A Hidden Queen

Chapter 63

Joe sticks close to Charlie weaving throughout the beams. Her teeth gnaw at her bottom lip. The pain at her side was excruciating. She was already beginning to fight back the building nausea and dizziness. This was not good; she was not going to make it.

She forces the rising bile back down, pushing her body to attain an impossibility. She continues in this vain attempt for a mere step more before sharp stabbing pain buckles her knees. The intense burning travels up her shoulder and neck, blurring her eyes. The sudden need to vomit and breathe turning into a power struggle.

"Joey?"

"I'm fine." She groans, tucking her head between her arms. "I just need a minute."

The pain was unrelenting, her muscles spasming under the strain and causing her stomach to twist uncomfortably. Joe clenches her jaw as everything once again lurches upwards.

"Joe?"

"Keep going." She blurts out.

"Over my rotting corpse."

"Charlie. I will be mere seconds behind. Please go."

"Aye, mere seconds." Charlie sasses, clearly not believing her. "Come, let me carry you and not test the truthfulness of that bold gesture."

Charlie shimmies closer, gently forcing her into a more upright position.

"I said I am fine and will be following soon." Joe snaps harshly, slapping his hands away. "So, be on your way."

"Such a promise oozes with folly deceit."

"Are you accusing me of tricky Austin?"

"Aye. It is nothing but spoken lies Carter."

"So, you do not believe my words, believe in me?"

"How can I? You spout this folly while you are unable to breathe and the smell of sickness reeks upon your breath. You trap yourself within the lies of your own words."

Joe huffs through her nose, unable to rebuttal. She weakly pushes against his chest, hardening her features as he plants himself firmly.

"Charles. I do not play when I say to be on your way."

"And I do not play when I say I am not going."

"Go, Austin. That's an order."

"You, my dear, are not the captain. To give me a command will do you no better than to give them to the bulkheads."

"Charlie." She begs, changing her approach. "Please, I beg that you go. I do promise to follow soon enough."

"How can you be so stubborn? To continue to spit those words upon me?" He counters. "You are in no condition to make demands nor assurances such as that. We both know you will not rise from this deck without thrashing about in pain. And because of that you will not make it off this ship on your own two feet. And you are aware of such truth."

Joe's features harden. The words were painfully true, and she was aware of it, but it was not in her to grovel for help. A cloud of stubbornness fills her eyes, deepening Charlie's frown.

"Don't be rash Carter."

The subtle warning collides with an indigent huff. Joe endeavors to straighten wobbling legs; Charlie snatching her bicep with a particularly unsettling waver.

"Josephine, don't do this."

The hardheaded young woman forces herself upright, sending her head into a tailspin. She clasps down on Charlie's shoulder, leaning onto her wrist as the swaying movements worsen.