Kelly's eyes snapped open as she coughed, her lungs burning while she dragged in sharp, desperate breaths. Nert was right in front of her, one hand stretched toward the fire as it chewed through dry wood, the flames casting light over his face beneath the dark cloak.
She pushed herself more upright against the tree, hazy eyes darting around in confusion. Everything still felt foggy, but the last thing she remembered was the corpses rushing at her and Nert—right before she blacked out.
So how exactly was she still alive?
She winced, her head throbbing at the effort of thinking. A shadow fell over her, and she lifted her gaze to find Nert holding out a small vial filled with green liquid, worry clear on his face as he brought it closer.
"Here, take this—" he started, but Kelly was already reaching for it, gulping the green paste down without hesitation. Her face twisted at the bitter, medicinal taste.
