PROLOGUE

– CHAPTER SEVEN –

– CHAPTER SEVEN –

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Groggy and weak, he sat up.

His stomach ached.

He attempted to stand, but a sharp pain in his gut caused him to fall back to the ground in agony.

What’s the matter with me?

After a few minutes, the pain relented slightly, allowing him to sit up from the dirt floor. He’d never felt so sick in his life.

Then, his head began to throb. His vision wavered, and he felt as if he was going to pass out. Another pain in his lower stomach caused him to gasp in pain.

Something’s wrong… Need… Help…

Then he fainted.

A few minutes later, he came to. Everything seemed to spin around him. Now, instead of just his stomach, his whole body ached. He closed his eyes.

Need… Someone…

He passed out again.

Some time later, he again woke up. Luckily, his condition hadn’t increased from what he could tell so far. His body ached, and he was still dizzy, but his headache felt a little better.

He tried to sit up again. This time his stomach didn’t force him down, but he didn’t dare stand again. At least not at the moment.

He needed someone to help him. But there was no one. He was alone.

Why am I sick? What happened?

Whatever had caused it, knowing what it was probably wouldn’t make it go away.

As he was wondering how to help himself, he heard a sound from above him.

Thump thump thump.

He froze. What if it was a zombie? He was practically defenseless. He didn’t dare breathe. Maybe whatever it was would pass by.

Thump thump thump.

Or not.

He listened for a moment, waiting for the groan of a zombie.

THUMP.

What was it?!

Then, he heard the unidentified creature move towards the opening to the secret room.

Thump-thump.

His tunic was the only thing covering the entrance.

Rippppp!

Whatever it was had ripped the tunic. He ignored the pain in his body and reached for his sword. If he was going to die, he wasn’t going to die a coward.

Then, it jumped in.

SWOOSH!

To his surprise, it was a wolf!

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” He said in the strongest voice he could muster.

The wolf stood there.

Did it understand me?

They stared at each other for what seemed like a long time, neither moving a muscle. Finally, he put his sword down. The wolf didn’t show any aggression, surprisingly. In fact, it seemed almost friendly.

He just now realized it was carrying something in its mouth.

Though he was terrified of the beast, he motioned for the wolf to come closer. As it stepped forward, he saw that it was carrying some sort of herb.

“What do you have there?”

As if to answer, it dropped the leaf and began pretending to eat it. Then it motioned for him to do what he’d demonstrated.

This has to be the smartest animal I’ve ever encountered.

Cautiously he took the herb, inspecting it first. It appeared to be a normal leaf, except the backside of it was a neon red. He’d never seen anything like this.

He was just about to eat it when he realized this was strange. A wolf, coming out of nowhere, wanting him to eat a leaf. For all he knew, it might be poisonous!

But judging by the intelligence of this animal, perhaps it knew that this particular herb would cure his illness. But then again, how would it know he was sick?

He decided to eat it. The wolf wouldn’t bring a harmful plant here if it wanted to kill him. It would’ve attacked instead of wasting time getting him to eat it.

He put the whole thing in his mouth. Instantly, a bitter taste filled his mouth. It almost made him spit it out. But he chewed it up and, reluctantly, swallowed it.

The aftertaste was sickening. It made his throat feel like he’d just barfed.

Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that…

Then, the wolf dashed toward the exit and leaped outside.

I’ve been tricked!

He was furious.

Ignoring the pain in his body, he stood up. He was going after that beast, and he was going to teach it a lesson. But when he took a step, he was forced to sit again when a sharp pain hit his gut.

Here I am, crippled like an old man. If I ever get my hands on that animal…

Then his entire body erupted in pain. He gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to scream. Then, everything went black.