Alaris returned at that moment.
“There isn't a beast anywhere close by. We are safe here—” He paused, noticing that her wounds have healed.
That was something they were both happy about. They ate their fill from the tree and decided to take some fruits with them on their journey.
The effects of the fruits were different on both of them though - it didn't heal Alaris’ wings, not any of his lingering cuts. Alaris didn't want to waste time feeling sad about that, he wanted them to continue their journey and get out of here as soon as they could.
This Garden was cursed and the thoughts of being forced to be with a Star Headed creature just didn't please him at all.
Ugly fucking being!
“We have to go.”
“I am so thirsty, I wish there was water here somewhere that I could drink. I thought this place had a river on the map, where has it gone?” Belladonna asked, exhausted.
Her wounds were now healed and she felt better but thirst was thirst.
As soon as she said the last word, a gust of wind swept over them, shaking the fruits from the tree violently, bringing along with it a great fog.
It was so great that they couldn’t see through it, at least, Belladonna couldn't.
Alaris was in front of her, ready to fight whatever it was that would appear from the fog but what he saw wasn't a beast he could rip apart, it was a river some distance ahead of them.
Like a gift from the fog, as it cleared out slowly.
Fear rushed through him at that moment as he noticed that his vision was flickering. It was only for a couple of moments before it became normal again but that was enough to remind him of what he was losing.
The thought weighed down his heart heavily, the ache coursing through his back.
Not now! He had to get out of here!
“A River,” Belladonna said in surprise when she could finally see the river too.
As excited as Belladonna was, she ensured to approach the strange body of water along with Alaris, with caution.
The memories of the Mocking Trees still felt very terrorizing for her. It was a surprise that fear had disappeared from her mind immediately she saw the Tree of Life, but right now as she was staring at the river, the fear was slowly returning and her thirst was becoming less and less important.
What would this river do? Pull them into it like the trees? Laugh at them as it tries to kill them? Are there strange creatures beneath the water?
“It is safe to drink.” Alaris said to her.
She wanted to scold him for putting himself so much at risk but he was the stronger one of the both of them and his senses were so much better than hers, and he had more experience.
So instead of doing that, she nodded in appreciation, knelt down, cupped her hands and drank from the water. After that, they tried to wash away the dirt off their bodies, succeeding mostly with their arms, legs, faces and other essentials because they didn't want to strip and be vulnerable to attacks. Belladonna was also scared of the cold.
What they were both scared of though was the counting Sandglass.
It was halfway full already!
They didn't have much time left. It was time for them to leave and that was when the river became a great inconvenience for them. The map said they were supposed to pass through a pathway to get to the next turning point but the massive river was in the way, with no medium to help them across.
“We need a boat, or we can walk back and find another way.” He gritted out the words, not wanting to think about his wings, or his lack of them to put it more accurately.
“Going back is not good for us,” she looked down at the Sandglass on her hand. “If only a boat was he—”
From the fog some distance over the river, something shifted to the shore.
A boat.
They fell into silence and exchanged a look.
“If only we already had the Life Gem,” Alaris said.
They waited and nothing happened.
“I wish we were at the Resurrection Ground already,” Belladonna said. Nothing happened still. “With this river taking us there.”
Nothing.
Well, it seemed the River was selective to what it granted.
“We are in such a great need for paddles.”
Alaris scoffed. “You are starting to speak like him, so many words—” He paused because right in the boat were paddles. He turned to Belladonna with surprise. “It listens to you.”
They got into the boat and while Alaris was tasked with paddling them to where they should go, Belladonna was tasked with wishing for different things that might help them get out of this Garden with the Gem, while she also wished for Eli and her baby.
None worked.
Maybe they had used up all their wishes or maybe the River was being selective.
Tired of wishing for things that weren't happening, Belladonna took to talking about what was making her so happy.
After this next point they were heading to, was the Resurrection Ground. She was more than prepared to pass whatever test it was to bring them to live.
She was hopeful, too hopeful and Alaris was ready to point that out.
“I think the Resurrection Ground is a mere distraction.”
“What?!”
Alaris shrugged, paddling. “Think about it, it is placed at a point, two turning points before where the gem is located.”
The river made them rock slightly from side to side and the smell of dew was thick in the air, but that wasn't what felt suffocating for Belladonna.
“How long have you been thinking of this?”
“By the tree, I have had my doubts about it before but it all came together by the tree.”
Belladonna opened her mouth to speak but she was too angry to even do that.
“We don't have so much time left. Let us just get the Gem, it will also work to bring your Eli back.”
“Has it ever brought anyone back before?”
“I believe it is something it is capable of.”
That was a no.
“I am going to the Resurrection Ground and that is it.”
Fuming, she turned her back to him, and crossed her hands against her chest, not wanting to speak to him again because of how his suggestion made her filled with rage.
He knew how important going to that Resurrection Ground was to her, how dare he make such a suggestion?! And offer her something uncertain in its place too. Besides, they still had time.
Their boat rocked from one side to another again and the fog thickened.
Then a sound filled the air, like a song, a sonorous one.
Belladonna squinted her eyes. Something had moved in the water. She turned to ask Alaris if he had seen it too, but she was confronted with something worse.
He had his lips pressed against a woman’s lips as she pulled him into the water with her.
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((Something went wrong with the power supply yesterday and my appliances are in great lack of energy. I’m only able to write this chapter. I’ll try to upload three chapters tomorrow - that is the missed chapter and the normal update, hopefully the power gets fixed by then, so I’ll be able to do that. Thank you for your understanding)).