Hollow Veins

Chapter Fourty; On The Edge

Ari felt herself being thrown up on the edge. She turned, blinking the rain from her eyes. She saw Prince, his bloody fingers slipping from the side. His eyes were out of focus. She reached out her hand. There was a odd look on his face. Relieved, smiling slightly. Almost one of... acceptance. Ari realized what that meant too late. His eyes rolled back in his head. She dove forward as he let go of the edge. Ari barely caught his wrist in time. His weight nearly pulled her down with him. She skidded on her stomach. Ari dug her boot tips into the mud. She didn't know how she stayed on the edge. Prince's arm might have been pulled out of socket. She wasn't sure. Ari got her feet under her and forced herself to stand. Her arms were on fire. The pain spread to her entire body. Ari blinked the blurriness from her eyes. She would not pass out. She hoisted Prince higher. She wasn't sure how she was managing it, until she realized he was conscious and pulling himself up. Finally she got him over the side. The both collapsed, heaving. They were soaked. Ari finally sat up and hugged him. She tried not to cry but she couldn't help it. It was all too much. "You, idiot! You let go!" Prince hugged her back and yelled over the rain, "I'm sorry." "Idiot! Never do-" She choked, "Never do something like that again." He looked at her. "Would have been..." Prince panted, "Worth it." Ari opened her mouth to argue but he pulled her towards him and kissed her. For a second, they sat completely oblivious to the dangers in the street around them. Then, slowly he let her go. She thought she could almost see his grin, through the rain. Prince spoke just loud enough for her to hear him, "Kinda expected you to hit me." The situation almost seemed gone, until another screach broke the air. It brought them back to their senses. "We should get to some cover," She said. "Mhm," Prince sounded almost bored. She grabbed his hand, "Come on." Fighting the blush spreading all over her face, she pulled him after her down the street.

Jasper squeezed his eyes shut. "I wish we didn't have to separate." Aaron groaned, "My everything hurts. Wonder how the others are holding up." Jasper opened his eyes. Ren was squeezing out her hair while watching out the window. They'd found another gas station. Jasper started pacing. "Oh, this is not good. If they die... Oh this is all my fault." Aaron sighed, "Dude, for once, take a break." Jasper looked up, suprised. Aaron sighed, "Go to bed. You too, Ren. I don't think I can sleep." Ren and Jasper shared a look. "What?" Aaron asked. Ren shrugged. She leaned against the window. Her blanket, which had been in her backpack, was soaked. She'd hung it on an empty rack.

Jasper glanced at Ren then at Aaron. She was asleep. He spoke in a whisper, "They'll be ok." Aaron glanced frostily at him. "Hm." Jasper sighed, "Aaron, despite what you think, I do care for them. All of them." Aaron gave him a calculated look. "If you care so much about Alice then why did you leave?" Jasper stiffened. This was a touchy subject. "I... can't... I made a mistake. A horrible one." "She likes you, you know. She doesn't want to. But she does." There was hurt in his voice. His words poured out like he couldn't help saying them. Jasper looked away. He remembered Prince's words, "She wants to hate you." Jasper laced his fingers together. "Yeah..." Aaron leaned forward. "Just remember that if you hurt her again, I won't care whether it was a mistake or not." Jasper put his hands up in defense. Aaron's gaze faltered. He looked down, seeming to be thinking hard. "You said... can't... earlier. You can't say why you left. Is there... some other reason you left. Something you can't talk about? Other than being a coward. Because I can tell you aren't one." Jasper looked down. "I'm sorry. I can't... It's... hard... to explain." Aaron studied him for a long moment. "Don't hurt her." Jasper nodded and looked away. How could he ever explain? He was glad Aaron didn't press his question. He'd come so close to the truth. Jasper didn't want them knowing. He glanced up at Aaron. He liked Alice, same as Jasper did. It must hurt to see him and Alice. Maybe he should just keep away from her. Guilt joined his sympathy and confusion. He rolled over. He needed to get some sleep.

Prince pulled out a plastic bag with a remaining half loaf of bread. He chuckled, "Well, we're going to starve. At least it's dry." Ari was feeling a little awkward, sitting next to him. They'd gotten inside some business corporation office. Ari didn't really care. Prince handed her a chunk and put away the rest. She was careful not to touch his hand. Her shade had not varied from red in the slightest. And she couldn't stop smiling. Ari pushed the food into her mouth. Prince smirked. "Careful. Don't wanna choke, do you?" "Kinda my goal, yeah." She glanced at him and remembered his face when he'd pushed her up. Saved her instead of himself. That look of acceptance. Acceptance... of his death. She'd always thought... "Prince," She spoke involuntarily, "Do you... hate... me?" He gave a loud snort, "What? Why would I hate you? You're per-" He choked on his food and stammered, his eyes going wide with suprise. He covered his mouth. Prince coughed, then fumbled with his words, "No, um. Uhg you're good... fine, no uh... just... no, um..." Prince swore under his breath. He was redder than a tomato. He choked again. Prince made several attempts at talking and breathed through his teeth. He pinced his nostril with one hand then pushed it through his hair, with a slight groan, "Uh... no I don't hate you." Ari was certain she was even redder than him, "Oh..." Prince peered at her between his fingers which were over his face once more, "Why would you think that?" Ari felt embarrassed. She fidgeted slightly. "Uh, I don't know... you just seem so determined to make me angry." He laughed a little, "Well of course I am, but it's not because I hate you. I'm just annoying that way." Prince paused for a minute, then raised his eyebrows skeptically, "And you don't hate... me?" She shook her head, "No, like you said you're just a little annoying, sometimes." "Annoying," He mused. "One of my best qualities." She laced her fingers through his. "Yeah, no. That's not a good quality." He smirked. "I'll go ahead and take the first watch." He was very glad the others hadn't been there to hear that. He hoped they were ok. Despite Prince's careless nature he knew that he wouldn't be able to take it if even one of them died.

Jaden sat up, struggling. "Calm down, it's just me." Alice was leaning over him. "Come on, it's morning. We should try to find the others." Jaden groaned and nodded. If they could backtrack they might find them. Their food had been in Jasper and Ari's backpacks, so there wasn't anything to eat. Alice tried to ignore the grumbling in her stomach, as they left the building. Jaden had an uncanny memory. He lead with a cold determination in his eyes. Alice was suprised by how he didn't hesitate at a single turn. After about fifteen minutes, they were standing in the misty street. There were bodies, but they were the Infected. Jaden searched through them to be sure. Alice looked for traces of where the others were. But the rain had made sure that wouldn't be the case. They found some ripped canvas, probably from Jaden or one of the other's backpacks, but it didn't give any clue to where they'd gone. Jaden looked up at her and signed, "Alice, what if..." She shook her head. "Jaden, do you see their bodies?" It sounded harsh but with Jaden, simply saying "They're ok" wasn't going to cut it. He looked down. "We could've missed them or they could have been dragged away. Or ripped-" "Jaden, stop. Thinking of the worst case scenario, won't help us or them." Jaden sighed and nodded. Alice thought for a second. "Let's go look for them. Try to remember our path in case we need to come back." Jaden nodded and they took off to the left.