Chapter 36: Agony
Isaac's POV
I woke up when I felt someone entered the cave, I could not see so I put out a fire in my hand even though I was frowning at the pain of my head and wounds. I was about to throw the fire on my hand when I heard a familiar voice.
"Isaac, it's us for Pete's sake!" Cath growled at me. My eyes widened when I saw Althea in Kristian’s arms, unconscious. I tried to stand up, but my body isn't cooperating.
"Don't stand up, Isaac. We need you to be healed first," Kristian said and laid Althea down next to me. I held her hand and kissed it. Why do I have to be this week? Why did I let this happen to her?
"Isaac, this is your healing plant--"
"Use it to her." They were both stunned by what I said. The blood was still dripping from my head and I was running out of the blood, but I didn't care. I no longer think about myself. "Save her. I'll be okay."
"We can't do that! Isaac, you have to live!" Cath shouted at me. I know they are angry because of the decision I made. Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at Althea.
"But what good life would be if the woman who's the reason why I want to live is dead? If I lose Althea here inside this fucking tournament, I will never forgive myself."
"And do you think she can forgive herself when she finds out you died just to save her?!" I stared at Cath when she shouted that. She is crying too. "We're going to save you both, Isaac. We'll split the medicine."
They laid me down and applied the leaves to Althea and me. I winced when the plant juice covered my wound and I could feel it flowing to me, which means it's working. I held Althea's hand while staring at her face.
Sometime later, some of my deep wounds disappeared, so I stared at Althea, who was also healing. I was waiting for her to wake up but for a few minutes, she's still not moving.
"W-What's happening?" I touched her neck to see if she was breathing and my eyes widened when I felt she had no pulse. "Damn it, Cath! What's going on?! I thought that plant will save Althea?!"
"I-I don't know." Cath's tears welled up as we all stared at Althea who until now had not woken up.
I hugged her as I burst into tears. "Althea, don't die on me! Shit! Althea, please! Kristian, Cath, do something!"
"I-I can't do anything, Isaac. She needs to fight to be able to wake up. And when she hasn't woken up in a minute..." Cath couldn't continue what she was going to say so I was even more worried.
"What will happen?" Kristian and Cath could not look at me. Damn. Why even though I know what will happen I still do not want to face the truth? I threatened Kristian. "What will happen--"
"She'll die! She'll freaking die, Isaac!" He shouted which made me stop. I screamed in pain as I hugged Althea. Will I let the woman I love die before my eyes again because of this tournament?
No, I won't. If I did not correct my mistake then, I will correct it now. I will save her. I can't see myself living in this world without her by my side.
"Althea, you told me you're brave then why are you giving up on me?! Wake up, baby... Please! Wake up, damn it!" No, I can't afford to lose her. "Wake up and that's an order from the president! Either you break it, or I'll break you, baby! Please..." My tears flowed as I brushed my lips on hers.
"I don't want to be saved. I want you..." I uttered and kissed her again. Wake up.
I was stunned when I felt his hand move and hugged me. Althea.
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Althea's POV
Is it wrong to like someone so much that you wanted them to be yours and yours alone? Because if it's wrong, I don't want to be right anymore.
Ever since I found out what happened about Rhian and the truth, I have always wished I was Rhian, or maybe I was the only one Isaac and the group first met. I hope I'm just Rhian so they can love me too. I felt jealous.
She must be really happy when she was still alive. Isaac loves her more than anyone he'd ever met. More than me. But I don't want to compete with my sister. It was my fault for falling in love with Isaac.
When my body shut down the moment Kristian and Cath saw me, I thought to myself that I don't want to wake up anymore. I don't want to wake up because I have nothing to go back to. I have nothing to fear because I have nothing left. I have no parents, I have no family to make amends with once I got out of here, and most of all, I don't have Isaac anymore.
But when I felt his lips touched mine, for once, I did not stop my heart from loving him. For the first time, I let my heart stay in the world for him.
When I opened my eyes, Isaac hugged me tightly. "I thought I'll lose you." He was crying. I could hear him sobbing so I burst into tears. Is he really for me to wake up?
"Althea..." I turned to Cath, she was in tears and I was shocked when she hugged me, followed by Kristian. They all hugged me like a... Family.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," Isaac said while holding my face then he hugged me tightly again. I can see the happiness on his face at that moment.
I've realized something. It is not true that I have no family, I have them. They filled in the gaps of a parent and family in my life.
"Let's move and find theirs. When we find them first, the tournament will end quickly and our score will be counted, as well as Team Magical University. The highest score wins," Kristian explained. We stood up and Cath and I led us so we could move forward quickly.
"We'll get through this as a family, alright? No one can die and be left here during the tournament. Don't die on me, that's an order." We smiled when Isaac said that and started moving.
Even if we're in the middle of a fucked-up situation, I want to value these moments. Because it might be the last.