Left Alone

Sick

Chapter Twelve

Kane's POV

I carried Sky back to the meadow. Well, actually, I debated about what to do before she moaned and stopped breathing for a moment. It scared me, more than I wanted to admit. Not that it mattered; she'd already seen me as a coward.

I had no idea that she was sick. Honestly, I never considered the possibility. Now it made sense, though. We always had to stay near the walls of every block we went to, rarely venturing into the center. I got it now.

"We're almost there," I whispered to her. Everything in me was fighting this. I didn't want to come back, begging for the life of my friend, not to my greatest enemy. But if he could help her...

Seeing him brought me back to the day I found him wrapped around my brother's body. Except he wasn't dead.

"Make him pay," Liam wheezed. His eyes were unfocused as he tried to fight against death. "Kill him. He is a monster."

"Liam..." My brother. Murdered by my friend. His best friend. We trusted him and he betrayed that trust. The rumors of hostiles... They were just rumors. But now... It's reality.

Jesse is a hostile.

The fear returned as I shook off the memory. This was going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done.

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" Jesse growled. I struggled not to tremble as I was momentarily paralyzed with fear.

Don't faint, Kane, I thought. Do this for Sky.

"Um," I stuttered. "I-uh-Sky-"

"Are you really that afraid of me?" He didn't sound condescending, just sad. He had no right.

"Help her," I pleaded, ignoring his question. I was here for her, nothing more. "She needs help."

"What's wrong with her?" Jesse asked, his attention shifting to her face. I fought the urge to shield her from him, but couldn't stop my grip from tightening.

"S-she is sick," I informed him. "I-I-I don't know what's wrong exactly. We were leaving, but she started acting weird and then she fainted. It's too far away to the next block- she won't make it. Please... I can't help her. We need supplies..."

"You want us to use our medicine on her?" Jesse asked, incredulous.

My bottom lip fell from its mate. "She's dying, will die if you don't help."

"You know," he mused, folding his arms and leaning on a nearby tree. I watched it warily, knowing that someone could pop out of there at any moment. "I'm still waiting for the part where I should care. Times are tough, and I have kids who could use that medicine. Why would I waste it on someone I don't even know?"

"She's important to me," I found myself saying. I glared at the boy. "You owe me."

"I told you, you have it wrong," his tone hardened to steel. I won't be intimidated, though.

"You killed him," I accused. "The least you can do is bring her back."

He stared at her for a long time and I squirmed, waiting for an answer.

"No."

Fuck. Apparently, Sky's life didn't mean anything to him. Hell, any life meant nothing. So what did that mean? I can't appeal to his humanity. How was I going to convince him?