THE WRETCHED

THE RIVER PHOENIX

When they emerged out of the forest after four days of an eery dark atmosphere, Arold would have knelt down and thanked God that he was still alive had it not been for Kastor's heavyweight threatening to crush his poor legs. His armpits were wet with sweat and perspiration, a shower amidst the hot midnight sun would have been like manna in the desert. His huge childlike eyes shone with gladness once they stepped into a field tall dry brown grass, it was an indication of their close proximity to the River. The first thing he would do was take a huge gulp of water to quench his burning throat. He had almost jumped on Alec to give him a thorough beating the previous day after Alec had knocked over the water guard, he'd watched in horror as the water soaked into the dry soil of the woods; if it hadn't been for Nike holding him back, Alec would probably have had serious injuries on his stupid face! Arold thought angrily. 

Arold rose his eyes to get a clear view of where they were going, he stopped, making Alec who held onto Kastor from the other side stop, "why did you stop?" he asked, his eyes landing on Arold's sweaty face.

"I can't even make out the end of the field, are you sure we're near?" Arold asked, squinting his eyes to lessen the direct shine of the sun in his eyes.

Alec sighed, even he was tired. They had been walking for what had seemed like an eternity, only taking little rest when they really had to. Nike turned to them from the front, his arms full with his and Alec's supply bag and Arold's bow and quiver hang around his shoulder.

"It didn't look that far in the map, am sure it's just at the horizon," Nike said, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his palm, "if we stop now, Kastor's leg might just get worse,"

Arold glanced at the flee ridden leg, the rotting smell of flesh encompassed them and Kastor's painful grunts tagged at him. Kastor's scrunched face told the pain he was going through and Arold felt a certain compulsion and responsibility to make sure that Kastor would be healed. Kastor hadn't spoken ever since the Green Lion had attacked him, the only sounds that came from his mouth were painful screams or silent growls from exhaustion and pain.

"Let's move on," he said, his eyes determined.

The tall dry grass pricked at their feet and bruised the skin of their legs sometimes drawing blood. The determination Arold had dwindled with each prick he had to endure and the painful stings of some theory plants that grew within the deep grass.

"I see something," Nike said, his eager eyes squinting to see clearly, "it's the river!" his thrilled voice awoke the dying spirit of his two worn-out companions who bother looked at each other and smiled, their smiles feeling alien to their faces. It felt like a stiff mask that had been plastered on their faces was finally loosening and gave them their ability to move their cheeks once again. Arold's eyes shone when he saw the glistening water just a distance away, his legs regained their strength and he could feel Kastor's regained hope from the way he tried to raise his head to see the river.

"It's said the river phoenix flows with gold and power, look at how it glistens," Nike said, his words coming out horsely but filled with excitement, "you've never truly lived till you experience the wonders of this river,"

"It's gold? Not water!" Arold exclaimed as they got near. The news of a river flowing with gold would have seemed appealing had it not been for the fact that he was extremely thirsty at that moment and couldn't care less for a river of gold.

"Doesn't look like gold to me," Alec replied as they approached it. The water glistened like gold, reflecting a yellow light with a dim orange glow on the surface of the river. It wasn't very clear due to the trees that lined the river like a protective barrier. The trees were huge and looked old. Alec could almost feel the centuries-old aura terminating from the trees and as they stepped into the territory; a cold passed them, making them shiver despite the heat of the hot sun they had just stepped out from. They had green shiny leaves that looked silky to the touch hanging low above their heads and flaky brown barks on their naked brown stems woven with grey mysterious paintings that looked like silky silver hair hanging loosely, their roots shone with golden light that descended down to the river.

"Wow," Arold said, his eyes scanning the hut-like trees growing beneath the older trees, multicoloured flowers grew amongst the hut-like trees and he would have sworn he'd seen a little green branch smile at him and a pink flower jump near the purple one.

"Arold!" he heard his name, Alec and Nike seemed just as confused as he was, "Arold!"

"That's Jenna," he said excitedly, his eyes lighting up.

"It's coming from down there," Nike replied,  "maybe they're here,"

They dragged their tired bodies along the river, their eyes desperately searching for the others.

Five feet from where they had been, the river washed down into a waterfall and below it was their friends. Jenna was looking up from the grey rocks a few feet from the waterfall, "Arold!" she called out again before she saw them, a smile lined her lips when she saw the four tired teenagers at the top.

"Come down," Hero called out. He was sitting on a rock but stood up once he saw them.

"How?" Arold asked.

"Look to your right there some stones that descend down," Jenna replied.

Nike saw some silvery stones that descended down the waterfall. The stones formed stairs like way, Arold thought it very peculiar to be honest with himself he had seen some messed up things in the forest. They descended down and crossed the flowing river to where the others stood eagerly waiting for them. 

"I told you they were here," a voice said as they crossed the river and just an inch from Jenna, a tall man with a wide smile framing his brown face said; his extremely exaggerated cheekbones protruding jealously. Arold couldn't make a decision on whether to be shocked at the out of nothing appearance or be glad he was seeing Jenna again. As soon as they reached the other side, he received a big hug from Jenna, "where did you guys run to! We were scared s**t!" Jenna said, pulling away from him, "what happened to Kastor?" Hero asked, his hunter like eyes scanning the sickly state of Kastor who barely recognized where he was.

