LIME

That night things only got worse, I broke out into a fever, my legs were swelling up, Sytes no doubt we’re crawling around inside me….

A small lantern sat on the bedside, as Hayden held a cold cloth and wiped the sweat away from my brow. 

Why isn’t he sleeping? My little baby needs sleep….LET ME WATCH YOU SLEEP AND I'LL BE CURED.

My head felt fuzzy…the world was blurry, I felt so hot yet so cold. 

“You need sleep…..” I mumble, out of breath from nothing. 

“I-I need to keep an eye on you I…..” He muttered, his voice cracking. 

Was he crying….?

It was so dark I couldn’t tell….he hadn’t even known me for a day and he was crying…..why…?

And that’s when his last words burned a hole into my consciousness. 

I just wanted to save somebody….anybody…..just once…..

I was still not taking this seriously was I….?

To him, I was a girl in the same situation as him, a girl who fought to survive and he was trying to help me keep that wish. 

But to me…..I’m just an onlooker who has a fever….

Why can’t I take this more seriously?! What’s wrong with me?!

But I feel nothing….it's like it doesn’t involve me despite being in the middle, even if I die Hayden will live, so why does it matter….?

“Piper I’m so s-scared…..please get better….” He said between sad little sobs. 

That’s right….his Mother died of a fever…..oh god……

“I’m fine, don’t worry……this is just my body fighting off the infection…..”

I say, reaching up to grab his cheek, his face was tear-stained and lit by soft lantern light his expression hidden in the dark.  

Even in this situation, he was beautiful. 

“I ran from Sytes, climbed a wall, and survived….you think a fever will bring me down…?” I softly mumble. 

“W-Well…..” He muttered. 

“Believe in me, I’m stronger than anyone you know…”

And for you, I’ll be stronger than anyone you’ll meet…

“Because Hayden……”

I will help you be free from this story…

“I will return my favor….and save you one day……”

My eyelids felt heavy, and it would have been stupid to fight them, I won’t lie, I was also afraid the Sytes would take me over while I slept, but for some reason I knew, I would wake up and be okay. 

I still remember the day I found this book, I was scrolling online and found that the art was far greater than the story. 

But I didn’t mind, while it was poorly written, the story was there, and it glowed. 

When Hayden turns eighteen he discovers the head Doctor has been the one creating Sytes, but he never figures out how to stop him. 

One by one his friends die until at the end he takes his own life…..

And at the very last paragraph, the doctor walks up to his corpse and says one line, the very line that will save him.

“I find it humorous….that you never noticed you were growing the cure inside your room, Lupine….”