"So what does this mean?" Saria puffed as she ran alongside Vio to keep up with his long strides.
He stopped abruptly in the middle of the path through the science buildings, running a hand through his hair and sighing, "It means that Ganondorf killing Link's mum was no coincidence. If he's already read this-" he held up the book which they had previously been reading, "-then he would have been targeting not Link but the people around him to… torment…" They looked at each other, dread settling in on their faces.
"If he's targeting the people around him…" Saria breathed, "Then that means…"
"We're on his list…"
"But there's that girl in that story – I mean, history book, whatever - she's called Zelda. Ganondorf traditionally stole her."
"Yes… But for now we need to make sure that the others are safe."
"But what if he-"
"I don't care! I don't know her! But I know my family is in danger and I'd put them before a pretty girl any day!" He marched off again.
"Oh." Saria followed, "So you wouldn't care if she was tortured or killed?"
"Of course I would just not as much as I would if it was one of my family."
"And what about me?"
Vio remained silent for a moment, looking away from her as they exited the school grounds, "What about you?" He asked in false boldness.
"You're the smartest student in our year, Vio, I think you'd be able to work out what I meant."
They rounded a corner, onto the high-street.
"Of-of course I'd care! What sort of a question is that?!" He laughed.
"Fine." And with that, Saria stormed off, up her driveway and into her house.
Vio watched her go, a little puzzled as to what had offended her so. He raised his eyebrows, sighed, adjusted his bag strap over his shoulder and carried on.
He slipped past a house and down a little lane through a park dotted with trees. Lost in his thoughts, his eyes glazed over, he walked down the path into a thicker part of the wood.
A bush shook but Vio didn't stop, his eyes widening a little and his pace gaining speed.
Another bush shook more vigorously and a shadow flitted across the path in front of him. A figure shortly followed, stepping out onto the path and blocking the way.
Vio stopped, his breath catching in his throat.
After a few moments of looking the man over, Vio managed to regain his voice, "You've come for me, then?"
A horrid, chilling laugh rose from the man's throat, "Foolish boy…" He growled, "Nosing around in areas which you shouldn't."
"And why shouldn't I?" Vio almost shouted, "Why shouldn't I find a way to help my best friend?"
"It will get you killed."
Vio gulped quietly and felt his head go a little light, "Will it? Well that's a risk I'll have to take."
"What a shame… You seemed such a spirited lad…"
"Hey, bloodlust, we're in the present, so use the right tense!"
"OK then-" Ganondorf darted forwards and drove his hand against Vio's waist, "I stabbed you… and you're going to die… alone." He laughed again, disappearing into the shadows as his victim dropped to the ground.
A book danced across the old dirt path and spun to a stop, blood speckles showing fresh on the cover. The source bloomed from the boy's side as he struggled to stem the bleeding with his hands and multiple leaves.
A cough shook his body and he scrabbled backwards, into a tree and fell against it, constantly thinking, don't panic, don't panic. At the back of his mind, he instinctively knew that no vital organs had been harmed, and if he managed to stop the bleeding, then he wouldn't die, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to move and not many people came through here and it wasn't possible for him to stop the bleeding completely by himself.
Blood started to coat his hands and he could feel his pulse slowing down, his vision becoming fuzzy and head spinning. A trickle of his life fluid ran down his chin and he closed his eyes, dearly hoping that Saria would tell Link, that she would keep him safe.
The sound of footsteps reverberated about his skull and he winced. Was that the sound of death, coming ever closer with every single step?
"Oh dear Nayru."
The footsteps quickened into a run and a hand slammed onto Vio's shoulder, shaking him back to almost full consciousness. His eyes opened slowly, his pupils rolling around the top of his eyelids.
"No, no, Vio! Vio, stay with me!"
"Link…" Vio smiled drowsily, short on breath, "you're meant to be… meant to be… in… in hospital…"
"Vio… No… Please, not you!" Link gasped, placing a hand over his friend's wound.
"Ganondorf… he's killing… killing the people a-around you... Get them safe… out of the line of… of fire… please…"
"You're not dying!" Link yelled, digging deep into his pockets and drawing out his phone. His thumb danced across the screen, shaking and coating it in the blood from Vio's side.
"Yes!" Link gasped down the phone, "Yes, I need the police and an ambulance! My friend – Ganondorf got him! He's been stabbed in the side but he's still alive! Please! Castleton! Faron park! Thank you!" He shoved the phone back in his pocket and looked back down at Vio, "Vio, it's OK, they're-" He stumbled to a stop as he observed his friend. He'd slipped consciousness.
"No." He breathed, pressing two fingers against Vio's neck. No pulse. "No." He choked again, "Vio, please. No." A tear rolled down his cheek, "Please." He grabbed him and pulled him close, resting his chin on his shoulder and starting to cry, "Vio… Please…."