Before we fall

(Chp.8) What About Me?

Tws: slight gore, yelling, flinching, abuse.

"YOU BLUBBERING BAFOON! CANT YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT?!" The man shouted, towering far above a trembling, young Karl as he rose a hand- ready to strike as he watched Karl shut his eyes tightly and prepare for a painful slap. Moments befor his hand could grace Karl's skin, Karl was lifted into someone's arms. Unaware of why the man hesitated to hit him, he opened his eyes a peek, curiosity consuming him.

As he opened his eyes he saw a woman, thin and sickly looking. She held the man's wrist as tightly as she could, though that wassent alot considering her wounded state, Karl held closley in her other arm. Karl's eyes started to drip warm, salty tears as he realised who this was. It was-

Karl woke to see the little girl beside his bed frame, she had one hand on Karl's shirt sleeve- seemingly she had tugged on it to wake him up. He wondered how she had managed to make her way from the bed Karl had placed her in last night all the way to the bed Karl currently slept in himself as she wobbled abit when standing- and shook ever so slightly from the chilled temperature of the old house.

"Are you alright GC, do you need something?" Karl inquired as he sat up in a criss cross manner with a yawn, hunching over slightly as he slid his, rather boney, hands underneath the girl's arms and lifted her up onto the bed with ease- he dident know how old she was but she couldent have weighed a healthy amount for whatever age she might be. Though, Karl himself wassent much better, he also found himself to be rather underweight though that was for an entirely other reason than he had assumed for her.

Once GC sat comfortably upon the old, unused materess she simply shook her head. Karl now noticed she still clung onto the brown patchwork quilt Pablim had previously wrapped her in, though it now rather bloody and grimy she held onto it as if it were the last thing on Earth that brought her comfort- this brought a frown to Karl's face. Pablim had hurt her, he had hurt Karl! Why did something he had given her seemingly mean so much?

Upon noticing the frown on Karl's face GC had placed her hand utop his own, which had laid on his knee, and looked up at Karl with a wide grin- her teeth rather crooked and many missing altogether. Karl returned the smile before taking notice of the bandaging on the little girl's neck, it was practically falling apart. He swiftly threw his feet over the side of his bed and stood up- taking a moment to stabilise himself befor once more lifting up GC. This time he rested her neatly upon his hip as he slowly made his way downstairs, not wanting to topple over in a dizzying wave of exhaustion. GC looked up at Karl confused, he then realised he had failed to tell her where they were headed- she would probably want to know that.

"Sorry- I forgot you might also like to know where I'm taking you." Karl let out a light, nervous, chuckle- feeling rather embarrased at his small slip up.

"I figured I should redress your wound, the bandage you have on currently looks as if to be on it's last limb." He explained befor GC had lifted her arm up, gesturing to Karl's eye- or, the rather mutilated socket his eye used to be held in. Surprised the child cared enough to worry over his injuries, Karl smiled ever so slightly- it was hardly even noticeable but this made Karl extremely happy. Few people had ever cared about him enough to worry over Karl, but this little girl- whom he had only known a few days and had only been conscious for three of thoose days, cared more than the people ment to protect and care for him, the people ment to love him the most.

"Oh- I suppose I should redress my wound aswell. But I guess this means we match now!" Karl pointed out, notcing a thick white film over GC's own left eye. He had tried to bring a more child-like ambiance to the situation in hopes of bonding more with the little girl in his arms. To this she giggled and smiled up at him with her toothy grin right as they had reached the kitchen.

Karl set the little girl down on the kitchen island before reaching into the cupboard beneath, pulling out a small wooden box labeled, "Medical." Not that GC could read it. Karl set the box down beside GC, opening it with a click as he picked out a roll of medical tape and a ordinary hand rag.

"This might hurt a tad bit- just try to bare through it for now." Karl spoke as he slowly unwrapped the soiled bandage that loosely laid around GC's wounded neck. He tried to be as gentle as he could but that dident stop GC from the occasional wince and slight flinch- he couldent really blame her though, he couldent help but loathe the thought that he was next, that looked extremely painful. With the wound now open it could breath in some fresh air, there was a small scab over it but the scab itself had a yellowish tint to it and spewed a gross looking puss from the sides- the wound had definitely gotten infected.

"That was good! But now I've got to disinfect it- I'm sorry but this will definitely hurt..." He warned the little girl akwardly, gagging abit at the sight as he dampened the hand rag with water previously collected from the well. He walked back over to spot infront of GC on the counter and brought the rag up to her neck, but the secont the damp rag grazed her neck, GC scampered backwards, further onto the kitchen island- by instinct of course but that only worsened the pain as she had slightly cracked the scab that prevented her wound from gushing blood.

"Your bleeding again! Come here, you can squeeze my hand whenever it hurts." He gave his best attempt to comfort the little girl as he noticed a small glaze of water begin to form in her eyes. Though it did seem to work as she scooted to the edge of the counter again, taking Karl's hand in her own even though she could only hold a maximum of 4 of Karl's fingers in her hand, she accepted that as fine as she began holding her chin upwards again and preparing for the pain to come.

Karl only really needed one hand to dab at GC's wound with the rag, he had noticed she had a surprisingly strong grip for someone of her size and capability- though it still wassent strong enough to actually hurt him. Once he had finished cleaning the slightly bleeding wound he set the hand rag aside and freed his hand from the little girl's grasp. Karl now grabbed the roll of medical tape and began to wrap it around GC's neck, trying his hardest not to cause her any unnecessary pain. Once he had finished he spoke up,

"All done, you did really good!" He praised her befor noticing that GC was trying to stand up on the counter, using Karl's shoulder as a bit of a base. He dident want her to fall so he helped her up the rest of the way, though he dident know why. Once she was up she gestured twords Karl's eye, oh that's right- Karl still needed to redress his own wound! It did look as if GC had other plans as she looked around Karl's head for the edge of the banage. There it is!

"What are you doing bud?" He Inquired befor GC started to undo the edge of the medical tape wrapped around Karl's head, to which he backed away.

"Hey are you sure you know what your doing? I can always do it myself you know!" He interrogated, quickly stepping forward again and placing a stabilising hand on the little girl's side, noticing she was begging to wobble.

To the question GC only nodded a simple reply. With a sigh Karl allowed her to continue, still not entirely convinced she could do this by herself. As GC finished unwrapping the wound Karl could feel the fresh air on his wound, he winced at this and would have normally brought his hand up to his eye exept they were already occupied by keeping GC from falling over. Karl noticed GC's rather disgusted expression at the sight of Karl's wound, he was going to see for himself befor GC quickly stopped him- shaking her head slowly. Did it really look that bad?

Befor he knew it Karl's wound was redressed. Much to GC's dismay, Karl would not let her disinfect his wound- he trusted her enough with bandaging it but he dident really want her small, shakey hands dabbing a cloth at it. He put the wooden box back under the kitchen island after putting its contents back safley within, he was about to say something when GC's large frown stopped him in his tracks. He now spoke to her with a worried tone in the words he spoke,

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" In all honesty Karl was rather frantic when given the task of caring for someone younger for Karl was rather young himself! Or so he appeared- none the less he acted like it. To Karl's inquiry GC pointed behind Karl, out of the kitchen window.

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