Chapter 2
Imani was reading a story book to a few children when she was notified. The children she was reading to were not sick, yet. Imani felt a chill in the air that bothered her greatly. She stood up and quickly asked her maids to bring the children to their families. She ran with her guard Elijah down the stairs.
"How many children are sick?" asked Imani.
"We still don't know. We have been getting telegrams from many pharmacy's telling us that their shops are full." Said Elijah.
"About how many are we talking about?" asked Imani.
"Almost five establishments." Said Elijah.
"Almost five?" asked Imani.
"Your highness!" cried a maid running in the hallway.
"Cordelia what is it?" asked Imani.
"It's coming from the wells!" cried Cordelia.
Imani observed the water and noticed that something was not right. The water in the bucket was almost green and in an instant, Imani recognized it.
"Call everyone! This is a state of emergency for our Village!" cried Imani.
Moments later, everyone in the village was arrived. The Doctors and Pharmacists came inside the house as requested. Emmet included.
"Hey! No children allowed!" ordered a guard.
"But I'm a Pharmacist. I live in the Tree of Hope." Said Emmet.
"You? You're the son of Taka?" asked the guard.
"Yes." Said Emmet bravely.
"Understood. Please go in." The guard allowed Emmet to pass and he found himself in a room with doctors and pharmacist from the village.
"Taka's boy? Look, he's here!" whispered one doctor to another.
"Emmet? He's here too?! Wonderful, this could be a learning experience for him." Whispered another.
Emmet knew the attention was given to him briefly. He just stood there, trying not to get further attention.
Just then, Imani came in with her guard, Elijah.
"Let me pull you a chair." Said Elijah sweetly.
"No thank you Elijah. Did you get the children to safety?" asked Imani.
"We did." Said Elijah saluting his Queen.
"Your highness. You called us all." Said one Doctor.
"Yes. This is a state of emergency for Rood Bridge. The water in the wells has been poisoned." Said Imani.
There were gasps and murmurs in the room.
"How is this possible?" asked one of the Doctors.
"There is only one person who could have done this. It is none other than Moss." Said Imani.
Everyone in the room gasped. "Moss?!" cried a Doctor.
Emmet was confused. "Who's Moss?" asked Emmet.
Everyone in the room fell silent. "You don't know who he is?" asked a Doctor.
"Excuse me, who let this child in?" asked Elijah to the other guards.
One Doctor spoke up. "He's welcome here! His father was Taka."
"What?" said Imani as she stood up and stared directly at Emmet.
"Your Taka's son?" she asked surprised.
"Yes. I am. I live in the Tree of Hope, my Father's pharmacy." Said Emmet.
Everyone in the room murmured.
"Sorry kid, but I don't think…" Elijah was about to say more when Imani stood up and walked towards Emmet.
She looked at him directly in the eyes and Emmet stood still. Imani was very pretty. Her eyes looked as if they were glowing. She was truly the fairest in Rood Bridge.
"You have your father's spirit in you." She said.
Emmet nodded. "Yes. You'll do." She said.
"What?" asked Emmet.
"Everyone, here is what you all must do. Everyone must batch a few temporary remedies while Emmet here finds the Red Flower." Said Imani.
"What?! Your highness! He's just a kid!" cried a Doctor.
"Ima… I mean Your majesty. Are you sure?" asked Elijah.
"Yes, he will do." Said Imani.
"Excuse me, what are you talking about?" asked Emmet.
"I'll show you." Said Imani.
Imani pulled Emmet to the library in the house. Her maids were there cleaning everything.
"Does anyone have a map of the Jungle?" asked Imani.
"We do!" cried Cordelia as she handed the map to Imani.
"Emmet honey, this is what you must do. This is a mission that requires a test of skill." Said Imani.
"Skill?" asked Emmet, who was baffled and clearly had no idea what was going on.
"Deep in the jungle, there is a flower field of many flowers. But one specifically is the Red Flower, a special kind of plant with medical properties. It is the only thing that can fight Moss's poison." Said Imani.
"Moss? Who is he?" asked Emmet.
"Moss is an evil Wendigo who lives in the far reaches of the Jungle. He has had his eyes on our Village for years. We believe that during the celebration, he must have snuck in and poisoned the wells in the village." Said Imani.
"That's awful!" cried Emmet.
"That is why you must be ready to go in the jungle to find the flower. The field is in a safe path. Follow the map and it will take you directly to the field. But stay in the highlighted path. The journey from here to there will take about a day." Said Imani.
"Okay. I'll do it!" said Emmet with confidence.
"But before you go Emmet, there is something you need to know first." Said Imani.
"Yes?" asked Emmet.
"For starters, stay on the path. Don't go out into the open. Also, when you reach the Neon Village which is on the path in the Map, you will find a man named Joshua. He knows where the field is. Ask him to go with you." Said Imani.
"Okay. How does he look like?" asked Emmet.
"Joshua is the chief of the Neon Village. Ask if you may see him. And please be patient with him." Said Imani.
Emmet didn't ask for more questions. He understood he was now in a dangerous mission. And he couldn't let Imani nor the people of Rood Bridge down. This was his moment. And that was the beginning of a long journey that will be told in generations.
Emmet left the next morning and went to the gates of Rood Bridge. Imani watched from afar as she saw Emmet leaving with his long wooden staff and his bag.
"Imani, was it a good idea to let him go alone like this?" asked Elijah as he stood next to her.
"Yes. If you and I went with him, Joshua wouldn't help." Said Imani.
"Do you think he's still angry at you? And at me?" asked Elijah sadly.
"Joshua is a kind soul. I know that Emmet will make him see. That boy is our last hope if we are to survive in the village." Said Imani.
Not far from where they stood, more children were walking towards the house, coughing and sneezing.
"I hope your right." Replied Elijah.