Searching for Paradise

Chapter Ten

Collins P.O.V

I took another drink, washing the taste of dust from my mouth. Heat rised from the ground, making a mirage of wispy air. The mountains came closer and I could feel my excitement grow. I could feel the sweat dripping down my face as I broke into a jog. I started speeding up, adrenaline pumping through me, my legs burning. I increased my speed again, feeling the stale, dry air rush past me. I sucked in a deep breath, immediately regretting it. My lungs filled up with dust and I skidded to stop, hacking up small wet clumps of dirt. I felt as though my lungs were collapsing, my breathing became more ragged as I coughed harder. But what came up this time scared me. Instead of coughing up more dirt, blood spattered my hand and the ground under me. Thick gobs of blood escaped my mouth as I coughed again. Panic rose within me, my brain kicked into frenzy mode, and I forced myself to stop coughing. I slumped to the ground and watched as the sun lowered in the sky.

The temperature dropped, making me wrap my sweater tighter. I couldnt make a fire, couldnt keep myself warm. I knew the risk of this when I split from the rest of them. "Pft. Who needs them." I said, my teeth clacking, my voice wavering. I was going to freeze to death out here. I felt a twitch of remorse as Gabriella's face flickered through my mind. "I didnt want to leave." I said to myself. "I needed to get there sooner." I bundled my sweater tighter, feeling the cool desert air all the way down to my bones. "Who knows." I said feeling hopeful. "They'll probably make it. Shes got Cade." I sneered the last part, his name leaving a foul taste in my mouth. "He thinks he can just steal her away, take her away from me." I was becoming hysterical, my voice rose. "And Reeve. Pathetic." I spat, my saliva taking on a pink tinge from leftover blood. I couldnt feel the cold anymore, my body completely numb. I felt tired. "No." I hit myself across the face. "Stay awake." I could feel my eyes drooping, my body started to feel warm, and I thought to myself, "Just a small rest." And the world winked out as I fell into a sound sleep.

Cade's P.O.V

We stopped for the night, having made a days progress, but we were all feeling the weight of no water come crashing down. Gabriella's hands twitched nervously as she found new ways to occupy herself. I kicked at the hard ground. Reeve looked much better than he had in days, but that would change too if we couldnt find water. I sat down in front of the growing fire. I could hear Gabriella's stomach growl. "Here." I said tossing her a can. She shooked her head and set in down. "We need to save it for when we really need it. "You will need it. Tomorrow is our last day in this desert. Tomorrow, we reach the mountains." I said. A fire lit in her eyes and she stood. "Then what are we waiting for." She asked hiking up her pack. I stood quickly. "Its dangerous to travel at night." I said trying to make her sit back down. "Cant be anymore dangerous then sitting around." She shrugged. I stood contemplating for a minute. Reeve stood. "Im good to keep going if all of you are." He said picking up his pack. "Alright." I nodded. "But well need light. I looked over seeing a small dying tree. I quickly snapped off three branches. "Give me some cloth." I said. Gabriella reached into her backpack and pulled out a white blouse before handing it to me. I quickly ripped it and wrapped it around the end of the stick. "What are you doing?" Gabriella asked watching as I ripped the shirt. "Making torches." I said sticking the end in the fire. The cloth immediately caught fire. I handed one to Reeve, one to Gabriella, and kept one for myself. "Lets go." I said stomping out the small fire, leaving us in the warm glow of the torches. "Your sure you want to do this." I asked Gabriella, watching her intently. The fire was still in her eyes as she nodded. "Alright." I said turning and started walking. 

We had been walking for maybe two hours before our torches burned out, leaving us in the dark except for the moon. "What n-" Gabriella started to ask, but I cut her off. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could make out something laying on the ground, curled up. I motioned for everyone to be quiet. We approached the object slowly. It moved in a shuddering motion and we all froze. Then it started talking. "Its a person." Gabriella said in disbelief. I moved closer, taking the persons arm and rolling them over. Collin's face became illuminated in the moonlight, his face shining a sickly white color, his lips a dark blue. "Shit, hes freezing to death." I said quickly taking off my coat and draping it over him. The cold air sunk into my skin as I wrapped my coat tighter. "Help me get a fire going." Reeve moved quickly and started gathering deat plants. Gabriella didnt move. "Gabriella, help me." I said as I took off Collin's shoes and started rubbing his feet. "Gabriella!" I yelled at her again, making her snap straight. She moved around me and knelt down. "What do I do?" She said, panic replacing the fire in her eyes. "Rub his hands, keep the blood flowing." I said still working on his feet. Reeve came back, a pile of dead twigs and plants filling his arms. "Keep doing that." I said to Gabriella before moving to the pile of dead plants. I pulled two small rocks from my back and struck them together violently, a spark slowly igniting in the plants. A fire blazed before us in a matter of seconds. "Move him closer." I said working the flames, willing them to grow bigger. Reeve and Gabriella struggled but managed to get Collin close enough that he wouldnt roast. I took my jacket from him and held it over the open flame before draping it back across him. "What now." Reeve asked me. I sighed and sat down. "Now, we wait."

I sat awake as everyone else slept, keeping the fire going. I reached into my pack and pulled out a small object. The edges worn from constant handling. I stared down at the photo, now water damaged and barely holding together. "Who's that?" A voice said from behind me, making me jump. I looked ul to see Gabriella standing over me. I looked back down at the photo. "My sister." I said willing my voice not to crack. "Shes pretty." Gabriell commented. "Shes dead." I snapped, shoving the picture back in my bag. It was quiet. "Im sorry." She said softly. I sighed. "Ill take watch." She said sitting down. "You get some rest." I nodded and lay back. Soon I was sleeping.

Gabriella's P.O.V

I stared into the fire, the flames heating my face. I looked over to Collin. His lips had turned from dark blue to a faint purple, his skin shining with sweat. He started mumbling softly. I turned back and glanced across the fire, but quickly bristled. On the other side of the fire was a pair of glowing yellow eyes. "Back again, are you." I said staring at the wolf intensly. His yellow eyes gleamed in the fire, his fur bristling against his back. He started pacing back and forth, watching me. I noticed his fur was still shiny and wet, the large gash across its side still not healed. I stood slowly, his eyes following my every move. I edged closer to him. I watched his muscles tense as I neared. He let out a small growl when  I got too close. I sat down, now almost directly in front of it. His eyes never left my face. I reached out tentatively and he let out another small growl. I pulled my hand back a few inches as he watched. I reached out again, this time getting my hand closer before recieving a growl. Each time I put my hand out I got closer to touching him. I reached my hand out again, but recieved no warning, and I placed my hand on its head softly. It didnt growl, or try to bite me. I let out a small breath of relief and removed my hand. It stared at me for a few minutes, before turning and trotting away from us. I stared after it until I could no longer see its shape in the darkness. I turned back to the fire and continued my shift. I didnt see the wolf again for the rest of the night. I sat for hours, watching as the rising sun turned the horizon different shades of pink and blue.