Shield Forest: Part 4

The red hair boy was staring at me with desperation.

"Wait... What?!"

"I said, let me go with you! What? You're going to abandon a wounded child here?"

'You're not wrong but...' I said to myself.

"I'm also a child, you know?" I said as I gaze at the hands that were holding on my clothes.

"It's better if we are together!" Gab retorted.

"Look here, Gab! I'm going to hunt a monster and accompanying you would be a hassle for me..." I looked at the boy as I said those words.

My heart throbbed when I saw his look like the world was ending.

I raised both my hands in resignation... I can't let the child be alone in this forest, even if I, myself is also a child.

"Fine!"

Gab's skin beam with liveliness. His hold on the hem of my clothes was loosened and I grab his arm.

The boy turns to me with confusion.

"Relax, I'm just going to give you support."

I then glanced at his wounded body, and he also followed where my eyes where.

He nodded and we walk as I hold his hand.

"By the way, where did you come from?"

Gab didn't answer, and his attention was only in my hand holding his...

"Umm... Do you want me to take my hands off?" I asked.

"No... It's fine." Gab said.

Half an hour of walking...

"Ugh..."

"What? Does your wound hurt?"

"No... It's nothing!"

I stare at the boy; whose face is pale and his gasping breath.

'Agh. Fuck this!'

"We should stop first! You need to rest." I turn my whole body and meet the boy whose condition is getting worst.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not! Stay here! I'll try to find herbs. This is a forest, there must be medicinal herbs here that will help you."

We found a clear spot in the middle of the forest where the monster doesn't go in. It brought about relieved, that we found that area.

I guided him in one of the biggest trees and let him sit underneath the shade. I let his headrest in the body of the tree.

"I'll go back in a flash, so just stay here."

He responded with a chuckle.

"Why are you laughing?"

"It's because a kid is taking care of me. That's why it's funny."

I smack his head and give him a piece of my mind.

"Hey! You're not one to talk! You should be thankful that a kid like me has the time to take care of you!" then I flash a smile.

Gab only stared at me with his eyes wide open. I stood up and left my bag to him.

"Here..." Gab only study the grey drawstring that I handed.

"Can you quickly get it from me? My arms getting numb!"

He hesitantly reached out and hold the string of my bag, and only peering back and forth between me and the bag.

I turn around and I quickly made my way and run when I heard a yell...

"You'll go back, right?! You won't leave me here alone, right?!"

I only glanced at the red-headed boy and wave my hands, then I made my way inside the lush forest.

Inside the forest, I look at every nook and cranny, but I hardly found any medicinal herbs.

Then, in the corner of the dim forest. Bushes of a purple flower with a berry looking fruit got my attention.

I immediately made my way into the location of the plant.

"Belladonna! This will help him numb the pain."

Belladonna or commonly known here as deadly nightshade is a poisonous plant that will make you delirium and hallucinate, but with the right amounts of consumption, it can help lessen the pain.

"I'll just get a few fruits... Thank god! There was something that this forest can offer."

I put the belladonna's fruit in the pocket of my cloak, and I search the forest again.

This time I found a Shepherd's Purse growing in the vast ground, behind the big trees.

I pick a handful and also put it inside my pocket.

"Thank God! They have the same plants as we have back in my old world."

I decided that I should return now and gave the medicine to Gab while walking back I also found some wild berries and pick some.

The trail was easy to find and I've been searching for almost an hour so, I quickly run to the open area where I left Gab.

When I'm near the place, I heard a creeping sound...

It was the noise that I heard near the lake.

I remember Gab who was laying on the ground looking pale and his bloody thin body.

"Shit! Don't tell me..."

I run with all my might and what I saw made me stop...

Gab saw me and is now looking at me with pleading misty eyes. He was keeping silent, trying to disguise himself as part of the tree but his fear was easily sensed by the monster.

And the monster is making its way to Gab.

His heavy breathing and the metallic smell attracted the monster.

No! More like, this is his spot and we're caught trespassing to its territory.

I silently grip my black pants; my brain was having a shock and can't even think straight.

The slithering sound made me wake up in my still consciousness.

"Damn! What the hell am I supposed to do with that?!"

I glance with the red hair boy whose body is quivering in fear. We alternatively look at the monster whose standing in front of Gab ready to attack him...

It was a big black snake... No! It's more like a gigantic version of a king cobra.

His black skin shines in the sunlight, and his big body was moving in a zigzag pattern, making a slithering sound. His tongue was going back and forth inside its mouth and making a -sssshh noise.

I pick up a stone beside my foot and grip it tightly.

'I need to distract it!'

"I always hate my instinct when I know that my guess was right!" I yelled and throw the rock at the back of the head of the snake with its widening scale.

The snake turns its head and looks annoyed.

"Now… RUN!" I screamed at the Gab, who looks dazed.

"Now… What?!" I ask my stupid self who doesn't have a plan after throwing the rock.

The huge black snake turns its head to the running Gab but immediately faces me.

"Ahh… the rock must have annoyed it," I smirk, then I RUN.

*huff! *huff! -panting, my breath was slowly becoming heavy with every reduces the energy that I spent running.

'Think Evelyn! Think!'

The giant snake was following me at a shocking speed.

I scream!

"Why am I always in this shitty situation!"