Ben caught Riley in his arms and rolled up his pant leg, both Abigail and Tara shrieked when they saw a bloody wound on Riley's right leg, Ben pointed out two fang marks buried under all the blood. Tara finally calmed herself and kneeled next to Riley's head. Ben threw off his coat and folded it in two, using it to pillow Riley's head.
"Is it poisonous, Ben?" Abigail asked.
"Yeah it is." Ben nodded.
"Ben, I don't feel so great." Riley moaned.
"I cannot say that we blame you." Ben shrugged his shoulders.
"Ben, what are we going to do?" Tara asked.
"I'm thinking. I'm thinking." Ben muttered.
"Let me go." Tara suddenly said..
"No!" Riley cried.
"Tara, you're afraid of heights." Abigail reminded.
"Riley needs to be carried and Ben is the only one strong enough to do that, and you are the only one who knows first aid." Tara remarked.
"Don't listen to her, she's just as delirious as I am." Riley said quickly.
Ben looked down and nodded, Tara rose to her feet and began to climb again. Abigail turned her attention to Riley's wound, she went to her backpack and pulled out her first aid kit and removed a roll of bandages. She then took out some rubbing achlol and poured it over the wound, Riley cried in pain. Ben struggled to hold him still as he clutched Riley's hand in his own, he put his hand on his forehead. Tara had now reached the window and pushed it open, she tried to remain nice and quiet as she crossed the hall and snuck down the stairs. She came across her first set of lasers, she thought about it and then took the biggest risk she ever took. She climbed under the lasers as carefully as she could and successfully made it to the door, completey unharmed. She typed in the key number and disabled the security system, she then opened the doors.
"Come on!" Tara gestured.
Ben carried Riley inside the castle, Abigail followed close behind. They went into the King's Lodging room and laid Riley on a bed, Tara felt his forehead and realized he was burning up with fever.
"We've got to get him to a hospital." Ben said urgently.
"Great idea, Ben. Let me just call security to come and get him." Abigail said sarcastically.
"Then what can we do? Riley needs medical attention." Tara said urgently.
"Only three choices...Watch him die, take off his leg, or drain the poison." Abigail said simply.
"I won't watch him die!" Tara cried.
"Then we just drain the poison." Ben said reluctantly.
"I'll get the supplies." Abigail sighed.
Abigail went to her knapsack and suddenly began to panic, Riley suddenly let out a yell of pain. Tara and Ben held him down.
"What's going on, Abby?" Ben asked.
"I...I forgot the straw." Abigail said quietly.
"Do you have the knife?" Ben asked after a beat.
"Ben, you can't possibly-"
"Tara, it's either his leg or his life. If we wait the poison will spread and kill him!" Ben yelled.
"Okay." Tara nodded "Okay."
Ben removed his own belt and knotted it around Riley's leg, Abigail lifted the large knife. Riley tried to get up and get away but his efforts did no good, Ben took his hand and grasped onto it. Suddenly, the most terrifying sound of raw flesh being cut filled the room and the disgusting odor of infected skin filled the room. Tara felt tears run down her face as she listened to Riley yelling in pain, pretty soon it was too much to bare and she left.
"There...I'm done." Abigail finally annoucned.
"How are you feeling?" Ben asked Riley.
"Okay. Aside from having my leg cut off." Riley said sarcastically.
"Where's Tara? We need to keep moving." Ben said to Abigail.
"Oh, she's probably in the hall. I'll get her." Abigail stated.
Abigail went into the hallway, but there was no sign of Tara. She quickly returned to the room as Ben was getting Riley ready to move.
"She's gone!" Abigail cried.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Riley asked.
"Riley, relax. We'll find her." Ben assured.