Hollow Veins

Chapter Thirty Five; Silent Treatment

Jaden put his hands over his ears and glared at Prince. Prince raised his eyebrows. "Well you could just tell me to shut up." Ren and Jaden shared a sarcastic look. Ren tried to smile apologetically. "Sorry, but we've, uh... tried that." Prince smirked slightly, "If you asked nicely..." Ari wiped sweat from her forehead, as she stopped to catch her breath. "Prince, all Ren ever does is ask nicely." Ren looked a little embarrassed, "Well not all the time." Alice shrugged as she pushed a branch away from her face. "It's not a bad thing to be polite." She gave Aaron a look. He was giving her the silent treatment. He'll get over it, she thought. She hadn't realized before how much Jasper's abandonment weighed her down. Having that load lightened, if only a little, was a relief to Alice. But if Aaron wasn't talking to her she wouldn't try and get him to.

As they continued on, the sun rose higher and higher. Eventually they stopped for lunch. Prince stared at the foliage above them as he ate. "Hey, look." Ari looked over, sitting cross-legged next to him. "Wow, leaves." Prince reached up. "No, not the leaves." Prince held out his hand. A spider crawled in his palm. Alice blinked, "Oh, wow a spi-" Ari jumped back and inhaled quickly. Prince looked from her to his hand then back again, "Oh, don't tell me you're scared of spiders." She gulped, "No." Prince leaned forward. "So do you wanna see it?" Ari glared at him. "No," She answered sharply, getting to her feet. Prince stood, too. "Are you sure?" He put his hand closer to her. Ari backed up. "Don't you dare." Prince frowned at his hand. "Where'd it go." Ari started brushing herself off. Prince burst out laughing, "I still have it." Ari glared at him, "I hope it bites you." The other were laughing too now, except Jaden, who had an odd look on his face. Ari folded her arms. Prince tossed the spider into the brush, still laughing. Jaden cocked his head. Ari narrowed her eyes, "I'm not scared of them, I just don't like them." Prince giggled, "Sure." Jaden's face went pale and waved his arms. Prince had his back turned to him and was still laughing. "MOVE!!!" Jasper screamed. The laughter died on Prince's face as he glanced back. He threw himself oved Ari, slamming them to the ground. An Infected flew over their head, it's long nails raking over his back.

He cried out in pain. It struggled then froze. They others reached for weapons but it was too late. It lunged once more, targeting Alice. Bang! Bang! The creature hit the ground right in front of her. Alice stared, blood splattered on her. With terror on her face, she turned. Jasper had his arm raised, gun in hand. There was a dead silence. Jasper pocketed the gun. "We need be more careful. We've been too loud." Prince pushed himself up, off of Ari, wincing. "That may be-" He inhaled sharply, "-my fault." He pulled Ari to her feet. "You, ok?" She nodded, a little dazed. "Thank-" Then Ari frowned, catching his wince, "Turn around." "I'm fine." He attempted to change his wince into a smile. Ari gave him a searching, almost guilty, look, "Turn. A. Round." Sighing he turned. The others crowded around them. Four bleeding scrapes. Ari inhaled, "Not too deep but they could get infected." Jasper met her eyes, "Do you think we should clean it first or move." Ari bit her lip and ignored Prince's, "I'm fine." "Clean it. Lay on your stomach. Do we still have the alcohol?" Prince gave a grunt of pain and annoyance. Jasper took charge, while Ari and Alice checked their surroundings to make sure there wasn't anymore Infected. Jasper leaned over. He'd mainly sent Ari away because she looked like she might cry. "Sorry, Prince, this is going to hurt." Jaded looked a little sympathetic as he watched. The alcohol hurt like nobodies business and he knew it.

Ari flinched as they heard Prince's gasp of pain. Alice wiped the blood off her face and glanced back. "Hope he's ok." "Yeah." Ari turned her head away. Alice looked at her, "It's not your fault." Ari shrugged, but their was still guilt in her expression. "Feels like I just keep getting people hurt." "He's ok, besides did you make that creature scratch him." Ari looked down, "No..." Alice nudged her slightly, "We're are going to get hurt and sometimes it might be to help you. But that won't ever be your fault and we would do it because we care." Ari sighed a little, "You shouldn't." Alice raised an eyebrow, "We should." Ari looked at her, "My parents made it very clear that I am, was, a burden to them. All I ever did was get them hurt." Alice folded her arms, "I believe for a second that they actually cared. Ari, the way they treated you... They're garbage. And caring for you might have actually brighten their miserable lives." Ari smiled slightly, "You sound like Jaden." "Good, he's smart. When he's not in total denial of his feelings. Then again-" She joked, "You guys got that in common." Ari frowned, "I don't know what your talking about." Alice smirked, "Sure." Ari opened her mouth then closed it. Alice glanced around, "Looks like we're clear." Ari nodded then paused. "Alice... do you think they... that the whole testing thing..." She couldn't finish. Alice inhaled, "It could be true. But, I don't think they'd do that. I mean, you know what happened back there. Aaron thinks the only reason Jasper, or Prince have bothered protecting any of us because they wanted enough people to pay for them to get in the City. Which may be true but... if they are going to turn us into the testing they obviously value their own lives over ours. So, why would Prince throw himself over you like that? Why would Jasper push me behind him in that alleyway a couple days ago. It doesn't add up." She walked back to the campsite, leaving Ari to her thoughts.

They could have done those things, not thinking they were in real danger. They could have some hidden motive. Ari didn't know. It was making her head ache. Thankfully, they were almost through the woods by now. Only they went more slowly because of both Jaden and Prince. Prince had changed shirts and had small lump from the bandages. Jasper had told them they were almost out. But Prince's didn't need be changed. They only needed to be there long enough for his cut to scab which hopefully would be soon. He winced with every step. Ari looked at him and mumbled, "Sorry." He gave her a skeptical look, "Yeah, no. You don't have to or need to be sorry." Ari shrugged, "Well you did-" "No." She frowned and opened her mouth. Prince put up a hand. "Nuh uh." Ari glared, "Let me-" "Shush, shush, shush." She folded her arms. "I hate you." He chucked then flinched. "Zut, can't laugh without hurting." She tried for a smile, "Does this mean you'll actually shut up?" He smirked, "Don't count on it, Ari." She smiled a bit and looked down. "Don't... do anything stupid like that again." Prince grinned, evily, "I might..." She raised her eyebrows, "Well then if it doesn't kill you, I most certainly will."