Nightmares
Run. Run. Run! This was all that came to Ferris's mind as she ran through the outskirts of Roland's borders. Her large sword clanged against her back while her long, blond hair was now sullied in blood. Help me! She tried calling out but her mouth wasn't able to make a noise and was shrouded in the deep darkness of the forest. She tried to run with all her might but it felt as if she wasn't getting anywhere. She just saw shadows surrounding her. What do I do? Should I fight? With the speed I have now, it will be impossible for me to get very far. Right before she could start her next thought, the trees' shadows that were around her began to take form into large beasts.
"Let there be darkness" The blond heard from the corner of her ear. Her eyes widened and she stood there, stationary and unable to move because of the fear. She felt two huge mouths on her calves with their teeth sunken into both of her lower legs. The blood drizzled down her numb leg and onto the once dark green grass. Ferris wanted to fight. She wanted to ask for help. As she slowly turned her head around, she was able to see her assaulter's face. He had long, raven black hair with similar eyes that did not go very well with his naturally pale face. Miron Froaude.
"You best not be thinking of escaping me," he laughed softly "because it is impossible for you to escape your fate. I have already bound you to me in the most painful way possible. As for your Alpha Stigma friend, he won't be too difficult to find since you're always so close."
Ferris looked at him with confused eyes. She had no idea what he was babbling on about. Her blue eyes were exhausted and she wanted to collapse from the pain. What Alpha Stigma friend?
"Don't tell me you've already forgotten him already. Let me give you a little hint. It starts with R" he said smirking as he played with the ring on his pale hand.
R? Ryner! Her blue eyes widened immediately! Ryner! An image of his face popped up in her head. His chestnut brown hair, his blue uniform and white cape that was draped on his shoulders. His smile… his warm smile. His eyes were filled with a small amount of hope. He reached out for her hand with his and slowly started stepping back. Was he abandoning Ferris once again? Don't go... Don't go .Don't go! She called back trying to stop Ryner.
"Ryner!" She managed to yell loud enough for her voice to finally escape her mouth with a sound. Her mind suddenly flashed before her as everything turned white. Tears started dripping down the sides of her face as she slowly regained her eyesight. She didn't do anything to save him. She let him die.
"I'm here, Ferris." she heard. As the blurriness faded away, she could see a figure with brown hair and a buckled blue t-shirt embracing her. It was all a dream. He's here in front of me. This is Ryner. Her head slowly started to rest onto his shoulder so that she could relieve herself from a false fantasy that her mind had played with her. Ryner stroked Ferris's hair gently for a while as the silence slowly took over.
"Thank goodness," He said tightening his grip around her. As Ferris felt the warm body heat radiating off of Ryner, she began to feel lethargy taking over. She had never felt this kind of heat taking over her before. Her body shivered as she felt the difference between her and Ryner's body temperature.
"Ryner...?" she asked.
No reply.
"I'm cold." She stated bluntly. Her forehead was burning but the rest of her body felt like it was submerged in ice.
"I know," Ryner replied still not letting go of her "You have a really high fever. That must've been a really bad dream seeing that it's rendered you like this" He said using his thumbs to wipe her tears.
Ferris chuckled as she tried to relax her shivering body. He held her shoulders so he could look at her pale face. "I know you don't have the strength to do much, so sleep is the best medicine for you right now." He stated as Ryner loosened his grasp around the blond.
"This is pathetic," Ferris said as Ryner placed her back down on the soft bed. "What time is it?"
"It's half past midnight." He said calmly.
Ferris's eyes widened. She looked into Ryner's eyes; he looked exhausted. Had he not gotten any sleep? He was taking care of me this whole time…
"Go to bed, pervert. I'm fine now." She said as she turned her head away. "It's just a fever. Nothing I can't handle on my own. You on the other hand," she said as a small smile perked up "Look exhausted. Staring at voluptuous women all day and night has got to make a pervert like you tired, no?"
"I'm not into any of that!" Ryner stated boldly. "Fine, I'm going to bed. If you need anything, just call. Goodnight." He said as he covered her up with the blanket and shut the door on his way out.
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I can't do this anymore. I'm too pathetic. Ferris got out of bed at around 2:45 in the morning and tried to take a step forward before she collapsed on to the ground. Damn this headache. She held onto the side of the bed as she walked towards the window. It was still pretty dark outside with the moon at its highest and the stars at their brightest. I just need to walk off this headache. And while I'm at it, I can get some training done too.
Just leaning by the night table, her sword rested. Its hilt shined brightly from the light reflecting from outside. Walking towards it was much harder than she had thought. Every step she took sent hundreds of shocking pain waves in her head. Once she had gotten her sword, Ferris walked towards the window. It wasn't that high off of the ground. The jump wouldn't kill her, and it looked like there was a pretty soft landing outside due to the grass surrounding the building.
Ferris opened the window and leaped outside with her sword in her left hand. To her surprise, she was able to land in one piece and soft enough that the grass just rustled a little before the night was shrouded in the sound of crickets and owls hooting once again. Beautiful.
The forest was only a rough six kilometers from where she was standing but to get there was going to be a problem. She knew that waking up Ryner was going to pointless because he would've just nagged her back to bed. And since she was mentally dying with the damned headache, Ryner would have the upper hand. Using her sword as a walking stick, Ferris started walking.
