Wither Sickness Book 5: Legends Remembered

Rest First Problem Later

Jesse Pov:

I wake up to the rushing of water.

My vision is blurry and the loud cackling of fire makes my heart beat faster.

An enormous bang erupts and my ears ring loudly.

I blink and gaze up meeting Lukas' striking blue eyes.

"Huh? Where are we?" I gaze up at him.

Lukas says something, but I'm unable to hear him.

I feel Reuben's presence, it's weak, but with me nevertheless.

"Jesse," It cames out a little indistinct, but I can make out what he's saying regardless.

"Lukas?"

Lukas helps me sit up and I'm left dazed and very confused.

My back is against a cool bumpy surface and I gaze up at Lukas, silence now finding my ears.

"What...happened?" I avert my gaze and look at the entrance of the cave.

"We fell off a bridge remember?" His tone is genuine and his fingers softly rub against my wet cheek.

Everything falls silent and my thoughts wander.

Those noises weren't really there right?

"When I found you it was pretty scary," Lukas says faintly.

"Huh...why?"

"You were underneath a large puddle of blood," Lukas explains.

I try to get up, but Lukas holds me in place.

"You shouldn't go up and about yet Jesse."

My bones ache and my head pulses sharply. "You need to rest," Lukas concludes.

"But L-..," I start.

"Rest first Jesse," He gently places his hand on my shoulder, "We can't take any chances right now."

With a defeated sigh, I lean against the cave wall and avert my gaze.

Lukas then lifts my chin and slowly leans in. My heart hammers against my chest. His beautiful azure eyes stare right into mine and he pulls me into a deep, but reassuring like kiss.

Lukas pulls away, his face a bit red. Blush spread across his soft cheeks.

Lukas swiftly takes off his coat and drapes his warm jacket over my shoulders.

"I'll be back okay. Just...hang tight."

"Mmm.. I wouldn't count on that if I were you," I smirk as he chuckles.

He leaves the damp cave and I turn my gaze to the small fire.

I can't help but smile as an old memory resurfaces.

"What are you thinking about." Lukas asks me his voice filled with concern.

"Y'know the last time you made a fire." I said looking down.

My body is shivering and the fire's warmth seems to have no effect on my freezing body.

I clutch Lukas' jacket tighter and I feel my headache going away. Probably Reuben's doing to be honest.

Y'know since he can heal me and all.

I'll admit having his presence around is nice, but I still miss him. A lot.

Right about now he would have been snuggled up against me, laying comfortably in my arms.

The fire's flames suddenly shoot up higher and I know who did that.

Reuben.

I chuckle and shake my head playfully.

Then, I take a deep breath, suddenly serouis.

We fell off a bridge and into the water....so that must mean we landed on a shore or something.

I slowly get up. My aching bones throb, but I force myself up anyway.

I limp towards the entrance of the cave while gritting my teeth.

My eyes widen as I see what's in the nearby distance. Water.

A whole ocean. How are we going get out of here now?

I pace back and forth, nervously raking my hand through my wet hair.

The others! They will be very worried if I don't turn up soon! Besides we where supposed to have a meeting today!

Shoot. The war! I have to get back to Beacontown!

I have to.

Maybe we're somewhere near Beacontown. Well... that's the hope.

For the next 30 minutes or so I'm a pacing mess.

Despite the fact that my sore bones are screaming at me, I continue pacing around.

Arms wrap around my waist and I suddenly stop.

"Calm down Jess," Lukas says nonchalantly.

My shoulders slump, "Lukas we have to get back."

"I know. I'm working on that," Lukas takes me by the hand, "Look."

I follow him out of the cave and down to the shore. I see a sickening amount of blood as I limp.

"This is where we came from. Well the direction anyway," Lukas comments, his voice comforting and soothing.

"So.."

"So...we could try following the stream," Lukas says turning to me, "But we don't know if the stream divides along the way."

I bite my bottom lip. That sure is a problem.

I roll my neck to one side and gaze at the glimmering lake.

Up ahead the lake narrowed down to a wide stream.

"We need a boat."

"Yeah, but there aren't exactly many resources here," Lukas adds.

He's right. There's nothing, but desert and caves, but in the distance there's another small island, but with loads of trees.

"Hey Lukas," I point towards the island, "Look trees."

"We can't exactly cross an ocean Jesse if that's what your thinking," Lukas says, "Especially with your leg."

He's right. With this leg I'll never make it across.

"Any other idea's?"

Lukas shakes his head. "I can try scouting the area a bit more, but I doubt there's any trees on this island."

Lukas averts his gaze from me. "If we want to get out of here first we need to recover. Fully recover. Then maybe we could start heading across."

"That's not gonna work Lukas. Besides, I'll be fine."

"Nope. That's when everything goes wrong," Lukas says.

I rake a hamd through my hair, "Maybe....maybe..."

"Look. I'll look for resources. I'll check how rapid the current is. Just rest."

"But-"

"If you want us to get out of this then you need to rest. You have to. Or else we'll never make it across," Lukas says.

I avert my gaze, knowing that he was right. Trying to walk with my leg was painful enough and if I try to swim while my leg is like this.

Well...then that would be a whole lot worse wouldn't it.

With a defeated sigh, I slowly nod my stiff head. "Fine. I'll rest."

"Don't worry Jesse we'll get out of here, I promise."