Verman

10. Jeremy

July 30, 2055

The sun rose and pierced through the ominous clouds hanging in the sky. I bolted upright and quickly put on my soldier's uniform. A quick stop at the infirmary let me steal some medical supplies, and I almost sprinted to the kitchen to sneak out some of the disgusting gruel. The unbearable smell penetrated my nostrils immediately, and it was all I could do to not gag and abandon the precious gruel.

I ran outside, shoving the gruel into a satchel at my side.

"Jeremy," the guard on duty said. "Out early again? Skip breakfast?"

"I just, uh..."

"Yes?"

"I just want to be right on duty!" I said. "We have to do our jobs, keep the, the Vermans out, right? Keep 'em in Vermville, right?"

"That's right," the guard said, chuckling.

I saluted him, and sprinted off, almost tripping over my own feet as I ran to the cornfields. To Abandonment. To Luna.

The ground was muddy again and it stuck to my boots, making my feet feel heavy. I panted and slowed my pace, nearing the cornfields. A few foggy shapes were working in there. I made a sharp turn and headed around the Vermwall, a name I had made for the wall surrounding Verm, ah, Abandonment, I'll have to remember that.

I reached the wall and hooked my feet into the holes. I climbed up and hoisted myself over, landing hard on my back. I got up, wincing.

"L-Luna?" I called out.

Nothing but silence responded to me.

I looked at my surroundings. They were different than last time. Did the Vermans somehow move the walls around?

I took a step forward and collapsed, my back screaming out. I struggled to lift some of the stiff fabric on my back. I twisted to see if the place where I'd landed was bruised ... or worse. I felt with my hand and could tell that a lump was forming. Just as I twisted and caught a glimpse of my back, my uniform fell down and I collapsed again in agony. The place where I had landed was bright pink, and I knew from experience it would turn blue or purple all too quickly.

I remembered the stories my mother had told me when I was little. Stories about her patients, for she was a nurse and saw terrible injuries every day. I was fascinated by them and wanted to become a nurse, too. My mother taught me basic survival skills and how to treat common injuries.

I opened a concealed pocket my father had taught me how to make, and took out a small hand crafted clay jar my father had made. I studied the engravings for a minute. Above swirls of fog lay a night sky, dotted with stars. It was beautiful, the deep blue of the sky brought out by the smoky white of the fog and the golden, shimmering stars.

I uncapped the jar and took out a balm, my family's special recipe. I rubbed a little bit of it in my hands and spread it on my wound.

I felt almost instant relief. The balm seemed to practically suck the pain out. I was about to put more on when I remembered my mother's words as she handed me the jar. Use this in emergencies only. Save it! You know how to find the ingredients for this, but it takes a long time for the balm to be ready. Now go!

I capped the jar and slid it back into my concealed pocket, I shouldn't have used any at all. The words, use this in emergencies only, save it! flashed through my mind again.

I sighed, straightened and took a look at my surroundings.

"Luna!" I called out again. I waited.

"Luna?" I asked for the third and final time.

No response.

I trudged back to the wall and climbed it, trying to register that maybe I can't become friends with a Verman. Maybe it isn't right.