I'll Be Back

A Betrayal On A Mountain

The trek around the mountain is long and ice cold. It seems this part of the country didn't get the memo that it is now spring time. Lisa's breathing has become more shallow and she knows she must be a lot paler than she had been. Artigas tries to tip water into her mouth and the relief feels good at first, until it gets to her ripped trachea and it spills out from the shotty stitching. Mixed with blood, the water runs down the sides of her neck, making getting water into her virtually useless. Trying to feed her pretty much goes the same way. Quint has been eyeing her a lot more. They've been able to break some ground but Lisa can tell that it's not enough. But she isn't dead yet, and maybe it's petty, but she isn't going to give Quint the satisfaction of watching her die. She makes that clear to him the next evening after the rest of their platoon had departed.

They build a small fire, trying to keep warm while also not drawing attention to themselves.

Lisa lays on the stretcher as it's propped up on a slab of rock. Artigas had left Quint and Lisa alone in order to go down to the river and refill their canteens. Lisa stares over at Quint from across the flames. He's sharpening a piece of wood while glaring. She can tell the longer it takes for them to get going, the more frustrated he becomes. He began digging a grave only a few feet away earlier. Lisa feels sharp pain in her abdomen and grunts and whimpers. He looks up at her just as she's wincing in pain. Lisa squirms, trying to find a comfortable position but it's futile. Next thing she knows, Quint is leaving the sharpened piece of wood and walking towards her. He bends down to her level and stares into her eyes. Lisa feels a chill run through her as his icy stone cold stare pierces into her. He then begins to speak.

"You're in pain. You know it and I know it, that you won't survive this trek." He pauses and Lisa grits her teeth. "You're putting us in danger. You are risking our lives for nothing when we know you're going to die anyways. You probably already have several infections already coursing through your blood. You are dying, Manoban. So stop trying to fight it."

A moment of silence passes by them as the words sink into Lisa. She glares at him and grunts a little and he continues speaking.

"Our lives are in your hands. Do you really want to be responsible for our deaths? Because that is what will happen." He pauses once more, thinking about something. He then leans in closer to her and begins whispering. "I can help make the pain stop. I can help you. If you're worried about your family thinking you gave up, I can suffocate you. You just passed while sleeping. Blink, if you want me to help you rest. Blink if you want me to end your suffering.
It'll be quick I promise."

Lisa narrows her eyes at him. She stares and stares, never blinking at his request. She can see him getting more and more angry as she continues to stare him down. They are then interrupted when Artigas arrives back.

"What are you doing?" He asks. Quint stands up straight and scoffs before making his way back over to where he had been sitting before. Artigas looks over at Lisa and Lisa just stares back at him before he comes over to her. He begins checking over some of her wounds, using the last of the clean bandages to cover up the more critical ones. He then tries once more to get water down Lisa's throat. She gets a little this time but still, most of it runs out from her neck. After awhile it falls quiet over the camp. The fire crackling and Lisa's shallow breathing the only thing making noise.

"You know, everybody before me in my family was in the Army. My great grandfather, my grandpa, my dad and uncles, my brother. Everyone. Every single one of them were in the battles that ended the war of that time. It's like a legacy within our family." Quint says. Artigas looks up and listens to him. "And every single one of em died in those battles. That's my legacy that I have to live up to. That's where i'm suppose to die. Not out here with a teenager and a dying guide. I'm not suppose to die out here."