Don't fall

Chpt 38 - Henry's Thirst

No one sleeps well. Brianne keeps waking up screaming, from nightmares no doubt, Henry's too worried about Avi, and the rest are all too frightened. I lay thinking all night, studying everything Yori knows about this world. It's not much, but it's enough to help me feel a little better.

I catch myself think about Liam a lot. I wonder if he's worried about Brianne..and I wonder if he's worried about me. I can't help but think he had a crush on me.

I go out at dawn with Xander and Quinn into the surrounding area to scavenge for things that we can use. We find supplies and food randomly. Must be how this place works. Kind of like Minecraft and the chests you find? Or like Fortnite or something like that.

When we get back to the camp area it's night, the sun had gone down a few hours earlier. Everyone lays awake, eating cans of pork beans and peaches. Brianne checks everyone's wounds, re-wrapping everything. She seems calmer, more like she knows what she's doing.

I tell them all it's time to move, and no one complains. No one is chatty, everyone seems to be fighting their inner demons, and maybe they are. But nevertheless, they all get up, and we travel through the streets, until we finally reach a forest. I keep my parents out of my mind, because just the slight though fills me with dread and unbearable anxiety.

We all agree to keep moving, going straight through the forest, traveling deeper into the unknown. We find objects, food and supplies, hidden. Our best find is probably yellow apples. The sour taste comforts us.

By morning, everyone is exhausted. We set up camp, each of us putting up our own tent, and we start a fire in the middle of it all. Because it's daylight, it should be okay. Highlight, 'should'.. We all sit around the flames, choking down some stale bread and more canned beans and our fresh apples. It's not a burger from my favorite place..but it'll do for now. We haven't seen any kind of animal, but we've seen many bugs. Flies, Spiders, and Beetles.

"Alright everyone," I start, gaining all their attention, "we need to talk." They all nod solemnly, Brianne's pink eyes fill with tears. She's filthy, we all are. However, she's been collecting berries and flowers, now knowing what they all do, so she's a little more dirty than us.

"This is real. This is actually happening, so we need to figure out our next move. We can't wander the forest forever." I say, looking around the circle. My hand moves over the wound in my side, I've been ignoring it but it hurts worse than anything I've ever felt. Like being punched by a glove covered in nails.

"What are we gonna d-do?" Brianne hiccups, her cheeks drenched. Quinn speaks up, "we're gonna play the damn game.. we don't have a choice." I shake my head, he's right.

"Okay. We play the game, but then what? How long will this last?" Nathan asks, his eyes wide, he looks scared. "We survive," I nod, brushing a stray hair out of my eyes, "there are things I need to know.."

If you're going to find out all their curses, you need to talk to them separately. Fear is a powerful enemy. If one of them finds out something they fear, they may turn against you. Against everything and everyone. Yori whispers in my mind. I mentally nod. She..He..'s right. Do computers have genders?

"I'm going to meet with each one of you separately in my tent" I say, turning and heading to my sleeping quarter, "Bri, you're first."

•••

I sit on my sleeping bag an hour later, thinking, terrified. I know all their curses now, and I believe they are all many many times worse than mine. I need to keep a close eye on all of them. Lives could be T stake here..

Everyone's curses don't quite activate until they get their stone. Brianne is currently the only curse that has been activated Yori says, however..the curses are only a multiplied characteristic or pain that the person already holds.