Live Or Die

Chapter 7: On The Third Day, Jesus Rose Again

Turns out I’m living proof that even the dead will rise again. Huh. Living… barely. When I finally woke, my head was on Ruby’s lap and she was running her fingers through my hair. I didn’t know it was her at first, since I was blinded by the sun, but her squeal of worry and relief when I moved my head told me everything I needed to know. I stopped struggling and rest my head on her lap again. I could feel her pulse, her breathing. I needed this moment.

“Isiah!! I can’t believe it! You woke up! I thought…”

“My… Eye…” I barely managed. Surprisingly, the maroon mess that I rembered my right eye to be was gone. My eye was still there, but it was clean. It stung if I moved it, but it worked.

“Oh- right! I cleaned your eye. Your scar got bigger- it goes from above your eyebrow to your cheek.” I looked around a bit as my sight returned, and saw a large lake next to a large, flat, open plain, and the whole scene was enclosed by cliffs with a few pathways sloping in leading to the daunting forest where I assume our brawl took place. We were on the bank of the lake, and I saw Ruby’s caring face looking down on me.

I heard the *CLIP* *CLIP* *CLIP* of Dagger rushing over to me, buring his head into my side and rolling over next to me, purring as he did so. I stroked his side and saw Violette wake from behind Ruby, and I wondered where the others were.

“Where are the others?” I said as I sat up. Ruby smirked, tilted her head to the other side and crossed her legs.

“They’re looking about the forest, probably hunting. I washed your face and cleaned your wounds and took care of you for the past few days. Madré and the unnamed raptor were killed.”

“Oh… How long was I out?”

“About 3 days.”

“3 days!?” I exclaimed. Ruby gave a nervous laugh and followed it with a nervous grin. Dagger propped his head up and looked at me, a little startled. Violette looked about. I stood up and Ruby followed. I took in a deep breath of the fresh air, listening to the sound of the lapping water. I smiled as the scent of the jungle welcomed me back.

By the time the others got back, it was dusk. I watched the gang return on the back of their raptors, and was greeted by a flurry of voices.

“He’s alive!”

“Welcome back, kiddo.”

“You survived. Good to see!”

“Hey guys! I’m alive.” I responded, spreading my arms open and heard Ruby giggle behind me. They hopped off their raptors and walked over. We gathered in a huddle, where we all caught up. After a bit of chatting, the rapidly setting sun moved our conversation to where we’ll sleep tonight. Ruby told me about the spot she stayed with me in while I was unconcious, and the others explained about their spot on an elevated portion of land. Ruby took me to a small spot near the edge of a cliff, maybe 40-50 yards from where I woke up from. There was a pile of rocks, and an opening big enough to fit maybe 2 raptors in, but they couldn’t crawl in through the small gap that was the entrance. So, it was just me and Ruby with a small sliver of moonlight to illuminate the small room. I was nervous of what the night could bring, and with Dagger and Violette sleeping with the other raptors, we had only our bows and a quiver of arrows between us. I felt the cold stone floor, but Ruby cirled up beside me and locked her fingers round my chest, and burried her head into my side. My heart suddenly pounded and she felt it.

“Hey… Are you ok? Your heart just-“

“Yeah, don’t worry about me. So, I’ve been sleeping here like this the whole time?”

“Yeah… just me and you… Oh- sorry!” she started to unwrap her hands from around me but I caught them and put them back.

“No, no. I like it.” She had such a soothing grip, I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want her to let go, and neither did she. It just proved how desperate for safety we all were… Ruby fell asleep, but I was wide awake with thought. I didn’t move incase I woke her. I realised that we needed shelter- somewhere for the raptors and us to live in, and we had everything we needed here. I drifted off at that thought.

The moon was at its apex, and that’s when I heard footsteps. Not any footsteps. THE footsteps. *THUD*. I knew that thud. *THUD*. I am awake. I’m not dreaming. *THUD*. the floor vibrated. I woke Ruby. *THUD*. *THUD*. I gulped.

“Hey… Wh-“ *THUD*. “Is that?-“ *THUD*. She was wide awake and wide-eyed. She clung to my arm. We shuffled over to the opening. *THUD*. *THUD*. The crimson scar of the Rex’s face glistened in the moonlight, the rest of its jet-black face was barely visible against the darkened night. It sniffed twice, raised its head and walked off. *THUD*. *THUD*. *THUD*.

“Retribution… He’s called Retribution.” I said as Retribution walked off into the night. Ruby clung to my side and we settled down in the cave. We drifted off with Retribution on our minds…

-Next chapter in Carnotaurus!! Nightfall