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Chapter Six

Ember tried to keep his eyes open for as long as he could, so long as Glory kept her arms around him as she led him down to his room. He was drenched in sweat and his skin felt like it was on fire. He hated the aching pain and empty hole in his lungs that still refused to let him control his breathing. He heaved and gasped for breath, but it took too long to get more oxygen right away like he needed. He stumbled down the ladder and staircase from the watchtower and downstairs toward his bedroom.

Glory had a proud smile on her face, but also a deeply concerned face when she remembered what a bad place he was in right now. She kept her left hand clenching his tightly as she made his arm hang around her shoulders, and her right arm was slung down and holding softly around his waist, supporting his weight as they walked. His damp hair stuck to his sweaty forehead and he still gasped for breath when Glory kicked his bedroom door open fiercely. It gave out a loud bang and shot open quickly, letting Glory stumble through with Ember limping along next to her.

She walked him over to his bed and let go of his waist and hand, and he fell back onto the sheets. His chest rose and fell with each breath, and she put her hands on her knees to catch her own breath. She pulled out the wet rag that Astro gave her, that she stored in her jacket pocket until they got to his room, and she flattened it out before laying it across Ember's forehead. It felt cold and soothing to him, and he smiled in relief. Glory smiled too and she sat down beside him. She watched him the whole time while his oxygen was finally starting to catch up, thankfully. He sat up and swept his sweaty bangs to the side. Glory swept her hand up and rubbed his back reassuringly and she looked ahead toward the glassed window in the opposite wall away from them.

"Just a thought." Glory smirked, making the butterflies flutter around in his stomach again as he held the wet rag to his forehead. "Maybe don't play anymore. Next time you might break a blood vessel."

Ember snickered and shook his head. "I was thinking exactly the same thing."

"The girls wanted to take another beach day tomorrow, but I told them to take the day off since I had something that you might be up for." Glory said.

"Which is?" Ember asked. "I don't know if I can take another step."

"You're a tough baby, you'll make it." Glory punched his shoulder. "There's a small stone temple I found in the forest. I haven't gone inside yet because I was saving it for another time with someone else. The damn thing's covered in ivy and vines."

"Yeah, sure." Ember smiled. "I think I'd be up for that. But what if it's booby trapped?"

"Then it shouldn't be a problem for two soldiers to get through." Glory raised her eyebrows. "Right?"

"Right." Ember said, none too convincingly. "Just don't kill us both."

"I make no promises." Glory smiled, and she hugged her knees up to her chest. "We'll just have to be careful."

"Yeah, and smart." Ember added, and Glory laughed.

"Are you calling me dumb?" Glory asked with a wide grin.

"No, but let's be honest, you have gotten all of us in pretty tight situations these past couple of months." Ember shrugged, trying his hardest to joke and still not offend her.

Glory put a hand over her mouth as she giggled and she shook her head. "Whatever you say, dummy."

He tried to hold back a smile, but then he just started laughing along with her in the end. She eventually, accidentally, nudged his shoulder and neck with her head, but then they just kept on laughing, and Ember's delight with her couldn't have been better. He loved this girl, he was sure of it.