Reka... Where's Rio?
Kobi, in awe of the System for the first time, watched the protruding, crooked spine twist back in shape as Reka screamed from the pain.
The bloodied ghastly mark on her back dried up and the skin swelled up in a ugly fashion.
'A third degree burn is never worse... from the moment it's etched... it's permanent.' Kobi clicked his tongue as his finger traced the blob behind her back.
Only realising that the clothing she had on had been torn from behind. Only the front part was still intact.
"Shik... how's she now?" Kobi asked.
"Fine... and away from danger. You can snap her awake now... or she will do so in a little while herself." Shik gazed around, his eyes sullen about something, 'It seems she's the only one.'
Kobi nodded and gently caressed her greasy face, while murmuring soothingly, "Reka! Wake up..." His meek voice had no effect as Reka continued to rest in his embrace, but her body trembled as he contined, "Tell me where Rio is."
Her eyes snapped wide, her face, again, losing color. "RIO!!" Her hand stretched out as she firmly gripped the air, as if she has grabbed Rio's hand.
"Rio!?" She uttered again, but this time, confounded.
"Reka!" Kobi gently pulled back Reka and gazed into her eyes, befuddling her and riveting her.
Reka, dazed, tilted her head, "Ko– bi?"
Kobi nodded, "It's me... Now, I want you to stay silent and slowly gaze around."
Her brows creased, despite not understanding his request, she remained mute and spun her neck.
Her gaze widening as she took in the sight, her breath quickening as the clouds dissipated, her body quivering as her brother's silhouette haunted her, "Rio... Kobi, where's Rio?"
Kobi nodded again, "Yes, Reka... tell me," His throat turned parched, "Where's Rio?"
"Rio!" Her face turned puzzled as her question ricocheted back. But suddenly, her memories zapped and her eyes shot wide, "RIO! RIO!! I SENT HIM TO THE CHIEF'S!!!"
Kobi's heart palpitated, as the enigmatic figure aloofly standing above the rest plagued his thoughts again. 'He's there...?'
The gentle quivers of his heart died down, his vibe turned languid.
Speaking softly, he lulled Reka down. Pushing his finger against her lips, he shushed her down, "Quiet! There's no need for worry. I will go and check up on him. Okay?"
Reka, in the midst of nodding, turned her head back at Jake's house. Since it wasn't too far off, she could barely make out what was hung at its door.
Instantly her heart squeezed and her head bolted toward Kobi in fright, just as she was about to scream again, Kobi sealed her mouth with his palm.
"First and foremost, be calm. Do you understand?"
Reka, trembling, nodded, "Mhm!"
"Second, you will do as I say." Kobi affirmed again.
"Mhm!"
"You will sta–"
Without even listening to him, she shook her head, her eyes desperately pleading him.
"Alright, we will go together. But you must follow what I say, without tolerance this time."
Reka nodded again. Her warm breath grazing Kobi's hand more and more fastly.
Letting loose a sigh, Kobi let go of her and from his inventory, he pulled out his villager's set of clothes and handed them to her.
"Put this on."
Reka didn't think twice and donned it on before leaping to her feet, "Lets go."
Kobi heaved another sigh and assented, "Let's go."
'She hasn't even glanced once at herself... I doubt she even knows about the marks she sustained currently.' Kobi massaged his head and treaded on, wrapping Reka's hand in his.
Reka glanced around at the huts, "How could all this happen?" Unconsciously, her grip on Kobi's hand tightened. Her murmur reaching his ears due to the suffocating silence, "Rio... you are safe, right?"
As the two stood in front of the door, Reka retched. But mustering whatever courage she could for her brother, she grounded her teeth and buckled up.
'A nail? He is suspended from a wolf's nail?' Kobi stared at the blood stained large claw with a frown.
'No matter.' Feeling Reka tugging him ahead, he shook away the thoughts and headed on.
As he entered, an egregious odor assaulted him.
It was the mix of blood and a decaying corpse... with the sweet scent that always used to linger.
Kobi's eyes travelled to the open bedroom, the one he remembered well that Jake had slammed shut a tiny too abruptly.
With intrigue at the wide open door, and seeing the scent coming from right there, he advanced with Reka cowering behind him.
Just from a peek inside from a distance back, Kobi pulled back, tugging Reka away. His face twisted and unsightly.
"What was in it?" Reka's heart leapt and she pulled back, freeing herself from his grip.
"Do you wish to see?" Kobi asked coldly.
Reka gulped and glancing in between the door and Kobi, and stayed quiet.
"Even if I oppose?" Kobi asked again.
Reka, stammered before giving him a firm glance.
"Very well! Go." Kobi folded his arms and fell silent.
As she neared the door, and her sight rested within, Kobi's chilly voice drilled into her, "It's nothing more than the fancy of a broken, twisted and a morbid old man."
The pungent scent mixed along with the fragrance of the flowers surrounding the figure deep asleep on the bed and Kobi's words mingled together to form a single word that sprung to her lips, "His wife?"
The air turned heavy for a moment before Reka withdrew and walked next to Kobi with her head low.
"I suppose... that may also be another obsession of his." Kobi pointed at the bookshelf erected in the wall. The book shelf that had been pushed aside from its place while revealing a passage below.
Kobi also saw a transparent glass container broken on the ground, but the rock inside it missing.
Reka, took his hand and meekly hid behind him.
'Afraid... but still willing to brave the darkness? All for her brother... how pathetic. I know she must realise already too.' Kobi loosened another breath and strode ahead, 'Man I am so being bullied... this isn't me.'
With a swift clattering noise, the two descended the stairs brightened by a candle and the outside light and reached below.
It was a simple secret chamber with a wooden table and a stool.
The stool had collapsed, and rested in the dingy shade of the table being cast by the lamp flickering ever so gently.
Kobi's instincts screamed suddenly, and his eyes following the trail of the lamp's light, fell upon the figure collapsed on the other side of the table.
It was a small body, drenched in its own blood, its terrified and terrifying lifeless face was turned in Kobi's direction.
His glazed eyes staring at him without mercy or forgiveness, almost as if he would pounce up any second and rend his soul.
He snapped out of his thoughts, 'Shit! This is bad... I must get Reka out.'
He turned his head and blurted in urgency, "Reka..."
Just as strongly his voice burst loose, it died down with the same fashion as he gazed at her eyes piercing past him.
Widened eyes that were just as bright as the lamp. A small opening in her lips that failed to aid her breath to start. And an unnervingly numb face... that Kobi could never understand.
But what he did understand was simple, 'She's alive... but not living.'