Fifteen Journey - Chapter 35

Their way back was made with silence. This was far serious than Rick thought and his eyes were still burning but that was something he could not say to his partners, not to make them worried. After all, that was his nature, since no one else could solve his problems except him.
“Are you alright?”
Rick nodded to Ashley. He hated lying but that was all he could do. Even wanting to change his facial expression, he wasn’t able to do so.
Although he could not almost open his eyes due to pain, Rick knew where his friends were. He was walking near Fred’s robot carrying Fred inside to pilot and the hurt body Cassey had been grabbing. Mike was leading the group with Horous, he could hear the wise’s voice and Horous’s footsteps. As for the rest, Cassey and Ashley, they were walking slowly and with Cassey’s rhythm. Rick wasn’t able to check her expression because his eyes did not give him enough time.
Almost blind, Rick was sat in a fallen tree. Later, he sensed the heat of a liven fire in front of him. Fred and Mike’s voices were heard.
“Lay down Rick” Mike ordered him.
“I’m okay…”
“Just do it.” Rick did not disobey. After all, Mike was his friend.

A black room, a shadow in the ground, his whisper.
“I’m not dead yet…”
His eyes opened. And it did not hurt as much as before so Rick could finally bring some energy… if he knew where he was… After a few steps, his tired feet sensed something. Touching the ground, a corpse. “What?”
But he recognised that breath. Cassey was sleeping. And she had a great body…
“What are you doing, pervert?” Rick got away. Had she waken up?
Eventually, she came back to her normal breath. ‘Weird dreams she’s having…’
Then, he saw light in the end of the dark. As he approached the light, his eyes hurt once again, but, this time, it was due to the sudden appearance of light. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw her. The hurt girl, also known as a girl he had seen somewhere before the ceremony.
She looked at him not showing any gratitude expression. Just as cold as she could act.
He sat right in front of her, sometimes hidden by the fire red flames. Her body was full of bandages and unhealed scratches. But her face did not show pain.
“Are you alright?” Rick asked before regretting that action. She answered him with a glare.
They kept silenced for a while. Mike had saved some food for Rick so he attacked it without hesitation.
“Here, take half.” He offered the girl looking at him.
“Not hungry.” But her stomach betrayed her. The growls were too loud to hide. “Maybe I’ll take it…” she blushed while Rick was smiling from victory.
“Pretty, huh?”
The girl join Rick’s gazing at the skies. The stars upon them shined as the day of the Petals Ceremony, a blessing.
“Say, what happened to you?” Rick started.
She sighed. “I had been attacked a long time ago, ever since I found the enemy. Now he won’t let me rest…”
“She is really agile…”
“Yes, very endowed to her art…” her expression had saddened now. “What happened after I fainted?”
“I can’t tell exactly what happened but that Sarith appeared… and Cassey did not let go off you… so we had to bring you.” Rick lightened his smile again.
“Cassey?” she seemed panicked as she stood up. “As in Cassey Lane?”
“Yeah, how do you know?”
“You are enemy!” she shouted. “And you are her ally or…” she interrupted. In her eyes, Rick could see her memories coming to her mind. The day of the Petals Ceremony. He was another player.
Without hesitating, the girl took position as a fighter. Kenea, it was called. A body-to-body art.
“… Flaim, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes.” Rick was about to take out his sword when he heard the sound of footsteps. Cassey had come out of the cave where they were sleeping.
“You! You were the one I save.” Kathelin Sumora was her name. Rick had recalled it.
But he wasn’t in the same spot anymore.
“Right behind you… Kathelin.”
Her hands were dragged to behind making impossible a single movement. Even with struggling and kicks from behind, it seemed effect less.
“What do you want?” she asked as coldly as before.
“Not a fight. Not this night.”
She calmed now and caressed her wrists. All her wounds were hurting more now.
“Are you alright?”
Kathelin looked up. Cassey was right there, ready to help. Anytime… It was a payback.
Rick returned to his warm sit, joined his hands and closed his eyes. Cassey helped Kathelin to return to her sit as well and looked concentrated at Rick. What was he thinking?
After some minutes watching the red flames, Cassey noticed Rick’s opening eyes movement. And with a confident tone, he stepped forward in the road of destiny.
“Let’s beat our enemy. Then, we’ll fight, Kathelin.”

Next Chapter:
“What are you thinking of, master?” she giggled with curiosity.

Author’s Note: I thought I’d work more if I was in holidays, but that theory of mine is just wrong. Sorry, everyone, for being late. I’ll try to do at least 3 chapters before I go on holidays. By the way, good holidays!!!