Same things here again, I hope you enjoy, rate and comment if you feel like it n.n
Riot owns everything that is not OC, and so on and so on...
The Vines Unfold
...
Hayden passed the kitchen and picked up his car keys. He let them roll through his fingers, lost in thought. Why? Why did he care so much for her that he'll probably end up dead searching for her? Sigh... He walked to the garage, got into his car and drove away. The moment he drove down the street he forcefully stopped the car, realizing how lacking his plan was. Why did he drive to the city , while he was searching for a plant? The mental facepalm was real. Where would he find an ancient plant? In the forest of course. He turned around, driving off to the closest forest.
As soon as he entered the woods, he knew his assumption was right. Ten meters inwards, he already felt the atmosphere of dread and poison. The deeper part of the forest was covered in thorns and thick vines, winding themselves around the trees and scattered on the floor. All the sounds from outside the forest were shut out, and in the glooming dusk every little sound sent a shiver down his spine. He halted, knowing he now ventured deep enough into her territory.
'Zyra...' he whispered, and even his whispers sounded like a megaphone throughout the silence.
'Zyra, I know you can hear me. This is urgent. If you go on like this, they will hunt you down and kill you. I want to help you, now stop being so stubborn and at least listen to me!'
He was surprised he said that with such confidence, and stroked his wound absentmindedly. For a while, there was no response, but then he heard her voice, seemingly whispering from everywhere around him.
'You've made a huge mistake coming here, Hayden. I spared your life because you tried to explain me the situation I'm in with your petty excuses. But now there's nothing that guarantees your safety...'
Her slightly unnatural voice made him shudder, here alone and surrounded in the dark. Then he saw her elegant figure emerging from the darkness.
'What do you want?'
He could see her eyes glister in the darkness, but her face was still shrouded in the shade of the forest.
'I want to help you! I didn't lie yesterday! Haven't you noticed how much this world differs from Runeterra?'
This time, she emerged from the shadows. He couldn't resist to slightly gaze at her curvy...body features, but rapidly looked up at her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed in thought. The roots slithered around her like snakes, but didn't entangle him like yesterday...yet.
'Give me some proof.' she said finally. It seems like she was rather the calculated, intelligent one. Thankfully for him.
'Name something you encounter everyday in Runeterra.' he asked. In response to this she seemed to drift off again, lost in thought. Maybe she was like this because of her former life as a plant, when she could not do more but sitting there, rooted in place, with nothing much to do but thinking.
'Magic.'
The sudden sound of her voice made him jump a bit in surprise after the complete silence of the forest. After that, he quickly regained his senses, and started;
'Good, that's an easy one. You're a powerful mage yourself -smooth, some buttering up to keep her friendly- , have you even felt the slightest of magical aura anywhere near here?'
To this she pouted, knowing she was wrong. This was so strange to see on her, but somewhere it was very cute.
'No, but-'
-'Have you seen any trace of Hextech-technology around here?'
'Neither do I have seen that, but how-'
-'This is the last one. I know for a part that every Champ has an emergency set of runes with him or her to immediately return to the Institute of War. Do you still have yours?'
In response, Zyra lifted her right hand in the air and opened her hand, her slender fingers stretched out. A blue aura emerged, and a set of a cool-blue toned runes appeared in her hand.
'This will be practical proof. If you still don't believe me, try to return to the Institute.'
She glared at him one more time, and started. Her whole body started to glow, while runes appeared and melted themselves into the ground one by one. With every rune that rooted itself in the ground, the aura around her grew brighter and expanded. This was so exciting! He was watching a real-life recall in front of him!
But when the last rune melted into the ground, nothing happened. A moment everything around Zyra froze, but then the aura disappeared, and the runes lifted themselves back into her hand, fading away into their hiding place again. She just stood there now, with a shocked expression on her face, still trying to comprehend that the runes floated back to her hand and that she wasn't teleported back to the Institute of War.
'...See?' Hayden said.
She took a deep breath, causing her chest to rise, accenting her barely covered breasts even more. He had to keep himself from staring, because that could mean his death.
