Prologue
I wobble in the dark. I have to find my way back to school. Each step is like a stab in the gut. The lights of the school peep into the darkness, it’s close but agony makes it impossible to reach. One, two, three staggers are enough to take my breath away. My chest aches with exhaustion, not that I have walked a long distance, but pain makes me weak. Every muscle scream as I move. The wound must be infected.
Heat coils in my belly up my body. My blood is boiling, even my tongue is hot in my mouth. It’s like I am walking in a furnace. Clothes cling to my body as sweat drips down my spine like I went for a swim wearing them. If the beast finds me, it will enjoy a cooked meal. My limbs are tender. I can barely lift my legs.
I should rest a little bit. My body is too sore for more steps. I support my wounded hand as I sit on the ground with caution. Easier said than done. After a few adjustments, I lean against a tree satisfied. I know I'm still in the forest and creatures of the night are crawling everywhere, but I am beyond caring. All I need is rest. Just a little bit, just for a moment to gain strength.
A groan escapes me as pain pierces through my shoulder. Its intensity makes my eyes water. The pain douses for a bit and like on cue, my ears start ringing. The sounds of the forest fall behind. What kind of an infection is this? Everything is happening at once. The heat, the agony, and the ringing. I can’t handle any of it.
With heavy breath, I lean my head against the tree. No clouds in the sky. The mesmerizing moon and stars mock me with their beauty as I anguish in pain. My head pounds from staring up. For a moment, I hallucinate. There is no way the moon is blue. I squint in discomfort, my head splits in half. No, it is definitely not blue, yet the quarter moon turns blue the more I stare at it. Yes, the fever is making me hallucinate.
My eyes drop, sleep creeps in. I need a minute to nap then continue. I drift off, letting sleep consume me. An instant twinge on my index finger startles me. Something stung me, it hurts like a bitch. What else do I expect in the forest? I need to keep moving.
Carefully, I hoist my arm up by the elbow as I get up. I don't want my shoulder to get worse. I step on a sharp object when I stand up, I tremble in pain trying to steady myself. Damn it. The strength to pull whatever is stuck in my leg is scant but walking like this is not an option either. I bend down, sacrificing my shoulder which feels like it's about to come off. I’m able to remove the thorn. Now my foot is pulsing, can a girl catch a break? At least it's not as bad as the bite.
I teeter as thin spruce branches brush against my skin coming out of the forest. My throbbing head worsens. My vision blurs. I sigh in relief as a shadow pace in the courtyard. A light follows the shadowy, patrol guard. I am beyond exhausted but the thrill of finding help gives me enough energy. I am saved, yes
''Help, help'' I yell. My swelling shoulder throbs as it bleeds down my hand.
''Please'' I scream.
The light stops followed by a rough voice. ''Hey, what are you doing outside your rooms in the middle of the night?'' the guard shouts as he strides towards me.
Suddenly my body feels heavy. My legs give out. I hit the ground with a thud. ''please!'' I murmur. Everything is hazy as I lay on the ground. His eyes bulge hovering over me, he says something I can't make out. Something about blood but I lost consciousness trying to understand him.
