Lost

Chapter 40: Feverish

A new update! ^^ Apologies for the super loooooooong wait. I was trying to get some thing done. Hopefully, as I said in the author note of the previous chapter, the updates would get more regular. I'll be posting every Thursday. That's the plan at least. Anyway, enjoy! And don't forget to post your reactions as you read ^^

Alex's pic attached ^^

Zayn's P.O.V

"I was gripped with worry when she was burning even after I used moist napkins to bring her temperature down," Zayn told Asim. "Every time I tried to wake her up. She would either mutter incoherently, or panic. After the fire died away and the veranda became more chilly, I took her inside, and then I went to sleep myself."

Zayn maintained a solemn face. He could see the younger boy was skeptic. Zayn was glad he did not tell Asim that he went to sleep, holding his sister all night. He could still remembered the scent of the forest lingering in her dark locks when he kissed her hair before settling in a more comfortable position with his arms wrapped around her. The kid seemed just as protective and sensitive about his religious rules as his sister. Zayn made it sound like he kept her warm by keeping her close to the fire just to avoid getting punched in the nose.

Stupid, senseless rules, Zayn scoffed in his head.

Asim close his eyes and pressed his hands to his face. He did not know what to think anymore. Zayn's story made perfect sense, except –

"I don't get it," he said. "How did Salma end up in that puddle of water if she had been with you up until that morning?"

Zayn contemplated on how much to relate to the Muslim kid as happenings of that morning flashed past his memory. That day, when he woke up, the storm was over, and the sun was shining brightly. There was not a single wisp of the thundering clouds from the night before, or the rain, or the chilly wind. Everything seemed normal. Pleasant even. Like a nightmare hadn't driven him nuts, chasing him across the length of the forest. All except, the evidence of it that was lying balled up in his arms.

Zayn glanced at the girl nestled against his chest. Trying not to disturb her, he straightened to sit up against the wall. Bee stirred in her sleep. She snuggled closer into his neck and her small hand fisted around his shirt. The gesture made him smile for some reason. A moment later, her body stiffen in his arms and her breathing stopped. Zayn lifted his chin off of her head and looked down at her. She was awake. Her eyes wide open, staring blankly into the space.

"Hey." Zayn smiled nervously, dreading her reaction. "You are finally awake. How are you feeling now?"

Bee did not reply or move a muscle. She just gazed at him blankly. Slowly, Zayn raised a hand to feel her forehead. Her stare followed his hand. Just as he was about to touch her, her eyes widened in shock. Zayn paused.

"It's okay," he told her. "I just want to feel your -"

Jerking his arms away, Bee jumped out of his lap. Zayn was recovering from her sudden reaction when he noticed her attempt to get to her feet. Disoriented, she lost her balance and fell.

"Careful, Bee!" Instinctively, Zayn reached to help her but she dragged herself away from him on all fours, looking horrified.

"No!" she whimpered.

Once she reached the opposite wall, she tried to plant her feet on the ground, and slipped again. Zayn figured she was feeling dizzy. He made a move to get up but stopped abruptly when her terrified screams echoed off the wooden walls.

"NO! Stay away-"

"Okay -"

"STOP!Stay away from me! Stay away!"