She could feel her body giving up and just wanting to collapse. She could feel the heat from her forehead spreading throughout her body with every step she took. But Ferris knew that she was almost there. Only another kilometer. I can do this. Could it be because of that dream? Why can't I remember anything before it? Why was I lying in that bed? What happened to me to make me lie in that bed? Ferris shook her head. Obviously I am too weak. That's why I'm in this state.
Ferris felt her body collapse once more to the ground. Her body shuddered on the cold, dry, earthy soil as her body temperature rose to extreme heights. She didn't know what to do anymore. The headache had become so strong that it had immobilized her ability to walk. Ferris wanted to scream. She wanted to cry for help, but the pain was too unbearable for her to do anything. Am I going to die here with just a stupid headache and fever? If Ryner were here, he'd be laughing at me. Ferris smiled to herself before passing out.
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Keifer awoke bright and early next morning. Her red hair was quite messy but she had a bright smile on her face that complemented her warm eyes. She got up and stretched out the lethargy from her body and opened the window to let the sunlight pour in. She hummed a tune while getting ready. It wasn't like Keifer to be this joyful, but today was different. As she put on her uniform, ideas began to pop around in her head of what she was going to do today with Ryner. She brushed her hair and pinned the left side with a yellow flower clip. No! No! No! This is way too over the top! But then again, it's not that bad...
Once she got ready, Keifer went downstairs to make breakfast for everyone.
"I hope the owner of the teahouse doesn't get mad. I'll make him something too just to show our appreciation for letting us use this place." she said mumbling to herself. She had prepared scones and parfaits for everyone. Keifer put the parfaits in the refrigerator to stay cool. Once the table was set and everything looked like perfection, She decided it was time to wake everyone up.
She knocked on Iris's door first and then the teahouse owner's.
"I've prepared breakfast for everyone today so please come down and try it." she said with a smile on her face.
Now it was Ferris's turn. As she approached the door and turned the knob, a shiver went down her spine. The window was open.
"Ferris...? Hello?" Keifer called. Could she have gone outside? Probably went to get some fresh air... Keifer closed the window and made Ferris's bed. I hope she comes back by the time we start breakfast.
Now Ryner was left.
Keifer took a breath in before she approached his room. Just ask him to wake up and come downstairs for breakfast. Nothing more. Nothing less. You can do this Keifer. As she opened the door, she saw a topless Ryner already awake and changing into his uniform. A huge dark shade of red covered Keifer's face. Ryner turned his head towards the door and saw her there.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Keifer screamed as her cheeks turned the same colour as her hair.
"Huh? Keifer? What's wrong?" Ryner asked but rather than replying, she ran out the room and slammed the door shut. She stood behind the door and told her message from there.
"Breakfast is ready! Come downstairs and eat!" she called as she ran downstairs. I can't believe that just happened! What is wrong with me?! He was changing and I freaked out! Why am I so lame?
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As Ryner came down for breakfast, he saw the food on the table.
"Keifer, did you make all this?" He asked.
"Yeah! I hope you like it!" she said smiling as she took a scone from the basket and put it on to Ryner's plate.
Just when he took a bite into the pastry, something struck him hard from behind.
"BEAST! GOOD MORNING!" It was Iris. She had planted her fist into Ryner's back. It didn't hurt him as much because he was so used to Ferris's sword digging into him but it was still painful nonetheless.
"Why don't you join us, Iris?" He said as he held onto the girl's collar. He was getting quite annoyed with the pestering. He already had Ferris to deal with. He plopped the girl onto the chair beside him and continued eating.
Keifer passed the basket of scones to Iris. She took the bun and stared at it for a little while before she bit into it. As she chewed, her mouth lit up.
"This is the best piece of bread I've ever had!" she called out in delight. "Big sister Ferris needs to try this too! She'll love it!" Iris proclaimed as she took two more pastries from the basket.
"Oh, um your elder sister isn't here, Iris. I think she went out for a walk or something." Keifer stated.
To this, Ryner's eyes widened but he kept calm.
"That's impossible. Ferris had a fever last night. There is no way in hell she was even able to stand up, let alone move without someone's help." He said.
"Well, when I went to her room to invite her for breakfast, I noticed that the window was open and she wasn't in bed so I assumed th-" She was cut off midway when Ryner got up and ran upstairs.
Ryner opened the door to Ferris's room. Just like Keifer had said; Ferris was nowhere to be found. The room was quite cold. It seemed as if Ferris had left in the middle of the night. God damn this all! Ferris knows that she's ill. What the hell is wrong with her!? He looked around the room for her sword, but after much searching, he couldn't find that either.
"R-Ryner!?" Keifer called. She had a worried expression on her face.
"I'm going to go look for Ferris. Take care of the place." He said as he draped his cape around his shoulders.
"I'm coming too!" Iris called out as she ran up the stairs. "What if big sister Ferris is in trouble? Iris can help!" her eyes were filled with determination.
Ryner placed his hand on her small head and said softly, but firmly "No. You stay here with Keifer in case Ferris comes back. We don't want Ferris to think that we left the teahouse."
"Alright. But promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"You'll find her and come back safely." Iris said.
To this, Ryner patted his partner's sister's head. "I promise."
Just before Ryner left Ferris's room, Keifer grabbed onto Ryner's hand.
"K-Keifer?" he asked
"That goes double for me." she said as she let go. Ryner nodded his head and started running.