Off Planet (Asterism Chronicles Volume One)

Conversations

I awoke to my nose running. As I stood up I noticed that Jack was already awake. Wondering if he had calmed down I made my way to the bathroom to blow my nose. But as I turned into the room, i saw Jack standing in front of the mirror looking a his scars. He didn't notice me so I snuck past to go to the kitchen, but when I escaped just a few feet a cough came from my throat, a slight pain was felt in my side. Jack stirred and looked at me.

Embarrassed he put his shirt back on and looked at me. "Are you okay?" He asked calmed down now.

"Yeah, I think its just a cold." I said avoiding his eyes.

"A cold can be deadly out here. And plus, you need to stay strong to heal. I'll ask Martha what to do."

Without another word he left the house. I grabbed the jacket he had given me and followed him, holding his as well.

Martha opened the door and Alex ran out to us. "I'm gonna have friends!" He said as we all laughed.

"Yeah, Alex." Jack said as he hugged him.

He ran up to me and asked to be picked up. I started to when the pain in my side and Jack stopped me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and shook his head.

"I'll carry you, alex." He said lifting him above his head and placing him on his shoulders. "Martha what can you do about a cold? Raes got one."

"Theres no cure, but you should stay warm. Come inside." Martha moved for us to enter.

Alex and Jack went to the living room as Martha led me to the kitchen. She had the house cleaned up so there was no way heat could escape. There wasn't any hole visible.

"You were out in the rain weren't you." She said as she got me a small bowl of chicken soup and a cup of tea.

"Jack and I went for food and it rained on us."

As Martha and I drank the tea and ate she started asking me about Jack.

"How has he been?" She asked.

"Good, he's been worried about me. I had to make him change his wet pants because he said he didn't have another pair."

"He's always been more worried about others. Has he been eating? And sleeping? I used to go check on him and he wouldn't have eaten or slept for days "

"Yeah, he eats. When ever I do. He makes sure I fall asleep before he does." Martha was like his mother, I thought.

"What about you? How's your side?" She said changing the subject.

I lifted my shirt to show her. She carefully removed the bandages and looked at the wound. It had scabbed over completely, but the pain was not felt on the outside but the inside, it hurt whenever I moved. It was slightly reder around it, but not much.

"The scab doesn't hurt. But when I walk I feel it with every step."

Martha got a new piece of gauze from under her sink and placed it back on it. "You seem to be doing well. It's been only a week right?"

"About a week. I've always healed fast. I don't know why."

"For a stab wound it takes a little over ten days, depending on how deep it is. Your lucky it didn't hit any organs."

I smiled as I pushed the shirt back over it. "I know. I'm lucky to be alive. But the bullet is still in me, so I don't know what will happen without a doctor."

"It's still on you?" Martha looked shocked at me. "Why wasn't it taken out?"

"I didn't have a doctor, Martha. But I was told I'll be fine, as long as it heals."

Martha looked at me with a worried expression , so I decided to change the subject.

"Do you know why Jack has those scars?" I asked hoping I wasn't invading.

"The ones on his legs? Yeah, he got them after I moved in."

So she doesn't know.  "How did he get them?"

She looked around the corner to see if Jack was there. "Dont tell him I told you, but he was running from the cops and fell. There are these bushed with huge thorns on them by the entrance, and he ran right into the middle of them. The cop saw he was stuck and didn't want to go in and get him so he left. He came to me to help him. That was the first time he asked me for help. His legs were ripped up. It took awhile to clean them. His hands were bleeding too since he had to rip the branches to get out."

"Okay, that explains that." I said still wondering about his back.

"Are you feeling better?" Martha asked as I sipped more of the tea.

"Yeah, thanks." 

"Stay warm." Martha said as Jack came in the room with Alex hanging on his back.

"Alex said he wants to play outside." Jack told Martha as she picked Alex up.

"It's time for your nap." She said as Alex tried to escape.

"I don't wanna nap! I want to play!"

"After you take your nap we can play." I told Alex who looked at me with a sad face.

"Fine." We all laughed at how cute he was, which made him look at us angrily.

Martha gave Jack a cup of soup and we left as Alex tried to fight her unsuccessfully. As we got back to the house I worked up the courage to ask.

"How did you get those scars?"