Radix : 19
Rain was inevitable, I could smell it. Minho had agreed to stay on the ground until the dark clouds overhead let up. He was the only one standing and he paced anxiously back and forth, arms folded over his chest. Even though this was Xylem, a world mostly foreign to humans, I had to remind myself that it was still Earth. Maybe several thousands years into the past or future, but it was still Earth. It still had the same rocks, trees, and weather patterns. It was the animals we had to worry mostly about.
'They have four legs instead of two, and have large jaws full of teeth. And do you know how they communicate?'
"How did Wraiths get through the gate?" I glanced over at Brenda. She sat next to me cross legged, her chin in her hands. Alby looked over at us but I ignored him.
"The Venom Trade, Newt. You're literally helping them do it." She snorted.
I frowned. "No, I mean outside the Venom Trade. Wraiths are in the games, but they're also roaming around Earth. Like the one Thomas and I killed."
"You really think the Trade or the games can keep every wraith contained? I'm sure some managed to escape."
"And they're not doing something about it?"
Brenda sighed and dropped her hands into her lap. She leaned back slightly and looked up at the dark, gray sky. "Newt, the world operates on greed. No matter the consequences, if there's money to be made, you can be sure people will do it. Why do you think we're tasked with bringing in a wraith every day?"
"So they can sell the venom and study the virus." Alby interjected. "It's a win win."
"Virus?" My eyes widened at the word. "Like a plague?"
"Quite literally…" Brenda said softly.
"What are you talking-"
Newt! You need to get over here, we're in trouble!
I shot to my feet at Thomas' words. Minho paused in pacing and stared at me.
"We need to find Thomas!" I said urgently.
"I haven't heard anything from group B." Minho glared at me as he stepped closer. He poked a finger into my chest, making me take a few steps back. "Now, I told you last time; we don't go anywhere without their say so."
"Thomas is in group B, he said they're in trouble." I grit my teeth, holding his stare. Brenda and Alby stood behind me.
"Why would he not contact me, I'm the Keeper!" Minho was raising his voice but my mind was whirring. Had they found a wraith? Something worse?
Where are you? Give me a landmark! I mentally shouted. I broke eye contact with Minho and concentrated. Thomas sent an image of a large hill covered in jagged rocks and a small cluster of pine trees on top. I immediately forwarded the image to Minho, who blinked in surprise.
"We need to go!" I urged but didn't wait. I jumped into the air and unfurled my wings, beating hard.
…
Heavy raindrops splashed into my eyes and soaked through my clothes as we flew. Minho knew the hill so he led the way. Wind ripped at my heavy clothes and sucked any warmth from my limps. My wings felt like slabs of wet cement and were going numb. The gray clouds had become black. Forks of blue lightning flashed overhead, accompanied by ear splitting cracks of thunder.
Finally, Minho angled downward. Thomas hadn't spoken to me since we left, but his puzzle piece remained firmly in place. A panicked, exhausted, and freezing cold puzzle piece. Lizzy's was nearly identical, but was wracked with pain. I held back the rising fear that threatened to choke me. Not until I knew Lizzy and Thomas were safe. I could panic later.
The hill was just below us and we spiraled down towards it as fast as the wild wind would allow. A small clearing devoid of trees was at the base, and Minho and Alby landed there first. Brenda and I stumbled over numb legs seconds later. I took off running, my ears guiding me now. Screaming, angry shouts, and panicked voices echoed through the thick trees. But Minho shoved me to the side and held his hand against my chest.
"Let us find them, you don't know what you're doing." He hissed. I tried to push him off but Brenda caught my arms, holding me back.
"Listen to us, Newt." She whispered in my ear. I glared into Minho's back as he marched into the trees. Alby went next, then Brenda slowly let me go. I wrenched my arms free but followed behind her.
Minho and Alby surged forward suddenly, running towards the base of a massive tree. Brenda split away from them, waving down several kids from group B. Most of them were here, but both Thomas and Lizzy were missing. They were crying, shouting, and all pointing back towards the tree. Brenda pushed me down by my shoulders, forcing me to sit down with the kids.
"Stay here." She said, eyeing me in particular. Then she ran away towards the tree.
