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Thomas sat on his knees, losing his mind.

His hand. Why couldn't he feel his goddamned hand. He could see it [i]right[/i] there, where it had always been -- hell, at the very moment he could see [i]three[/i] of the same hand, thanks to his swirling vision -- so why wasn't it moving when he tried to make it close.

It wasn't just the lack of feeling that was freaking him out. Everything around him felt alive and menacing. The trees and the weeds and the wind and the ground itself seemed to be trying to swallow him whole. Everything made more noise than it should have, loud noise that melted into taunts and mocking laughter. It all came together to give him a burning headache, keeping him from being able to think straight.

He was terrified. He felt like he was dying, being killed by something he couldn't see.

A loud, high-pitched screech stabbed his ears. Thomas yelled out in pain, doubling over and clutching his head with his good hand. "Shut up..." he muttered through clenched teeth.

He didn't want to die. He didn't want to he didn't want to he didnt want to.

He stared at his injured hand with wide, blood-shot eyes. He forced himself to think, through the all the noise and the screaming. The snake must have poisoned him. What was he supposed to do when poisoned?

He pressed his lips against the punctures and tried to suck out blood. The disgusting metallic taste filled his mouth, making his stomach churn. He spit it out quickly.

Thomas' mind continued to race. Was this even something that one was supposed to do when bitten? Or was he mixing things up? Was it already too late to stop the poison? Considering how terribly he felt, it seem unlikely.

Another screech. "Shut up!"

Loud movements that came from all around him. Falling leaves, and Thomas swore he could hear them hitting the ground. Metal grinding on metal.

More screeching.

"Shut the fuck up!" Thomas screamed, his voice breaking.

He looked around in desperation. The small vial of purple liquid that had been on the skeleton caught his eye. Maybe it could help him. It was a long shot, but in his state, Thomas would try anything.

He half-stumbled, half-dragged himself towards it, getting closer to the lantern as he did so. His symptoms, mercifully, lessened with every step. He gained enough presence of mind to remember that he wasn't the only person in this forest. He looked over towards the other boy, and was shocked to see him missing a part of his ear, the wound bleeding profusely.

While it looked painful, it didn't seem life-threatening, unlike whatever it was that was running through Thomas' veins at the moment. While, for whatever reason, the light of the lantern seemed to make the effects more bearable, he couldn't be sure that it did anymore than that. For all he knew, he was still dying.

Turning back towards the vial and reaching for it, he began to question whether drinking a strange liquid was a good idea or not. Whatever, he'd get it unstuck, inspect it closer, and decide then. After wrapping his fingers around it, he pulled.