Hollow Veins

Chapter Ten; Hight Temperatures

There was a long silence. Ren stared into the small fire, "He seemed really nice." Ari nodded, "But fear changes people." Ari went quiet for a minute, then said, "My house burned down. My brother, my mom, and my dad, they all..." She wiped her eyes, "My brother got stuck, and parents went back for him." Alice squeezed Ren's hand. Prince spoke, "My parents and I got separated when I was little, the airport was attacked." Ari studied him with a hint of sympathy, "Mine never really paid me any attention. They were always busy. It wasn't a huge deal. But they were transferred to a safer location because of their work. They were working on making a cure. They told me I would come with them on a different flight. Freaking liars." She tossed a rock into the flaming coals. They all looked at Jaden. He looked up. Ren looked at him, "What about you?" Jaden shrugged. After a second or two, he gestured at his throat and signed, and Alice translated, "Nerve damage." They all went silent at that. Jaden looked at them all. It was strange that despite all they'd been through, they all could be happy. He'd always felt a little bitter. His parents weren't even dead. At least not that he knew of. Alice's story especially had made more things clear. The tenseness between her and Jasper. Aaron annoyed him sometimes. He was just a little insensitive towards the subject. Jaden now understood exactly what had made Alice cry the first night.

She paced in the shack, waiting for Jasper. Alice glanced at the mats laying on the floor. In the corner was their stuff.  Alice felt a sense of panic. Suddenly, there was a horrible realization of where Jasper was. She tried to run, but her legs took slow steps. Alice finally made it to the door. She threw it open. Jasper was just making it to the helicopter. "Please don't leave! Please, Jasper!" Alice cried out. But Jasper only laughed. Then his body stretched out. His jaw rattled. And Jasper ran at her. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. The Infect screeched as in lunged at her. Alice tried to scream. She sat up gasping. "You ok?" Jasper sat criss-cross by the glowing coals, sharpening his knife. "Yeah... I'm... I'm good." He seemed a little grim, "You sure? You were muttering, and you're sweating." Alice realized she felt feverish. The cold heat, the pressure in her head, and the strange taste in her mouth. Jasper sheathed his knife and stood. He approached and crouched next to her. Alice flinched a little, remembering the nightmare. Jasper felt her forehead and frowned. "You got a fever." "I guess." He exhaled, "We need to get medicine." Alice tried to sit up, "I'm fine, we can't go back into that place, anyway." He studied her face, "Please don't lie. Lie back down." Ren muttered and groaned. "We can't go back. Please don't. It'll... it'll undue so much progress." Jasper pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Please, Jasper." "I'll go." "But..." He put a hand on her shoulder, "Getting sick in this situation is not an option. I'm gonna wake Aaron. Maybe you guys can move ahead, and I'll catch up. But only if you feel up to it." "I'll be fine." "Well Aaron's gonna decide not you." Jasper busied himself with organizing his bag and getting ready. Alice felt the drowsiness start to overcome her, but before she drifted off, she managed to say, "Hey, Jasper?" "Hm?" "Thank you."