Charred Feelings

Chapter 14:Blood Sears

I looked up at the sky after a bath in the river. There was a beautiful sunset. It's colors resembled blood.
I stared up thinking about all those patients I had left behind. Are they all well?

A branch snapped and walked in Omar. His head was under his hoodie.

"Hey I never asked for your name earlier. It's weird calling someone newcomer since you'll be going soon."

Oh. That's right. I'm going home tonight.

My hands got clamy..shoot.

"L-Lyra. Lyra Kim."

His eyes widened. "You're Lyra Kim...like your last name is Kim?"

Does he know me? Have I met him somewhere? Why is he so surprised?

"Yeah."

He stuck his hands in his pocket." Wait don't you have a sister?"

I nodded. How does he know?

He opened his mouth but then Mike walked into sight.

Mike's lips pursed and he looked at Omar.

Omar stared back at Mike. He nodded and left. They knew something that I didn't.

I was left alone with Mike.

He stared into eyes.

"How did he know I had a sister? And why was he so surprised at my name?"

I prepared my self for the answer.

He scratches his head." He was a friend of hers in school.", he pauses,"and since you're a doctor..he must've heard of you."

A friend of my sister?

I remembered why I had ran to him last night." Can I come along on your trip? Please. I have nothing left."

He looks at me." You won't cause a difference."

I bite my lip."I have something from Stacy, she made me promise I'd give to you."

"What?", his eyes widened.

"It's a small box, its in my bag.."

His eyes flickered." The box..it should be besides Lilian's tent..the bag",he started moving away," It is important. Stacy gave it to you right?"

I nodded. He ran quickly through the forest. I tried my hardest to trail after him.

Lilian sat by her tent mending up an old blanket. I saw Mike look down and spoke with her. I didn't hear anything but she handed him a bag. Stacy's bag.

I watched his arms cross the bag. He held it close.

He turns and sees me.

His face is grim.

"Please let me come with you guys over the wall. It must've meant something that Stacy gave it to me instead of you."

Lilian stands besides him." Let her come along. She can help. She knows more about the city."

Mike purses his lips." Do what ever you want. But don't expect this to be easy.", his words were cold but I was happy.

He walks off with the bag. Before he disappears shouts, " Tell the others that we'll be having a meeting tonight."

Out of impulse I go and hug Lilian."Thank you so much. I owe you one."

I let go and she smiles." No problem."

Lilian motions me to go find the others whom were at their tents.

We sat around and Carson started working on the fire.

Sparks flew onto to my ankles, the sudden warmth made me shiver. I watched as the fire grew more than little embers. The red and yellows curling around each other reaching higher and higher.

We all sit together and when Mike walks in Rixon stands up and clears his throat." Everyone, tonight we may have a huge clue..maybe a key to go over the wall. First off...the wall definitely doesn't have any guards on the other side. But whatever it could be it may be dangerous..but that's what we're risking.", he pauses," our newcomers name is Lyra Kim," He says my last name a bit louder and I see some people shift a bit.

"She'll be coming along with us. She shall risk her life to go with us. We shall all treat her like she's one of us."

Madison and Carson clap. Lilian and Paco smile.

Mike sits down finally after Rixon finishes. He brushes my side when he sat down next to me. His warmth radiated off his body.

The rest of the night there is laughter and jokes. I lean on Mike. He doesn't move. I smile to myself.

My heart dropped a bit when I saw Marie doing the same. Mike was looking at her and brushing her hair away from her face. I sit straight up again and try to join in on the conversations.

Finally around 2:30 in the morning everyone calmed down. I felt Mike shift.

He spoke in a low voice." This box,"He takes out the box,"has a combination. I have a feeling the combination is the numbered walls. Does anyone remember first number we ever saw on the wall to the west?"

Madison clears her throat." It should be 7."

Her eyes twinkle with the light of the fire. Mike clicks the number in place. The suspense makes my heart beat faster.

Paco and Lilian look at each other. Their eyes are glistening with tears." The next one should be 8. It's the one to the north.", Paco finally says.

Daphne holds Omar's hand." 3. East of here."

Click! Click!

Mike clicks the last number that he knew in place." 9."

There is a louder click this time. It took me a minute to hear even louder clicks. I covered my ears. Carson fell face first into the fire. Marie screams. I jump up. There was so much movement and all I could smell was burning flesh.

Carson grasps my leg, trying to pull himself from the fire. I scream. Then just as time stopped, he lets go and goes limp.

Screams ring through the night. I run towards a black shadow. I could see red in front of me. Madison, my mind registered.

More clicks. Gunshots. Many feet stomping and running. Someone falls and there's a bang. I try to watch my steps as I run. There is a sudden green blur to the left of us trying to follow.

I scream." The left the left!! They're following us!"

My voice is hoarse. The GreenCoats are coming after us.

We turn left and I suddenly see Mike's back. He turns to me for a split second and mouthes Follow me.

There is more movement around me.

That's when the sky spins and gets farther. I reach for it and there is darkness.