It wasn't just a tree. The massive trunk was nearly 15 feet wide and stood nearly 50 feet high. Instead of the wedge shaped green leaves like its neighbors, it had distinctly long, blade shaped leaves, all of them shades of dark maroon red. They hung on low branches, bowing them down as if they were too heavy. A thick vine trailed up the trunk, winding its way around in thick cords that seemed to choke the tree. Thousands of thin, white hairs branched off from the vine and dug into the bark, anchoring it in place. Halfway up the tree, a thick bundle of these hairs formed into a net. Inside that net was a boy from group B.
Then I spotted Thomas. He was chopping away at one of these thick nets with a sharp rock. He was almost at the very top of the tree and hanging onto the bark with bleeding fingers. His green wings were open for balance, flapping desperately to hold on. Movement near the bottom of the tree dragged my eyes away. Hundreds of white hairs were moving together and wrapped around Minho's leg. He ripped them off quickly, but they were already reforming.
My mind was spinning in confusion. How could a plant move this fast? The net with the boy had completely enclosed him and dark blood was oozing out from the tiny cracks. Brenda had climbed past it and was almost to Thomas and the net. It held a girl with blonde hair.
"Lizzy!" I yelled and jumped up, running towards the tree. I ignored Minho's warning and began climbing the tree. More white hairs were coming together and following me up the tree. They snaked around my left arm tightly but I ripped them off. Thomas was working to free Lizzy from the tangle of hairs. She was unconscious and hung limply in their coils. But Brenda was trying to pull him away, yelling for him to get off.
I didn't know what to do. I hadn't grabbed a rock or anything to help me free Lizzy. But Thomas slashed away at the hairs, slowly working his way through them, despite Brenda's demands. Lizzy suddenly dropped free and I leaped off the tree, catching her. I glided clumsily and landed hard on the soaked forest floor. Thomas and Brenda landed next to me seconds later.
"Everyone move!" Minho shouted and began running back the way we had come, back towards the hill.
"What about the boy?" I looked back at the tree but Alby shoved me forward from behind.
"He's dead, Newt, move it!" He pushed me forward. I stood my ground and stared at the strange vining plant. Its hairy roots were clustering together once again and trying to snag the last few kids running by it. I held Lizzy to my chest and began running.
…
I dropped onto my knees and set Lizzy on the ground. She was still unconscious and was bleeding from a deep puncture wound in her side. Her blood had soaked my clothes and stained my shaking hands.
"Newt, listen to me-" Brenda started, her hand on my shoulder as she crouched over me. I shoved her off.
"Why were you trying to stop Thomas!?" I yelled at her. "Why did you leave the boy?"
"Because she's infected!" Minho was at my side as well. He gripped my arms with calloused hands and tried to pull me away from Lizzy. My wings opened up wide, shoving him off, and my tail pointed straight for Benda's neck.
"No one touches us!" I growled, glaring at the two groups. I could feel Thomas by my side as he knelt down. "I don't know what you people are talking about!"
"Newt, please, we have to go. The Radix vine-" Brenda tried again but I pushed the tip of my barbed tail just against her skin. She froze and raised her hands very slowly as she backed up.
"We can't bring her back, Newt. She's infected." Alby spoke slowly. "That plant back there is called a Radix vine. It stabs its victims with its spores. They lose their minds and try to kill themselves!"
"We can help her." Thomas growled next to me. His dark brown eyes had changed to a light green as he glared down each person.
"She'll be a danger to everyone!" Minho shouted and took a step forward. Thomas launched himself towards the older boy. He rammed his shoulder into Minho's chest and they both went down hard. Thomas punched him in the nose before Alby and Brenda wrestled him off. They held him down, forcing him to his knees. Minho stood and wiped blood from his face with the back of his hand.
"Fine! Take her back! But don't come crawling back to me when the director finds her." He hissed. He jumped into the air and took off, his black wings spraying us with water. Brenda and Alby let go of Thomas and followed him.
The rest of group B stood around us nervously as I tried to think. I could carry Lizzy, but it would be difficult. She had stopped bleeding and the wound even seemed to have sealed itself. But no matter what I did, she would not wake up. I scooped her into my arms and stood.
The rain was coming down harder than ever. The wind howled overhead and wiped my hair into my face.
"Thomas, lead group B back to the gate. I'll follow Minho." I said through chattering teeth. Thomas eyed me carefully for a moment before finally nodding. I took a deep breath and opened my wings, testing the air. I could do this. I had to.