survivors ↠ e.d.

FOUR

The light moves from my left eye to my right one. I can still hear Grayson yelling at me. The blurriness slowly disappears and I realize that the light was actually coming from a flashlight Grayson was holding, making sure I was still alive.

"Nessa! Oh thank god..." he says as he presses his forehead on mine.
"Thank god....." he sobs.
I slowly bring my hands to his face and stroke his under-eyes with my thumbs.
"It's okay... I'm okay" I whisper with a croaky voice.

Grayson stops crying and stares at my glassy eyes, his forehead still stamped on mine. His gaze move down to my lips. He begins to lean in.
Cough.
We both look over Grayson's shoulder.
A drip of blood escapes Ethan's mouth. Grayson quickly stands up and stares at his brother. We ware not moving an inch and not making a sound. We patiently wait to see if something else is going to happen.
He coughs again.

"ETHAN!!!" Grayson yells as he runs up to him. He throws himself on his knees, scraping his skin on the ground and hugs Ethan firmly.
He pulls back and gingerly swipes the blood on his brother's face.
"Ethan..." Grayson says with a shaky voice as the tears are dripping on his chin.
No answer.

The blood is still dripping on the side of Ethan's mouth. "E wake up!" Grayson rises his voice. I can't help but cry at the scene. We both thought we lost him... Is he still a part of this world? Could there be a slight chance that he is still alive?

"Gray...son..." Ethan manages to pronounce through the thick blood filling up his mouth. "Oh god Ethan!!!" Grayson screams as he wraps his arms around his weak body and hugs him tight. He snuggles his face in his hoodie to conceal his sobs. Ethan slowly brings his arms around Grayson's waist and embraces him.
I sit there on the ground, crying all the water left in my body, bleeding from everywhere, looking at two twin brothers giving each other the deepest affection I've ever seen.

Grayson turns around and gives me a weak smile, tears running down his cheeks and neck. I return him the smile. I just want to walk up to them and hug them both in my arms...

I look at my legs and look back at Grayson. The tears are stinging my eyes. "I... I can't..." I say, swallowing the pain of admitting my handicap. "What's the matter?" he asks. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to calm myself.
Don't worry Nessa, you'll be back on your feet before you know it.
"I can't stand... The pole... it... it was stuck in my spine..." I reply. I begin to shake uncontrollably. Grayson stares at me with worry. "Nessa... You should have told me! I wouldn't have pulled it out that strong! Maybe it's the reason why you're paralyzed!" he raises his voice, still holding Ethan's heavy body.

"I was already paralyzed before you took it out." I cry.
"You didn't tell-"
"I didn't want to scare you."
"Well now it's scaring me!"
"Grays-son..." Ethan interrupts us.
Grayson looks back at his brother. His gaze switches from Ethan's bloody face to my teary face. He seems confused, as if he doesn't know if he should stay with Ethan or help me get up.
He finally holds the stare between the two of us. I nod to let him know that he can stay with Ethan. After all, I have all my time.

Later during the day
Grayson approaches me and scoops me up in his arms bride-style. I snuggle on his chest as he carries me to a somewhat intact plane seat. He sits me down and squats down to my side. He softly brushes his hand in my back to lift up my shirt and takes a look at my cuts. He cleans them with rubbing alcohol that he found in a medical kit.

The pain is indescribably horrible. I dig my nails in my thighs, leaving red marks. I can't feel them, but I still focus my energy on digging my nails into something. It helps me relax. Grayson lays his hand on mine, interlocking his fingers between mine.
"Stop hurting yourself." he softly says.
"I can't feel nothing, doofus."
"Yeah, I forgot about that."
"How about you stop pouring alcohol on my back, it burns like hell."
"I'm sorry, but we need to treat those wounds."
he replies as he pour the alcohol in my deepest cut. I gasp.

I glance over at Ethan, who is sleeping on a pile of tropical leaves. "He seems better." I say, looking back at my personal nurse.
"He is doing better now. But he still needs to rest. Just like the two of us."
"Do you think someone will find us?"
"I can only hope so Nessa..." Grayson sighs, looking at the ground. Our fingers were still linked together. I gently squeeze his hand a little harder, rubbing my thumb against his rough skin. He glances at me with watery eyes. "Grayson we'll be fine. We'll find a solution." I softly say.

I talked to him for hours to comfort him. He told me he has severe anxiety, so I did my best to distract him and keep him focused on something else than the fact that we are completely lost in a jungle.

Grayson walks back from the dense forest with wood for the fire. The sun was starting to set and the fireflies were coming out. He drops the wood on the pile of rocks we placed earlier and sits down next to it, ready to get the fire going.

A camp fire is my best remedy to ease my nerves. The smell the wood burning and the warmth it procures to my body makes me feel like I'm in a sauna. It reminds me of my childhood. I used to go camping every once in a while with my friends.
Well... My somewhat friends...

A hand gently touches my shoulder and brings me out of my thoughts.
"You okay?" Grayson aks as he sits down next to me. I stare at the flames.
"As long as my heart beats and my lungs breathe I consider myself alright."
"Nessa..."
"I'm fine Grayson."
"Tell me what's bothering you."
"Well apart the fact that we just survived a plane crash and we are completely lost in a jungle with a half zombie-"
"Vanessa."

My mouth automatically shuts. Only my parents called me like that. I was not expecting this at all.

I take a deep breath and look at him.
At his dark hazel pearls.
Just like his brother's.

"You want to know the truth?"
"No. Lie to me." he jokes.
I softly chuckle.
"It all started when baby Nessa was a few years old..."