Chapter 36: Meaningful Colors and Emotions

"What is that? Does it mean that's the end?"

This heart shaped plant meant something, but I didn't know what. I considered it being the mark of the 'Stone Hearted Vine' maturing, making it the final stage before Boo takes the fate that originally belonged to me.

"I-I don't know." Boo hesitated with her answer, showing me that she really didn't know why the vine took this form.

"You don't? How?" I felt immense shock when I learned that even Boo didn't know the origins of this heart shaped plant.

"It was supposed to be different. Now I'm not sure if I can save you, Alexander." At this point stress began filling Boo's mind. She started panicking, resulting in our current situation being more confusing than it already was.

"What was supposed to be different? Please, Boo, explain."I tried to stay calm, despite the unusual circumstances that occured.

"The vine..Its..This." Boo's panicked state affected not only her mind, but also her speech.

"Boo, you need to calm down. I will take a deep breath and I want you to do the same. Nod if you understand." After hearing my words, Boo nodded her head.

"That's good. Now, In." I inhaled " And out." I exhaled, with Boo following my example.

"Just like that. In and out. In and out." We did it couple of times, until Boo showed signs of calming down.

"Now you can try to tell me what you wanted. I know our situation is dangerous, but don't rush yourself. Speak slowly and clearly." I gave Boo as many advices as I could in this short period of time.

She took one last deep breath and began talking. "The vine was supposed to travel to my body and use its three spikes to put its venom in me, but now.... I don't know what it means. It changed its shape into this plant and I-I... Why? Why can't I just save my friend?"

When Boo finished her words, vines around her started moving again. Making it seem like they were affected by their owner's emotions.

"Boo, you're panicking again." While saying that, I put my left hand on Boo's cheek and made her look me in the eyes. "And you don't know if you didn't save me yet. For all we know, we are safe for now."

Feeling my palm on her cheek calmed Boo down, while my words made her vines stop moving.

"You're right, Alexander. We are safe for now, but it doesn't mean it will last this way. What if this new plant can hurt us both? I don't want it to happen."

"Me too, Boo. Thankfully we know someone that can tell us what this change represents. Isn't that right, Gaia?" I said it with a blurry image of a green haired woman in my mind.

"Mother? Do you really know why the vine took this shape?" Boo's tone contained a lot of hope, as Gaia was probably the only one that could help us in this situation.

(Well, maybe not us, but she for sure will help Boo.) I knew from our previous interaction that Gaia didn't care for my life in the slightest, but Boo's life was a different matter. It was clear from the start how much care Gaia treats Boo with, and this rule will apply specifically now, with Boo's life on the line.

As soon as Boo finished asking her question, I felt a strong wind blow around us.

"Unfortunately I don't, my daughter. I never seen the 'Stone Hearted Vine' act this way. And I blame you for this, Alexander Lambert. I'm sure you are responsible for it." The first part of Gaia's sentence was directed to Boo, and like I expected it was pleasant. On the other hand, the second part which was directed to me wasn't as nice. Gaia blamed me for what happened, not hiding her new born hatred for me.

"You serious, Gaia? You think I did that? I didn't know what this vine was before Boo decided to share this informatio with me, let alone know how to affect it in a way Mother Earth herself wouldn't know. I thought you had knowledge about everything in the nature, especially about the plant you wanted to use to kill a man such as me." I didn't stay quiet when Gaia's assumptions reached my ears. I immediately replied, mocking her along the way.

"I can't have knowledge about the transformation this vine undergone under your bad influence. I'm sure your soul is rotten to the core, and it just proves my statement of you being a man my daughter needs to be careful around."

(So she doesn't know why the 'Stone Hearted Vine' turned out this way. If she did, she wouldn't try to insult me everytime she opens her mouth.) I ws sure Gaia insulted me as a way to keep her mind away from the thought of her actions potentially leading to Boo's death.

"What is your problem with me, or rather what is your problem with men in general? Your actions so far shows there must be a reason why you hate us so much. It can't be just about me staring at Boo's chest. I know it can be disrespectful for you, but it wouldn't brought so many negative emotions along it." I was tired with the attitude Gaia showed me in our conversation and decided to inquire about the real reason of her behavior.

"*Hmph* You think you know a lot about me, don't you? Maybe I hate you just for that? Maybe, you as a man, can't accept the fact that your disgusting nature can lead to a woman hating you? How about this answer? Does it satisfy you?" Sarcasm was obvious in Gaia's words, but there was another thing I could pick up on.

(She didn't just insult me, but my nature as a man. It proves my theory that Gaia must have gone through something that made her hate men....The question is, what was it? What made her behave like this? Was she really that bad?) The last question I asked myself stayed in my mind for a while, but my anger at her previous actions didn't let it bother my mind for long.

"Let's have it your way, as I see you won't admit it. Just be sure that I know there is something more to it, than you let on." I gave up at getting the answer out of Gaia, as solving the mystery of the heart shaped plant was more important.

I looked at it when I hear cold words right next to my ear. "Think whatever you want, Alexander Lambert. You mean nothing to me, and you better pray that Boo gets out unharmed out of this situation, otherwise...." Gaia didn't need to finish her words and she was aware of it.

But contrary to her expectations, I didn't fear them. Instead I smirked and said in a joyful tone. "I never believed in gods, so praying is not for me, Gaia."

"You're so full of yourself. One more reason to hate you." I laughed at her comment.

"Are you keeping notes on why you hate me? If that so, maybe you want an autograph on them?" I decided to joke around, provoking Gaia.

"Why are you this way? You can lose your life at any given moment, and instead of thinking of ways to solve it, you are joking around. Do you even care about your own being?"

"I'm glad you finally noticed my situation, but I prefer not to answer your question. Just like you did with mine."

(I care a lot about mine and Boo's lives, maybe even as much as Gaia do about Boo's. I just don't want to cry when I know my tears won't help in solving the issue.)

After thinking about it, I focused my gaze at the heart shaped plant, with one thought lingering in my mind. (What are you?)

In that moment the plant began beating just like a real heart does. Its movements became more and more active, while a beating sound came from it.

This turn of events didn't go unnoticed by Boo, who quickly reacted to it. "Why is it moving? Does it mean something bad is about to happen?"

"Or something good." I didn't have much hope, but I decided to be positive for Boo's sake.

We both focused on the beating, heart shaped plant when its exterior began changing from its green color to grey. And with this color came another factor.

Its beating began changing its speed. At first it was fast like a heart of a person that run a marathon, then it slowed down, almost as if it was dying. It changed its speed on several occasions, making it look like it seeked for a specific rhythm.

I didn't need to wait for long because soon it found it, and as it turned out, it synchronized with my own heartbeat, making it sound identical. But it wasn't the end, as seconds later I heard a third heart beating in the same pattern, this time it was Boo's.

"You feel it too, Boo?"

"I do, Alexander and I'm scared of what it means." I felt how Boo began shaking, as our entangled hands did the same thing.

"Don't be. We're in this together and you can be sure that no matter what happens I won't leave your side, even if it means my death." My words were a promise, I decided to fulfill no matter what.

"Thank you, Alexander. You're right, we're in this together. This is what my heart tells me." Boo smiled and her hands stopped shaking.

I showed her a smile on my own, when I saw the heart shaped plant change its color again. This time it turned deep red, and I knew it meant that whatever is about to happen, will happen in a moment.