'Do you believe me now?'
Once more, Hayden was shocked how he found that confidence to say it so bluntly in her face, and Zyra noticed that. While her yellow eyes narrowed, she drew closer. He could feel the thorny vines around him crawl again. When she was just inches away from him, she started to talk.
'Good...I maybe believe you. But what does it matter? Here, I can spread my influence as well...soon, this area will be covered in the sprawl of my plants!'
After she said that, she grinned, showing her sharp teeth. Hayden grew worried. How could he get it through the stubborn skull of this woman that they would just kill her while not being killed himself? He took a deep breath.
'Zyra, this world isn't like Runeterra!' he began.
She glared at him venomously.
'They won't accept you here like the League did. They will bring armies to hunt you down and destroy you!'
-'I can strike down armies with the gestures of my hands, child. What should I be afraid of?'
He could hear a slight growl in her voice, she grew annoyed. The roots started to wrap themselves around him again. But then he heard a distinctive sound, like the heavy, deep humming of a giant insect. A helicopter. Zyra looked up, annoyed.
'What the hell is that noise?'
Now, they could feel the gusts of wind while the helicopter flew right above them. He saw Zyra looking very curiously at the helicopter, with its rotor blades swinging around, letting the vehicle hover above them.
'That, Zyra, is a helicopter. They are already investigating the wild growth you created,and-'
Zyra didn't pay much attention to his words, lifted her hand upwards and said;
'Bloom, my child...'
Hayden immediately knew what she was about to do.
'Zyra, NO!' Stupid, stubborn bitch.
But it was too late. A massive vine erupted from the forest and entangled the poor helicopter. While crushing it, the thorned branch dragged it down into the forest, where it exploded. Even from a distance they could smell the burning wood and benzine.
'Fire...' Zyra hissed .
'Zyra, what have you done! That was just one helicopter, but now they will send many more! They will send armored forces, soldiers, everything to bring you down!'
-'Silence.'
She turned back to him.
'I don't care about a single thing they will send in attempt to stop me. I will wipe them all away.'
Right now, her yellow eyes burned with anger. The spiking plants now locked him in their grip.
'Once more, you came to meddle with me, while you should've known you were digging your own grave like that.' she hissed dangerously. She was now so close that he could feel her breath against his body. It smelled fresh and vivid, like the nature, like blooming flowers and the lush air. She stroked his cheek with her hand, surprisingly soft. The slight touch of her nails on his skin sent an odd sensation down his spine. While he stood there, frozen, she whispered ,with her mouth just centimeters from his;
'Such a shame...you're actually so good looking...'
For a moment, he meant to see a glint of sadness in her eyes. But it disappeared as soon as he saw it. Zyra looked at him, still playfully caressing him. Not that he didn't enjoy that part. Brain. Stop. When her gaze shifted a bit, she noticed the wound on his cheek.
'Oh?'
Her eyes wandered over his body, examining all the slashes she made earlier. She narrowed her eyes and smiled with menace.
'Perfect. I'm just gonna sit here and watch you die through the poison in your veins, dear.'
After those words he saw that she meant the 'sitting' part literally. Zyra commanded the roots and vines around her to form a twisted chair. While she sat down, she summoned a root from the ground, one with a pulsating, red tip, like the one she threatened him with the first time, in his room. She seemed to play with it, letting it twist and turn, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
'You know, I find you quite interesting, boy. Even though you faced a woman covered in thorny roots and leaves, entangling you, you remained calm and explained everything to me. Or tried. You even asked me whether I'd like to sit next to you, like we were...acquaintances.'
His cheeks turned a slight red at the memory. Such mature, wow. Shut up, brain.
'Naturally, I did, to see your reaction. And I was surprised to find a curious, even excited aura emerging from you.' Can she read my emotions? I'm so fucked.
