DECEMBER JANE

December: Landing

My radio was sounding static on my belt. The clicks and fuzz were white noise, though I was anticipating something else. My crutches did okay in terms of travel on the forest floor. I slipped a few times, hurting myself more, but I managed to keep walking. I had only slept once due to the pain. I found painkillers on the ground-- of a forest, may I add. Why that didn't ring a bell, I have no clue, but whatever. It helped.

I limped across the roots of the trail, the river rushing peacefully beside me. I had no idea where I was, or how long I was going to be walking for, but it was better than dying. At least in vain.

I was grateful I had food at least; a bread loaf and a few cans I stole from a run-down trailer were stuffed in my pockets-- "stole' meaning first and only arrived, first and only served.

Where was everyone?

My crutch slipped from under me. My hand let go as I watched it fall into the rocks below. My radio followed, flinging off of my belt. I reached my spare hand out and latched onto a tree, my other crutch catching a root.

I tried to scream, my throat too roasted to release anything but a stifled yell.

I was dangling over the river, barely holding on.

Looking around, I saw more roots and dirt. I could land on the dirt if I wanted to risk any more injuries, which I didn't. There was falling into the river, which would instantly kill me. The only other option was screaming for help, but again, I was in the middle of the woods, where otherwise I would be in the company of people's ashes and human barbecue with acid rain seasoning. It made me sick to think about it.

I sucked in a breath, yanking myself with the other crutch, and flinging onto the ground.

A fire ignited along my entire left side.

"MARY THE MOTHER OF- ACK!" I screamed, actually managing to let out a decent amount of volume. I started to cry. Who wouldn't with burns like mine?

The tears didn't help my face, which also started to burn.

That wasn't the worst wound.

None of this was.

It was losing everything. Even the bad.

Everything was gone.

There was nothing I could do.

I wanted to let myself drift off. To sleep.

To die in peace.

I heard something stir near me, some distance up the trail. My eyes closed. It was probably a mountain lion. Maybe my body would go to good use. At least there was life left through the fire.

"Are y-you good?"

My eyes shot open. Holy shit, a living person.

I couldn't see much, besides the weird goggles, with two hatchets hooked on the sides of their belt. Probably another survivor. I was gasping for air, my chest stabbing me with gusts of wind colder and sharper than knives. The boy still hovering over me and brushed his hand over my face. "W-what happened t-to y-you?" He asked again. I tried to roll away, which ended in me landing on my side again. I hissed. He stood back up, shaking his head. "Y-ou're not g-good." He answered his own question. "I-I know a d-doctor." I tried to smile at him. I couldn't talk. Hell, I was too weak to breathe. He nodded. "I m-might have to c-carry you, i-if tha-that's okay..." he trailed off.

He didn't need an answer. He leaned down and lifted me up. I tried to help by lifting myself too, but that didn't result in much. I grabbed my only crutch and held it on my burnt side. I appreciated the help, but I didn't need him handling that side right now.