Project Castaway (Sequel to Project 14)

Chapter 11

"It's right up here." Lily said as we found a spot in the woods right above the city.

The city was gray and deteriorating. There was no sign of life. My eyes landed on the warehouse. We traveled for what felt like hours. A wave of vertigo washed over me; then a hit of nausea.

"Shit." I muttered and rubbed my head.

Lily began down the hill. Josh looked over. "Hey, you okay?"

I nodded in pain. Sweat began to drip down my forehead. Josh went ahead of me but he looked back at me every now and then. I knew that this wound is infected. We haven't cleaned nor even taken out the bullet or bullet fragments. I stopped and rolled up my shirt sleeve. The skin around the wound was red and it burned. Also the skin was tender. I reached solid ground before I collapsed. It's been nearly a day since I was shot. I heard Josh scream Lily's name. She stopped and turned.

Josh came up to me. I barely managed to pull my shotgun from over my shoulder. He grabbed it from my hands.

"Just go." I whispered. "I'll just slow you down."

Tears hit Josh's eyes. "No. I'm not leaving."

"You're safer in that warehouse than out here."

I felt a hand grip mine before I slipped out of consciousness.

Lily stood behind me. Her mouth was slightly opened but no words came out of her mouth. I suddenly heard footsteps come up behind Lily. My reaction was quick. Lily soon got behind me and I held Cassie's shotgun up. The man held his hands up.

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" He said with a thick British accent.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't but a bullet between your eyes."

"I'm a doctor!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet. He showed us an ID. "See?"

I stepped towards him and took the ID from his hand. "But for some reason, I cannot believe you."

"I'll take you to my apartment. I have medical supplies stocked. She's not looking good. Please, let me help."

"Fine," I gave him back his ID. "But if you do anything stupid, I will kill you."

The man nods and I hand Lily the shotgun. I bent down and grabbed Cassie. Her face even more ghostly white than it normally is. Cassie's breathing was shallow. I wanted to hurry up. The man led us to a building with an old-fashioned design above the door. We walked in and it seemed to be a restaurant. Then we followed him to a door leading upstairs. He reached into his pocket and grabbed some keys. I followed the man inside once he got the door open.

"There's a spare bedroom through those doors." He looked over at two wooden doors. "I'll grab some supplies."

Lily opened the doors for me and I set Cassie down on the bed. "I hope she'll be okay." Lily said as we left.

"Don't worry. She's a fighter." I said as the guy went into the room and shut the doors.

I sat down on a dusty old couch and rested my head in my hands. Lily sat down next to me and ran circles over my back. I had to stay strong. That's what Cassie would want.

Someone shook my shoulder to wake me up. I slowly opened my eyes. Lily was standing close and I could see her emerald green eyes perfectly. The man wasn't around.

"Is everything okay?" I muttered sleepily.

Lily chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, August really did good job on patching her up."

"August?" I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"He is the man that helped her. Cassie just needs rest now."

I sat there, thinking. If it wasn't for my stupidity, then Cassie wouldn't have gotten shot. "I guess you could say that we won't be making it to that warehouse."

"The weather's getting cooler. Our best bet might just be to stay here and ride out the winter."

I nod. "That sounds like a good plan. But do you really think that we can trust this guy?"

"He did help Cassie, right?"

I stayed silent after that. The door to the apartment swung open and shut immediately. Lily looked over and August was walking towards the kitchen. There was an awkward tension in the air. Lily looked over at me. I decided to lie back down on the couch.

"I'm gonna go check on Cassie." Lily stated blandly and walked towards the closed bedroom.

"Is everything okay, kid?" August asked as he finished putting away the food.

"We wanted to ask you a favor, but I'm not sure if it'll be too much." I stared towards the ceiling.

"And what would that be?" He looked towards me.

"Since the winter's coming soon, we were hoping we could shelter up here."

"Your friend does need to rest that arm for a while. It would be a bit harder finding food, but I will let you guys stay here. Is there an idea where you're planning on going?"

I sat up and looked towards the window. It was gray and gloomy. "There is an abandoned warehouse just outside of town. That's where we decided."

"There'd be no way you'd even survive it there for even a day. That place is crawling with Shadows' men."

"My friend was just there. She didn't say anything about Shadows."

"She was lucky. She'd be dead within an instant if Shadows were around."

I thought she said it was safe. What if Lily was part of the Shadows? No. She would've killed us by now. I stared down at the seal on my wrist and gently rubbed my thumb over it. I pushed those thoughts away. August walked towards his room. And now I was left alone to contemplate my horrid thoughts.

At dinner the next night, I noticed Cassie hobbling out of her room. I got up and helped her to the table. August pulled her seat out.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "I'm just still a bit light-headed from the infection."

"It happens." August stated. "Plus you've been asleep for a day or so now, so your brain is still in a sleep like state."

I sat down across from Lily. She thanked August for letting us stay here as winter came. Fall was upon us and we didn't have proper clothing. I wanted to go run out sometime and find some better clothes. Cassie wasn't really eating much. I wanted to say something but I kept my mouth shut. Dinner came and went. Lily was helping August in the kitchen. I think they have a bond. And a close one, too.

Cassie walked to her room. "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.

She sighed and stopped in her tracks. "Josh, stop. I'm not some kid anymore. If I don't want to talk, I don't have to talk. I love you, I truly do. But I need my space sometimes."

I nod. "I'm sorry." I said as Cassie sat down on the bed.

She shook her head. "No. You're fine. I'm going through a lot right now. I just need space."

I walked over and gave her a kiss on the forehead and left the room.

A door slammed on the other side of the apartment. I didn't mind it. I'm sure it's just August going to bed. But I didn't expect anything more.

I awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of banging and screaming. Throwing off my blanket, I got up. Cassie was still asleep when I walked by her room. The sound was coming from Augusts' room.

Then I heard Lily crying. And then I opened the door and I wish I didn't.