Hollow Veins

Chapter Eleven; The Wait

Aaron was rummaging through his backpack. Alice was shivering in her sleep. Ari had a couple of ibuprofen tablets in her bag, but if this kept up, they'd definitely run out. Hopefully, Jasper would get back soon. Ren couldn't quite grasp it. What Jasper did, leaving like that. But when the Infect had jumped Jaden, Jasper had got in front of him. Had he changed. Moreover, she felt horrible for asking Alice about it. In a way, it seemed to effect her being sick for the worse. She'd woken several times by nightmares. Aaron produced a set of bandages, "This will have to work." He wet a strip and placed it on her forehead, "She probably won't be able to leave today." Jaden sat next to Ren, looking worried. "She'll be ok," She didn't quite believe herself. Jaden gave Ren a small smile.

Mostly to distract herself, Ren began to braid her hair. Jaden watched her. Flecks of gold and brown scattered the red. It was long, almost to her waist. A hazzard, he thought bitterly. Something could easily drag Ren back by her hair. She'd get hurt or killed. Her fingers twisted the pieces around each other swiftly. Jaden looked around at the other three. Aaron was clenching and unclentching his hands. Ari's narrow brown eyes examined Alice. Prince looked nervous. Alice sat up and groaned. The bandage fell off her head. Aaron crouched next to her, "You feeling ok?" She nodded and adjusted herself to a sitting position. Alice scanned the cave. "Hoped it was a dream," she muttered.

Jasper felt a sense of dread. He'd searched three stores, had two near encounters with an Infected, and found nothing. True medicine was advanced and could probably get rid of the sickness, but medicine was, most of the time, hard to come by. Jasper thought about her face when she'd whispered those words, "Don't leave. Please, Jasper." Alice had been dreaming about his abandonment. He felt sure of it. If only... if only. But it was too late. Jasper had made a mistake. It almost seemed like she'd wanted to forgive him. But Alice could never trust him. "You've outlived sorry." Well, she'd been right about that. He didn't deserve what he'd gotten. Instead of the overgrown streets, broken down cars, and deserted ransacked buildings, Jasper saw her tear stained face. He needed to get strong medicine. If they could knock out this sickness, they could get closer to their destination. Jasper shivered. But that was his one and only goal. Save the others even if he'd only live in the city a few days. He sighed. It was worth it.

Aaron handed Alice a bottle. She sat, propped up against the outside wall. The morning was misty and wet. Alice's throat burned as she drank. She wiped her mouth and mumbled, "Jasper better not get himself killed." It felt like she was in an oven. The mist felt nice, but she was shivering. Still, Alice had insisted on staying out and waiting for Jasper. Aaron scoffed, "And we should care because?" "Because he's another human being, and as much as I dislike him, I don't want him dead," Her head throbbed with every word. Aaron shrugged, "Serve him right." Alice looked away. Sickness could be dangerous now a day. Jasper was risking his life so she could get better. That had been how he'd always been. Ari had been right. Fear changed a person. Jaden popped his head out and looked at them. He wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh, get lost. Don't you have anything better to do?" Aaron sighed. Jaden shrugged and aimed a thumb behind him, making a face. From inside, there was a laugh, and then Ren's voice, "Don't be stupid." "He can't help it." "Hey!" "Idiots," mouthed Jaden. Alice's head gave a painful throb. Jaden sat next to them and signed, "It's gonna take him a while." Alice shrugged, "We don't have anything better to do." She looked down at the rocky slope. It was a miracle they'd even gotten this far.