A New World

ANW CHAPTER 22 "Home"

ANW CHAPTER 22 "Home"

Jessie wakes up. She looks numb. Next to her is an empty bed. She sits up straight and yawns. She gets out of her room. Ryan, Ruby and Katy are sitting in the main room of the building. Jessie looks at them.
Jessie: Is Adrian awake yet?
Ruby: He has been outside all morning.
Jessie: Did he give a task or anything?
Ryan: Nope.
Jessie grabs her winter coat and walks out of the building. She sees Adrian sitting on a log by the fence. She walks up to him and sits down next to him. He keeps looking at the road.
Jessie: Morning.
Adrian doesn't answer.
Jessie: Are you okay?
Adrian: The others are still not back. What if something happened to them?
Jessie: I'm sure they're fine. It's probably just hard to look for all the supplies.
Adrian: You can't be sure of that. What if they got hurt or worse? Maybe we should look for them today...
Jessie: Come on Adrian. We can't walk all the way to the hospital. Then you'll kill us too.
Jessie smiles. Adrian looks at Jessie with disbelief. Jessie looks at the ground guilty.
Jessie: I'm sorry, I was kidding. Bad joke. It isn't your fault.
Adrian looks back at the road. 
Adrian: It is. I sent them out there. I didn't even come with them.
Jessie sighs: Adrian... You need to stop blaming yourself.
Adrian ignores her.
Jessie: Look at me Adrian.
Adrian looks at her pouting. Jessie looks pitiful at him. Their are sitting just a few inches away. Jessie speaks word for word.
Jessie: It...is...not...your...fault.
Adrian keeps staring into her eyes. Then Jessie breaks the eye contact and stands up.
Jessie: Come on. Let's get some breakfast.
Adrian stands up and they both walk to the building.

Chris is in one of the hospital rooms, laying in bed. The sun is shining right in his face. His eyes slightly open and he turns around groaning sleepy. He eventually sits up straight. He scratches his arm.
Chris: Ugh, fucking itch.
He pulls his sleeve down. He looks in the mirror in his room. He sees his own yellow pale skin and sighs. He grabs a hoodie out of his bag and puts it on with the hood up. Chris walks out of his room. He sees Zayn sitting against the wall with his eyes wide open.
Chris: Uhm, Zayn?
Zayn just then notices Chris. Zayn looks wide awake.
Zayn: Oh hey.
Chris: Are you alright?
Zayn: Yeah I'm fine, just didn't sleep well last night.
Zayn takes another look at Chris.
Zayn: Are you alright? You skin looks pale.
Chris: Yeah I'm fine.
Chris looks away, embarrassed. He walks over to Candice's room and knocks. He opens the door.
Chris: Candice?
Candice is laying on the ground in a circle of medical books. Chris walks up to her and taps her arm.
Chris: Candice? Wake up.
Candice wakes up and sits up straight. She looks at Chris confused while rubbing her eyes.
Chris: How long did you stay up?
Candice: I don't know...
Chris sits down in front of her.
Chris: Did you find anything useful?
Candice looks around her.
Candice: Yeah, I uh...
She looks at Chris.
Candice: I'm sorry Chris. I looked through all the books and they all still point to liver cancer.
Chris looks at the ground and then back at Candice emotionless.
Chris: Okay. What's the next step?
Candice: Chris. We can talk about this later, so you can have some time to progress this.
Chris: No it's fine. I just want to know what happens now.
Candice doubts, but then grabs a notebook. She rips out a few pages.
Candice: I written everything you need to know on these pages. I looked at what treatment would be the best and I think targeted therapy with pills are the best, but I filled in all the possible treatments with the positive and negative points anyways. Also I wrote about important symptoms, side effects of the pills, when to take your medication and all that stuff. If you have a question about it just ask.
Chris looks at all the pages. They are all fully written, with every page a title above the text and all numbered. Chris looks surprised.
Chris: Wow, you put a lot of work in this.
Candice smiles politely.
Candice: How are you feeling today?
Chris: I'm alright. Just a little nauseous and still some itches.
Candice nods understanding.
Candice: Chris, if we find the pills, you will probably get a lot of difficult symptoms. Look, I know you said you didn't want anyone to know, but they will notice.
Chris: But I can just act okay.
Candice: Chris, your going to feel really shitty.  You'll be very tired, nauseous, you'll lose your hair...
Chris face palms himself.
Chris sighs: Why...why did this have to happen? We are already in a fucking apocalypse, why do have to get fucking cancer?
Candice: I know it is hard. That's why you should tell the others about it. So they can help you.
Chris: No. I don't want anyone to know. I don't want Ryan to know. He always worries too much about other people.
Candice: Look Chris, this will probably be the hardest fight of your life. Do you want to go through that without your best friend?
Chris looks doubting at the ground. He then stands up straight looking like he made a decision.
Chris: Don't tell him.
Chris walks out. Candice sighs.