It burns, my chest, the feeling of being on fire without the flames, the charcoal burns down my throat and it dries out my lungs.
Not even my tears can drop from the heat bubbling up around me, fingers sweating and nails digging into what little flesh I have left.
Bumps on my bones crawling into marrow, forming blisters as it seeps and the pain is less harmful than the mental. For the thoughts in my head spit on my determination, and dig into my heart, brewing a feeling that not even my soul can prepare for.
Not even my memories.
He splashed into the crystal water, an icy chill running through his skin as he comes back up for air. The sight of his dearest companion in sight as she holds her arms tight, lips pressed down to her teeth.
"Come on in, Reggie, the water feels great you'll love it!"
Regina gave him a half smile and a little wave, "I'll be there in a second, just give me some time."
Leo shrugged, "I mean if you say so but you're missing out on some good swimming time." He held his breath and dove underneath the water.
Small creatures passing by his ears, making him chuckle and as he came up for air, he looked for Regina yet again but this time she disappeared from his sight.
"Regina?!", he swirled around the water to the other side of the forest but still no view of her, which made him gulp.
"Regina!? Hey, are you okay!? If you want to leave we can just go I just thought that-",
"On my way!!!", her voice grew louder until it crashed beneath the water, splashing a few paces away from him. Liquid covering his entire pointed face, his lips puckering into a smile as she came back up to the surface.
"Did I scare you?", she swatted the water away from herself, drawing closer to him and he pulled her to his chest, moving the hair away from her eyes. "A little bit, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, I thought you left."
She giggled, "No, I just needed some time to myself, to really relax, to calm my mind, it was still wandering after all."
Regina began to kick her feet as little fish swam by her, heart racing as the warmth from Leo's skin heated hers.
"Is this okay? I'm not too close right now am I?", She shook her head, "You've been closer, plus I don't mind, you're my safe space."
He rolled his eyes playfully, "I thought that the Charlotte you told me about was your safe space."
More little creatures passed by their feet and Leo pulled her closer, "Wow, these swimming creatures are really swarming huh?"
"Yeah, yeah but-", she poked at his almond face, with a poker-face herself, "Don't tell me you're jealous of my best friend, I mean me and Charlotte have know each other since we were witchlets."
Some more creatures passed by and Leo kicked them away, watching as they recoiled back, swarming around his legs yet again and stinging a bit like electricity.
"Ouch, that kind of fucking bites." "Huh, what bites?"
He looked down and they were gone, "What the-they were-", his feet began being pulled underneath. His arms going every which way and his vision blurring the further he went down as he sunk like a rock, even spinning, his body not quick enough to react.
But she was.
A beaming indigo shine piercing his eyes just quick enough to draw his breath back, the whole reality around him shifting as he exhales mud. His eyes shooting open and as he turned his gaze to Regina, he could see her eyes illuminate like the sun and her body covered in crimson liquid and torn apart skin?
"R-regina?"
Her head twitched and her fingers shifted toward him, "A-are you okay? I thought I lost you."
"Lost me? What was that? We were just swimming and then suddenly everything went-" "Blank?" "Yeah…"
"It was no paradise, Leo, it was a trap, an illusion by some creature that made you think you were safe. That everything was alright, when in reality it was just feeding off your dreams, what you wanted it to be."
"L-like a parasite?"
"Exactly, like a parasite, that's why I didn't recognize it at first but when it caught you I could finally tell, sense, that something was wrong or not right."
He blinked back taking another deep breath and rushing over to embrace her, "You knew, and I failed you." She squeezed him tight, "No, you didn't fail, you're still here, you're still here."
"I just wanted to give you a break and-", she turned his face up to hers, and put her forehead to his, taking in a deep breath and pressing a kiss to it. "It's okay, you're okay, I'm okay and-" "You're getting blood guts on me, red, and as much as I care for you it's kinda of gross." She stuck out her tongue, eyes watering as she caressed his cheek, "As long as we're together, everything is going to be alright."
"Well, that is what I told you, I just didn't think of how well it applied, I mean what is this like the fourth? Fifth, time you saved me."
Regina burst into laughter, "Gosh, you are so unserious, I swear, man I am trying to comfort you but you're having me do the exact opposite." "No, I'm not, your laughter is comforting me." He paused to wipe the tears off her face, "But, your tears aren't, and I'm the one supposed to protect you, even though you're trying to rid me of this curse I feel like it works when it wants to. It's not convenient and I hate that."
"It's okay, Leo, really ."
"No, it isn't because if I can't even spot a simple illusion then when that future you've been thinking about really comes, then what am I going to do to do to prevent it?"