N/A – Let me explain on thing, before you proceed to the chapter. I know everyone or almost everyone put the color of Judy eyes "Violet", others put them "Purple". I, sometimes, put them Purple and not Violet. But I see many stories with the word 'Violet' that I put more than Purple.
And, I don't know if it's my ignorance, but purple and violet aren't almost... the same?
Well, I just wanted to let you guys know about my doubts. XD
Ooo~ooO
"I give up!"
Jack said, in a long sigh, as he sat next to Alisha. His back went to rest on the wooden wall.
"Well, we can get some rest!" Ironically, Alisha had already given up trying. Nothing led anywhere and she really expected a miracle.
"Yes, rest." Another sigh and silence fell on them.
They were both desperate, that was remarkable in their expressions. But after so many failed attempts, despair was the same as giving up. It would be better to wait a while. Clarify their minds and discuss what they might have missed so they could get out of there.
Suddenly, an extremely insane sound echoed over the great all. On alert, Alisha clung to Jack's arm.
"Who?" he asked.
"He's going to die."
"Who?" insisted the rabbit, looking in all his directions.
"For that, I need fresh blood."
"Where are you?"
"Here!"
And, without any warning, Yae reappeared inches from the faces of Alisha and Jack. The poor rabbit almost had a heart attack and Alisha fainted.
"I need you!"
Without delay, Jack is pulled out and falls on the ground, biting with his face. The fall caused him to bleed out of his nose. Trying to balance as she took one of her paws to the bruised place, Alisha had been lifted by her neck and thrown against the little counter, losing consciousness.
"ALISHA!" Jack screamed in desperation.
"You're next."
Yae did the same to Jack. Raised him by the neck and suffocated him until he lost consciousness and stopped struggling.
"I'm sorry innocent creatures, but the ritual must continue."
Taking Alisha, Yae disappeared with both.
Oo~oO
Every touch, every groan of pain. Judy's blouse had been torn up her sleeves. One piece was wrapped around Nick's forehead, and with the other, she wiped the cuts on his abdomen and torso. Although they were not deep, the infection was a hypothesis. And, without the backpack where she had the first aid kit, he would succumb to fever. Besides, despite all her strength, the tears insisted on her violet eyes. The guilt of not having him before and saving him, consumed her. Even though the truth was completely different.
After cleansing the wounds, she would have to protect the wounds, but there was nothing plausible to help her with that.
"Carrots?" Nick's calm, sweet voice, called her.
Judy didn't look at him so he wouldn't see her tears. Besides, her eyes were busy looking for a reliable fabric to put around the entire torso of her fox.
"Carrots..." he called her again, but this time he took one of his paws to her chin, forcing her to face him. Then Judy looked away. The tears began to flow. "I'm fine!"
It was the drop of water.
"How can you be well?" Her voice was exalted. She didn't even realize how loud she was speaking. "I didn't ask for any of this when we came here. We entered a dangerous hell where death accompanies us. With every step we take, we get hurt. Those creatures almost killed you," her breathing was accelerated. "Yae will pay for this. I swear I will end this hell even if I have to sacrifice myself" her tone of voice went down and, again, her eyes went to the ground.
"Hey, don't say that. None of us are going to die," his green eyes opened as he saw the raging expression from the bunny in front of him. Had he said anything stupid?
"The story will be brief and short. So, listen to me carefully, Nicolas."
What's going on? he thought. He had never seen such fury and hatred in those violet eyes that he loves so much.
"Before we came here, I found a book in the municipal library in which he tells a little about the town. The book was old, so some pages were missing. However, it looked like a well-imagined horror story. Sacrifices, lost souls, possessions. All this was fascinating. However, the true power of the book came to reality. Obviously, when I finished reading, I thought that the author was very good and that if the book was well known it would be a worldwide success". While she was speaking, Judy decided to take off the thin coat she had on her waist. She tore it up, so that both cuts on the abdomen and the torso on Nick, could be covered. "Nick, I need you to help me." the fox raised his arms and Judy started to put a piece wrapped around the first cut, knotting the fabric in order to keep it tight, trying to prevent the blood from flowing more than it had already drained.
"And what did that book say?"
"Two female twins. Daughters of the powerful village chief" part of the story was not in the book, but Judy would hide the fact that Natsuhiko had helped her. Returning to her original position, Judy tore up another piece of cloth and did the same procedure for the other cut. Once the cuts were completely covered up, Judy straightened up again and stared Nick in the eye. She would tell him what she knew. Maybe some part wasn't going to be said. But it would let the fox know what was really going on. "Both were always happy until they were old enough to get married. It wasn't their decision, as they wouldn't both know until their sixteenth birthday, when they were getting ready for marriage. However, what they did not know, was that everything was already planned and when they were still in their mother's womb. This information was only revealed when they were old enough to understand what it meant, and by the time they were sixteen, they were already metallized and would be committed to other mammals that they already knew or did not know. That didn't matter." Judy took a short break in which Nick took the opportunity to interrupt.
"Carrots, what are you getting at?"
"The Lunar festival would be in two weeks'. At that time, the twins were prepared for the wedding."
"I still don't understand."
"That wolf you saw in one of the visions was their childhood friend."
"Fluff, would you like to come directly to the specific issue, please?"
Judu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The question she was going to ask, made her heart accelerate.
"Nick, how do you feel when you look at me?"
OK, the question was unprepared. His heart began to accelerate, and his paws began to tremble a little. Besides, he felt his cheeks warm and thanked for his fur to be red. Did she want the truth, or would he lie? That moment could be the right one to say what he really felt, but he preferred to choose to circumvent the question.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. Answer with sincerity. What do you feel when you look at me?"
"Affection, friendship..." was true.
"That's it?"
"Why, Fluff, did you want more?" the changeling smile reappeared on his lips. Besides, the question came out in a "joking" tone.
"You carry Sae's soul with you. The soul of the youngest twin."
Amazing, it was the right word. Now he was beginning to understand the meaning of the words previously spoken by Yae.
"Wait! How do I carry the soul of...?"
"I know that it is confusing. I also found it too, but now I have got used to it."
"That means that you too..."
"Mine is that of the wolf. The soul I carry is Natsuhiko's, with whom you are in love."
Oh gods, oh gods. What the hell is going on?
"And the ritual? I remember Yae talking about it. She was talking about…fresh meet?"
"Oh my God." Judy got up in a jolt. "Nick, we need to find Jack and Alisha. She's going to kill them."
"Carrots, what the hell is going on? Why kill them?"
"I'll explain it to you later. We need to keep going."
Judy stretched one of her paws to Nick who took her in. He got a little off balance, but he managed to stay on his feet.
"You can?" the concern on the rabbit's face was visible.
"As long as we're not running, everything will be fine."
Nick bowed a little and kissed his bunny's head, between his ears.
To be continued…
