(Too Late)

Mars POV

"So," Korri says, as she starts to pace, favoring her left leg. "I have the same kind of illness that... that took Sol, and that Lola has, and it's from like, twenty years into the future."

"Eighteen if we're being exact." I correct.

"Covid 19?"

"Yup."

I can feel blood pool in my palms.

I have to get control over this stupid curse thing.

"Come on, I... I gotta get out."

Korri nods, and we leave the house and enter the cool darkness.

I run my hands through my hair.

I'm antsy.

I need to do something.

If I still had my piano I would be playing it.

Sadly, I don't. It's back at What's-His-Face's castle.

I wanna find something that I haven't touched in years.

"You okay?" Korri squeezes my hand, snapping me out of my train of thought.

I shrug.

"That's not a good answer."

"Nothing is."

"What do you mean by that?"

I walk faster. "I mean, there isn't really a way to explain whether I'm okay or not."

I wanna go to a place that's haunted me for years.

To prove to myself I'm not wussy.

That I'm not just...

I dunno.

"Where are you going?" Korri says, as we get a few yards into the wood.

"An old nightmare."

"What?"

"Never mind."

But it's something I never thought I'd see again.

I never wanted to see it again.

But screw what I wanted.

We go farther into the woods.

Korri gets slower and slower until she stops completely.

"Are you okay?" I ask, pausing to look at her.

"Uh huh." Which I take as a 'yes' coming from her.

I frown. ""Something's wrong and you know it. Come on, we'll go back."

"It's too late!" someone giggles, and everything goes black, the only sounds; struggling, and our names being called.

"KORRI!"

"ARES!"