Mystic Garden

Max's Warning

As Marigold prepared for the night, she couldn't help but notice that the effects of her previous visit to The Gardens had worn off. The heightened productivity and sharp clarity she had experienced were gone, leaving her feeling sluggish and unfocused in comparison. The world around her seemed muted and lackluster, a disappointing journey back to reality.

The greens that had once shimmered with an otherworldly glow now looked dull and lifeless. Her favorite green dress, which had made her feel confident and powerful just after her last visit to The Gardens, now seemed like just another piece of fabric. Marigold sighed, a sense of longing and unease settling in her chest. She had to find out more about The Gardens and the strange effects it had on her and her friends.

It was 6 PM, and Marigold was getting ready for the night’s adventure. She felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as she dressed, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. Just as she was about to leave, there was a knock on the door.

Marigold opened it to find Max standing there, looking more composed than she had seen him in a while. He wore a crisp button-down shirt and slacks, a stark contrast to the casual attire she was used to seeing him in. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered the crush she had harbored for years.

“Max,” she said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Max glanced around nervously before stepping inside. “I need to talk to you, Marigold. It’s about The Gardens.”

Marigold’s curiosity piqued, and she gestured for him to sit down. She couldn’t help but notice that his shirt covered the scar she had heard about, and she decided not to bring it up.

“What’s going on?” she asked, sitting down across from him.

Max took a deep breath, his expression serious. “You need to be careful tonight. The Gardens... they’re not what they seem.”

Marigold frowned. “What do you mean?”

Max leaned forward, his eyes intense. “The alcohol you drink when you’re there—it’s not safe. It’s in these strange bottles that are always left in The Gardens. Have you ever wondered where it comes from?”

Marigold shook her head. “We just assumed it was part of the experience. There’s always a crate of bottles at the base of a huge tree with a note that says, ‘All are welcome, drink and be merry.’”

Max’s expression darkened. “That’s exactly what worries me. No one knows who leaves those bottles or what’s in them. When I drank from one, I felt like something was inside me, changing me. That’s when...”

He trailed off, glancing at his covered shoulder. Marigold felt a shiver run down her spine but decided not to press him about the scar.

Max reached out and grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not painful. She felt a rush of warmth from the contact, her skin tingling where his fingers touched.

“Please, Marigold,” he said urgently. “Promise me you won’t go tonight. It’s too dangerous.”

Marigold looked into his eyes, seeing the fear and sincerity there. “I can’t promise that, Max. I need to protect my friends. Your brother is one of those friends.”

Max’s expression hardened, a flash of anger crossing his face. He released her arm and stood up, glancing at the door. “I should go. Just remember what I said.”

Marigold nodded, watching as he turned and left. He was angry, and she could feel the weight of his worry pressing down on her. She stood in the doorway for a moment, her mind swirling with questions and concerns. What had happened to Max in The Gardens? And what was the true nature of the mysterious alcohol they drank there?

After Max left, Marigold stood in the doorway for a moment, trying to process everything. She felt a growing sense of affection for Max, mixed with confusion and concern about his warnings. There was a deep appreciation in her chest that he had cared so much to drive across town to warn her. She pulled out her phone and called Andi.

"Andi, it's Marigold," she said as soon as her friend answered. "Max just visited me. He warned me about going to The Gardens tonight."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Max came to see you?" Andi sounded surprised. "What did he say?"

"He said the alcohol we drink there isn't safe. That we don't know where it comes from, and that it changed him." Marigold felt a rush of warmth as she remembered Max's touch when he'd grabbed her arm, quickly pushing the thought aside. "Do you think we shouldn't go tonight?"

Andi let out a dismissive laugh. "Oh, come on, Marigold. Max has been acting weird ever since that night. If he refuses to tell us what happened, then it's his fault we don't know. We've been fine every other time we've gone. Don't let him scare you."

Marigold frowned, not liking Andi's dismissive attitude. "But don't you think there's a reason he's so scared? Maybe we should be more cautious."

Andi's tone grew more impatient. "Look, if Max wants to be dramatic and keep secrets, that's on him. We've had amazing experiences at The Gardens, and we're not going to let his paranoia ruin our night. Yes, they can be dangerous. We've talked about that. But, we're going to be fine."

Marigold felt a rush of protectiveness for Max, her concern deepening. She didn't like this dismissive side of Andi, but she decided it wasn't worth fighting about. "Okay, fine. I'll see you in a bit," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral.

After hanging up, Marigold sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing. She knew she had to be cautious, but she also felt the pull to protect her friends and find out the truth about The Gardens. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the night ahead.