Page 108 of Fallen Thorns
I watched the shake of their shoulders as I listened to the agony lacing their voice.
“Tell me I’m not naïve. That Igetit. That I tried. Itried,”they cried out across the open water, too far away now for any human to sense their rumbling, roiling emotions. Oh, poor Mars.
They snapped back towards me before I was allowed even a breath of a response. Their feet charged across the mud; their eyes red and inhuman, fangs showing. I didn’t have time to stand back upright, my hands still sinking into the dirt.
“Tell me!” they growled, reaching out and grabbing me by both my coat collars, dragging my limp body out from the earth. “Arlo is still in there, right? He’s still alive. After everything, tell me he is still alive.” Their fierceness reverberated through me, I was still too stunned.I never expected this. Why didn’t you warn me of their strength, my Sun?
“Arlo is… resting,” I managed to say, despite being shaken.
Not good enough, apparently. I was pushed back down to the ground, and this time, Arlo’s soft head cracked against the rock it so narrowly missed the first time. Even in this form, my eyesight blurred slightly as his head began to bleed out beneath me. Again, Mars seemed appalled at their own strength. They must have noticed the bleeding but something in their eyes proved it was intentional. I caught on to what they are about to do a second too late.
Mars ripped off their coat and rolled up their sleeve, exposing their slender, brown arm. Holding it up to the sky, their other hand unsheathed a pocket-knife, and in one swift motion, they slashed across the tendons of their bare arm, their boot firmly cementing me into the soil. Mars leaned over me and let their blood trickle down onto my face. At my unwillingness, their free hand dropped the knife and pulled at my jaw, nails digging into my gums as they pried my teeth apart.
“This better fucking work,” they muttered from behind their gritted teeth. “Come back to me Arlo.”
I had no choice but to release my jaw, letting their warm blood trickle down my throat, their grip too strong for my failing body.
My limbs had grown numb. Arlo’s —myblood — flowed deep into the roots of the ground.
No. Not now.
Mars.
Please, Mars.
I choked on it and spluttered a spray as I sat up. Mars relaxed their pressure slightly in anticipation of the outcome of their relatively reckless experiment.
No.
Mars…
I’m crawling. Crawling through this spiralling tunnel, grasping for the light. My hands are torn and bloody, tears dried to the cracks of my face. I can breathe. I am breathing. The light grows bigger and bigger as I scramble forwards. Not looking back, never looking back. Please Mars… help me.
As if they could hear my plea, Mars crouched down to my side and wrapped their free arm around my body, helping me sit up properly, and they forced their wounded arm back in front of my mouth. Fierceness vanished from their eyes as they said: “Take what you need to be free.”
I bit down and started to drink, Mars flinched and bit back a cry, but kept their arm firm as I latched on deeply.
“Please work,” they muttered again, arm strong behind me. “I can’t lose you, Arlo.”
I’m right here.
I’m almost there, I can feel the heat of freedom as I take those last few steps. Flashes of my friends and memories. My mum. Bess. Rani, Mars, Casper… Ben.
Ben. The first person who made me feel accepted in this new world. The idea that maybe I could find myself was planted with him. His cheery outlook on everything. His chipped, black nail polish and his long baggy coats that were always one size too big. His passion and energy. His smile and innocence. The way he looks at Casper and the way Casper responds. The world doesn’t deserve him.
Casper, with his confidence and pride. The way he protects everyone around him, so selfless and loyal. Someone to lean on, someone who is always there to listen. I feel so safe with him.
Rani, my best friend. I wouldn’t have made it this far without her. She made life worth living. Brought the sun to the storm and held away the tide with her might. She grounded me. Set my roots deep into the earth of humanity. I love her for that. She’d laugh if she heard me say that aloud.
I’m so close. So very, very close.
Mars. Wonderful, beautiful Mars. My saviour. Mars who would sacrifice heaven and earth to protect the ones they loved. Do they love me? Am I worthy? Of course. Mars has always proved that, and I was always too blind.
I’m not blind now though.
I’m there. Can feel the edge. My hands cling over the side of the hole, light dazzling my eyes, burning my face. I made it. I really made it. I’m close enough to haul a leg over the edge, pulling myself up with every ounce of strength I can muster. It hits the grass, everything so bright. Clouds hanging so low. The sky angelically white. I use both hands and leg to pull my final part of my body out. Just as I’m inches away from standing, I feel something tug my ankle and without thinking, I turn to face the abyss before me…
I pulled away once Mars’ strength began to falter. I focused in on their face, now gaunt and ashy.