Now, she let the root bury itself into the ground again, after which a plant emerged. In mere seconds, the plant already bloomed, now showing a beautiful rose, coloured in a deep red, like the shade of blood. She raised the branch again, letting it twirl around her back. She followed it with her eyes, fixing her gaze on the rose. The flower now rested in the air next to her left shoulder. While she caressed it, she continued;
'I attacked you, left you for dead and exited what was left of your pitiful house and life. And yet, here you are again. Despite the poison, despite what I told you, what I did to you, you tracked me and confronted me again, tried to reason with me. I admire your courage, to stand up against something like me...'
Her eyes slid from the rose back to him. Once again he was captured in her yellow gaze, which was now filled with curiosity.
'What drives you, Hayden? What is it that makes you having such interest in my well-being?'
Ending her words, she leaned back, covering her face in the shadows once more. With only her bright eyes visible now, she turned silent.
Hayden didn't know what to say in response. He didn't even know why he actually did this, how he felt. How he felt about her...Brain. Last warning. And on top off this all, he felt himself growing weaker and weaker. The poison was finally kicking in.
He now hung there quite a while already, and although he wasn't feeling that good -the understatements though- he was still able to think straight and move. The sense of time was already gone, though, so he didn't know if he was hanging here for mere minutes or hours. Still, he had expected the poison to eat him away a long time ago already. And apparently, Zyra was thinking the same.
'You're stronger that I expected. I've know stronger men who gave in a lot earlier. Which just gives me more information to ponder about...'
He glared at the yellow orbs peering through the darkness. Fuck it, if he was about to die, then he'd do at least something, even if it was just trying to torment his killer. That's the way brain. You rock.
'Speaking of which, your forest is also stronger than I expected. Don't you have fire to extinguish?'
Hidden in the shadows, Zyra raised an eyebrow. That helicopter that crashed? Did he really think such a petty fire could damage her? Maybe he was getting numb already, opposite of her assumption a moment ago.
'What are you talking about, kid?'
Before the echo of her voice was done resonating, they heard the characteristic sound of helicopters again.
'Those things once more? They remind me of you, not giving in. Pity for them...'
And there grew her vines, erupting from the corrupted forest, ready to lash out at the squadron of helicopters. One of them shot forward, aiming at the first helicopter, but before it could reach the vehicle, a sudden burst of flames erupted from the sides of the unit, setting the branch ablaze. Zyra gritted her teeth at the sight of one of her children, engulfed in flames.
'I'm talking about that, Zyra.'
She turned at him again, to see a satisfied grin on his face. No more mercy for her this time, he thought. Amaze, i'm not pussying out. Still, it was a gamble, cause she could just kill him anytime. Fuck it.
'This is what I was talking about the entire time, Zyra! But noooo, you wouldn't listen! Now you're here, soon driven in a corner by the forces I was talking about! You're strong, but their superior technology and numbers will force you to surrender and-or be killed!'
He sighed a bit, taken aback by the deadly look on her face. This time, a lot softer;
'Now, you still have a chance. Don't fight, retreat, and just disappear until there is a solution for this mess.'
She emerged from the cloak of darkness that engulfed her. Giving him another deadly stare, she stood right in front of him now.
'If you think I'm the kind of person that just flees because there are some mutated bees that can spit fire, you're wrong, kid.'
She turned around and started to walk into the forest, her figure slowly fading away.
'And that will probably your last thought...' whispered the forest around her with the voice of Zyra.
God, why was she like this? Why couldn't Ashe or Nami appear in my room, someone who could LISTEN! To no avail, he tried to struggle his way out of his barbed cage. He had to try it now, before the poison would consume him. But the roots were too strong.
'JUST LISTEN TO ME, BITCH!' he screamed, totally overacting because of the adrenaline.
A soft chuckle seemed to drift through the vines and growth around him.
'Oh, I'm listening... I wouldn't want to miss such a strange, caring kid dying...' echoed her voice, carried through the trees. He sighed again, deep this time. It was a gamble, and he lost anyway. Let the crying before untimely death begin. Shut up, brain, please.
In the distance, the faint cries of people could be heard, barely noticeable above the roaring crashes of wood on steel and the loud sounds of burning plants.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the sound, since he had nothing left to do.
