The System

Chapter Nineteen

"That was foolish," Miles said. 

    Josh eyed the small fire, barely able to feel the acrid wind blowing on his back. He was, at once, brain dead when Lieserl didn't respond. He'd spent nearly half of his later childhood training with the HERI and all the information he had certainly wasn't put to use. He panicked and forgot the most obvious way to check if someone was alive--feel for a pulse. It took him a while to get yelling. If it weren't for Chester, who woke with some "business" to take care of in the bushes, Lieserl would have frozen to death. 

    He glanced at the rover, the lights turned off. Even without being able to see, Josh knew that Lieserl was in the backseat, lying on her back, still unconscious. A rush of guilt spread into his mind and he brushed it away as Miles' words started to emerge again. He sighed, his eyes darting to Chester. He had a hood pulled over his head and his back was against the tree bark. His eyes met Josh's and watched as Josh's pupils darted between him and Miles. Chester smiled apologetically. His shoulders rose in a shrug--how did Josh expect him to shut Miles up? 

    Josh sighed. He was exhausted--he didn't call for help in order to listen to Miles' pointless lectures. His sweater was laid on top of Lieserl and he was damn cold. With the stares that emerged from Miles' glasses, the fire wasn't warm enough. Inside the rover, leaned against the window of the front seat, was Rachel. The glass of the window had been pulled down and her head was rested in her arms, staring out at where Josh was. The window bothered him. She was letting cold air into the rover--as if Lieserl wasn't already freezing enough. He also couldn't look into Rachel's eyes. She knew the moment that he came back, carrying Lieserl in his arms by himself even as his legs were wobbling, even as Chester offered to help. He'd blown her off for Lieserl. 

    "Think she'll be okay?" Josh asked aloud.

    For a moment, Miles stared at him, mouth wide. He pushed his glasses higher in position and folded his arms. "Do I look like a medic to you?" he inquired. 

    "Do I look like I'm talking to you?" 

    Miles' eyes widened. "You--!" He raised his hand, as if to punch him. 

    The punch never came, though. To their right, a grin was on Samuel's face as his hands held tight around Miles' wrist. Roughly, Miles shoved him off and shook his wrist. The mute boy turned to Josh, a branch in his free hand. He scribbled away.

    She will be okay. 

    Samuel looked up and Josh nodded in appreciation. A cracking sound filled the silence and all three of them turned to Chester. In midair, his left hand's fingers was pressed under his right's. "I like the sound it makes," Chester smiled. "Hey, don't stare at me like I've got nine heads," he raised an eyebrow, "Unless none of you can crack your knuckles?"

    "I could," Josh mumbled. He balled his hand into a fist and tightly pressed against his bones. It made a clear cracking sound. In front of him, Samuel did the same. Within seconds, all eyes were on Miles. The boy rolled his eyes.

    "I can't," he admitted. Chester got on his feet, holding his hands out towards him. Quickly, Miles turned the other way, glaring at him. Overhead, a hint of sunlight was starting to show above the tips of the trees. Josh turned to the uncomfortable sticking device on his left wrist--he'd forgotten about it. Resting against the green background, 5:34 AM stared back at him. 

    Miles caught him checking the time and immediately asked. As Josh responded, the boy seemed deep in thought. He took his glasses off and rubbed spots of dirt off the surface, using the edge of his shirt. He cleared his throat as if it was a signal for everyone to pay attention to him. It didn't matter if that wasn't his intention--everyone stared at him anyway. "I need someone to search for a way out," he announced, "It's best to get moving before noon and we can't waste gas trying to get out. We'll have to go by feet."