The Last Survivors

Terran-37

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Terran

Man, the gash on my back was really starting to burn. But what I couldn't figure out was why I hadn't felt it to begin with. I didn't even know I had it until Ashton pointed it out.

I couldn't see it very well, but I sure could feel it. I felt the deep ache around the area and I felt the warm, sticky blood drip down my back. None of it was very pleasant. And to top it all off, I looked like such a weakling. I could barely walk for goodness' sake!

So much for being a man...

"Lean up." I raised my gaze and squinted in the bright light. Ashton was looking down at me and he was dripping wet.

"You found water?" I asked hopefully.

"Yah, now lean up so we can get that wrecked shirt off you." He shook his head back and forth like a dog, spraying droplets of water all over. I rolled my eyes and reached for the edges of my shirt, beginning to pull it off.

But it didn't quite work out like I had imagined. The movement from...well...everything, hurt. And I mean hurt.

I must have made a face because Ashton chuckled.

"Just stop," I grumbled. Then I felt hands pulling off the shirt and helping me. I clenched my jaw, refusing to make a sound. My eyes were squeezed shut and I focused on my breathing. In and out. In and out.

"You okay?" Ashton broke through my concentration. I managed a nod. "Kyla, can you take this and fill it up with water?" I heard Ashton ask. Great, so she saw everything. And how I couldn't even take off my own shirt. I felt my cheeks and neck heat up.

"Your boot?" Kyla sounded uncertain, or confused, or...fearful?

"Yah, unless you have something better to hold water," Ashton shot back. Wow, he never disappointed.

"W-Why don't you get it since it's your shoe? I'll stay with Terran." Now, she definitely sounded nervous. But what was she nervous about?

"Kyla, just go. What are you waiting for?" Ashton sounded annoyed. I heard footsteps going away until it was quieter.

"How does it feel?" Ashton asked me, and it sounded genuine which was unusual for him.

I didn't really feel like talking right now, so I decided to not answer. I felt like I had a good enough reason to ignore him anyway. He wasn't the nicest person ever.

Terran - Ithildae