Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 36: The Healer

As the minutes stretched on, Liam remained unresponsive, his breathing shallow and uneven. His skin had grown clammy, and sweat trickled down his forehead despite the cool breeze rustling through the dense woodland. The group hovered around him, their anxiety growing with each passing moment.

Sophia knelt beside him, gripping his cold hand tightly. "Come on, Liam... wake up," she whispered, her voice trembling. She wiped away a stray tear that had slipped down her cheek, frustration and helplessness clouding her mind.

Eleanor, having done all she could with the herbs and makeshift medicine, bit her lip. "This isn’t working fast enough. The poison might be deeper in his system than I thought..."

The merchant, watching the group’s distress, finally spoke up. "There’s a healer in the next city," he said. "A damn good one, renowned for dealing with poisons. If we hurry, we can get Liam there before it’s too late."

Jason’s head snapped toward him. "You couldn’t have mentioned that earlier?" he growled.

The merchant raised his hands. "I wasn’t sure how bad it was! But now that I see him like this... I don’t think you have much of a choice."

Marcus was already moving. "Then what the hell are we waiting for? We need to get him there—now!" Without hesitation, he and Jason got to work.

They scoured the surroundings for large, sturdy branches and gathered thick fabric from their supplies to fashion a makeshift carrier. Marcus, fueled by determination, tied the pieces together tightly, making sure it was stable enough to hold Liam. Jason reinforced the knots, ensuring nothing would snap mid-travel.

"Alright, easy now," Marcus grunted as he and Jason carefully lifted Liam onto the carrier. He was light for his usual strength, his body almost limp. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Liam let out a weak mumble, his lips moving slightly, but his words were incoherent. His face was twisted in distress, as if he were caught in some kind of fevered dream.

Sophia’s heart clenched. She wiped her face with the back of her sleeve, trying to keep herself together. "He’s burning up..." she murmured.

Marcus and Jason secured the carrier onto the merchant’s cart, positioning it in a way that would reduce the bumps from the uneven road.

Sophia climbed onto the cart beside Liam, gently placing a damp cloth over his forehead. She refused to leave his side, whispering words of comfort even if she wasn’t sure he could hear her.

With everything in place, Eleanor turned to the merchant. "We need to move fast. How far is the city?"

"Half a day’s ride if we push the horses," he replied.

Marcus clenched his fists. "Then let’s push them."

Without wasting another second, the merchant snapped the reins, and the cart lurched forward. The group rode hard through the dense forest, their worry for Liam outweighing everything else.

The journey to the city felt like an eternity, each passing moment making Liam’s condition seem worse. His breathing was labored, his body shivering despite the warmth of the afternoon sun. Sophia hadn’t let go of his hand the entire time, her silent prayers lost in the rattling of the cart’s wheels against the dirt road.

The ride through the city’s bustling streets was tense, every second feeling like an eternity. The cart rattled over uneven cobblestones, jostling Liam’s unconscious form. His breathing had become shallow, his skin ashen, and the dark veins creeping from his wound had spread further up his arm.

Sophia held onto his limp hand tightly, her knuckles white. "He’s getting worse," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Eleanor checked his pulse again, frustration flashing in her normally composed expression. "His heartbeat is weak," she muttered. "We need that healer now."

The merchant, sensing their desperation, spurred his horse faster. "We’re almost there!"

Marcus and Jason rode on either side of the cart, their eyes scanning the crowd as if expecting an attack at any moment. The fight with the bandits had rattled them, and now with Liam in this condition, the tension was suffocating.

Finally, the merchant turned into a narrow alley and stopped in front of a small building tucked between larger stone structures. A wooden sign above the door bore a simple engraving of a serpent wrapped around a staff. He jumped off his horse and banged on the door.

The door creaked open, revealing a woman with striking emerald eyes and long dark hair tied in a loose braid. Her robes, though simple, had faint golden embroidery that shimmered under the flickering lanterns inside. She looked young, too young to be a renowned healer, but the authority in her gaze left no room for doubt.

"What’s the emergency?" she asked, immediately taking in the sight of Liam’s unconscious form on the cart.

