in a crash of waves as Hopes weak body was pulled underwater. I had no time to react, one minute she was there, and the next... she was gone.

"No!" I yelled. I too jumped into the lake. It was colder this time, darker. The light from the Kadupal had dimmed like the life had Been sucked away from it.  Hope was being dragged further and further down but I knew what to do. I pushed with my hands, fighting the force of the water and the man with the navy coat was sent hurdling to the bottom of the lake where helanded clean on a rock. His back bent backwards and the sound of the bones snapping vibrated the water.

My attention was diverted to Hope. She too was limp and motionless, she had stopped attempting to reach air. I wrapped my hand around hers and swam upwards. The force of the water and her weight was too much, and I was struggling to keep my own life. "Please..." I whispered, my hand reaching the the Kadupal.

A single vine withered and squirmed before wrapping itself around my wrist. I kept hold of hope tight while we were dragged to the surface. When we broke into the air I gasped violently, choking on water which had escaped into my lungs. Hope however did not. She still floated, unconscious without breathing.

I dragged her body and slumped it onto the banks of the lake. I was exhausted, barely able to stand. I stared at Hope, the colour in her lips was draining away and her eyes had rolled back into her head. Her heart has slowed to a few struggling beats, gripping onto the last of its capability. The moons light shone directly over her, spectating Hope as she faded out of existence.