Chapter 17: Unstoppable.
Even when facing all their open hostility, Adrian didn't stop, or more like he couldn't, right now he felt as if, if he stopped, his body would finally give in and he knew he couldn't let that happen now, he was so close, If he stopped now, how was he supposed to save his mother.
Adrian just kept walking forward, one heavy foot in front of the other, his focus entirely on the path ahead.
"Hey stop! They'll attack!" The young man cried out from behind him, panic rising in his throat. Adrian might seem unafraid by them but he was.
Just as one guard leveled his spear to strike, a familiar voice boomed. "Hold!" Mr. Thomas moved forward, squinting through the blowing snow. "You fools, look at what he's carrying!" he barked at the other guards.
" Does that look like a monster to you?!"
Hearing his angry remark, They peered closer, finally recognizing the familiar wicker basket on Adrian's back, a thing no forest creature would carry, or something they thought non would carry, moreover, everyone in the village already knew that only two villagers carried that basket and they sure weren't monsters.
Their spears slowly lowered, the patrol guards couldn't help apologizing while showing awkward expressions.
Thomas stepped directly into Adrian's path. "Adrian, lad, what in the world is—"
But Adrian walked right past him as if he were non existent, time was of the essence.
Mr Thomas was stunned but he suddenly heard Adrian speak.
"The guy behind me is a victim. He needs help." Adrian muttered, not even turning his head, his words were now slurred and faint. Showing just how weak he had become.
Thomas was left speechless, watching as Adrian continued his slow, determined march deeper into the village, When he was finally gone, he turned his attention back to the young man Adrian had brought along.
The strange wolf-like furs he wore alarmed other villagers who peeked out from their doors, but their alarm turned to confused murmurs as they recognized the herb-gatherer's face through the opened maw of the wolf skinned fur.
****
Mr. Miller was just seeing a patient out with a warm smile on his face as he held the clinic door open for a middle-aged woman. "Remember, keep warm and come back if the fever returns." he told her kindly.
He sent her on her way and turned to go back inside, but he stopped dead in his tracks. He saw a figure approaching, clothed in a shaggy beast-skin that made him look like a wolf standing on its hind legs.
Unlike the other villagers, Mr Miller wasn't alarmed, but instead he looked intrigued as if his curiosity was piqued. But the next moment, he recognized the face hidden beneath the makeshift clothing, It was Adrian.
His surprise deepened when his eyes landed on the massive, fully-loaded basket of herbs on Adrian's back. He had never expected the boy to actually succeed, let alone in this weather.
Adrian reached him and stopped, his breathing shallow. "I have your herbs." he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Mr. Miller stared at him, really looking this time. He saw the deathly pale skin, the way snow crusted his eyebrows and eyelashes, the slight tremor he was trying to suppress.
The doctor frowned, a deep line of concern forming between his brows for the first time. "You did good. Wait here, I'll go get your payment" he said, turning to go inside.
A hand shot out, its grip surprisingly firm despite the weakness of the body it belonged to, and caught Miller's arm. The doctor stopped, stunned by the strength of the hold.
Adrian's eyes were glazed, struggling to focus. " I don't want the pay," he weakly muttered, struggling to say each word.
" Please..."
"Just... go treat my mother. Please..."
Adrian said before his grip went slack. His eyes rolled back, and his body gave in, collapsing heavily to the packed snow at Mr. Miller's feet, completely unconscious.
Adrian slowly swam his way back to consciousness, the deep, heavy feeling of sleep clinging to him, making him feel tired the moment he woke up.
He blinked his eyes open and instead of the sight of the white, snow covered landscapes he was used to, he woke up to the sight of the familiar cracks in the wooden ceiling of his small room coming into blurry focus.
He was in his own bed. Tucked in with a blanket, his head resting on some cloth.
" How did I get back to my room?" He wondered, he tried recalling what happened but a dull, throbbing ache hindered his thoughts. his whole body still felt tired and heavy, like he'd been running for days without stopping, which was a understatement considering the fact that he braved a freezing blizzard but naked and carried such a heavy load even while he was already on the blink of exhaustion, in actuality, it was a surprise he was even still alive.
The door creaked open and his mother walked in. The sight of her made him freeze. She was moving easily, her color was healthy, and her eyes were clear and bright. She looked vibrant, completely different from the pale, coughing woman he'd seen before.
"Mom?" he croaked, his voice rough from disuse. "You're alright?"
" ...what happened to your illness?"
A relieved smile spread across her face as she hurried to his bedside.
"You're finally awake." she breathed out, her voice filled with multiple emotions.
She sat down next to him on the edge of the bed.
She picked up a towel that had been soaking in a bowl of warm water next to his bed, wrung it out, and gently began to dampen his forehead. The warmth felt good against his skin.
"Mr. Miller came over a few day's ago." she explained, her hands moving with a gentle care. "He brought the most wonderful medicine and cured me." Her smile faltered a little, a frown creasing her brow.
"But not before he carried you back here, completely unconscious. You gave us all such a scare, Adrian."