lost ~completed~

chapter 26

Upon reaching Nantucket island, the boat occupants dove out of the boat and threw themselves into the water. Their joyful cried filled the air and the whole atmosphere seemed to be affected. Elizaveta and Ludwig guided the boat to the shore as the others swam ahead. All exhaustion was forgotten; relief and hope fueling their fatigued bodies.

Once the boat was stuck in the sand and wouldn't go any further, Ludwig collected Gilbert's body carefully into his arms gingerly. Face twitching in pain, Gilbert laid limply in Ludwig's grasp. With Elizaveta faithfully by his side, Ludwig carried his brother to the others so they could search for a hotel and hospital.

Elizaveta's eyes were trained on Gilbert's face. In his sleep, he couldn't hide his pain like he would in consciousness. The corners of his dirt streaked mouth tugged in a wince with every bounce in Ludwig's quick step. Ludwig tried to walk smoothly but he was urgent to get his only brother to medical care. His legs swayed slightly, causing Gilbert's mouth to twitch from the pain in his knee.

The others had run up the shore and thrown themselves onto the beach. The salty air was sweet in the mouth of those who had thought they wouldn't live to see land. The sand clung to their wet and sweaty bodies but they welcomed the gritty feeling. They would welcome nearly any feeling when it meant they were alive.

Ludwig took a moment to pause and look back at the sunset. He wasn't one to appreciate things like that but after everything that happened, he had the strange urge to just relax and appreciate the beautiful morning he thought he wouldn't live to see.

He wanted to join the others in the sand but he didn't want to take the chance of aggravating Gilbert's wounds either by the sand or unnecessary movement. Instead, he resigned to looking at the sun slowly climbing into the sky. Soft colors delicately painted the sky, stretching out across the span of the horizon. It was a sunrise he had not expected to see. He just wished that Gilbert was awake to see it and appreciate it.

"Ludwig?" Elizaveta's asked in a hushed voice. Ludwig tore his eyes away from the sunset to look at his brother's girlfriend. He didn't know what he thought of her at the moment. She had been unnecessarily harsh to Gilbert but she had risked her life to get Gilbert out of the plane. She could have easily left him there and escaped, saving herself from the small scratches she had received from the mini -explosion, even though Gilbert had protected her from any larger injuries.

"Ja?" Ludwig asked. He kept his voice neutral so that he wouldn't sound judgmental or too soft. Elizaveta wasn't looking at Ludwig though. Her eyes were stuck on Gilbert and had been ever since Ludwig carried him from the plane. Ludwig followed her gaze and noted that she was staring at Gilbert's blood stained bandage over his eye.

"I-is Gil ok ?" she asked. Her voice was uncharacteristically timid; barely over a whisper. Ludwig sighed. He didn't know how to answer that question. He didn't know the full extent of his brothers injuries nor did he know where to get help at. He didn't recognize the island but he assumed he was somewhere near America.

"I don't know." Ludwig admitted, another low sigh escaping chapped lips. He looked away from Elizaveta , not willing to look at her concerned face. "We need to find out where we are and find the closest hospital."

Elizaveta nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm worried about his knee." she looked at his face thoughtfully before adding, "And his eye."

Ludwig sighed and nodded. "I hate to rush them but..." he let his sentence hang. Elizaveta took the hint and turned her back to him.

"Let's get going guys! We can't rest; we're not safe yet!" she exclaimed. She glanced up at the dawn sky, listening for the faint hum of a plane engine. All was silent, deafeningly silent. The others got what she was trying to say but wasn't willing to say.