I have lost track of time as I trudge on, my feet growing numb from the repetitive motion and my heel raw from the constant rising and falling against my sweat-soaked boots. It could have been hours, for all I know, as the passing scenery blurs into one continuous stretch of dry land.
The fear of this desert eating me alive makes the edges of my eyes burn.No.I will not let this world take me. I will not let this desert cook me from the inside out. My thighs ache and with each step I take, a cramp shoots through my legs like vines of spikes, clenching against my skin. Screaming for me to just fall over.
To lay down and let the desert win.
But I can’t. No matter how much I want to.
I hunch over like a prisoner… which I basically am. My head drops low, knowing if I stand straight, it will take more effort, and I need to save all the energy I have.
The ground beneath us crawls with insects as if they are searching for water just like me. A small drop of sweat flows over my nose, running off like a stream down to the burnt ground. Ithits, hissing against the ground, evaporating within seconds of meeting the rust gravel. I feel I haven’t seen grass since we left the towering trees. Since we left the woman who claimed me to besomeone… someone I am not.
My tongue scrapes across my upper mouth. Moisture has withered from within me.
I need water, or I will die.
My parched lips crack as I try to open my mouth, my throat constricting as I try to force words out. “I… I need water, Florian.”
“You'll survive,” he snarls, his gaze fixed ahead on the open expanse of land around us. Never looking back towards me.
I tilt my head, swaying back and forth with each step I take. My vision blurs worse, making two of him appear before me. Or are there three now?I cannot tell.
Shit. This is sneaking up fast.
“I need water,” I repeat, desperation creeping into my voice. “I’m serious.”
In response, he lets out an annoyance grunt and yanks on the reins, bringing the horse to a sudden halt. I fall to my knees, feeling the small rocks dig into my skin from the impact as I let out a gasp of pain.
My head throbs. My heart beats forcefully throughout my body.
I am unsure if I’ll make it. I can’t keep going like this. I can’t keep walking… I can’t stay here.
Florian's irritated sigh cuts through the dry, dusty air as he dismounts in one fluid motion. A loud thud of his boots hitting the rocks creates a tension within my head. A steadily throbbing pain that won’t leave. Shit. This hurts.This burns.
The golden sun beats down mercilessly as I unsteadily glance up towards him, his wavy hair turning into a halo of firearound his fierce expression before my eyes. Or, I could be hallucinating. I cannot tell anymore.
“Get up,” he growls, each word laced with impatience. He’s bothered by me.
My limbs feel heavy and uncooperative as I struggle to push myself off the rocky ground. Shadows dance at the edges of my vision, threatening to completely go dark. Ignoring my weakness is becoming harder by the second.
“You're slowing us down,” Florian grunts, his jaw ticking.
My palms burn against the ground as I force myself up. I manage to rise on shaky legs, holding my arms out to try to steady myself. “I can't go on like this… and you know it. Are you trying to kill me out here?”
His amber eyes flicker with something unreadable for a brief moment before hardening again. With a frustrated huff, he turns away from me and strides back to his horse. From his gleaming, golden satchel, he pulls out a worn leather bag and hurls it in my direction. My hands fumble to catch it, but it falls between my palms and thuds onto the ground at my feet.
My body trembles, straining to reach it.
“I don’t understand how she thinks you are the one.” He snatches it off the ground, pushing it against my chest before walking away.
“I don’t—” My mouth opens and closes, my tongue begging for moisture. “I don’t understand either.”
With my hands shaking uncontrollably, I carefully unscrew the cap from the bottle and eagerly gulp down the cool water, feeling it soothe my dry and scratchy throat with each swallow. I barely take in air, relishing in the refreshing feeling my body has been begging for.
Water has never tasted so good.
I grasp the leather bag tighter and tilt my head back, squeezing the last few drops of water onto my dry tongue.
“That was our only bag.” Prince Florian straightens out his saddle, adjusting it for our continued trip.
