I have never got so many reviews for a single chapter of any of my stories! I am so happy! Thank you so much Erase, Seruh.x, Kali-Chan-666, silvermooncatgirl, Moonlit Aurora and chocobo86. I love you guys!

And I've decided to cut this chapter down so it is not my last. I apologise for it being short, but there will be another chapter soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but a copy of some of the Harvest Moon games.


Chapter 7

Death's Door

The moment that the foul tasting black liquid flowed down my throat, I was able to open my mouth. I started to scream, but it was cut off after a few seconds. I tried to speak, to yell for help, but I couldn't. However, Elli heard my scream. I saw her run down the stairs. She glanced at me, then at the half filled bottle of black liquid in Doctor's hand.

"You…you what….you didn't…" she stammered, then screamed. "JACK!"

My legs felt numb. I stumbled backwards into the desk and fell down. I tried to get back up, but I couldn't. I tried to move any part of my body, but I couldn't. I was paralysed. I could feel my heart beating in my throat. I couldn't move. I couldn't scream. I was going to die!

Elli ran over. "Jack!" she sobbed. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn't. My eyelids felt heavy. I blinked twice, and then on the third time my eyes remained shut. Darkness overtook me.

I felt a gentle hand on my arm. Elli's, I guessed. I felt it stroke up and down my arm. Then move onto my chest, feeling my heartbeat.

"Jack," I heard Elli sob. "Don't leave me Jack, don't leave me."

If I could cry, I would have. I wanted nothing more than to feel her lips against mine, to say, "I love you, and I will no matter what." But I couldn't. All I could do was lie here, listening, waiting to die.

I could hear Elli sobbing and yelling. "HOW COULD YOU? YOU MURDERER!"

My heartbeat started to slow down. It wouldn't be long now. My last heartbeats sounded louder than ever. Then, they stopped. Elli screamed. "NO! JACK NO!"

Darkness threatened to overtake me forever, so I could die. Fighting it was causing more pain than I've ever felt in my life, even worse than what I felt when Talia gave me that strange wet leaf. I can't take it anymore. I thought. I need to give into the darkness.

"Please don't leave me," I heard Elli sob. "Don't leave me." Her voice sounded far away, yet I was sure she was right beside me.

Keep fighting. I told myself. Ignore the pain. Keep fighting, for Elli's sake.

It was easier said than done. All I wanted to do was give in to the darkness; to let it take away my pain, take away my life. But Elli, I couldn't leave Elli. Who knows what Doctor could do to her?

But I forced myself to try and keep breathing, even though my lungs felt restricted and it caused me great pain. How is this possible? I asked myself. My heart isn't beating, yet I'm still breathing. Barely, but I am. Elli thought the same thing.

"He's still breathing! How is he still breathing?" I don't know who she was asking, but I know who answered.

"He's a fighter," said Doctor. "His brain's still working, even though his heart is not. Strange poison, it is. But, he deserves to suffer."

Elli's hand left my chest, and I heard her yelling. I couldn't work out what she was saying exactly, but I picked up words like murderer, poison, Harris, and some words I never thought I'd hear from someone as innocent as Elli.

I heard the door slam, and I felt Elli's gentle hand on my chest again. Then I felt another hand, smaller, on my arm, Talia's.

"No die, Jack," she said. "No die."

I felt a water droplet land on my chest. "He doesn't have much longer," Elli sobbed. I felt her lips against mine. "I love you, Jack," she whispered.

I love you too. I thought. No matter what happens.

"Me save Jack," said Talia.

"What? How? There's no antidote," said Elli.

"Me save. Trust. Let me. Move back."

Elli's hand left my chest, and two smaller hands rested on my arm.

"Friend, Jack," said Talia. "Best friend." Then, directed to Elli, she said, "Sharp thing."

Silence.

"Me need sharp thing. Trust. Save Jack. Need sharp thing."

Elli sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing."

I heard Talia gasp in pain, and then Elli screamed.

"What are you dong? Don't…Oh my Goddess…How…"

Something wet touched my arm. It was thicker than water, but I couldn't work out what it was. I heard Talia mutter something in a different language. Silence for a moment, and then she repeated it, louder, pushing harder on my arm. Silence again. The third time, she practically shouted the words, pushing on my arm with all her strength. I heard Elli gasp. Talia continued muttering the words, one hand pushing on my arm, the other wiping the wet thing all over me. My breath came easier, and I felt my heart start beating again. What is she doing?

Talia continued muttering the words, and then I was able to force my eyes open.

"JACK!" cried Elli, running over. Talia shook her head, muttered a few more words, and then let go of my arm. Elli ran over and hugged me and kissed me. "Thank Goddess, thank Goddess, thank Goddess."

Elli helped me sit up, and I turned to Talia to thank her. Then I gasped. She had a huge cut in her arm, but her blood wasn't red, it was a clear blue.

"What? How?"

Talia smiled, but her smile was clearly forced. "Magic," she whispered. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed. Her chest rose and fell, and then she vanished from sight completely. I screamed.

"TALIA! TALIA!"

And then I fainted.


Once again, I'm sorry that it's short. But I hope you enjoyed it. If I get a lot of reviews, like I did with the previous chapter, then I will update very, very soon.

Review please! Anonymous reviews accepted! And any ideas you may have, I'd love to hear them.