Chapter 9: A liar's last hope
Cornelia looked at Will, who hadn't moved for, maybe, 3 hours. 'Wow! If Caleb and I hadn't broke up when we did, I'd be the one sitting there and not even moving.At least he isn't dead--yet.' She tried to consol herself.
Will, as if reading her mind, looked up. "He's not dead." She said. "He's just...unconcious. Not dead."
Cornelia nodded. "He has to fight this battle alone, Will. No one can hold his hand and tell him what to do."
Will wiped at her many tears. "But I wish I could be with him." Caleb's hand in Will's moved ever so slightly. Will held it tighter and looked at Hay Lin. "Do you think he can hear me?" She asked.
Taranee, behind Hay Lin, forced a weak, tired smile. "Maybe." She agreed.
Hay Lin, whose red eyes showed her grief, rubbed her throat briefly and then looked at Will. "I...think we need to put the cloths on his wrists now. So maybe his temperature will drop." She choaked out.
Will nodded. "Yeah...here, let me." She reached out for the rags and pressed each one on a pressure point--his forehead, his wrists, ankles, and even on his throat. Her eyes moved to Caleb's pale face. "I wonder where he's at? In his dream, I mean." She commented.
Irma sat down beside her. "Ask him. Maybe he can respond somehow." She suggested.
Will shrugged. "I guess it can't hurt to try." She murmured. Gently she sat down beside Caleb and held his hand tightly in her own. "Caleb. Where are you? Are...are you okay?" She murmured. "I wish...I could help you. But I doubt that I can. I wish I could be with you."
Hay Lin looked at the necklace around Will's neck. "Will! The Heart---it's glowing!" She murmured.
Will held up the necklace and stared into it. Suddenly her face went blank, and her eyes looked distant and glazed.
Irma grabbed Will. "Will? Will! Was she poisoned, too?" She asked frantically.
Hay Lin's grandmother walked in suddenly. "No, Will's healthy and strong. But it seems that somehow--she can be with Caleb in this dream. Maybe it's an old gift or something, a secret trapped and unused in the Heart--until now. Make sure she's safe and kept warm. I'll go look up the reasoning behind this." She left hurriedly, and the other 4 guardians helped lay Will down on the sofa.
Cornelia push Will's hai back from her face. "I wonder what she's seeing?" She asked thoughtfully.
"Where am I?" Will shouted. It was dark; a rather pea-soup like green sky loomed overhead and gray fog drifted around Will's knees. Will walked slowly towards a faint light. "Is anyone there?" She asked.
Caleb turned around and smiled at Will. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
Will shrugged. "Search me." She replied. "Caleb, where are we?"
"In the Spider's Lair, I think it's called. There's no one else here." He replied calmly. "It seems that this place holds all the secrets of the Spider's kiss toxin. You see, it isn't a deadly poison--it's like a very strong sleeping aide. The people who drink it aren't killed--they're put in a coma-like trance and their body slowly dies. And then they die." He explained softly. "It's very relaxing here, though."
Will looked at Caleb, his face still unnaturally pale and calm. "But is there an antidote?" She asked.
Caleb smiled. "Yes, of course. It's not a common mixture, though. Spoiled milk, bruised mint leaves, strawberries and a type of plant called a mango. I'm not sure if the person has to drink it or smell it, but it has to be mixed by your Heart thing." He added coolly.
Will nodded. "Spoiled milk, bruised mint,strawberries and mango." She replied. "Got it. But how do I get out of here?" She added.
Caleb, who was tending to his small fire, looked up. "How else?" He said softly. "Use the door." He gestured to a heavy wooden door. Will ran over and pushed it open slowly.
Will sat up and gasped. "You guys! Caleb is still alive--and we need to go shopping!" She rasped.
Taranee frowned. "How do we know if we can trust this vision type thing?" She asked.
Will looked at them sadly. "It's my last hope. Cornelia, you go get some spoiled milk. Hay Lin, you find some mint leaves and bruise them; um, Irma, please find some strawberries and Taranee needs to find some mango." She ordered.
The group was back almost before it left, bearing their items. Will didn't ask them where they found these things so fast but mixed them up in a bowl with her necklace. The 5 girls poured some down Caleb's throat, rubbed it into his skin, and even nearly poured it up his nose.
Caleb sat up slowly. "What's going on?" He asked.
Will beamed. "I'd hug you, but you need a bath." She called. All the girls were pinching their noses shut.
Caleb sniffed the air, then grinned. "Group hug!" He shouted, charging them. Only Will was able to hug him back.