And so, he hung there, not noticing the time, just listening. In between the heavy thumps of the vines and roots, he heard something else. Something else accompanied the screaming voices. Mechanic, fast sounds of little metal objects. Where had he heard that before? Why was his brain so slow? Because you are a retard, brain. Hayden shook his furiously, trying to get his mind working again.
Bullets.
In an instant, his head was clear again. That meant they involved the special forces already. How long could Zyra hold out, even with her strength? He started to struggle again, fuck this situation! He placed his feet on the roots that kept his legs in their place, and tried to push his legs out of their grip. The only outcome was him losing some more energy and some more scratches on his legs because of the thorns. New fury rushed through his veins.
'Zyra, come back!' he yelled again. But this time, his voice just slightly echoed out, and was replaced by silence. There was no whispering in the trees, no resonating laughter. He clenched his jaw. Was she mocking him now?
'Zyra! Just-'
He was halted because of the sudden movement of the roots holding him. They loosened their grip and retracted back into the ground. He fell on the ground with a soft thud, completely taken aback. Had she released him?
Confused, he looked around, searching for a way through the thorns. But all the roots and vines that surrounded him seemed to have lost their strength, now hanging limp around the trees. They are mentally connected...does that mean they lose their strength when their mistress does? His eyes widened, and as quick as his body allowed him to, he started to run in the direction Zyra disappeared minutes ago. Or longer? He should really buy a watch, this poison was messing with his head.
His vision began to blur every now and then, and his knees trembled when that happened. He grabbed the branch of a tree to steady himself after another wave of dizziness. It was simple, he just had to follow the sound throughout the labyrinth of vegetation.
In the distance, he could already see the large stems towering over the helicopters and ground forces. Involuntary, he ducked and tried to sneak closer as silent as possible.
Coming closer, he saw the destruction the plants of Zyra made. Uprooted trees scattered here and there, whole patches of ground lashed up, barks of remaining trees full of scars, both from the weapons of the troops as from Zyra's plants. But if the roots in the forest lost their power, why did these vines still have them? And where was Zyra herself?
He crept more close in the proximity of the battle, and noticed the huge plants were protecting a single area. It seemed all the other plants had just died, that or were engulfed by the fire. Curious what that meant, he sped up his pace.
Out of the blue, he stumbled over something. Looking beneath him, he saw the corpse of a soldier. His stomach turned as he looked at the body. Over his chest, there was a huge, gaping wound, like the slash on Hayden's cheek, but so deep he could see the intestines and the broken ribs, all imbued in the same, purple colour of severely poisoned flesh. On the face of the man, he could still see the surprised look, he hadn't even had the chance to comprehend the pain and the fact he was dying before his life forces had left his body.
'Quite the opposite of what's happening to me...'
He gritted his teeth. Moving onwards, he saw the huge stems of the plants in front of him. The soldiers were on the other side, blocked by a wall of roots, thick, violent and poisonous. That should cover his advance on the circle of green.
Getting closer and closer, taking tiny steps, he slowly approached the edge of the wall. He frowned. Why weren't the plants attacking him, while the soldiers fell by dozens? Very cautiously, he weaved his way in, carefully avoiding thorns or all edgy protrusions in common.
Still wondering about the strange behavior of the plants, he stroked his arm against a thorn. With a muffled yelp of pain he quickly retracted his arm. A new wound appeared, and out of the thorn a purple liquid dripped. He gazed at his body, as if he suddenly understood the meaning of life.
Had the plants let him in because he carried so much poison in him already?
If laughing out loud wouldn't have meant a certain death, he would've done it. Much crazy thought, such mentally stable, wow. But then again, how many crazy things happened in the last twenty-four hours? It might just as well be true. He had worked his way through the wall, and came out in a clearing where it was strangely silent, the sounds from outside muffled by the thick walls of wood.
He waited until his eyes were adjusted to the dim light peeking through the maze of branches above his head. He got a wry feeling in his gut, telling him something wasn't right here. Continuing, he saw something glitter at his feet. A dark, red liquid reflected the little bit of sunlight in the area.
