Arrow

Chapter Five: Plagued

Eventually the stitches were done, it had been painful, but I was relieved it wouldn't end with my own demise. I had hoped that by the time my wound was bandaged up, Jesse and Keira would have vanished somewhere and succumbed to the tension I could feel building up around us, yet they remained even when I raised my head and released my held in breath

"I wasn't that rough was I?" Mason spoke, his words sounding worse than intended

"No" I shook my head easily forcing back a smile before I stood.

"You should stay sitting for a bit, you've gone clammy and pale, your blood pressure has probably stooped" Mason warned as I continued to shake my head. I was fine, all I needed was to leave the awkward situation, find a quiet spot on my own to recollect my thoughts. Yet, my head swayed slightly dizzy as Mason stood beside me with wary eyes.
My body was betraying me.

"Easy now" Jesse warned with a hand on my uninjured arm

I shook him off as my eyes slightly blurred

"She's a tough one this one" Mason sighed as he began shuffling his tools around, cleaning the mess around us up

"Thanks Mason" I flatly spoke before taking a step forward, my eyes still unsteady

"I hope to see you again soon, under different circumstances of course" He lightly joked as I forced back a smile.

I closed my eyes as I stood in place, creasing my brows as I forced my brain to control itself. Like before, I felt Jesse place a gentle hand on my arm, this time, I didn't shrug it off. My eyes were still hazy and I was suddenly worried I was going to drop unconscious at any moment in time.

In any normal situation I would have pushed him away, scolded him for continuously touching me. I knew somewhere deep down that he was only doing it because he cared, but that part of the humane me was long gone. I pushed my thoughts away and attempted to gain control of my brain and my body once again, but it was near impossible to think with the tension boiling around me.

"Jaxon, can I get some water over here please?" Jesse called as I made out his figure in front of me

Seconds later, Jaxon came storming over with a bottle of water in hand

"She's probably dehydrated" I heard Mason from behind me

"Obviously" Jesse mumbled back, readable bad-blood simmering between them

"Here, drink up" Jesse demanded of me as he placed the bottle of water in my hand. Willingly, I brought it to my lips taking in a cool cold sip as it released down my throat and into my stomach. Slowly, my eyes began to blink back into reality and I could make out the worried expressions of Keira and Jesse in front of me as Mason attended to another patient behind me complaining of chest pains.

"Better?" Keira questioned as she almost leaned her shoulder on Jesse's beside her

I nodded before pulling my arm away from Jesse once again

"I'm good, thanks" I told the pair as my eyes were brought back entirely from the shades, my legs and body becoming stable enough to take control of my lost dignity.

"Keep drinking, it'll help you" Jaxon demanded with his arms over his chest, his eyes narrow on me as though waiting for me to collapse a second time around

I took another swig of water before averting my eyes towards the map I recognized Arden to be standing at with another man.

I scoffed and nodded my head in the direction "You're going through Kenton instead of Laylor?" I quipped

Suddenly, Jaxon and Jesse's faces turned from worry to inquest, their eyes briefly meeting each other's before turning back on me.

"Kenton will cut a day off our quest" Jaxon continued