"He was poisoned," Eleanor said, already moving forward. "Void Vein."

The healer’s expression darkened. "Bring him inside. Quickly."

Jason and Marcus wasted no time, carefully lifting Liam and carrying him inside. The room was filled with shelves of vials, dried herbs, and strange instruments. A faint smell of burning incense lingered in the air.

"Lay him on the table," the healer instructed, motioning to a sturdy wooden slab in the center of the room.

As soon as they placed Liam down, she moved swiftly, pressing her fingers against his forehead and then to the wound on his arm. She frowned at the dark veins creeping outward.

"How long has he been like this?" she asked.

"Since this morning," Eleanor answered. "We tried treating him with herbs, but nothing worked."

The healer didn’t acknowledge the response, already moving to light several candles around the room. As she worked, she reached for a stick of white chalk and began drawing intricate runes onto the wooden floor around Liam.

Marcus scowled. "What are you doing?"

"Sealing the poison’s spread while I work," she replied curtly, not looking up. "Unless you want him dead, let me concentrate."

The glow from the candle flames flickered unnaturally, casting strange shadows against the walls as the healer muttered under her breath. Then, without hesitation, she turned to her apprentice, a young girl who had been watching silently.

"Bring me the crimson root and white sage. Now."

The apprentice moved quickly, retrieving a few vials and dried plants from the shelves. The healer crushed the herbs with practiced efficiency, mixing them into a thick paste before gently applying it to Liam’s wound. His body tensed slightly, his fingers twitching, but he didn’t wake.

Sophia wiped away the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "What’s wrong with him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What exactly is this poison doing to him?"

The healer exhaled sharply, her gaze still focused on her work. "Void Vein poison doesn’t just kill—it drains the victim’s strength, breaking down their body’s ability to recover. The longer it remains untreated, the more energy it saps away until there’s nothing left."

Jason clenched his fists. "How do we fix it?"

The healer didn’t answer immediately. She took a small knife from her belt and made a tiny incision near the wound, watching as thick, darkened blood oozed out. She wiped it away with a cloth before finally looking up at them.

"I can try to cure him," she said, her voice firm but cautious. "But it won’t be easy. And if I fail..." She hesitated, glancing at Sophia, whose grip on Liam’s hand tightened.

Marcus stepped forward, his voice unusually serious. "You’re not going to fail. Just tell us what you need."

The healer nodded, setting down her knife. "Then let’s begin."

Jason’s brows furrowed. "What’s the price for saving him?" His voice was tense, impatient.

The healer barely hesitated as she wiped her hands on a cloth. "Twenty silver coins."

Marcus scoffed. "We don’t have that much." He crossed his arms, frustrated. "Can’t we pay after? We’re not exactly rolling in gold here."

Sophia’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You’re worried about money right now?" she snapped. "Liam’s dying, Marcus!"

Eleanor stepped forward, her tone firm, unwavering. "Save him first. We’ll figure out the payment later."

The healer studied them for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. But don’t think of running off without paying." Without another word, she turned back to Liam and resumed her work, her hands moving swiftly as she mixed herbs, poured strange liquids into a bowl, and chanted under her breath.

Sophia held onto Liam’s hand, whispering, "Just hold on... please."

Jason’s fists clenched at his sides. They would find a way to pay.

As the healer worked, the room fell into tense silence. The only sounds were the crackling of the candles and the steady rhythm of her movements. The group watched anxiously, each of them holding their breath, hoping—praying—that Liam would pull through.

But then, without warning, Liam’s body jerked violently. His back arched off the table, his muscles seizing up as a strangled gasp escaped his lips. His breathing turned ragged, and his hands clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles turned white.

"Liam!" Sophia cried, gripping his arm.

The healer’s eyes widened. "Hold him down!" she ordered, already reaching for more supplies.

Jason and Marcus rushed forward, pinning Liam’s arms while Eleanor pressed down on his legs. But he was thrashing too hard, his body writhing as if something inside him was trying to tear its way out. His eyes snapped open—wild, unfocused, filled with pain.

Then he let out a strangled scream.