Behind Enemy Lines

BEL | Seven - Punish

(BEL) Seven
Punish

Gail
The sticky sweat stuck to my skin like vile glue. My mouth tasted like pasty chalk as I tried to open it.

Why was I so cold?

Voices shushed all around me. But, it was as if my body had forgotten the concept of time. I was paralyzed - unable to make a single sound or movement. The visions swam around in my head, the twister, Rain's comfort, my unpredictable stomach.

I wondered if I was dead.

The cool air smashing against my face was almost comforting. I half expected God to show up and send me to hell. Because that was where traitors belonged. I waited and waited, for what seemed like hours. Trying to command my body to go towards my will was hell.

"Is she waking up?"

The four-worded question danced around my head irritatingly. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over my senses as a muffled answer is returned. I felt my brows crease as I wonder if the answer came from me. But, it took me another minute to really realize that it's origin came from underneath me.

Underneath?

I breathed in, because my body had began to cooperate with my brain.

All I could smell was the thick, lucid smell of smoke.

A sweet and almost heavenly scent wavered in the air. I sniffed discreetly, and placed the scent on Rain. Stiffening, I ask myself the million-dollar question: Why the hell am I on top of Rain?

Shuffling, I fight to clear away the thoughts swimming in my head. It works, and ever so slowly, my eyes flutter open, meeting with the dark ceiling of the storm shelter.

"What happened?" I muttered quite softly.

"A twister." I turned my head to Lee, who was currently banging on the small window of the storm shelter. "Now, there's a fire upstairs and if we don't get our asses up 'n' out, we all gonna burn. I tried to tell your boyfriend that, but he insisted on putting you on top of him as what? I don't know, Gail, I think a shield."

"A shield?" I croak as I painfully raise myself up. "And he's not my boyfriend."

Rain glared at Lee before turning his attention to me.

I took a minute to link his cocky smirk to the fact that I was straddling his chest. Blushing furiously, I push my hair out of my face and practically fly away from his touch. I'm mumble a half-hearted apology as he only laughs and laughs.

"I did not use you as a shield," he finally answered, sobering up. "You were shivering, so I offered heat."

"I didn't need your heat." I lied straight through my teeth. God knows where I'd be right now without Rain.

"You weren't saying that when you were puking on my shoes," Rain snapped.

I blushed with embarrassment, "Sorry about that. I was a little off."

"Figures," he answered without looking at me.

"OK," Lee turned to us. Annoyance and impatience clear in his eyes. "As much as I enjoy this loving banter, I kinda wanna live, so..."

"Right," I coughed painfully as I stood. Lee was right, this smoke was really toxic.

I glanced back at Rain, he looked unaffected by anything happening around him. His arm was slung over his eyes and his long, muscular legs were draped over each other carelessly.