"The Green Lions happened," Alec stated briefly, secretly hoping someone would offer to help because his legs were close to collapsing.

Hero helped them lay Kastor on the soft grass a metre away from the rocks on the side of the river.  Maia rushed to Kator's side, her eyes teary, "he looks like he's about to die," Kalli said, her forehead wrinkled with worry as she took in his barely alive state.

Arold sat down gladly, his legs recovering from the hot pain of having to walk for miles. He couldn't even be bothered with the smiling man whose silver hair gently cascaded down his back and what was with the flower crown anyway? Arold thought.

"I think the water from the river can cure him," Alec said, taking a seat on one of the rocks.

"Can it?" Jenna asked, her eyes looking up at the smiling man.

"If it did, then he would have been cured when he crossed it," he replied.

Arold felt like the man was withholding information from them, the short answer he gave was like a tease.

"Then what? Tell us what to do," he said, his tone impatient and irritated. He'd just been through the longest journey he'd ever gone through in his life and he was hungry, tired, itchy all over his skin and sweaty and all he needed was the man to say he didn't have the cure for Kastor's wound and he would blow up.

"You need to be patient,"

"Patient!" Arold rose up, "he's dying, we need to help him,"

"Arold, stop it!" Jenna snapped, "he's been very polite and welcoming to us, it would be better if you speak calmly,"

Arold took a deep loud breath, "while someone dies right?"

"It doesn't do us good to argue," Maia stated.

"What is he anyway?" Ale asked, a little bit irritated that they had gotten their hopes hight for nothing.

"He's a Fossegrimen," Kalli replied. She didn't like him. She didn't like the way he smiled, it was like he had an ulterior motive hidden behind that wide smile and hypnotising eyes. He could have charmed Jenna and the others but she wasn't digging his vibe, something wasn't right with his aura. Maia had been quick to dismiss her reservation when they had arrived and he had been playing his fiddle in the river earlier that morning. He had been quick to offer them fresh fruits and wine. Hero, Maia and Jenna hadn't even questioned where he'd gotten them. The fruits and wine had magically appeared in front of them already served on huge bowls and set before a golden table, she wouldn't have eaten had it not been Maia glaring daggers at her. He spoke softly with a calming voice that Kalli only seemed to find irritating. He couldn't be that nice! No one was that nice, especially creatures outside the Living Lands.

"If you want a cure for your sick friend, you have to pass a test after which the king will reward you with a golden cup of water from his well to make your friend drink," the Fossegrimen said, his amber eyes shining in harmony with the golden glow of the water.

"I can't believe we've come all this way for nothing," Nike cussed, his bare feet kicking a pebble into the water.  

"The Green Lion poison kills within seven days, you've spent four days, tomorrow is the fifth. You have three days to save your friend," the Fossegrimen added.

"What's the test?" Hero asked, bracing himself to take on the test.

The Fossegrimen turned his eyes at Arold, his shining amber eyes digging deep into Arold's beating heart. He looked away, his heartbeat increasing with every second he felt the Fossegrimen's eyes on him. He knew the Fossegrimen wanted him to take the test; he had seen it in the way his eyes danced like fireflies on a starry night.

"You have two days to two days and one night to learn the Fiddle, on the night of the second day, you will play against me if you lose," his eyes glazed over the eyes of the nervous teenagers, "you will be slaves to me,"

"What if you lose?" Arold asked, an angry itch in his tone. He hated the way he was getting riled up, it had always been one of his weaknesses, he got riled up easily but tended to avoid conflicts, it was one of his contradicting attributes.

"The king will give your dying friend the cure and you will be given three gifts," he stated plainly. Arold knew that the Fossegrimen was sure they would lose and even he thought they had no fighting chance.

Hero knew they didn't stand a chance against him. He was a natural fiddler. The fiddle wasn't an easy instrument to learn and he doubted any of them had ever seen it. He had heard the melodic tunes the Fossegrimen had been playing when they had arrived, no one could match his skill, no human could play the Fiddle as good as the Fossegrimen played. Hero glanced at the groaning Kastor whose eyebrows pinched together in pain, his teeth clenched together as if he was fighting off some kind of pain. Hero found it heartbreaking to see his friend in pain, "I will do it," Hero said, breaking the silence that had reigned among them.

"No." the Fossegrimen replied curtly, "he will," he pointed at Arold.

Arold felt his stomach sink and a pang of guilt built up in his heart. He didn't want to be the one to be in the contest. He suddenly felt the anxiety wave that had always attacked him whenever he was about to go on stage for a play in his primary school plays. He felt his heart tighten and a feeling of nausea washed upon him.

"Hero can do it or me," Jenna was quick to say, her eyes gliding hastily at the tense Arold.

"Yeah, I am even a better choice than him," the young Alec offered.

"You guys are just rude!" Arold cried, his tension forgotten but not gone.

"Not to be rude but you just don't seem ... like ... you like to ...fight you know?" Jenna explained.

"This isn't about fighting," Arold replied.

"Yeah... but it's still a contest,"

"You guys, can you trust Arold. I think he can do this," Kalli snapped on all of them.

"This is a suicide," Kastor muttered under his breath.