||F E A R||

||CARRY ME||

     ​"What do we have to lose? Dread needs help, we need food," I whispered to the others, "Okay, lead us Ambassador. We trust you." She noised her agreement, nodded and began walking the she came, using a broken off branch for balance.

"When did you become The Eye?" Charge asked as she and Blu helped Ambassador walk.
"When I was no older than you and not much younger than the sick one back there," her head motioned toward Dread, "they killed off the one before me." She let out a long sigh. Charge went to say something but closed her mouth when she realized there was nothing to say.
The ground began to vibrate and a nondescript shouting followed. Out of habit, I dropped Dread on his back delicately and ducked over him. "Do not worry young one, we are here. We are at my home. They will not take you here, not unless I order them to." She let out a dry chuckle at the end of her statement.
"I... I don't understand." Charge sputtered out.
"You will my friend. Just follow the sounds. I assure you." Charge helped me pick up our friend and we continue with hesitantly following the rest of the group. For majority of the way there, I only kept my head down and watched the ground under our feet; I tried to keep my head down to avoid eye contact with anyone and everyone.
People began cheering and applauding as we walked through the place Angeline called home. "Get this boy some help," Angeline said as Dread was swept away from me. I began screaming and reached after him.
"We can't be separated! We need to stay together!" I was held back to allow Dread to receive help. My breathing became fast and shallow as my vision became blurry. My nerves were on fire yet I was shivering as if I was cold. I felt numb yet completely aware.
A small child, a little girl maybe 6, approached me and laid one tiny hand on my cheek. Her touch was warm, like the way tea warms one in winter. After a long second, she wrapped her small arms around my neck, allowing me to lay my forehead on her shoulder, causing her  warmth to spread. As she attempted to comfort me, my chest throbbed and pounded against my aching, stinging ribcage. I felt my body having minor spasms; nothing like Dread's Soot induced fits. Suddenly, the invisible vice grip on my wind pipe began to release its grasp. Tears irritated my face, causing it to become puffy and stained.
"It'll be okay," I heard a little voice. "My mommy will take good care of him." I could hear her smile, a genuine smile. She let go and took my calloused and soil stained hand in her soft little one and gave it a gentle squeeze. I was cold again. She's so young and pure...
"What's your name, sweetie?" Charge asked softly as we approached her.
"Calliope." She said excitedly. Charge and Calliope began talking as Ambassador weakly approached me. She squeezed my shoulder and gave me a smile. She gently cocked her head to the right, signaling that she wanted to talk to me alone. She hooked her arm onto my elbow for support.
I made a lame attempt at a joke but we laughed nonetheless. She patted my back twice and then gave my shoulder a loose squeeze, signaling that we were out of range for Calliope and the other girls to hear. She had a concerned look on her face. My heart began to race again.
"Oh no... how bad is it?" I tried to hide my anxiety bubbling in my chest once more as best I could.
"I've been told he most likely will not make it through the night. Something is happening. Something no Eye has ever seen before." My confusion must have been evident because she continued with "you should be by his side. If he does go tonight, he shouldn't be alone. He'll shake. He'll hallucinate. He'll be in sever pain. He should be focused on anything but the pain. Get the girls and go comfort him. Go." In an instant I took off, screaming as I passed the girls.
     I remembered the direction they took him and paused for a swift moment. Focus I told myself. Focus and Breathe. He doesn't need you when you're fearing beyond the worst. I looked at Blu before she took off. Charge and I followed and bust through the doors of a medium sized building. We stopped in our tracks when the smell hit. Flowers and disinfectant alcohol failing to cover the thick aroma of death, puss and disease.