Dark beginnings

Chapter four

Evan went on to say, "We were never like them."Because of Mom's lessons, we weren't even able to talk like them.After their deaths, we grew up even faster.Especially you.You felt responsible for both their and my deaths.She looked at me with compassion.Because there is nothing you can do, I did not tell you.Alex, I know you.I realize that no Alexer what I say you'll wind up assuming a sense of ownership with my demise, very much as you did when Mother and Father passed on.I simply desired for you to be spared some of the agony.

It was significantly more clear now that Evan was major areas of strength for the.She was correct.That was clear enough from the nightmares I had.I already held myself responsible for the events.I couldn't help but think that none of this would have happened if Evan hadn't gone foraging so far from camp.She was also dying at this point.What I would dream about in a few days was all I could imagine.I shuddered in terrible anticipation of the concept.

"What exactly took place to you?"I merely inquired.

She turned her attention away from me and into the flickering embers of the dying campfire.I think I had a vision or dream when I reached for the berries. I'm not sure what you would call it.Anything it was, I saw a man in our ranch dressed all in dark with bruised eyes."

"He wasn't he? He was wearing this ring."I curved the virus silver band in my fingers.

She gave a nod.Arcaine was the man, wasn't he?I recall you discussing him.

Yes, he was that.What took place next?”

"He sprayed me with an odd green mist.It was painful.bad.I think I probably screamed and fainted at that point.I was woken up by you the next thing I knew.

If that was her vision, I found it odd that it was exactly like what had happened to me three years earlier.Since just the djinn, my dad, and I had been available and knew those subtleties, it affirmed to me that Arcaine had done this to her.Why?Was it for fun only?I wouldn't bet against it.

“How about that?”I pushed with care.A hint could be found in the tiniest of details.

She continued to stare into the coals for a considerable amount of time.It appeared as though she was contemplating whether or not to respond.But she finally did.No," she said. "He addressed me."

"What was he saying?"I figured it would be the same as what he had said to me before.Not at all.

"He instructed me to say "Hello" to you."

I tried to process what she had just said, but I couldn't quite grasp it.He instructed you to say hello?I said something under my breath.I didn't understand why I had the impression that I was being mocked.I was nothing more than a farm boy to him.However, one thing was confirmed.

A trap had been set.

I tried to figure out what to do as I sank against the tree and rubbed my temples with my palms.Evan was about to die, and everything about the situation was meaningless.

That's what it came down to after thinking about the current situation for some time.Evan was dying.That is precisely what Alexered.Arcaine, the djinn, and the trap weren't important either, especially since I didn't know where they fit in.Saving my sister was all I thought often about.And I was going to act that way.save her.It appeared to be the only choice.I wouldn't just stand by and watch her pass away.

It was also possible.Three years ago, there were rumors of a treatment.It might be simple to acquire given how long has passed.Additionally, if I was unable to discover a treatment, maybe slaying Arcaine would break the plague's spell.Even if only a small chance existed, saving Evan would have been worthwhile.

"You're going, right?"My thoughts were interrupted by her voice.She must have noticed how determined I was.

"I must."I won't let you die unless I try to stop it.I'd never like myself again."I was aware that I was attempting to defend my position.Although it felt right to look for a cure, I couldn't help but wonder if I was a good brother to leave my dying sister to her own devices.

"What if I didn't want you to go?" I asked.Would you remain?

I gave the question a lot of thought, but in the end, I couldn't stop her.That's right.I'll stay if you want me here.

We remained silent for a long time without either of us speaking.Deep in thought, Evan turned to look down.On the other hand, knowing that this would be one of my last chances, I took in everything about her, from her smile to her toes.I wanted to remember her as she was now, not as she would have been when the plague was at its worst.

Evan was the one to break the silence.Do you really believe there is a treatment?”I did not bother to respond to the query.We were both aware of the odds.Alex . . .”

“Yeah?”

"I'm afraid."

I stayed quiet.I wasn't sure how to react without weeping.

I had so many ideas of things I wanted to do.I have my own family, make new friends, and court boys.And right nowDoes it hurt?

I turned my head.No.You won't feel a thing."Even though I suspected she was aware that it was a lie, that did relieve some of her tension.

The repulsive green veins caught her eye as she surveyed her arms.She finally said, "I don't want to die," clenching her jaw like she was struggling with something.Once more, I didn't say anything.Go.Find a solution.Any chance is better than none at all.Alex, then?”

“Yeah?”

"I want you to be here when I...when I . . .”She choked on the words in her mouth.

"Don't even consider it."

She lost all of her energy at that point, and she collapsed against the tree, exhausted, closing her eyes.I began scaling the tree, thinking she was asleep.When she called again, I had only fallen a few branches.Do you recall the song that your father used to sing to us to get us to sleep?”

I felt a lump in my throat.How could I forget about it?It had succeeded in lulling him to sleep each night as he sang it with a rich, deep voice.One of my favorite memories was of it.Yeah.”

Can you sing me it before you leave?

I crawled back to her because I knew I wouldn't be able to cry through the song.I'm sorry, II can't remember every word.

“Oh.”Her face showed the disappointment she felt.

For what was likely to be my last time holding her, I laid next to her.I whispered, "Evan, I love you."As she fell back asleep, a small smile appeared on her lips.I held her for a few more minutes while attempting to permanently erase that experience from my mind.

I carefully got up, kissed her on the brow, and climbed down the tree, knowing I couldn't stay for long.

I took out my knife and used my thumb to check its edge as I stood facing the embers of the fire.It drew blood even under the lightest pressure.As I rubbed the blood around with my fingers, it sparkled in the dying firelight.Darkly, I smiled.

I prepared.I would find Arcaine if I could not find the cure.There was a score to settle.

His father continued to run toward the house across the field, holding Alex in one hand and shielding his eyes from the flames' glare with the other.

“Dad!”Over the roaring sound from above, Alex yelled.They are directly targeting us!

His dad gazed upward, however the activity made him trip and, incapable to get himself, he collided with the soil.He twisted at the last moment to avoid crushing Alex while swearing.

They had no time to get up and run because the flames and whatever they were hiding were only a few seconds away.As soon as the objects hit the ground, his father stood and pushed Alex behind him.They prepared for the imminent blow.

However, there was no effect.Instead, the flames stoked the plants beneath them as the objects hovered just inches above the soil of the farm.From behind his father, Alex saw the world and couldn't help but wonder if this was the apocalypse his mother had taught him about.

He could now see that some of the flames burned brighter than others and had hints of other colors, from blues and blacks to deep reds, despite the fact that it was still impossible to see what was within each set.There were clearly two sets of flames burning brighter than any other.One that was black and the other was burning with a hint of blue right next to it.

After that, in unison, the flames began to fade away, and whatever was within them appeared to reclaim their original brilliance.Fear paralyzing Alex as he watched, the outlines of the objects began to take shape.They were human-looking.

The experience of leaving the forest was strange.The air wasn't as weighty, and there was no sodden, musky smell.It was also open;Cover was not present.I felt vulnerable and exposed.

I had also gathered as much food and water as I could and placed it next to Evan in the tree before leaving camp. I had also thrown additional wood on the dying embers.She wouldn't want to eat for at least a day and wouldn't be able to move to do so, but for the time being, I hoped she kept her strength up as much as she could.