บท 6: Broken Trust
As the sun lost its crimson glow in the horizon, Jack and Remy hopped through the tall grass, making their way towards the giant oak tree. After escaping the dark and narrow hole, the fresh air had never felt so good, so clean, and so refreshing. Remy, his arm wrapped tight around his chest, leaned heavily on Jack's shoulder for support. Despite the throbbing pain, Remy's mind was far from the present. He couldn't shake the events that had just transpired, particularly how Jack had managed to pull them from the brink.
"Jack," Remy rasped, his voice laced with curiosity, "how did you do that?"
Jack, startled from his thoughts, furrowed his brow. "Do what?"
"How did you know that busted-up air tunnel was about to explode? How did you get us out?"
Jack hesitated, his jaw clenching slightly. "Remy, honestly? I didn't know. I just..." He trailed off, searching for the right words. "A feeling, I guess. A hunch. We were lucky, that's all."
Remy, despite the pain and exhaustion, managed a weak smile. With a voice thick with gratitude, he said, "Lucky or not, thank you. You saved my life, Jack."
His eyelids began to droop, a wave of fatigue washing over him. Jack, sensing Remy's fading consciousness, nudged him gently. "Remy, stay with me, buddy. Just a little further. I see the oak tree up ahead."
A figure emerged from the grasses, then another. Anna and Iris hurried towards them, their faces etched with concern. Before they could even speak, Jack exploded. The anger that had simmered beneath the surface during their escape surged to the forefront.
"You left us down there!" he roared, his voice raw with fury. "You left us to die in that collapsing tunnel! Remy's hurt because of you!"
Anna, her face paling, rushed to Remy's side, carefully helping him to the ground. Jack, fueled by a cocktail of anger and fear, shoved Iris with a force that sent his stumbling back several steps. The blow, delivered with a ferocity that surprised even himself, spoke volumes more than his words.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Iris hit the dirt floor hard. Fury contorted his features, his eyes blazing with a feral intensity that mirrored Jack's own. He lunged forward, a guttural snarl ripping from his throat.
"I'll tear you apart!" he shrieked, fueled by a mix of pain and rage.
Just as Iris was about to collide with Jack, Anna materialized between them, arms outstretched in a desperate attempt to defuse the situation. Her voice, a stark contrast to the growing chaos, rang out in the clearing.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Anna cried, her voice laced with desperation. "There's no point in fighting each other now!"
Iris glared at Jack, his feathery arms crossed tightly across his chest. "Honestly," he grumbled, his voice laced with annoyance that crackled like dry leaves. "Will you tell that buffoon, how many people he expected me to carry? Does he think I'm some kind of oversized taxi?"
Jack, still fuming, retorted, "As if I don't have enough problems already! First I was chased by a swarm of insects, and then you two left us to die! Now I have to deal with this on top of all that." He gestured vaguely at the now-peaceful Remy with a hint of exasperation.
Anna, her brow furrowed in irritation, whirled on Jack. "We didn't call you here, chosen one," she snapped, the title dripping with sarcasm. "We're just trying to protect our people, that's all. And frankly, your reckless behavior isn't exactly helping matters."
Jack bristled, his jaw clenching. He opened his mouth to retort, but a choked gasp from Remy cut him off. Anna's gaze immediately snapped to her friend, concern etched on her face. Remy's breathing hitched, and a sheen of sweat formed on his brow. The urgency of the situation dawned on Jack. This wasn't the time for arguments.
He fell silent, a flicker of worry replacing his anger. For a brief moment, as Anna knelt beside Remy, a thought flickered across Jack's mind. Maybe he truly didn't need them. He could just leave, disappear back into the night and deal with whatever awaited him alone.
With a scoff, he muttered, "Take care of your friend and go back home. I don't need anyone's help." He turned to leave, his voice laced with a bravado that did little to mask the underlying vulnerability.
Iris, unable to resist a parting jab, cackled. "Well, for once, the clueless kid said something smart." His words hung in the air, laced with malice.
Ignoring her, Anna focused solely on Remy. "Iris," she said urgently, "help me carry him to the greenhouse. It'll be safer there."
Together, they carefully lifted Remy, his weight a dead weight in their arms. As they hurried through the garden, Anna reached into a pouch hanging from her belt and pulled out a collection of dried leaves and herbs. Their earthy scent filled the air as she began applying them gently to Remy's wound. Working with practiced ease, she secured the makeshift bandage with a strip of cloth. Relief washed over her as Remy's breathing eased, and a faint color returned to his pale cheeks.
The moon climbed higher in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the garden. The playful ambiance of earlier had vanished, replaced by an unsettling silence. Anna glanced around, a sliver of worry flickering in her eyes. Jack hadn't returned. Despite their earlier animosity, she couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility for the young man.
"Iris," she said, her voice firm. "You stay here with Remy. I'll go look for Jack."
Iris scoffed. "Leave that kid alone, Anna. He's no chosen one. He'll bring us more trouble than help. I can feel it in my wings."
Anna met her gaze defiantly. "Maybe," she conceded. "But he did save Remy's life. That's worth something, isn't it?"
Iris hesitated, his feathers bristling. "What exactly?" he grumbled.
"He needs to be found before he gets himself killed," Anna explained. "This garden isn't very safe for him at night, especially not alone."
Iris narrowed his eyes, considering Anna's words. Finally, with a disgruntled sigh, he conceded, "Fine, be that way. But if he gets eaten by a moonflower, don't come crying to me."
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