Blood.
'Oh no. No, don't tell me-'
He peered in the dusky patch in front of him, and in line with his gut feeling, he saw a body lying there. Quickly, he hurried over to the limp figure. He didn't even need to think to know who it was.
There, lying in a small, but expanding pool of blood, was Zyra. Her red hair was spread out underneath her, her legs cramped, but somewhat stretched out. Her left arm was still pressed against a nasty wound in her thigh, but her right arm just laid next to her, covered in blood, probably from a wound on the arm itself. Her normally brightly shining yellow eyes were now closed, and she was just mumbling soft whispers.
He didn't know what to do. Could she survive this? Could he survive this, if he helped her? He decided not to think, but act first. For once we're thinking alike, brain.
He was certain she was unconscious now, just muttering those words in her swoon, perhaps unconsciously still commanding the plants. Delicately, he placed his arms under her chest and knees, lifting her up in bride-style. This was the easiest way to carry someone, he mused. But then, he realized he couldn't carry her this way through the network of thorns that surrounded them. He sighed, lifting her very carefully over his shoulder, holding her in place with his one hand on her back, and another on her legs.
Suddenly, he felt the roots around her arms extending en and wrapping themselves around him, strong but caressing, as if they also wanted her to be carried around safely. And like that, he started to walk out of the clearing, into the maze once more. Now, with her lifted on his shoulder, he could see a gaping wound in her back too. This one was probably the the reason she passed out, and she was still losing a lot of blood. Hayden bit his lip, wondering what to do. Remaining silent, he slowly placed her back on the ground.
'Ah, fuck it...'
He took off his T-shirt, which wasn't easy, since the roots were still strapped around him. But somehow, the roots gave in, as if they responded to his request. Now, he held his T-shirt in one hand and lifted Zyra's upper body with the other. He let the clothing slide under her, after which he placed Zyra back on the ground. Then, he took the edges of the shirt and wrapped them around her, tightly knotting the makeshift bandage. Hopefully that would hold back the stream of blood for a while. Thank god the wound wasn't on chest height , otherwise he had to find a way to wrap it around her breasts... He grimaced awkwardly at the thought.
No more dawdling now! The longer he waited, the more the armed forces and the poisoning would advance. He lifted her, again oh so careful, and placed her on her shoulder like before. He started to walk in the opposite direction of the fighting, preparing himself for the difficult path through the wildgrowth Zyra had created. To his surprise, -but then again, what has been normal today?- the vines gave way, opening a path for him to walk on.
'Thank you...' he whispered. The echo of his voice seemed to carry on and on through the trees, as if the forest whispered back. And behind him, the roots and vines formed a thick wall again, blocking the path for anyone in his wake.
Undisturbed, he reached the place where he had parked his car. Wait a sec...I have my keys in the pocket on the side i'm carrying Zyra on... He gritted his teeth once more. Performing a little set of acrobatics, he was able to fish the keys out of his pocket. He opened his car and spread Zyra out over the back seat. After checking she wasn't still losing considerable amounts of blood, which thankfully wasn't the case, he sat down in the driver's seat. Was he allowed to drive in such a state of poisoning? Not now, brain. He shook the thought away and set off for home, although he drove very carefully.
When he arrived -without accidents, cheers, Hayden- he lifted Zyra from the back seat and carried her inside. Once he entered his home, he saw that Lily and her aunt had left. Good, they better not see this. Especially Lily... Since his sofa was ruined, he decided to just carry her upstairs, to the bed she first appeared on. When he walked up the stairs, he clearly noticed the effect of the poison, and he had to steady himself repeatedly so he wouldn't fall. He got upstairs -at long last- and shoved the door to his bedroom open with his left foot.
