Sickening Thoughts

Chapter 6

Early in the morning, so early it was still dark, Aurora unfolded the papers from the doctor's files in her pocket. She read her's first.

Aurora Denze (Patient #31, Nameless Disease)

DOB: February 2nd. 2004. 11:23 pm.

Statistics: Age 12. Strong. Healthy. 5 feet in length, 2.1 feet around the waist, 89 lbs in weight. 

Father: Charles Denze. Living.

Mother: Mary Denze. Deceased.

Probability of fighting: 68%

"Fighting what?" she murmured to herself. "The disease?". She read the final line.

Army patient may join (based on probability of fighting): Jarile

"What does this mean? Army? Aren't I sick?".  Aurora decided to check the slip of paper with James's information now. 

James Doyle (Patient #32, Nameless Disease)

DOB: December 2nd. 2003. 1:23 pm.

Statistics: Age 12. Strong. Healthy. 5 foot, two inches in length. 2.4 around the waist, 90 pounds in weight.

Father: Jack Doyle. Living.

Mother: Rose Doyle. Living.

Probability of fighting: 73%

Army patient may join (based on probability of fighting): Savrik

"Savrik? Did that mean they were going to split us up? No, they aren't. I wouldn't let that happen... Maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions"

James stirred. "What's with all the noise.. are you talking to yourself?". Aurora quickly slipped the papers away into her coat pocket again.

"It's nothing..." he knew it was something.

"Are you okay? You seem down".

"I'm just..." he looked at me weirdly. "I'm fine. Really".

Aurora wasn't fine. She was confused, and scared, and possibly dying a slow death and she couldn't even do anything. She just wanted to be home.

In the morning they were given breakfast. Aurora pushed her plate away.

"C'mon Auri, you need to eat! You may be dying, but you may as well take care of yourself while you can."

"Ugh, James I'm not hungry! Okay?"

"Are you okay? You seem off.."

"Oh I'm peachy, I'm grand. How are you? I see you're dying in a cell, that must be nice-"

"Enough! What's wrong? And don't lie to me this time, I know when something's wrong with you."

Aurora sighed. "...I read our files last night. The information on them was sorta confusing"

"How?"

She made sure nobody was watching, then slyly slipped the papers through both of our cell bars. As he read them, she watched his expression change from calm to confused. "Armies? W-...I-"

"I know, right? What the heck are they talking about...?".

"What is this even suppo-" a guard walked by and interrupted their conversation. James quickly pushed the papers under his mattress. 

"You guys both seem small and you like to chat. You're sharing a cell. We need another one for a new patient and we've run out of space".

This sucked. Not because Aurora had to be in James's cell, but because they would both try to let each other sleep on the mattress. They both always tried to let the other be happier and more comfortable, and they were both very stubborn people. The guard moved Aurora into James's cell and pushed a new person into hers. She looked about in her mid-thirties. Her legs wobbled when she walked and her eyes had dark bags under them. She was weak-boned and nearly collapsed when the guard got her in the cell. James and Aurora both looked at each other, concerned for the woman. She croaked out a hello and they both waved.

"My name's Elizabeth" she said. "Sorry I had to take your cell, all the others were already taken".

"It's...fine. I'm Aurora, this is James. We'll be friends with you if you'd like". James elbowed her in the side.

"You're coming off a bit creepy" he whispered.

"Maybe she'll be able to help us. She's an adult, we're just kids. If we ever need to convince the guard of anything, he'll probably listen to her instead of us" Aurora whispered back.

"Oh I'd love to" Elizabeth said. "In my short days here, anyways".




It wasn't until later in the afternoon that James and Aurora started talking about the files again. 
"Do you think we're really sick?" James asked.

"Well I feel awful as ever, so probably. But maybe there's a cure somewhere" she started to stir up an idea in her mind. Of course, an idea that would probably get herself in trouble, but an idea nonetheless.

"No, Auri" he warned "You're not snooping around at night to find the cure".

Aurora pretended to be offended, "How dare you accuse me of such a thing" she said, jokingly. 

"I'm serious" he said, though couldn't help but laugh afterwards. "You could get in trouble".

"Oh come on! It'll be fine. The worst he'll do is beat me with a stick" She said with a bad sense of humor. 

"Fine. But I'm coming with you". Aurora wasn't surprised. They either got in trouble together, or didn't get in trouble at all.

Aurora started planning for later that night, guessing where it could possibly be. Though she could only truly find out later.