That night, Max had the strangest dream.

He could feel his illness grow worse every step he took. His fever caused him to overheat and sweat. He wiped the sweat from his brows as he climbed the hill with no grass, only dead looking plants. He had no choice but to keep climbing, he turned around and below him was his death:

A huge cliff that holds very little water, thousands of feet down.

He gulped nervously, facing this hill, forcing himself to keep going to reach the top of the very steep slope.

He could see visions of the blade he cut himself with. When he looked down at his blood, there was nothing normal about it, it was as black as ink.

He fell, grabbing a hideous plant. Looking back up at the sky, he continued his climb.

He climbed, and he climbed.

Suddenly, he was struck with another vision, the girl that took care of him. The girl that gave him the yellow liquid.

"You're not HER, are you?"

She shook her head, putting her finger to her lips, she crouched down behind a tree quietly. She looked behind her, and there stood the Red Witch, the monstress known as Scarlett.

What's your name? He asked her in his mind.

Valerian. She answered.

Valerian?

She nodded slowly.

He felt a pain that coursed through his veins, a fiery sensation that stung like ants.

You'll be fine, you're safe from her curse from now.

You know about her? Max replied.

She nods slowly.

She's coming, leave now. Warn your friends.

Where are you?

Find me in the woods, by the base of the old tree.

.....................................................

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The next morning, Max rushed over to his friends' place.

Zackary was the first to speak after Max explained his story to them. "So she's on our side? Where do we find her?"

"The woods." Max replied.

Zackary looked at Matthew.

Matthew sighs. "Okay, lets go find her then. As long as it's not a trap."

They traveled through woods to the base of the old tree. There, they found her.

Valerian looked at them.

"I don't have much time to explain, she's arriving. We need to hurry. Max, give me your blade."

Max does so.

She took the blade and dipped it into the tea-like liquid she had him drink.

"What is that?" Matthew asks her.

She says nothing. Only focuses on her work. Finally she turns in the blade.

"Max, cut your hand with it."

He obeys her, cutting a deep wound into his hand, causing him to wince from the pain. Indeed his blood was no longer black. It was red.

"Thank you."

"Now go, get out of here. She'll be here any minute." Max and Zackary ran, while Matthew stopped and looked at the girl.

"Thanks....for saving our friend."

She didn't reply.

Matthew turns and they all run together.

.........................................................

"Okay, okay. She's trustworthy." Matthew says.

"Sounds like she knows the witch personally." Zackary mentioned.

"She could be against her, if she didn't want to help, she wouldn't have. If she was on her side, we would already be dead or worse." Max explains.

"He's got a point." Zackary said.

Max then thought of something.

"Ben's still out there in his wolf form. His blade can reverse his spell, we can save him!" The boys looked at him.

"We'll have to talk to her first, it's dangerous going out there alone." Zackary said.

..........................................................

Without hesitation, Max raced back to the woods, the boys followed after him. They hid behind the trees, listening for any sign of Scarlett. Matthew looked at Max and whispers. "You couldn't just wait until it was a safer time to!"

"Who knows if Ben's in danger or not!" Max retorted.

"Guys, shut up!" Zackary said to them.

Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard behind them. "What are you idiots doing? You're not supposed to be here!" Valerian spoke.

Max faced her. "My brother's out there in wolf form; because of what you did, I can reverse the spell that was cast on him! Do you know where he's gone?"

Valerian tried to speak, but she was at a loss for words. "I don't. He could be somewhere in these woods. I'm warning you though...if you get caught, that'll be the end of you all!"

Matthew interrupted. "How do you know her so well?"

"Stupid, EVERYONE knows Scarlett!" She retorted.

"Oh..." Matthew said.

"Listen, you got no time left, run now. She'll find you."

"What about my brother?" Max reminded her.

Valerian whipped her cloak around her and she vanished. This surprised all of them, but they didn't have time to question...they HAD to leave.

Matthew turned to his friends. "Go, now!"

One second, Max stubbornly stood his ground. "I'm not staying until I find him." The next second, Zackary took his arm and he left with them.

Before they could reach the end of the forest, a figure in scarlet robes appeared out of thin air. The boys stopped in their tracks.

Scarlett laughed. "Foolish boys shouldn't be wandering in my hunting grounds. This is my territory and you're trespassing. Hey, I know you....are you Max? Oh joy, isn't this quite a treat!"

Matthew stood in front of him. "Leave him alone, witch!" Zackary and Max stood frozen to the spot.

She laughs again.

Max spoke sternly. "You'll pay for what you did to Ben!"