Dead Days

Chapter 13

     "Where's that Russian!?" I snap my eyes open and sit up in seconds. Everyone stands around me, a concerned look on their faces.

     "What?" Cassie asks

     "Sorry, I must've imagined him being here." I say, lying, I can't let them know that somehow he's in my head. Is this what he means by the neural link? I ask myself.

     "Are you sure you're okay, Jack? You've taken quite the beating over the last couple of days." Says, Cassandra, concerned for my mental and physical state.

     "I'm fine, guys, really." I say, trying to stand. As soon as I'm upright a horrible stabbing pain flares in my ribs and I double over in pain.

     "Sit down, Jack." Cassandra says, motioning me to the step on the back of the truck.

     She feels my ribs, "left side seems to be okay," she says, moving to the right side.

     "Ouch!" I yelp, as she runs her fingers over the middle of my right rib.

     "You have two cracked ribs." She says, "you have to rest your body." She looks me in the eyes. "You can't take this much physical stress, you're going to seriously hurt yourself."

    She looks at me with motherly eyes. The smile lines in the corners of eyes now more prominent than ever. Grey hairs beginning to sprout from here and there on her head.

     "Okay. How's the truck?" I ask.

     "Not so good, the motors completely trashed." Says Devin.

    "We need a vehicle, what about the other car they came in?" I question.

     "It seems okay, but it's four seater cab. Two people are going to have to sit in the bed." He explains.

    "I'll sit in the bed." I volunteer

     "So will I," Alyx speaks up.

    "Alright people, load up."

     Devin throws the ammunition bags in the bed of the truck, Alyx helps me over the tail gate and seats me against the cab of the truck.

"Took another beating, didn't I?" I ask, a smug smile crossing my lips.

"No, I think you kicked ass out there."

"Oh, come on, did you see that giant thing, he nearly squashed me like an insect."

"Yeah, but he didn't, did he? You shoved your knife hilt deep into his eye socket." She says, combating me.

"After I suffered two cracked ribs and nearly having my ankle turned into bone dust."

"But whose still standing?"

"You're a real charm, you know that?" I ask, this time a genuine smile spreading across my face. She smiles back and gives me a peck on the lips.

Terry starts the truck, the engine roars to life.

                                 ...

     Night comes fast. We drove for hours, crossing the line of Pennsylvania into Virginia.

     Alyx lays her head on my shoulder, "ouch, I still have cracked ribs, you know."

     "Sorry, sorry, just need somewhere to lay my head."

     "Lay it in my lap, none of my bones are on the verge of breaking there."