Gregor and the Prophecy of Destruction - a Gregor the Overlander fanfiction

Chapter 6

Gregor stared at the prophecy in his hand. It made him feel very uncomfortable. What did it mean? The girl must fall, and the boy must rise? The blood of a killer and a gnawer will make a weapon? How can blood be a weapon? And who would they have to sacrifice?

"Hey, let me see that," Lizzie said, reaching for the prophecy.

Gregor quickly tucked it into his backpack. "No, I... I don't think that's a very good idea."

Lizzie started to get worried again. "Why? What's in there?"

"N-nothing much. Just says that you and Boots will be of 'great importance.'"

"But it doesn't say how?" Lizzie asked.

Gregor shook his head. "It's very vague. I don't know what it means."

"Gre-Go!" Boots exclaimed. "I sweepy."

"Again?" Gregor asked with a laugh.

Boots suddenly went into a coughing fit. Gregor quickly ran over to her and patted her on the back. Eventually, Boots stopped coughing.

"That never happens," Lizzie said worriedly.

Gregor shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it. Boots is fine."

"No! I sweepy!" Boots announced. "Gre-Go, up!"

Gregor sighed and picked up Boots. "Okay, I'll take you to your room."

"Hey, um, Gregor... could I stay in the same room as Boots?" Lizzie asked. "It would make me a lot more comfortable."

Gregor nodded. "Sure, that's fine."

"I'll take them to their room," Howard offered, reaching for Boots. Lizzie smiled as she followed Howard into the hallway.

Once he knew they were gone, Gregor ran into Luxa's hospital room. Luxa, who had been resting her eyes, opened them and looked at Gregor with a grin.

"You just couldn't stay away, could you?" she said teasingly, taking his hand.

Gregor sighed. "I... I just read the prophecy."

Luxa's smile faded. "Oh... yeah. The prophecy. Guess I'm the girl that falls after the blast, huh?"

Gregor shook his head. "No. You're not going to die, Luxa. I will save you."

Luxa leaned up and gave Gregor a small peck on the lips. "You'll save the Underland. I have no doubt about that."

"Luxa," Gregor said frustratedly. "I don't care what it takes. I will find a way to save you, no matter what."

Luxa looked up at Gregor with her violet eyes. "I hope you do, Gregor."

Gregor grabbed her head and kissed her again. This time, it was more passionate. He was determined to save Luxa, at any cost.

"Hey! Kid! What are you doing in here?" a doctor yelled, hurrying into the hospital room. "It's time for her daily procedures! Get out!"

Gregor stared into Luxa's eyes as he walked out. She looked at him for as long as she could, but the doctor's forced her to do all these procedures. Gregor watched for a few minutes, but then he realized how exhausted he was. His sisters had both slept through the subway, but he'd stayed awake. He decided to go back to his room for the night. But not before seeing Mareth.

Gregor walked to Mareth's room, which was just down a few doors from Luxa's room. He opened the door, and, seeing no doctors inside, entered the room.

"Hey, Mareth," Gregor said. "How are you?"

Mareth, who was lying on the bed looking weak and tired, smiled. "Hurting," he managed to say.

Gregor nodded, and Mareth's smile faded. Gregor sat down on the bed and spoke softly.

"Mareth, I..." he started. "I am so sorry about what happened to you. Howard told me... and I... I can't imagine what that must have been like."

Mareth opened his eyes and looked at Gregor. He tried to speak, but he was too weak.

"I'm here for you if you need anything," Gregor said. "If you need to talk... if you need a friend... or even if you just need company. I'll be here. Just send someone to get me."

Mareth nodded to show his understanding, but then, his head fell to the side. He had fallen asleep.

"Goodnight," Gregor whispered before leaving the hospital room. He shut the door behind him.

Gregor headed down the hall towards Boots and Lizzie's room. He knew his room was just across from theirs - he had stayed there a countless number of times. Once he got to his room, he threw his backpack down on the ground and fell back onto his bed. Minutes later, he was asleep.

Three hours later, Gregor woke up to the sound of his name being called.

"Gregor! Gregor, wake up!"

Gregor groaned and rolled over. "Five more minutes..."

"GREGOR!" the voice yelled.

Gregor jumped out of bed. "What? What is it?" He opened his eyes and saw Lizzie. "Is everything okay?"

Lizzie panicked and shook her head. "It's... it's Mareth! He's... dying!" Tears streamed down Lizzie's cheeks, and she fell to the ground, unable to stand. "He... he..." She gulped in a breath of air. "Went into... cardiac arrest..."

"What?!?" Gregor gasped.

Lizzie was breathing rapidly. She was shaking, and her crying was uncontrollable. She was definitely having a panic attack. And for once, Gregor didn't know what to do. So, he did the first thing he could think of.

"RIPRED!" he screamed. "RIPRED!" He was sure the rat would be able to hear him.

Then, to Lizzie, he said, "He'll be here soon. I have to go see Mareth."

"Wait!" Lizzie gasped, her eyes filled with tears. She could barely speak because she was crying so hard. "D-don't... l-l-leave m-me!"

"I'm sorry," Gregor said before taking off towards Mareth's hospital room, leaving Lizzie a crying mess on the floor. He felt bad. But if Mareth was dying...

He shook it off and, ignoring the doctors, sprinted through the hospital room door.

"MARETH!" Gregor shouted.

"Sir, you're going to have to leave," a doctor told him.

"But he's my best friend!" Gregor exclaimed.

"We don't have time for this. GUARD!"

Before Gregor knew what was happening, he was being escorted out of the room by a guard. The familiar buzzing feeling in his stomach got more noticeable by the second.

Gregor welcomed the rager sensation and spun around, punching the guard in the face and kicking him in the balls. The guard yelled out in pain and stumbled backwards. Gregor ran back and pressed his hands to the glass wall.

Suddenly, a sight made Gregor's heart break.

The beeping from the monitor that showed Mareth's heartbeat had stopped.

Flatline.