Sixty-five

" It's just shock," I recognise Sophie's voice, even though it's a tad muffled, and slightly distorted. The feminine trill is easily distinguished when all the inhabitants of the camp are males.

" Is she going to die or something?" That's Abe. He is probably the only person I've ever met who worries about where I die. Paperwork. I remember the why.

" Don't be daft Abe, " Sophie chides, mirthfully as I open my eyes. Thankfully only a small light is on this time around, and it doesn't make me want to gauge my eyes out of the sockets.

" Ohh...look she's awake. Get Gerald," Sophie says as she crosses the room, brings her pen up and shines the light straight into my eyes. When I recoil and wince, she puts it away.

" Sorry. Just wanted to make sure you're still among us. You had a pretty nasty fall and bumped your head. It's not bad just another bump, " She picks up the chart and begins to scribble furiously on it, " I've put you back on antibiotics. But I don't know for sure if there is a more serious underlying issue until we get you to a hospital and have a good look at you. You have no fever or any other symptoms that could indicate an infection, " She talks as she writes, and I fail to understand how this girl has settled for a career in mining.

" Do you have any questions?" She puts the pen down and looks at me, squinting her eyes at me as if I've suddenly turned into a hideous creature. Granted, I'm not looking my best. I haven't had a chance to look in the mirror but I don't need, to know that I look like something pulled out of a horror show.

" What's wrong?" I ask, hoping to solve the mystery behind the strange stare.

She licks her lips, and opens her mouth, just as Gerald steps inside the cabin and slides behind Sophie, giving pretty much an identical look.

"You're poisoned," Sophie whispers horrified. I blink at them, confused and that's when I notice that something warm is trickling down along my nose.

I wipe, my face and when I look at my hand, is covered in blood.

" Before you ended up here," Gerald begins suddenly wary, as he takes a step back and pulls Sophie up from the little stool she is sitting on in front of me.

" Where did you come from?" Gerald's brows pinch together while Sophie picks up the chart and runs through all the observations she has made since they found me half-dead.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I feel that I should answer this one truthfully.

" I woke up in the valley. I don't know what is called or where it is. I barely made it out alive. It almost killed me. I only got out because I followed a lynx," I cut the story short while their eyes widen, suspiciously.

" You survived the devil's belly," Abe says with a mixture of horror and pride.

" Nobody survives that place. Then again, nobody is stupid enough to walk into it in the first place. Nature's death trap, at its finest," I couldn't agree more with that one.

I didn't, I want to say, but what's the point of dragging more innocent people into this?

Sophie relaxes, and slides back on the seat, "It's poison. I think I know which one. It will take a few days to get the right medication to treat it. Until then I'll keep you hooked to antibiotics," She doesn't supply what type of poison, but if it causes bleeding from all orifices then it can't be the kind that makes your skin look pretty before it kills you.

It's the kind that liquefies your insides, and I can't help but think of my windy friend. He did something to me that day. I've never felt my powers drain so quickly. So feeble and powerless. Whatever it is, is meant to kill me slowly and rather painfully. Marvellous.

" Is she contagious?" Abe asks, and Sophie turns to glare at him and points to the door. He trudges with his tail between his legs, leaving the door to close behind him with a soft clunk.

" Is it?" I have to know. She shakes her head, and sighs, looking rather dejected.

" What were you doing in the devil's belly?" Gerald asks as he lowers himself on the bed opposite mine.

The moment of truth. Do I tell them that I got dumped by a daiò turned rogue or do I lie my ass off and hope for the best?

" It's a long story, " I say quietly trying to avoid this conversation at all costs," What did Mason say?" I change the subject to something that requires an equal amount of dishonesty.

" Thaddeus was the one that called back. Mason hasn't been seen in over two weeks, almost three now. He just vanished," Of course. Shay. I'm not the only one who was targeted.

" Can you do me a favour?" I need to know if Laira and the others are safe," Can you call the academy in Morston and find out if they can get through to a certain Laira Winters," Gerald's brows rise, then pinch as he rises from the bed and goes outside. Hopefully to make the call, and put me out of my misery. If Laira is in trouble, I can't stay here and lick my wounds. I hope Enid is safe. That should have been my first call.

Sophie sighs and gets up to fill a glass of water. I'm not thirsty or hungry, I just need to know everyone is alive and well.

" Why?" Sophie asks as she hands me the glass of water and I grab it with my hands as if it is my lifeline.

" Why what?" I throw the question back, and Sophie lowers back into the chair to face me.

" Why that girl? Is she your sister? Or a friend?" She is both.

" She is both. Not blood sister, but a sister nonetheless in the best way possible. And my best friend. If something happens to her I wouldn't be able to live with myself," I leave out the most important detail - because of me- which is crucial to my sanity at the moment. I take comfort in the fact that Mason can handle himself. And I know he has taken precautions to safeguard Enid.