Chapter 213: Poisoned

Despite the worry gnawing at his heart, Thomas knew he had to stay strong and protect Mary. She was in this state because of him.

The giant snake, after a fierce struggle, seemed to realize it couldn't defeat Thomas and Mary for now. With its remaining eye, it shot them a venomous glare before dragging its injured body out of the cave, leaving a long, bloody trail behind.

Thomas watched the snake leave and let out a sigh of relief. They were lucky it had gone, but he knew the danger wasn't over yet. Quickly, he tore a strip of cloth from his shirt and wrapped it around Mary's wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

Mary was weak from pain and blood loss, but she forced herself to stay conscious, not wanting to worry Thomas even more. Thomas supported her as they slowly made their way toward the stairs. Each step was a struggle, with Mary’s weight and weakness pressing down on him.

Her left leg dragged on the ground, the cloth around her wound soaked with blood, giving off a disturbing aura. Her heartbeat was racing, and each drop of blood that fell pained Thomas deeply.

"Mary, hang in there. We're almost out," Thomas whispered, gritting his teeth to encourage her. He was exhausted, his legs felt like lead, and his arms ached from the effort, but his only thought was to get Mary to safety.

Just as they reached the top of the stairs, Mary suddenly went limp and collapsed. Thomas was terrified. He caught her in his arms, preventing her from hitting the ground. "Mary! Mary! What's wrong? Don't scare me!"

He called her name loudly, but she didn't respond. Her eyes were closed, her face pale as a sheet, and the light of life seemed to be fading from her. Thomas was frantic. He knew he couldn't just sit there and do nothing.

After a moment of panic, he calmed himself and decided to take Mary back to the safer area they had come from. Maybe he could find something to help her there.

Back in the safe area, Thomas gently laid Mary down and checked her condition. His heart sank. Her body was burning up like a furnace, her forehead was scorching, and sweat was pouring down her face, soaking her hair.

With trembling hands, Thomas unwrapped the cloth from her wound. The skin around it was turning black and blue, swollen and emitting a nauseating stench. It was clear the venom was spreading rapidly through her body.

Thomas paced back and forth, desperately searching his mind for any antidote he had learned about. He remembered various herbs and detox techniques, but in this unfamiliar place, where could he find those lifesaving plants?

George, their loyal dog, stayed by Mary's side, nuzzling her hand and whimpering softly, as if trying to wake her. The sorrowful sound echoed in the quiet, adding to the sense of despair.

Soon, Mary began to hallucinate. Her body twitched, and she mumbled incoherently, sometimes groaning in pain, other times talking to unseen figures. Suddenly, she was on all fours, moving around like a sheep, her eyes vacant and unfocused, bumping into stones and walls.

Thomas and George were stunned, exchanging worried and fearful glances. What was happening? Did Mary think she was a sheep?

Then, Mary started acting like a dog, circling Thomas and barking occasionally. The sound was eerie in the tense atmosphere, her face twisted with an unnatural excitement and a distorted smile, her hands waving in the air as if chasing something invisible.

Thomas watched in agony. "Mary, please, wake up," he called softly. But she didn't seem to hear him, continuing her bizarre behavior. She rubbed against his leg like a dog, then ran off, barking.

Thomas tried to catch her, to calm her down, but she dodged him nimbly, running around the room like a playful puppy. He could only follow her anxiously, afraid she might hurt herself further.

Then, Mary started mimicking George, acting like a monkey. She watched George and copied his every move. When George jumped onto a rock, she tried to follow but fell due to her weakness. When George scratched his head, she did the same, her eyes devoid of clarity.

Thomas was at a loss. He had never seen anything like this. A person thinking they were an animal, especially when she acted like a dog, was the hardest for him to bear. If she weren't sick, he might have scolded her.

Then, something even more terrifying happened. Mary's body began to twist, and she started moving like a snake, hissing and slithering toward Thomas. He was shocked, stepping back instinctively. The familiar yet now dangerous Mary filled him with fear.

As he dodged her snake-like attacks, he shouted, "Mary, don't you recognize me? It's Thomas!" But she didn't respond, continuing to crawl toward him. Thomas had to keep evading her, looking for a place to hide.

George seemed to understand the urgency. He tugged at Thomas's pants, his eyes filled with worry and helplessness. Thomas wiped the sweat from his face and checked Mary's wound again. Her blood had turned thick and black, emitting a pungent odor.

The smell nearly suffocated him, making him realize how severe her condition had become. "What do I do? Regular herbs won't work now, and the poison has already affected her brain. I can't think of a way to save her."

Thomas's voice choked with emotion. He felt useless for the first time, watching his friend suffer without being able to help. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at Mary's pained expression, filled with guilt and regret. If only he had been more careful, more cautious, maybe Mary wouldn't have been bitten and wouldn't be in such agony.

In his deepest despair, Thomas suddenly thought of a dangerous method: sucking out the venom.