Defying Death

Chapter 5

After we had eaten half of the bread and half of the cheese we packed everything back up and started walking again. After about an hour of walking, Flav started checking over his shoulder. After he did it for the umpteenth time it started to annoy me I mean I get being paranoid but this was too much. He looked behind him his forehead sheened with sweat so that his drenched hair dripped sweat on me.

"I will seriously snap your neck if you look behind you", I threatened. He blinked at me and then mumbled a sorry.

I felt wetness trickling along my back, I shuddered to imagine how much I must stink since sweat was pouring off me. I heard a gag behind me, I sighed and turned around. To see Flav holding a hand to his mouth, face a shade of green and staring at me back. I turned around craning my back to see what it was. My back was covered with puke. The trickling liquid down my back was my sisters vomit. I quickly untied the blanket that had her hugging my back like a koala and sat on the floor. I slid her to my lap and quickly took my shirt off using it as a rag to clean the corners of her mouth. I then scraped out the remains of food and rubbed it on the floor cleaning the shirt on mud and grass

I cooed quietly letting her know that it was okay, I was just happy that she hadn't choked on her own vomit. Beathas puffy eyes were weeping pus and her skin was sticky from sweat.

I sighed, I was afraid if we didn't get there by two days she would... I shook my head, I would rather not think like that. "She'll be okay," Flav reassured me as if reading my thoughts.

I tried to smile at him but even his brave face that he had put on had furrowed brows when he looked at my sister. "I think we should rest for the day," he shot me a sideways glance, "it would be better for your sister".

I licked my teeth and let air through, "fine". I said while looking back at where we left and then where we were heading. My thumb flicked across the warm surface of the compass that rested on my skin rubbing it so that I could feel the captivating carvings.

We jumped over the wooden posts that separated them from the rickety buildings. I bent over to fit into a gap that was in a wall on a shed. It was dark and musty, I sneezed and rubbed my nose to get rid of the dust that I had already breathed in. I scouted the small shelter and found that it would be fine. There were a few dead rats here and there but I piled them in a corner so we were fine. I go outside again, "Hey Flav here is fine", I call while retrieving Beatha. After we are all inside I ask "Flavius hand me the bag," not even bothering with such time waster words like please or thank you as he hands the bag over.

"Here", he complies. I hurriedly rip the zip open and take the blanket out I drape it around my shoulders. It wasn't a freezing night but the howling wind had still chilled me to bones. I huddle Beatha close to my chest, it might be a bit selfish but it wasn't just to shield her from the weather but it was also to use her high temperature as a cacoon. The thin singlet I had on did little to converse heat.

I slowly started humming to a tune that I had made up on the spot.

While I was humming I let my eyes wander, letting my eyes take in our surroundings. Our small tin compound that had small holes that let wind rattle through. I saw that Flav was staring into space his mouth moving as if he was reciting something.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

He looked at me startled, "Oh, I was reciting a few quotes".

I looked at him, now he had my full attention. "Can you tell me some?"

"Sure this one is from Shakespeare "Hell is empty and all the devils are here" ". He said. I whistled letting him know I was impressed. Gaining confidence he continued, " "The devil was also once an angel", though I can't quite remember who that was from. Oooh, this is a good one from Gandhi, "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind" ". He grinned an unidentified though making his smile tilt downwards and his eyes to cloud with guilt but it was quickly replaced. I didn't bother asking, he would tell me if it was important. I didn't care for idle gossip. "We should rest," I said as I stifled a yawn.

Flavius moved closer to us so that we could build some body heat. I nestled into his chest, making sure that I didn't suffocate Beatha as she was still attached to my front. I stared at his sleeping face, he had already fallen asleep he mouth parted open and he was softly snoring. I cuddled closer to them making sure that the blanket covered us evenly after all the compound dirt did not make a comfy pillow. But I was used to that. I was lulled to sleep by the slow rasping of Beatha's breathing and Flavius's snoring.