Endure for Today

SEVEN

"Whatever this is, it's transferred through blood," Nathan said through the phone, the words coming out as rushed as Nalani was feeling. Searching around the pantry of the kitchen, she snatched another box of snacks and ripped open the cardboard to drop the packets of fruit gummies into Chelsea's backpack. Her own was already filled, holding the individual bottles of the twelve-pack water bottles that she found at the bottom of the pantry, as well as food. She figured it would be best for her to carry the heavier bag. "I've been keeping contact over radio, and I've been told that the zombie blood has to be injected into the bloodstream, which they do through bite. I don't know if it can be transferred if it gets into cuts or the mouth, but if I were you, I'd take precautions."

Struggling to zip up the packed bag, Nalani paused at his words and cast her eyes around for inspiration. They landed on a stack of rectangle boxes, thin and painted a bright red. "Precautions," she murmured to herself in contemplation. Directing her next question towards her phone, which was tucked into the waistband of her skirt with the bottom speaker end up, she grabbed a few of the boxes. "Saran Wrap should prevent blood from getting into cuts, yeah? If we wrap it really good."

"I'd put a cloth or bandage underneath to absorb any that gets through," the man said. He didn't disagree, though, so she carried the long boxes with her. "Like I said, I don't know if you'll turn if their blood gets into any injuries or is swallowed."

"Chelsea, come here," Nalani called, keeping her voice low. They were no longer hiding from the zombies outside, but she didn't want to instigate them into a frenzy by making more noise than necessary. Thankfully, the girl instantly responded, abandoning Nalani's backpack from where she was trying to squeeze more packets of food in. The small bag of rice still sat inside the small pot on the floor that Chelsea was certain they should take. "Let me see your knee. You're not hurt anywhere else, no?"

The girl shook her head, but dutifully slid her foot forward to show Nalani her scraped knee. "N-no, I don't think so. I just got my knee when I was climbing. Why?"

"Okay, that's good," Nalani said, giving her a smile to reassure her as she knelt down. A short glance revealed a washcloth hanging from the counter nearby. She grabbed it and folded it twice, and then pressed the square against the girl's injury. "This is gonna feel weird to walk with, but you can't take it off, yeah? This is going to stop any zombie blood from getting into your scrape."

Small nose wrinkling in disgust, Chelsea stood still and barely shifted as Nalani secured the towel with Saran Wrap. Once, twice, three times she circled it around the girl's knee, wanting to ensure that it would be protected. The end tore unevenly when she used her thumb to cut into it, poking a hole through the plastic and pulling to fully sever it, but it stuck when she smoothed it down. She was positive it wouldn't budge.

"There," she sighed, grimacing at her work. It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do. "Walk around some to get used to it, yeah? Bend your knee as much as you can to make sure it isn't super stiff, and if it slides, then let me know."

"Okay."

Watching the girl wander off to do as suggested – sticking to the area of the kitchen furthest from the door and windows, of course – Nalani blew out another, longer sigh and stood to check herself. Other than some aches that would form into bruising, she wasn't cut anywhere. Her back and head ached from colliding with the half wall earlier, her hands and knees pulsed with phantom pain from crawling around, and her knuckles carried a dull soreness from punching, but otherwise, she was fine.

Which was wonderful. She couldn't chance hindering her mobility when it was her job to protect Chelsea. A promise was a promise, after all.

"Kaikamahine, are you sure about this?" her dad spoke up, sounding worried.