The Last Plague

Chapter Fifteen: Tristan

The pain in my leg didn't cease. I felt it get worse as I became dizzier. A nauseous, sleepy feeling came over me. I didn't think I'd be able to stay awake much longer. Blurry, black spots started appearing in my vision. I laid down on a log but kept my eyes open. I wasn't going to faint, I wanted to know who was there. It was tempting to fall asleep, but I refused. The figure started coming into my sight, but I still couldn't quite make it out. Blackness continued filling my vision as sleep became more tempting. I thought about sitting up, but something in me pushed the thought away before any consideration. I felt almost ready to fall asleep. There wasn't any point in staying awake longer, my brain told me. I fell asleep.

I love and hate how his brain seems to speak . . . differently. It treats him like another person. But it also creeps me out, like there is something or someone in his head controlling his brain.

~Trina

I forced my eyes open. I was laying on the log where I was originally and didn't seem to have moved. I heard the fire burning next to me. I could feel the pain in my leg, but it wasn't as sharp. I felt a strange calm. I was also exhausted. I looked up and noticed the sun was in the middle of the sky, so I knew it was about noon. I turned over to see a stranger next to the fire. Not what I expected.

"You're awake," he stated calmly and emotionlessly. I couldn't tell whether or not who was with me. "Well, I guess we can get going." He looked up from the fire he was holding his hands over and looked at me.

"Why are your hands on the fire? It isn't cold," I said, feeling stupid the moment the words came out. I met a stranger who told me we were going somewhere, and I asked why he held his hands over the fire. I felt like the biggest idiot ever, and I knew he noticed.

"I'm well aware of the temperature." He sighed as he spoke and seemed bored.

"Sorry, who are you?" I asked, looking at his unrecognizable face.

"My name is Tristan Loittermain," he responded quickly. I was already annoyed.

"Where do you want me to go?" Questions were all I had, and he didn't help with it.

"The Underground," he responded simply.

"The Underground," I repeated. "What's the Underground?"

"So many questions," he exasperated. "The Underground is where we've been for the past five or so years. Haven't you heard of it?" He sounded like he was mocking me.

"What are you talking about?" I was so confused. This random guy showed up out of nowhere, then told me random stuff, and he seems like he expects me to know all of it already.

"Do I have to explain everything to you?" Tristan said angrily, he looked at me like I was either crazy or stupid. Either way, I didn't like it.

"Yes," my voice drifted off. "Why are you—"

"Okay, so you are out here alone, minus that random girl, right?" he asked.

"Wait, what random girl? Where is she and what did you do to her?" I interrogated in one breath.

"You have way too many questions." He raised his head and looked at me. "Seriously, why can't you just trust me and we can start moving? We're burning daylight," he said looking at the sun. It was completely overhead, nowhere near night.

"You expect me to trust a stranger—"

"This 'stranger' saved your life. Now get over yourself and come on." He looked at me sternly, his eyes showed anger.

I thought about defending myself, or maybe trying to ask a few more questions, but I choked. I wasn't able to say anything. "Fine," was all I could say, I tried standing up, then instantly collapsed back to the ground. The pain in my leg came back in a second.