Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter 12: Waking up

Aaron's POV

It was pitch black, my senses dull and numb, however, I felt one thing. I t felt as if my body was on fire. I have never felt this pain before in my life. It felt as if even the coldest snowstorm would not cool my body. Fire is what was burning me, as if my flesh would at any minute melt.

"Cecil, I need your help. We need to move him to another bed by the other one that's in critical condition. You sure you can do it yourself? ... Alright," I heard a feminine voice say above my head.

I tried to open my eyes, but my body would not listen to anything I was ordering it to do. My side and back flared in pain as I felt myself being lifted off of whatever I was laying on. I let out a soft moan of pain, and I felt the muscles around me tighten, most-likely because of the noise I had made.

"It is going to be alright pal..." I heard Cecil say above me as he carried me over to another place and laid me down. When my back hit the sheets, I let out another noise of pain.

I then heard the sound of someone ringing out a cloth of some sort before placing it on my forehead, easing the flare on my body. I felt my head be supported by a gentle hand, as other stronger ones supported my back as they put my body in a sitting position. I opened my eyes at last when I felt myself sit up. I could not focus on anything the sounds muffled and my eyes blurry.

I felt a cup of some sort press against my lips. I was so weak that the person had to help me drink. I was not prepared for the strong bitterness that I choked and coughed some of it out. They then tried again, and I swallowed as quickly as I could. They then laid me back down with gentle hands and I felt one stroke the top of my head saying something that I could not catch as I slipped out of consciousness.

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I woke and groaned, rolling over onto my good side before feeling the urge to vomit. I did so, hearing the splattering of my stomach fluids landing on the floor.

"Aaron!" I heard Cecil exclaim as he was by my side in seconds, rubbing circles on my back gently as I continued to vomit three more times. I then laid back down, breathing deeply as I closed my eyes agian. "Aaron?" I heard Cecil ask, and I opend one eye at his concerned voice. "Oh thank God you are alright. Your fever finally broke."

"How long?" I asked.

"You have been out for about a week, and your fever broke around two hours ago," Cecil informed me. I nodded in reply. "Also, Alexander has been training with Joel and I, I hope you do not mind."

I shook my head. Before jumping when I heard a canon fire. I looked at Cecil for an explanation. He sighed. "The Whites have been back for a while Aaron. Their reason for that whole mission was to poison all of us and come back another day. They only recently came back." I moved to stand, however Cecil pushed my back down. "Do not even think you are going to head out there. You are too weak to fight right now."

I growled. "I will not lay here while our comrades are out there risking their lives," I argued, fighting against the taller man but to no avail, I was to weak to fight against him. I grunted and finally gave up and laid back down. "So what is the verdict?" I asked.

"You do not have to worry. Alexander is taking care of everything," The look of surprise made him laugh. "Do you really doubt your apprentice that much?"

Before I could reply another canon shot went off and we heard cheering from the outside. "Sounds like it is over."

"I do not want to miss this," I said sitting up. Cecil sighed and put an arm around my waist hand helped me up as I wrapped one around his shoulders. We slowly made it over to the doors and headed out as we walked he explained to me how Alexander took control of the entire situation and even led the apprentices in the fight while everyone else was getting treated.

It look my eyes a while to adjust to the light of the sun. When they did adjust I looked around the clearing as the last of the white cloaks fled into the forest. I looked around for Alexander and saw him standing at the base. Blood was on his clothes, but when he turned around it confirmed it wasn't his.

"Alexander!" I called, waving as he turned at the sound of his name.

He walked over and I saw dark circles around his eyes. With a soft smile I ruffled his hair which was already messy, he must have been working so hard. "You did well, Cecil told me what you did. Go and get some rest, you earned it."

He smiled gratefully at me before we all headed back and into the building. Cecil dropped me off at the hospital wing so I would be able rest there without being disturbed. That's when I found out who the feminine voice belonged to.

"Oh, you are awake, that is good to see. I wondered where you had run off to," she said, smiling at me. Her hair was a dirty blond color and her eyes were blue.

"I am sorry if I had worried you..." I began.

"Christine, I am Alex's brother's wife, it is nice to meet you awake Aaron. Alex has told me much about you," I bowed my head in greeting.

"He talks about me? He does not really talk to me," I replied.

"He is quiet, that I will say. Talking to others is not what he likes to do, nor will he ever," she replied. I shrugged slightly, not really knowing what to say about it. "So, sir Aaron, I have to ask, are you married?" she asked out of the blue.

"Excuse me?" I asked in reply.

"Married, are you?"

I shook my head. "No Ma'am, not while I live here. She would have to be loyal enough to trust me that I would come back."

"Well can she not work here with you?"

"We do not necessarily have females here, they would either work in this hospital wing and get harassed by the other men here, or she would be working under cover, laying on her back to other men to get information. I would not wish that on any woman."

"Well, you are a gentleman I will give you that. I am glad that you are watching over Alex. I hope you do not disappoint me," she said with a gentle smile.

"I do not like to disappoint ma'am," I replied.