WhiteScratch

So Hopeless

As we walk once again, hand in hand, in the desert of nothingness, my feeling that something will happen grows with every step we take. I can't help but feel something is up ahead, something deeply saddening and terrifying. 
I look up at Jake and say, "Something is up ahead. Be ready."
"How do you know?"
"I can just feel it." He nods and fixes his gaze in front of us again. I can tell he is on high alert because his grip on my hand gets stronger and more tense. I can't say I blame him after everything that has happened but it would do him good to try and calm down. Go into something with a clear, calm head. I know it would help but I'm aware that is nearly impossible at this point. 
After about, I'm guessing another hour of walking, I can start to see the outline of a small village appear on the horizon. As we get closer, the village appears to be broken and run down but still inhabited. There are people walking around, going about their everyday lives but something is different. There is almost no energy to this place as it seems like everything is in slow motion. I can see people sitting on the ground in a hunched position, holding their heads. I can see yellow bumps on almost everyone's olive green skin. 
"WhiteScratch." I tell Jake.
"The early stages." He takes my arm gently in his hand and pulls me behind him. I still hold his hand as I follow close, being more cautious now. As we walk through this place as slowly and non threatening as possible, I notice that no one has dilated pupils yet. The air around us is thick and hazy, almost impossible to see in which means this place is more infected by WhiteScratch than most places. 
"We need to get out of here as soon as possible. The longer we are here, the more possible it becomes to contract WhiteScratch." I tell Jake quietly. 
"I know. Working on it." We walk a few more feet before a younger woman in a black coat walks up to us. She grabs the arm that I'm holding Jake's hand with. I gasp and Jake swings me to his left, putting himself between me and her. 
"Help us. Please." She shakes her head as if she's in pain. She has the most sincere look on her face as she pleads us for help. I stare into her eyes deeply, looking for her true intentions. I let go of Jake's hand and go up to her. 
"Rachel.." Jake says as he snatches my arm before I get to close to her. He has a worried look on his face.
"I know what I'm doing." He lets go of my arm slowly and I walk up to the woman. I gently take her hands in mine. She is hesitant and unsure at first but ultimately lets me. I calmly whisper to her, "Trust me, I would help you right now if I could but I don't know how to do that yet. I'm trying to figure it out right now and if I can, I'll come help you guys. That's a promise." She embraces me tightly and whispers back, "Thank You." I hug her back and I can feel tears drop from my eyes and down to the dirt. She slowly backs off and goes back on her way. I sit there for a second making sure I remember my promise as I cry softly. 
"Rachel." Jake says from behind me. I get up and go to hug him even tighter. He hugs me back and says, "We'll be back for these people. That is my promise to you." He kisses my forehead and offers his hand. I take it in mine and we start walking again. I survey the rest of the village and its the same thing for everyone here. You can tell no one has any hope and are just waiting to die. Just as we are about to leave the village, an older man runs up in front of us with a jagged dagger in his hand. I gasp and Jake pushes me behind him.
"What are you doing buddy?" Jake calls out to the man.
"I am gonna end my misery in front of you guys so you know JUST how it feels." Jake puts a hand out to him as he moves the knife down to his stomach and places the point on his skin. I watch mortified, hand over my mouth, crying buckets while Jake tries to do something. 
"Sir, this is not the way. I can't begin to imagine the pain you're in but she does." He points to me and gestures for me to come over. I walk up slowly as the man watches me with pure pain in his eyes. 
"I do know what you're going through. I lost both of my parents to WhiteScratch. I even had to watch my mom die. I had to go through all the events that came with her symptoms. I know how bad it is without needing to go through it myself. I know how hopeless the situation seems but sir...I am trying to figure out a way to cure everyone from the disease that plagues our planet and I am confident I'll find my answer. Just wait a little longer. Hold on to this life so I can cure you."
"But what happens if you never find it? I would be waiting for nothing in the most pain I've ever felt. The reward isn't worth the pain." He winces as he pushes the knife into him a little more. 
"NO! Please don't do this please! I promise I'll cure you, I will!" At this point I'm baling my eyes out again. I can't take anymore pain even if its someone I don't know. 
"Feel it little girl. Feel the pain that is inevitable." Just then he jabs the knife deep into himself. He falls to the ground, dead. I start to scream now and I fall to the ground with him as I cry everything I have in me, out. Jake picks me up as I'm helpless to do anything. He carries me way out of the village into the middle of nowhere. He sits down and holds me close. As he holds me, I can tell he is crying as well as his chest heaves in and out. I feel a tear drop on my cheek from Jake. I cry and cry until I cant anymore.
"Its too much Jake. It hurts too much to loose anyone anymore. I can't take it." 
"I know." He holds me closer and no more words are said until we are dry. I sit there emotionless and broken in Jake's arms, staring into nothing. Suddenly, I feel a strong urge to stand and so I do. I look down at Jake and he has a confused look.
"I don't know either." I tell him as I study the landscape around us. Just then I feel 2 horrible beats in my head. I put my hand on on my temple and turn around so quickly, I fall to the ground. I feel one last horrible beat and then I see him...the stranger, standing in the distance. I scream and back up. I blink once and he's gone just as suddenly as he appeared, taking my pain with him. Jake urgently gets up and comes over to help me up. I take his outreached hand and he pulls me up, grabbing me again in his arms and asking what happened. 
"You didn't see him?!" I ask between breathes. 
"See who Rachel?!"
"The stranger! He was right there, clear as day!!" 
"I didn't see him. I only saw you in pain and terror! Are you ok?! " I look at him puzzled as I still breathe heavily. 
"Y-yeah. I th-think so." The next thing I know...I'm looking into darkness.