“It couldn’t possibly be…”
Jere stood in disbelief, one hand gripped around the intruder’s robe and the other gripping his shackles. He hadn't expected Juddken, but this didn’t look like any of the victims. And it was certainly too quiet to be a screamer. No, even in the dim light, Jere recognized who it was. The slim frame, the black robe, the naturally smug look.
“Appo?” Jere asked.
Appo opened his eyes, quickly matching Jere’s incredulousness. “Are… are you real? You can’t be real.” The two men stared at each other, waiting for some trick to make themselves known, or to wake up from some awful dream. Jere loosened his grip around Appo’s robe.
But in an instant, they knew. Jere brought one arm onto Appo’s shoulder and brought him close. He hugged him as wide as his chains allowed. Appo hesitated before hugging him back. The two men began an uproarious laughter. Neither seemed to believe their luck, but were it not real, both were willing to indulge just a little longer.
“I didn’t take you as the hugging type,” Appo said, chuckling.
“Shut up.” Jere’s retort would get no better than that. He was just happy to see a friendly face at all, let alone one he had long thought to be dead.
“Last I heard, the Corps locked you away. How’d you get here?”
“They did,” Jere laughed. “I got out. Wouldn’t believe how even if I told you.”
Appo shook his head. “After everything I’ve been through, I bet I would.”
Jere released his grip, looking the healer over. He looked much the same, though he clearly needed a bath. Jere’s eyes fell to Appo’s left arm, realizing it ended halfway down his forearm. Jere could only assume who was responsible.
“Sorry about the hand.”
“Oh!” Appo said as if he had forgotten about it. “Yeah. Is what it is.”
Before they could reminisce further, Adok called out from behind them. Jere had told him he would only be a moment, so he was sure the sound of laughter would have been confusing to comprehend. He motioned Appo to follow.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“More survivors?” Appo asked. “How many of you are there?”
Jere winced at the memory of there being others. “Few. It’s not what you’d expect.”
Jere led Appo down the tunnel, not giving him much time to make sense of the surroundings. They greeted Adok halfway down the tunnel, who seemed curious to meet the source of the second voice.
“Appo!?” Adok exclaimed, his voice quivering at the sight. “What are you doing here? I thought… I thought you were dead!” Jere recalled how guilt-ridden Adok had been only a few days prior. It was just now registering that seeing Appo alive after all this time would be a surprising sight for both of them.
“Indeed,” said Jere. “You failed at killing either of us, it seems. Forgive yourself now?” Jere noticed Appo showed slight trepidation upon seeing the boy. “He’s on our side,” he reassured.
“Ah,” Appo said cautiously, only now taking recognition of the chains and the walls. “What is this place, exactly? Where are we? Are you… prisoners?”
It was a peculiar question. “What do you mean?” Jere asked.
“We’re beneath Ash Manor,” answered Adok. “Where have you been?”
Before Appo could respond, a coughing fit broke out from the far end of the tunnel. Jere and Adok had become used to it, so Appo’s quickness in brushing them aside caught both off guard. Appo pushed past the boulders and found Heikk lying flat against the wall.
“What’s wrong?” Appo asked, not even stopping to ask his name.
“He broke his leg,” Adok said. “We tried to set it, but he’s getting worse.” Appo cupped his head on Heikk’s forehead, recoiling at the heat. Heikk was unresponsive, his breath coming in quick bursts. Appo looked down at Heikk’s leg: it was straight, set between piles of rocks, but the skin had become blackened and puffy above the break.
Jere and Adok let Appo look over Heikk in silence. Eventually, Appo stood and shook his head.
“Well?!” Adok pleaded. Jere already knew the answer before the healer explained it.
“He has bloodrot,” Appo said. “Gangrene has already set in, as well. Taking his fever and state into account… He doesn’t have long.”
“That’s it? But there must be something you can do! Can’t you amputate the leg?”
“I know bloodrot better than most, believe me.” Appo raised his left arm, showing his bandaged stump. “I almost died of it in the desert, and I had access to clean air and medicine far more effective than what I have now. If only kept some on my person, but…” Appo’s voice trailed off. “The best we can do is make him comfortable. I still have a few poppy seeds that can lessen the pain, but it’s all I can do.”
Adok looked back and forth between Appo and Heikk, his eyes pleading for a better answer.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could tell you better news.”
Jere came from behind Adok, patting him on the back. Adok’s mouth turned into a frown, but he nodded. He knew the answer, just like Jere did. “Just,” Adok stammered, “make it easy.” Appo nodded in return, reaching into his satchel. As he did, Jere realized something.
“I’m confused. You said you were in the desert. How did you come to the Temple then? Is there a tunnel?”
Appo sighed as he crushed the poppy seeds. “Neither of you would believe me.”
“Try us.”
As the three of them crowded around Heikk, Appo told them where he had come from.