CHAPTER TWENTY -THREE

Michael’s POV

"Mia, drink this.” I handed her a drink in the metal cup. She shook her head vigorously. Her refusal would land her in big trouble.

“Come on, drink it. The journey is long. We still have to pass through the water falls,” I implored. She stared at me and then began to smile. Slowly, she gulped down the vegetable extract without throwing up. I gave her a thumbs-up and smiled. She had grown. The Mia I knew would never take medications, even if she had to die if they weren’t taken. Her father always sedated her for a subsequent number of days while she was sick and fed her medicine.

"Hi, Mia,” Hercules said as he walked by, and Mia gave him a weak smile. Just then, I knew that was my cue to leave.

"Alright, Mia, why don’t you have some sleep?” She nodded and closed her eyes. I stood up and walked to the front of the tent, where we were camping for the night.

“Zen said that we still had food for the next day." Hercules glanced at me before he continued watching the moon.

“It