A Strange Tale (multiverse fanfiction) (On Hold)

Chapter 9: Drowned, Mutilated and Now Possibly Poisoned?

"Sandy! You're alive!" Mary grappled and hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe. I winced as my shoulder started to burn even more. I'd have to ask Merlin soon to check it out.

Mary soon noticed the man behind me and took a subtle step back. "Who is this?"

Geralt, as I've come to call him, responded with a simple, "Hmm..." before stepping away and towards Arthur, who was busy trying to maintain control and order. Most of the students were panicking and rightfully so. I spotted Rachel shaking uncontrollably, and gasped as blood was scattered all over her.

"Did anybody?" I began to ask and Mary shook her head.

"It was a really close call for her though...Derek stepped in just in time..."

I nodded. Of course, he did, but then, who was I to complain? I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for this intimidating witcher...

"We need to get out of here..."

"I know," Mary muttered. "But how? We're no longer on earth...orcs don't exist on earth do they?"

I nodded and sighed. I was clueless. I glanced up to see both Arthur and Geralt glancing at me. Arthur subtly looked down, but Geralt did not stop his staring. I ignored him and focused on Mary. "Maybe we should start by finding out how we got here."

"Good luck trying to get anything out of them," Mary motioned towards the group. "Those boys barely give anything away."

My thoughts drifted to Derek. He had surprisingly been more open. Maybe he could provide the answers necessary. I glanced at the witcher again, and my eyes widened.

He was still staring at me.

Did this guy not have any boundaries?

"Hey, you two alright? I have a few emergency injuries to check, but I wanted to make sure you two are ok..." Merlin spoke.

I swallowed. My shoulder hurt, sure, but it could be treated later. "We're fine," Mary responded. Merlin gave a tired nod and moved on. 

As soon as everyone was patched up, we were forced to be on the move.  Seemed like Geralt was meant to meet them in the woods, halfway towards the city. It was pure fortune that I had bumped into him when I did.  I winced. This shoulder was getting really bad.

The woods were confusing but beautiful. I tried to focus on the surroundings instead of the throbbing pain in my shoulder. Everything was strange, different. The trees were a painting of a variety of colours. Some birds fluttered around, and I couldn't really tell what species. I supposed everything was different in this Amorgania.

I glanced to see Mary trip and almost faint. We were all exhausted, but Arthur was ruthlessly pushing us to get to the city as soon as possible. I glanced at Derek who was rounding up those who lagged behind.  Dean was with Rachel, hugging and comforting her. Merlin was patching up Brad's arm while walking. It looked quite amusing.

But where was the Witcher?

I gave a short gasp as the pain in my shoulder shot through my leg. I walked up to Arthur.

"Can we please..."

"No..."

"Just five minutes," I begged. 

"Have you learnt nothing from that ambush? People want Rachel dead, and you could easily be collateral damage."

"I almost was," I snapped. 

Arthur stared at me and sighed. "Look, if you want babying and comfort, go to Merlin. He's better with these feelings...things."

"I don't want comfort...I want a break...all of us do...excuse me if us being snatched from our world and thrust into never-ending danger is so inconvenient for you...we don't belong here, and we sure as hell are not as strong as you...we need...I need a break, please..." I said. 

"We cannot stop,"

I jumped as Geralt's deep voice rang beside me. I stared up at him, and he only shook his head. 

"See, even Geralt agrees with me..."

"Don't push your luck," Geralt glares at Authur, and I sensed there was tension between them. Well, great.

"Look, all I want is a...." I froze as a burning sensation filled my stomach. Before I could control myself I keeled over and vomited.

"Sandy...." Arthur's voice rang at my side.

I couldn't stop. Black ooze came from my mouth, and I panicked. I couldn't breath and I was bent over. What the hell was happening to me?

I felt my hair being removed out of the way.

"MERLIN!" Arthur screamed. "COME HERE, YOU BUFFOON!"

I kept coughing and groped my hands on the ground. I couldn't breathe.

"Sandy! Sandy!" Mary screamed. I felt her grab my arm. I couldn't believe it.

Why the hell was this happening to me? Why was I always fighting with death? I gasped and fresh air filled my lungs.  But as soon as I could breathe, my shoulder erupted in the worst pain. It felt like hot burning metal was pressing against it.

"Make it stop!" I screamed and fell to my side. I clutched my shoulder and I opened my eyes. Everything was swirling.

"What's happening?" Dean appeared.

"I don't know..."

"What do you mean you don't know? You learned from the best physicians..."

"It looks like she was poisoned...I just don't know where..."

Poisoned?!

"Her shoulder!" Mary's voice pierced through. "She's been rubbing and wincing! It's her shoulder!"

I felt myself getting pushed up and Merlin was now checking my wound...

Geralt said one singular swear word that made me realize I was in deep trouble, but his voice drowned out in the panic between Mary and Arthur. 

"It's red weed," Merlin's voice rang out.

I grunted and groaned. The pain just kept growing. "Please," I begged. "Make it stop." 

A hand gripped my arm and I gasped in relief as a large amount of the pain suddenly left me.  I looked to my left to see Derek holding my arm. His arm's veins seemed to pop out in a black like shape as if he was taking some of the poison for me.

"I can't do this for long," Derek gasped.

"Maybe you won't need to...if you keep going, I can replicate the magic, if one of you will also take some of the poison, it may be enough to save her life," Merlin spoke.

"I'll do it," Arthur's voice rang out. "She's my responsibility, I should have taken better care of her."

"Hmmm...no, allow me...I have better resistance, I might not die..." Geralt spoke.

"Are you saying I'm weak?" Arthur spoke.

"Yes..."

"Woah, you girls can punch it out later, now's really not the time to have a debate," Dean spoke. "I think Geralt should do it...he's  a witcher thingie after all...might stand a better chance of surviving."

"Grip her other arm," Merlin ordered.

I felt the witcher grab my other arm and gasped as the pain left me entirely. Darkness wrapped around me, and I was unconscious...slipping into a nightmare of memories.