45. A tickling match

Avalyn

On our way home, we stopped by the hospital to check in on Mikhail. His condition had worsened. He was in the ICU, put in an induced coma. The left side of his neck, shoulder, and chest was covered in bandages. An oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth, and several tubes trailed in and out of his body. It wasn't easy to see him like that. He must have been in so much pain. The doctors said that he was in too much pain and the spreading venom was just making it more painful. He only had a few more weeks to live. A month, at the most.

The healers were trying something, but they weren't sure if it would be successful. They said that praying to the Moon Goddess was our last hope.

But Goddess Luna wasn't that kind.

Watching Mikhail like that was hurting Nik too much. He blamed himself. I knew he did. So I suggested that we let Mikhail rest in peace and go home for the day. Nik agreed. I didn’t think he could bear to watch his brother like that any more than I could.

I tried to