My heart is pounding faster and faster to pump sufficient oxygen around my whole body to sustain me in my running. I'm beggining to feel so sick I could vomit my guts out due to the adrenaline ever circulating inside of me after that scare.
"Careful on the rocks Zaf-" I warn but a loud thud I hear behind me tells me that I was too late in my warning.
"Ouch, I didn't see it" Zaffera lays on ground in pain and I run back to her. She repeatedly tries to get up but her leg won't budge. I pick her up and carry her on my back for a little longer, until we reach a safer place surrounded but trees.
"We are going to have to stay here for the night" I say trying ripping some of my clothes to wrap it around Zafeera's bleeding leg. She nods and then groans with a painful expession as I tie the cloth around her leg tight to stop the constant bleeding. "Sorry."
"You knew it didn't you?" I look up at Zaffera confused by her question coming so sudden some time after our last interaction, and she continues, "You knew we shouldn't have trusted her."
"I just know that you shouldn't trust strangers much..." I shake my shoulders.
Spon after I stand up and get on looking for some branches to set a fire with. As we are going to camp here tonight I can expects it is going to get quite cool and we don't have that many layers on.
"This is looking nice. All should work well... Unless we get murdered that is."
"Too late." speaks a little voice in the distance and movement is spotted between the branches. I dash to Zaffera to help her in case danger is eminent. Soon after pebbles are thrown our way and I carry Zaffera with me behind a robust tree.
"We should be safer here." She just looks up at me exhausted. I'm still stood up, towering over her as she's sat on the dry grass leaning on the tree trunk.
A laughter seemingly produced by a kid is heard and a young boy with dark hair holding a sling shows up. He's laughter is short lived as his mother soon catches up to him and apologise for his misbehaving.
She then grabs him by the shoulder and begins walking away. Her pace slows down as she passes the campfire I was setting up and slowly turns around.
"As a token of my apology, may I offer you two hospitability for the night. My refuge is not far away from here." she says with a smile which brings out delicate wrinkles on the sides of her eyes. I'm about to shake my head no and politely decline when I meet Zaffera's passive face. She looks like she's still quite in pain and trying to put on a face.
"That would be quite nice. Thank you." I change my mind.
Carrying Zaffera on my back we make way to the mother's refuge and are welcomed in by a cosy atmosphere. The house is predominantly made out of wood which resounds at tiniest movement. I gently lay Zaffera on the couch who looks like is doing better already.
"Woah you have the book my mother helped in writing, look you are famous mum", says the kid excited. He turns around to look up at his mother holding up the book of legends and myths. Me and Zaffera share a confused look.
"Yes Mateo, but did you ask if you could read the book before taking it." She scolds him softly.
"Well... Sorry." He looks down saddened and apologetic.
"It's alright", responds Zaffera with a beam on her face putting herself in a sitting position. "So you helped to write the book?"
The mother takes a seat close to us.
"Well sort of... I wouldn't say I helped in writing, just provided some context to the writer. I used to work as a maid for the author actually."
"Do you know something about the myth surrounding the door in Arrow's dungeons?" I ask directly. Realistically she's our last option at this point, the closet thing to a direct source.
"Yes acctually, I was the one to tell him about it."
"I... Behind that door there's a wall with some writtings on it, like-like a motif almost. Mostly in what I assume is black ink but others bigger in read." I feel a little tongue tied explaining as I'm unsure of how much to acctually say reaguarding this.
"You entered the door?" she raises her eyebrows in disbelief. I understand her shock given that the myth does say that whoever entered it didn't make it out alive. I nod still holding eye contact with her to show sincerity and interest.
"Well all I know is that the writing is a supposed ancient scripture that utilises similes and tricks to send people on the wrong path. They would use it to hide great fortunes or once in a lifetime opportunities."
"We spoke to the author today, a tall gentleman. He mentioned you no longer working for him due to confidential reasons... I apologise for intruding but, why were you dismissed?", joins in Zaffera in the conversation.
The mother turns around to look at her kid playing with toys unbothered like we aren't even here.
"He's married, he was at least but cheated on his wife with me. I only agreed because I was scared of losing the job... I guess I lost it anyways. Mateo is one of the things most grateful though - I definitely didn't leave the job alone." A bittersweet smile creeps on her face and a couple lone tears fall off her face due to gravity.
The living room is still silent until she breaks it saying, "Beware of the door. It's not worth the risk, nor the changes it brings to people... I would advise you to stray away."
She then points at Zaffera's leg, "that is only the beginning."