Off Planet (Asterism Chronicles Volume One)

Chapter 10

Jack came back with enough credits to buy two more tickets from my things. He was so happy, he couldn't believe it.

"Martha can come with us!" He said as he told me the news. "Alex can have a better life!"

"Yes he can, I'm happy he can get the chance." I responded, still laying on my back to keep the hole in my side from opening again, my head slightly propped up to talk to Jack.

He smiled counting the credits again. Inside I smiled too. He had gotten over his past, but he will never forget her. I don't think he should forget her.

After a few days of laying there only able to move to go to the restroom, boredom set in.

"It's getting late," Jack said, looking out the window. "You should sleep so you can get better."

"All I've done is sleep." I grumbled as Kyle came back in the room.

"He's right. You need to sleep."

"Fine, I'll try."

Kyle lifted my shirt to show the side with blood rags on it. He carefully lifted the soiled cloth to reveal a still slightly bleeding hole. The surrounding skin was swollen and red, the edges turning black. Kyle shook his head and looked at me. The pain was blocked out as my eyes widened in fear of what news his words would bring.

"What?" I said all too quickly.

"It needs to be cleaned. I ldont think it should be this swollen." He handed me a wad of cloth. "I'm sorry, this is going to hurt. I wish I had something for the pain."

"What are you going to do?" Jack asked sitting next to my shoulder on the queen sized bed.

"I have hydrogen peroxide so I think it will help to keep the infection away. But it will hurt." He grabbed the bottle from his bathroom and came to me.

"Is there anything else that could be done?" Jack asked fearing for me.

"No, not without a hospital trip. Bite down on the cloth." He unscrewed the cap to the peroxide as I bit on the cloth. Jack grabbed my hand and I gripped the bedpost with my other hand, bracing for the pain. I nodded for Kyle to start.

The pain was worse than the actual bullet ripping through my flesh. I clenched my eyes shut as well as my teeth. I grabbed Jack's hand as tightly as I could, hoping it would alleviate the pain. But it didn't. I couldn't hold it back anymore, I had the first time but I couldn't the second. I cried out in pain as Kyle put the cap back on the bottle. I sobbed as tears came down my face. Jack stroked my hair as the tears fell.

"I'm sorry, but I had to." Kyle said as he put another rag on my side and taped it.

I sat there crying like a baby with Jack still holding my hand. As my tears started to dry and the pain subsided some Kyle left the room. Jack still sat there with me.

"Please don't leave." I told him as I remembered what he once told me.

"What are you talking about?" He looked at me confused.

"You said if I cause trouble, you're leaving. I know if I stay here I'll be safe. But I don't want to stay here. I want to see things, with you."

"I won't leave you. I promise." He spoke as we sat there on the bed looking out the window to the night sky.

I lay there now exhausted from the pain. I don't want to lose him, I thought to myself. I looked to where he was sitting, struggling to keep his eyes open. He hasn't slept much to make sure I was fine, and when he did sleep it was in a chair.

"Lay down." I told him as I yawned.

As I was still squeezed his hand, hoping for the pain to go away just by his touch, he scooted down to lay on the opposite side of the bed. The warmth of his hand in mine, and the thought that he will never leave me as my dad did, calmed me enough to fall asleep.