The Willow (Part 4), Scene v1

I'm going to regret posting this frequently, aren't I?

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“Lucas!” Rushed footsteps approached him. Gentle hands turned him onto his back, making him cringe in agony. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Kismet…?” He let out a small cry of pain as the Catheran began picking him up. “Ah, stop! Stop!”

Kismet froze and stared at the blood that soaked his tunic. For some reason, he found himself smiling weakly. A part of him was glad she was there, but it was mainly from his own foolishness. Even her words seemed to give him warmth to fight the chill that began to fill his body. “But if we don’t get you to a doctor fast—”

Lucas clenched Kismet’s arm in pain. She had to listen to him. Too much was at risk, and even if he lived, he would be executed for treason. “Please, Kismet. You have to listen to me. There’s no time for that, and the Kival may still be around.”

Her face grew grave, but even then, it brought him comfort. Despite how horribly he, along with everyone else, had treated her, she always seemed to be there when he needed someone. Now she was his only hope for any chance of redemption. She had to listen to him. “I’ve done someth—something terrible. I—I just wanted to save Isella…”

“What are you talking about? What did you do?”

“I gave them—info.”

“Who? What kind of info?” she asked.

“You have to hurry. Hurry back to—back to the castle. Tell Devin—or Raze—anybody!” Lucas cringed under a surge of pain. With every second, it grew worse. Every pulse sent a wave of agony through his body. “Please—Please take it out! I’d rather die quickly.”

Kismet’s head snapped back toward the woods. A very faint crunching of leaves carried out from the darkness. She looked back at him with those large yellow eyes. “I’m not going to just leave you here.”

Lucas gave her a faint, reassuring smile. His eyes felt heavy, and his body began to shiver. “You—have to. The royal family may be—in danger. Go, now!”

Kismet growled. With careful hands, she grabbed the dagger. Lucas closed his eyes and nodded. In one swift motion, the blade slid from his stomach. The pain was sharp at first, but soon dulled down to a heavy ache. “Urgh…now hurry!”

The Catheran gazed at him one last time. Pity and sadness filled her eyes, as well as her voice. “May you find Isella in the afterlife.”

Such pity. Yet for once, it didn’t anger him. Instead, it made him regret the way he treated her. He wished, then, that he could’ve done things differently. For her to show him such kindness… “Thank you, Kismet. For everything. And I’m sorr—”

Kismet let out a small cry of pain as an arrow pierced the back of her left shoulder. Agony blinded Lucas when she dropped him on the ground and ran off. His body throbbed, and his vision blurred, as his consciousness quickly slipped away.



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