Iris

I stared out at the endless blue sand. The night was so long I thought it would never end but eventually the sun rose across the amber sky and a new day began. That's one thing you could always count on, the sun rising. I don't remember much of what happened after I collapsed; just that someone had placed a blanket over my body and had placed me under the shadow of the cornucopia for a small amount of protection. Diamond and Rolex had gone out hunting and they had left me and Morpheus to sit and recover. Recover, they think we are both insane. Morpheus sat down next to me and we both snacked on cactus, mine raw his cooked. I had discovered in the morning that the white stuff I was snacking on last night was un cooked cactus and it tasted so nice. A faint glow of happiness stirred in my stomach but I still felt weak and tired from fainting.

"Iris, why is the sky orange?" Morpheus asked me, he looked bad. His dark eyes were massive and had a faint manic look. He didn't look like my brother.

"I don't know." I muttered, taking a sip of water to cool the fire in my throat whenever I swallowed. Morpheus pocked his little fire, burning some of his precious cactus. Morpheus placed his hand in the flames and scooped it up, not caring that he had just touched burning bows and arrows. I stood up, letting the blanket drop from my shoulders and land in Morpheus's lap.

"I'm going for a walk," I muttered. Morpheus shrugged and swallowed a huge chunk of cactus. Cactus, I'll go and find some more. I ran down a small sand dune and out across the desert. Something inside of me seemed to change and I had a burning desire to eat the cactus, I needed that cactus. I took out my sword, while still running. Out of nowhere a patch of heavenly green spikes grew out in front of me. I laughed, pleased with how close my precious plants were. I reached a cactus and stabbed at it, the spikes seemed to slip of with one slice like the peel from a banana-a capitol fruit that tasted nice with milk. I clawed at the cactus, stuffing chunks into my mouth. That glimmer of happiness sparked in my stomach and I ate more. Before I knew it my cactus had been completely devoured. But I wasn't full at all, in fact, I felt more ravenous. I stabbed another cactus and began to eat again, but something distracted me. I slowly turned around, the plant juices dripping from my mouth. A hideous creature with big eyes and bright colours stared at me. The sun seemed to reflect from its shiny shell and hurt my eyes slightly.

"Ugh, bug." I reached it and stamped on its head. The bug exploded and liquid squirted up my leg,

"Ew, yuck!" I shrieked, flicking the liquid of me. Once I felt satisfied I was dry, I went back to my cactus. My heart froze. Staring up at me where those bugs again but more than one, there was ten of them. One crawled on top my arm and I shook my body to dislodge it, but this thing had good balance. The bug made its way up my body and crawled on to my face. I screamed. The others bug crawled up my leg, swarming me like a wasp to honey. I wiped my sword out of my belt and hacked at the bugs as soon as one was struck it turned into liquid and showered me. I dropped to the floor, rolling over and over to squash the bugs. I lay down on the sand, panting and exhausted. I stood up quickly and grabbed a cactus, getting a good hold I started to drag it back to camp. Scuttling followed me and when I turned around more bugs were looking up at me. Thousands of tiny, shiny bugs swarmed my cactus patch. I screamed, even louder than I knew possible and ran. The bugs followed me and I kept tripping up over my feet and falling into the sand. As soon as I fell the bugs would over power my body and crawl over me. I cried for help, hoping anyone would hear me but they didn't. Or they didn't bother trying to help. And then I started to cry. These bugs were hideous and I was terrified, they could eat me or infect my brain or anything. I jumped back to my feet, one bug hanging from my head and the rest following. My legs pounded the loose sand and I charged back towards camp.

"Help, help!" I screamed Morpheus jumped up from his small fire.

"What is it iris?" He asked his voice frantic with worry. A bug crawled up my body and bit my leg. I howled kicking and punching the horrid things. Morpheus grabbed my arms forcing me to look up at him.

"What are you doing, Iris?" He asked

"The b-bugs, get them off me please get them off me!" Morpheus shook his head,

"Iris, there's nothing there…" I stopped kicking and looked down, he was right, the bugs were gone.

"They were there, they were Morpheus!"

"There's nothing there Iris, don't play games like that I thought you were hurt; I could hear screaming from here!" I slumped to the floor; my whole body was shaking viciously.

"Bugs, they are real. I saw them at the cactus patch and they got me. They bit my leg!" I touched my bare leg, again, nothing was there. Two figures charged up the hill, Diamond and Rolex.

"Iris? Was that you screaming?" Rolex asked, he touched my arm and I kicked him in the face,

"Don't touch me, no one touch me!" I hissed, Diamond's blue eyes widened and she reached down to face me directly.

"Iris, what's the matter?" She asked, her tone was like waves, soothing and calm. I hated it.

"The bugs, you saw the bugs and you're all lying. You're trying to make me weak; you're trying to kill me." Morpheus gasped, a look of realisation crossing his face.

"Iris, you know that's not true." Rolex sighed, he sounded annoyed.

"Don't talk to her, you stay away from her. She's right, you're trying to kill us both, it's funny how both me and Iris saw things and you two didn't. You're trying to make us think we're insane!"

"What's funny is how both of you have been gorging on that cactus stuff and you're both hallucinating. Whereas me and Rolex aren't, you need to stop eating them they are not healthy!" Morpheus shook his head,

"Don't tell us what to do, that's you evil little plan to control us. It won't work!" Morpheus stalked away; grabbing his rucksack which I knew was stuffed with cactus with him. Diamond looked shocked at Morpheus outburst and she ran off, Rolex right after her. The cracks were starting to show in the career alliance and it was only the third day.