Chapter 601
Weston and Caitlin had met four years earlier. He had been on a mission in the mountains when a venomous snake bit him. The venom was fast-acting; within seconds, he was dizzy and weak. To make matters worse, he didn’t recognize the type of snake and had lost his phone.
Just as his vision started to blur, a young girl with a basket on her back appeared before him.
Weston pulled his ID from his pocket. “Little girl, I’m not going to make it. Take this to the police station down the mountain. They’ll know what to do p>
The girl didn’t take his ID. Instead, she knelt and carefully examined his wound, her expression grave.
Weston managed a bitter laugh. “Don’t bother looking, kid. By the time you figure anything out, I’ll be dead. Just get down the mountain so they can at least find my body p>
If it got dark, the wolves would come out. He’d be nothing but bones. He couldn’t believe that after everything, this was how he would end—as wolf food.
The girl didn’t speak. She tore a strip of cloth from her shirt and tied it tightly around his leg above the bite. “Based on the fang marks, it was a Pit Viper. Where
the viper lives, the antidote is never far. Wait here. I’ll be right back p>
“You’re a doctor?” Weston was stunned, his mind struggling to keep up.
“Yes,” she nodded.
“And you can save me?” he asked again.
“Yeah.” She was cool and reserved, a girl of few words.
Weston laughed again. “Little girl, if you save me, from now on, I’ll call you boss p>
Without another word, she picked up her basket and left.
Weston used his remaining strength to call after her, “Hey, don’t go too far! And remember to bring people back for my body! I don’t want to rot out here for the wolves!
Silence.
He whistled, finding a grim humor in the situation.
*Heh. Cool kid p>
About ten minutes later, she returned, holding a strange-looking herb with a pungent smell.
“You’re telling me this weed is going to save my life?” Weston asked, his face pale “Kiddon’t you know the only thing that works on a shakebite is antivenom p>
He sighed. “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand. Have you even finished middle school p>
He was rambling, firing off questions.
The girl ignored him, putting the herb in her mouth and chewing it into a pulp. Then, she spit the mash into her palm and slapped it directly onto his wound.
“Aah! That hurts! Kid, take it easy p>
“Pain or death. Pick one,” she said flatly.
Weston shut his mouth.
He’d assumed she was bluffing. She looked too young, nothing like a
But
doctor. But half an hour after she applied the poultice, the dizziness started to fade. He felt his strength returning in that instant the way the looked at her changed completely. Cóntent