Inside, he slowly placed Zyra on the bed, which instantly got soaked in the blood that was still leaking from her wounds, dying the sheets in a deep shade of red. Noticing he was panting himself, he rushed downstairs, causing him to stumble into the living room, dizzy and coughing. He walked towards the desk, where his cellphone laid, next to his still buzzing computer. When he unlocked it, he saw a bunch of messages from Ellie. After a few seconds of doubt, he flipped the inbox away.
'Concerns for later...'
He navigated to "Contacts" and started calling the number of the neighbours. After a few seconds, the voice of a little child rang through the phone.
'Hello with Lily, with whom am I speaking?'
Yes! They were still at home!
-'Hey Lily, it's Hayden here. Is your aunt still there?
Please please please please...
'Yeah sure! Do you want to talk to her?
No, I just want to know if she's there for no reason at all.
'Yes please.'
He heard the girl move away from the phone and yelling at her aunt.
'Auntie! Hay on the phone!'
The sound of hurried footsteps followed up by the voice of the older woman were the response on the yell of the girl.
'Hayden! Dear, am I glad to hear you! Is everything alright?
-'Yeah, I'm good.'
He hesitated for a moment, partly due to the lie, partly due to thinking about what to say.
'Say Marga, you have a daughter who's a medic, right?'
-'Why yes of course, our daughter Suzie, but why?' she sounded confused.
'Is it possible for her to come over? As fast as possible, this is urgent.'
-'Well, she's has a week off now, so she's home. But if you require immediate medical service then why not just call the-'
'Because this has to stay private, and I know I can trust you.'
He knew he sounded dead serious now, and there was a moment of silence at the other end of the line.
-'Good. I'll call her and see when she can come over. I'll call you back, ok?'
'Yes, thank you very much.'
-'You sound exhausted dear, are you sure everything is alright?'
He sighed silently.
'Yeah, just in a rush.'
He could almost hear the woman frowning at the other end of the call.
-'Good, then I'll call her immediately. Be right back.'
And with those words, she ended the call.
Marga frowned indeed. Something was odd there. Hayden never sounded so...anxious and nervous. And it had sounded like he had run a marathon.
'What is it, Auntie?'
Lily looked at the elder, mimicking the concerned expression on her face.
'Something's wrong with Hayden, dear...but don't worry, we'll get it fixed.'
She smiled at her. Still, the eyes of the girl grew big in concern. And while Marga turned around to dial the number, she failed to see Lily sneaking out of the room.
Hayden fell limply onto the remains of the cough, with the cellphone clamped in his hand. Now the only thing left to do was wait.
Although he was so focused on it, the sound of the ringtone still scared the shit out of him, almost making him jump in surprise. Quickly, he answered the call.
'Yes?' he said, not bothering with identifying himself, knowing it was Marga calling.
-'She's on her way. Expect her in about fifteen minutes.'
A big part of the burden on his shoulders disappeared, and he sighed in relief. Thank god...
'Once more I'm in your debt, Marga. How can I ever repay you like this?'
-'By staying alive.' the woman suddenly said in a dead serious tone.
'Wha-'
-'You don't fool an old woman like me, Hayden. I've seen and heard enough to know there's something seriously wrong there. Maybe 'stay alive' was quite harsh, but try to keep yourself together, dear, you keep getting me worried.
He sighed so deep that it turned into coughing. Well, at least she deserves to know something, right?
'Thank you, I will.'
The call ended, and he sat down again.
'Stay alive...difficult when your body is a ticking time-bomb.' he muttered. He pushed himself up and walked towards the kitchen. Maybe lessening the procentual amount of poison in my blood will slow it down. He quickly gulped down three full glasses of water, realizing too late that would give him -suddenly his belly started to cramp- ..stomachache. Great start at keeping yourself together, Hayden. Shut it, brain. At least it cleared his head a bit. He decided to check on Zyra, since he had nothing much to do besides watching her.
If she wakes up before we can treat her... He pushed down the handle of the door. Or what if she was awake now already?
But Zyra was still there, lying on the bed. She didn't move much, and had stopped whispering words. Whether this was a good or a bad sign, he didn't know.
...
And one more chapter of my hopefully not-so-crappy story ! Hope you enjoyed :D
