Chapter 8 The Hunger Pains (2/2)

”Well did the Doc say you were okay?” asked Diggory.

”He said it was good my appetite was there,” Rassa said, ”I'm not so sure”.

Diggory hesitated, then decided to asked, ”Did he say anything about the mark on your back?”

Rassa froze, ”What mark?”

Diggory frowned, ”The black lines on your back. Everyone saw it”.

Rassa pulled off his shirt hurriedly and attempt to look over his shoulder, then under his arm, desperate to see. Diggory sighed, picked up Rassa's shirt then took his hand, dragging him towards the pond that sat to the side, ”Here”.

Diggory pointed to the reflection of the pond, and Rassa turned, looking over his shoulder.

Rassa just stared. It was clear from his reaction that the doctor hadn't mentioned the mark, but Diggory watched Rassa take it in, waiting patiently. After a moment, Rassa dropped to his knees, leaning forward as he touched his face.

”What's wrong?”

”I didn't realise I was so pale,” Rassa replied, ”I'm practically a ghost”.

”I know, it's kind of creepy,” Diggory said, ”But...I'm glad you're alive...I'm sorry, I was being stupid,I-”

”Yeah, you were,” Rassa agreed, looking over at Diggory, ”But what happened to me isn't your fault. It was the cave's, or whatever was in it”.

”You...don't know what happened?”

Rassa shook his head, ”I only remember going in the cave”.

”Then how do you know its not my fault?” asked Diggory.

”You can be stupid and impulsive sometimes Dig, but you couldn't do this,” Rassa said as he pointed to his back, ”Could you?”

Diggory hesitated, then nodded as Rassa reasoning, ”So...you're hungry?”

Rassa nodded, ”And yet when I eat I still feel just as hungry as before”.

Diggory frowned, ”That doesn't sound nice”.

”It's not,” Rassa agreed.

”Well what do you want to eat?” asked Diggory, ”My mum says that when we're sick our body knows what food it needs, and tells us, but its up to us whether or not we listen”.

Rassa froze for a moment, like he'd had a terrible thought, then shook his head, ”I don't know, just something to satisfy me”.

Diggory sighed, clearly he couldn't help here. He felt better now that Rassa had reassured him it wasn't his fault, but he still wanted to make sure Rassa would get better.

”Well, maybe you should just drink some water or something, maybe if you think on it you'll know,” Diggory said, ”Anyway, I should be getting back home. I'll be in a lot of trouble if dad finds me out of bed at this hour. You should get back too. I know your parents will worry”.

Rassa nodded. Taking his shirt and slipping it back on.

”I'm going to sit here for a while first, it's peaceful”.

Diggory decided not to pry, and left soon after.

Rassa stared at his reflection, denying ever part of the thought he'd just had. There was no way he was going to eat his friends, his family.