Lost Kids (a.i.)

thirty five.

"Wen, it's really bad."

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The harsh coughing had turned to vomiting as hours went on. Luke and Mari's cries were becoming horses, but did not slow their agony. Michael's lips were getting close to the blue tint in his hair.

The sun was now beating down on our backs, making beads of sweat drip from my forehead to my lap and I clutched my stomach. The blood spills out my lips into the puddle I've now created.

"Stop!" Mari shrieks with everything left within her body. Luke's screams become soft whimpers and I look up the the blood girl, her busted lip drying up. "We need to find help."

I shake my head viciously, making my stomach feel uneasy again. Although help is what we needed, I couldn't leave the other boys here. There was no one here for miles, if there way, they would have seen the smoke from the bus's flames.

"We have to." The girl glared me in the eyes aggressively. She frantically searches Eddie and the other two boys for a phone, finding one in Calum's back pocket. I snatch it quickly from her hands.

"What the hell?" Her hand clamps on her head, a pain striking her wound, as she curses me out. I quickly dial the library's number, only hoping Wen is there. The rings a scratchy as the signal is poor in the dry land.

"Hello, this is the Riverdale's Library. How may I help you?" An elderly woman answers with a calm composer.

"Is-" I cough, my voice was croaking," is Wendy Jefferson there?" Mari's pain almost vanishes and is replaced by a shocked look. I knew exactly what I was doing.

"Yes, sir. One moment." The line goes silent.

"Hello?" Her voice was soothing to hear after all this time."

"It's Ashton, we're in trouble."

"Did you find the girl?" She skips my last few words, to ask me excitingly.

"No, no-" I cough, the red liquid covering my teeth. "We are dying, Wen. Help us."

"How so? Where are you?" Her once calm voice becomes anxious and worried. I can almost feel her chilling body against the phone.

"The bus crashed, it's real bad. Wen, it's really bad." My breath were becoming shorter and my chest felt tight as I finally take in all that has happened.

"Do you want me to get help? Where are you?" She demands with more seriousness in her tone. Her pacing feet could be heard through the line.

"I don't know, I don't know if-f you can even help." Mari was looking at the ground, her eyes wide.

"Where are you, Ash? I can help. Is everyone conscious? Can you find help? Who is there?" Wen's quizzical state of being only made my mind jumble up more. My hands reach to Michael's wrist to feel a pulse. Sadly, his body is still, along with Calum's and Eddie's. The blood flow and breathing has stopped in their bodies.

"They're dead, help us." I cry, I wipe the mucus and blood dripping from my chin.

"Who is dead? Ashton?" My lungs are right and I hack, unable to answer Wen.

Mari takes the phone from my hands, holding up to her ear. "Wendy Jefferson?" Her voice is shaky as she speaks to the other girl. I faintly hear Wen respond. "Michael, Calum, and our driver."

Mari's nervous nods make me queazy as she listens to the girl on the other line.

"She-he asked how you want to do this?" Mari looks up to my confused, I gaze to the boys who have become my family over the years. All we have bonded over and created memories of flashes through my mind.

"Tell her, I want to continue, not hide." We had just started our dreams, this wasn't the end.

"Alright, she said we need to move everyone far way from the scene. She's flying out to find us, she can track us with the phone." Mari sets the phone done, the decision was made.

I shove the phone into my pocket, looking out into the open I point to a small shaded air under the rocks. It isn't far and won't take much effort.

Again, we drag the others out, this time I have assistance. I could feel myself becoming weaker as time passed, even with help. I collapse in the chosen area, falling into an unconscious state again. A chill running through my veins and up my spin.