Lancrael escaped the frigid shower with his tunic in hand stopping next to Bob who was turning over his tunic before the box. Lancrael was about to do the same, but Bob able to see him a mile away stopped and said, "You should probably ring it out first."
Lancrael nodded before ringing it out before slamming it against the floor much to the surrounding children's surprise. Lancrael ringed out the tunic again before doing the opposite of the tunic. After that he moved closer to the box that he can already feel the heat radiating form, but as he approached he felt the sudden squeezing just above his stomach and to the right.
Lancrael almost dropped the tunic in shock and the sudden pain it caused. He wanted throw up, but he resisted the urge. Bending at the knees and hunching overhe held the tunic up with shaking hands. While the compression remained a new sensation sprouted from it.
It started as burning that could have been confused for stomach acid rising, but then it moved towards his back as he bent backwards with scream. Bob spoke with some strain now as he was also beginning to hunch over saying, "Bear with it." Lancrael used Bob's voice as something to focus on other than the pain.
*******
Wade taking something out of Lancrael's book and slapped the ground with the wound up tunic, and the water imprinted itself in the ground. Satisfied with the rung out tunic he glanced at a certain corner before turning to join up with the boys.
It was then Wadlen heard the scream that every new comer was bound to make at least one here. "Don't say I didn't warn you buddy." Wadlen spoke softly as he moved dread sneaking up him as he knew it was his turn too.
*******
Gritting his teeth, Lancrael tried to hold up the tunic higher and move closer like a knight going to war. He met the limit about two feet away from the box where his feet began to burn which irritated his old burns. With a tactical retreat of one pace he held his ground.
The burning sensation that moved to his back split traveling up and down his spine then outward. His back that usually only itched from the sores, cuts, and burns beginning burning from the inside. He began coughing as it entered his lungs.
"Remember, you're here to- here to dry off... Uuh." Bob coughed out. Lancrael didn't answer, but turned the other side of the tunic to the box. Though it had only a little more than a full minute and half it felt like forever. The whole experience became not only a growing taxation to the body, it was also a strain to the mind. The only things that kept him going were his spite and the voice of his new friend that became rare as time past.
It be a war of attrition. "Would my body and the tunic dry off first, or would my mind give way and I step back?" Lancrael humored to himself, but he didn't know how much more he could take. Bob had been over here for a few minutes before strain came to his voice while Lancrael felt the strain immediately.
As time past and the tunic flipped three more times it was almost dry while he was dry some time ago. Bob had already left, and Wade hadn't made a peep, so Lancrael thought he was alone. The resolve he had dwindled, but he understood one thing. "If I give up now I will always make an excuse later and never finish drying in the future. Then I'll get sick. No, I don't wanna drink any more snot!" Of course this was all in his mind and over a span of another two minutes before the tunic was finally dry.
Even with the tunic dry he didn't step back, or it would be more apt to say couldn't. So he put his tunic on and sat down. Sitting down didn't provide relief, but it was less work to crawl than to try to walk then fall only to just crawl anyway. Lying flat on his back he tried to catch his breath, but his irritated lungs coughed away any air he tried to breathe.
Desperate for escape he rolled over and put all his wait on his shoulders and forearms. His arms shakily pulled him forward before his shoulders couldn't hold the weight and he fell. Scratching at the cold stone floor that contrasted from the burning hot floor that his feet and shins were dragging through he inched his way up.
Water filled his eyes as he struck the notion that he couldn't get away. While not understanding why did it himself he gave on fighting his was out and extended his hand as far as he could. He met the hand of Wadlen still wet like he was waiting for this moment. "I've gotcha buddy." Wade said but Lancrael wasn't listening anymore because he passed out.
"Well, there goes my back up..." Wade said with a dejected sighed. "Should I fart on him to see if he will wake up, or kick him in the balls? Nah, his hasn't even dropped yet so let's save it for later." So as Wade stood up he farted as if it was on demand. Lancrael grimaced and rolled over, but he didn't wake up. "To bad because I really don't want to do this alone. Bob is out too, man this sucks!"
*******
When he woke, the pale black haired boy found himself next to Bob and Wade like a pile of puppies. His initial instinct was to thrash around and escape, but then he saw a light like the fading of a firefly. I floated around before coming near Lancrael or rather Wade right next to him. When it landed it was absorbed into Wadlen's skin and disappeared from view.
As if the herald, many more lights came into view. Some were yellow, some blue, others green, and rarely red. Lancrael reached out with his tired, but free, hand forgetting his friends and touching a blue light that was immediately absorbed into his skin.
"Aww, he's all grown up." Wade whispered just loud enough for Lancrael to hear. "You can see them now to, huh?" Wade continued back still turned to Lancrael who responded with a quiet, "Yes..."